2007 Weekly Bulletin Message
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1/7/07 YOU CAN KEEP YOUR RESOLUTIONS IF YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS
Last week I talked to you ABOUT “THE BEST RESOLUTION THAT YOU CAN MAKE.” I emphasized that we all need help from above if we don’t want to fail.
We have to realize the God is far more interested and concerned about our personal growth and success than we could ever be.
Paul says, “(GOD) IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE….” That means God is willing to give us more than we ask and even more than we can imagine. Then we have to learn that there is a vast difference between doing something in our own strength or doing it in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Growth, whether physical or spiritual, is always related to two things: nutrition and exercise.
Nobody grows physically without food, so it is the same spiritually. We cannot grow without getting fed from the Word of God. Jeremiah says, “WHEN YOUR WORDS CAME, I ATE THEM; THEY WERE MY JOY AND MY HEART’S DELIGHT…” (Jer 15:16)
There is no question that regular physical exercise is important. If a child only lies in bed and eats, he may grow but he won’t be of much use. But as he learns to walk and exercise, his muscles grow stronger.
It is the same with spiritual growth, we cannot only come to church, listen and sing the sharagans, listen to the message and leave. We have to apply what we hear into our lives. That is taking the principles of the Bible and applying them as we live our lives.
If we try to put a toy together, or anything that “requires assembly” without reading the instructions first, we either break the item or struggle without a success.
God has written the instruction manual for each one of our lives – the Bible. We get in trouble when we fail to understand how God meant us to use our lives. And to understand it we have to keep three things in mind.
A – OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD God should come first in everything we do. We must have God as the co-pilot of our lives. B – OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS We have to “exercise” loving others. God cared so much that He sent His only Son for us to be saved, so we too must reflect that love toward our fellowmen. C – OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OURSELVES We have to be honest to ourselves. We have to always examine ourselves to see if we are in Christ and living for Him. Paul says, “EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH; TEST YOURSELVES. DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT CHRIST JESUS IS IN YOU…” (IICor 13:5)
If we follow the above given instructions it will be hard to fail.
1/14/07 TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS Part II
All three gospels tell about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The Evangelist Luke beautifully describes the way Jesus prepared Himself BEFORE He started His Ministry.
In chapter three, Luke describes Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus to begin His Ministry. It was prophesied by Isaiah that John would pave the way.
“AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE WORD OF ISAIAH THE PROPHET, A VOICE OF ONE CALLING IN THE DESERT, PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIM.” (Is 40:3)
While Jesus was being baptized, the Scriptures states that “THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED ON HIM (JESUS) IN BODILY FORM AS A DOVE, AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN: YOU ARE MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.” (Luke 3:22)
Jesus was 30 years old when He began His Ministry.
It is very interesting to see that the baptism and the voice from God the Father did not make Jesus rush into preaching, healing and serving the public. He secluded himself to spend time in quite reflection alone with His Father.
Luke writes, “JESUS, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, RETURNED FROM JORDAN AND WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT IN THE DESERT.”
One of the main reasons Jesus became the most productive and effective Person in a very short time (three and a half years) was, He spent time with His Father, pondered over the real purpose of His life. He was full of the Holy Spirit. Full of power and authority yet He had to think, pray and plan the best way to utilize His Messianic authority and Divine power. What sort of Messiah was He to be? How was He going to use His power, for personal glory or for the glory of His Father who sent Him?
That is what the temptation of Jesus by the Devil was to prove. (a) not to seek His personal need (b) not to tempt God (c) not to worship anybody or anything beside God
We will study how Jesus confronted all these temptations, which are also common to us these days.
1/28/07 LET’S BE CAREFUL HOW WE LIVE
About two weeks ago I was called to perform the Service at the Wake of Satenig Kupjian, Bob Torossian’s Grandmother. She was 100 years old. I wish I had known her before she died, just to ask how swiftly her years had gone away.
We live a hectic life. The days, months and years are sliding so fast, as if we were skiing down hill without a brake. It is frightening.
Having this in mind St Paul cautions to be careful how you spend your hours… days, months and the years.
When writing on the Second Coming Of Christ, at the end of his Epistle Paul writes; “SINCE EVERYTHING WILL BE DESTROYED… WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE OUGHT YOU TO BE?”
Time is something that we cannot buy back. We can waste it or use it wisely.
In Psalms 90:12 Moses looked back at the end of his life and said to the Lord: “TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS RIGHT, THAT WE MAY GAIN A HEART OF WISDOM.”
Life took on a new perspective for Moses when he realized he didn’t have all eternity to do his work on earth. When he developed that perspective, he realized he needed wisdom to use his time profitably and more wisely.
What we need to avoid is the tyranny of the urgent. When Jesus ministered here for only three and a half years, He was never in a hurry. He always had time to do the Father’s will because He had clear cut objectives.
We must honestly ask this question; What do we really want? And what are we here for? And when we ask these questions we shouldn’t consider them for today only or for this life only, but for the coming eternal life.
Paul writing to the Philippian Church states, “FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.” (1:21) Knowing that one day, as the Bible says, “WE WILL ALL STAND BEFORE GOD’S JUDGMENT SEAT, FOR IT IS WRITTEN, AS SURELY AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE WILL BOW BEFORE ME; EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS TO GOD. SO THEN, EACH OF US WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO GOD.” (Rom 14:11-12)
Since we do not have a permanent habitation here on earth, and since one day we will appear in front of our Creator, shouldn’t we live a life to please God who will send Jesus back to take those who lived for Him?
2/4/07 WHY DO WE COME TO CHURCH?
We have motives behind everything we do, some obvious and some hidden.
Only you and God know these motives. Only God knows the reason you come to church or don’t come to church.
Do we come to have social time or do we come because we want to worship God, our Creator, and to know His will for our lives?
It was the same in Jesus’ time.
In chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, we read of Jesus feeding more than 5000 people. Then when Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake, the crowd followed Him. The Scripture states, “In searching Jesus.
Naturally, we would say, “that’s good”. But Jesus, knowing the hearts and the motives of the people said, “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ME, NOT BECAUSE YOU SAW MIRACULOUS SIGNS BUT BECAUSE YOU ATE THE LOAVES AND HAD YOUR FILL.”
Jesus’ point was, that some of His followers were interested only to have their physical needs satisfied. When they had the free meal, they wanted more. One of the outstanding forefathers, Chrisostom, said, “Men, are nailed to the things of this life”.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF HUNGER
a) THERE IS THE HUNGER FOR THE TRUTH. That is to know the true way of following
God.
b) THERE IS HUNGER FOR LIFE. That is the desire to know how to inherit eternal life.
c) THERE IS THE HUNGER FOR LOVE. That is to find unconditional love of both God and mankind.
Christ alone can satisfy the above hunger of your heart and soul.
Jesus was the only one who was able to say: “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. HE WHO COMES TO ME WILL NEVER GO HUNGRY, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER BE THIRSTY.” (John 6:35)
I hope, this morning you are here to quench your thirst and to satisfy your spiritual hunger.
2/11/07 THE CENTURION WHO HAD FAITH NOT ONLY IN THE TOUCH OF JESUS, BUT IN THE POWER OF THE WORD OF JESUS.
In today’s passage we read about the affirmative faith of a Centurion, of his humility and of his passion toward his servant-slave.
The Church is teaching us the importance of having GOD PLEASING FAITH. Frankly speaking, sometimes we don’t know what faith itself is, or we are not aware of whether we have GOD PLEASING faith or we think we have faith.
Faith is the connecting tie to God. Only through faith we can have fellowship with God and understand the will of God for our lives.
God pleasing faith has power in it if it is connected to the right “power source” which is Jesus Christ.
Through faith we accept the gifts of God through Jesus Christ. Through faith we receive grace and forgiveness. By GOD PLEASING FAITH we can approach God and present our requests to Him. By faith the whole nature of man can be changed for the better.
We often say, “We believe in God,” but do we really know what believing in God means.
The Apostle gives the definition of faith that is, the meaning of it. He says:
“FAITH IS THE ASSURANCES, THE CONFIRMATION, THE TITLE-DEED OF THE THINGS WE HOPE FOR, BEING THE PROOF OF THINGS WE DO NOT SEE AND THE CONVICTION OF THEIR REALTY – FAITH PERCEIVING AS REAL FACT WHAT IS NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES.” (Heb 11:1 amplified translation)
The Oxford American Dictionary says faith is (1) Reliance or trust in a person or thing (2) Belief in religious doctrine (3) A system of religious belief, the Christian faith (4) Loyalty, sincerity.
In today’s story the Centurion told Jesus, “SAY THE WORD, AND MY SERVANT WILL BE HEALED.” In other words, your Word is as powerful as your touch.
The Christian who says he/she had GOD PLEASING faith must show this by his/her deeds. The Apostle James makes it very clear when he writes: “FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION IS DEAD.” (James 2:17) What the Apostle is saying is, that God pleasing faith must produce God pleasing life and work.
How much faith do you have in the power of the Word of God, the Bible?
2/18/07 THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND VARTAN THE BRAVE
Sometimes we don’t realize that to play a game, any game, it is not only the teams and their coaches that are involved in winning the game, but the fans and the cheerleaders who are a great factor in inspiring the teams and becoming a great force behind them. No matter how much the players try not to pay attention to the cheering of the spectators, subconsciously they are influenced by their excitement and “booos”.
I will call the fans and the cheerleaders “A FORCE BEHIND THE TEAM”
Most probably we have all heard about the Battle of Avarayr, the battle that took place against the Persians in 451 A.C. in order to defend our faith which was at stake. But we seldom hear about the heroes behind St. Vartan, his army and the Armenian nation.
THE GHEVONTYANTZ (Levon the Elder and his followers) In those days Ghevont Yeretz (Ghevont the Elder) with a group of clergy were the spiritual force behind the nation. They were the ones who, by preaching the Bible constantly to the nation uplifted their spirit and strengthened their commitment and their faith toward God.
Ghevont Yeretz constantly reminded Vartan and his followers that in order to obtain the promised “Crown of Righteousness” and inherit the eternal life they had to be willing to sacrifice their lives for Christ who gave His life on their behalf. Ghevont brought so many examples from both the Old and New testaments, explaining how Abraham, Moses and the prophets did not seek comfort, rather chose to please God like St Peter, Paul and the rest of the apostles who were persecuted and tortured for Christ.
He said; they too must be ready and willing to die for Christ, since the Bible says “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (IITim 3:12)
I frankly believe if we did not have clergy who were dedicated and faithful to the Bible, like Ghevont Yeretz, I doubt we would have had courageous Vartan and his followers. After each time Ghevont gave a speech more young people were gladly joining the army to defend their faith against Persian threats. Even after the battle of Avarayr, Persians continued persecuting Ghevont and his followers, but they stood firm in their commitment to Christ and His Church. They were tortured and later were martyred.
No wonder it is said; “The blood of the martyrs are the seeds of the Church of Christ”. From the first century and on, the more saints gave their lives for Christ, the more the Church of Christ flourished.
How are we today influencing and impacting the message of the Gospel to our fellowmen? Don’t say you can’t do anything. You and I can, if we commit ourselves to God and His cause.
With the help of God, you can be a driving force behind your Church, your Community and your Nation. Find out how?
2/25/07 THE REASON WE FACE HARDSHIP TODAY
Lent is one of the most important services of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is that time when we search our souls and hearts and take inventory of our spiritual condition.
Adam and Eve’s sin and the disobedience that brought curse and disruption, caused to be banished and expelled from the presence of God and from the Garden of Eden. Because it was said by God: “In the day that you eat of it you will surely die.” (Gen 1:17)
We need to think in order to see in what sense the man “died” through eating the forbidden fruit. Death thus means more than the physical cessation of life. God’s view of death is not “the end” of life on earth alone. Adam’s and Eve’s death was a separation and alienation from God, their Creator.
Although “death” from our perspective, faces us with the edge of our existence, but from the theological perspective of our text, death speaks of change: from the blessing, freedom, vitality and fellowship with God, to curse, bondage to sin, toil, hardship, sickness and, of course, wars.
But in spite of Adam’s, and as well as our disobedience, God did not abandon us, though He had all the rights to do so. He continued loving us. He sent His only Son Jesus, in order to bring us back to Him. We can look to Christ as the One who took our human nature “that through His death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all of us who, through fear of death are subject to life long bondage.” (Heb 14:15) “IT IS IN CHRIST’ DEATH THAT DEATH ITSELF IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.” (ICor 15:54)
St. Paul writes: “HERE IS A TRUSTWORTHY SAYING THAT DESERVES FULL ACCEPTANCE: CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS – OF WHOM I AM THE WORST.” (ITim 1:15)
If St. Paul and our Nerses the Graceful (Shunorhalee) claim themselves “The great sinners that they were”, how much more we must accept the fact that “WE ALL ARE SINNERS AND HAVE COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” (Rom 3:23)
3/4/07 THE STORY OF THE LOVING FATHER
In this chapter, Luke tells three Parables that Jesus said, describing man’s misery in being lost.
The lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.
In the first two Parables we see the efforts of the shepherd and the woman. They try hard, especially the shepherd, to find the lost sheep. I bet he puts his life in danger in order to find the lost sheep. The Shepherd symbolized Jesus. THE GREAT SHEPHERD.
I am not going to talk about the first two Parables, rather I will talk about the loving father. Although this Sunday is called “THE SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON” but we, together will focus our eyes on the hero of the Parable, the father.
When Jesus told this Parable, He wanted the listener to know about the love and the forgiveness of God. The father must have been waiting and watching for the son to come home, for he saw him a long way off.
I believe the father had already forgiven his rebellious son even before the son decided to come home.
It is said, that once Lincoln was asked how he was going to treat the rebellious southerners when they had finally been defeated and had returned to the Union of the United States. The questioner expected that Lincoln would take vengeance, but he answered, “I will treat them as if they had never been away.”
It is the wonder of the love of God that He treats us like that.
These Parables tell us the way and the condition to be saved. Salvation from our sins is the fundamental theme of Luke’s Gospel.
Jesus, by telling the Parable of the loving father, introduces our heavenly Father to us. Our heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ. He allowed Him to be nailed on the cross in order for us to inherit the Eternal life. The Parable describes the joyful welcome at the sinner’s home coming. The son, like Adam and Eve willingly “short circuited” God’s plans and they cut themselves off from their father’s presence.
In the mind and the teaching of Jesus, then, man without God is lost and is separated from His presence. Jesus said: “THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE WHAT WAS LOST.” (Luke 19:10)
When we ask why the Savior’s coming? Why He was suffered and crucified? The answer to these questions is given by Jesus himself THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES, TRUSTS AND ADHERES TO HIM MAY NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” (John 3:16)
“SO, (THE RICH MAN) CALLED (THE MANAGER) IN AND ASKED HIM ‘WHAT IS THIS THAT I HEAR ABOUT YOU? GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF YOUR MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE MANAGER ANY LONGER.’”.
Have you ever been laid off from your job? I have. It’s not a pleasant experience, especially when you are a hard working person, you have a family to support and need the income desperately.
In today’s Parable, Jesus is telling us that we are “Stewards”, manager, over what God has given us, and we are accountable for everything He has given us. And, for any reason, if we are not faithful in what He entrusted us with, He will take away what He has given to us.
In the mid seventies when I was Quality Control Manager for an Electronic Company, I remember I often had friction with the Production Control Manager. He wanted to produce the product as fast as he could, yet, I wanted to make sure that whatever his department produced would meet Government quality standards and not compromise quality for speed.
Not many of us want to be accountable to someone else. We don’t want to see someone else checking our work. We neither want to be criticized nor do we want to be corrected.
Lent is a time to check ourselves and let God, through His Spirit, examine our souls. Unless we let God examine us and let us know where we stand we will not be able to meet His standards.
As I said last week, one of the reasons the Prodigal son went “far far away” from his father’s sight was because, he was tired of listening to his father’s advice. He did not want to be accountable to his father. He wanted to be free.
This Sunday is called “THE SUNDAY OF THE STEWARD.” A “Manager” who was in charge of the running of his master’s estate. A business may well have been entrusted to this steward’s hands. One day his master found out that the manager was not managing his estate properly and he said: “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer”. (V2) The steward was faced, rightly of wrongly with dismissal. That is, he would shortly find himself out of work. In the Parable we see the manager shrewdly was able to earn his master’s trust and the master even commended the steward Jesus, wanting to make His point clear, said; “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (That is Christians) What Jesus was saying is that, the non-Christians are wiser than the Christians.
God has made us managers over the things that He has graced us with. And He expects us to use everything we have the way He wants us to use it, knowing that someday we will be accountable to Him. We have to use our talents, money and possessions as it affects eternity. There is a saying, “The rich help the poor in this world, but the poor help the rich in the world to come.” That is why Jesus said, “Do not store up treasures on earth … But store up treasures in heaven.” (Matt 6:19)
A man’s true wealth consists not in what he keeps, but in what he gives away.
3/18/07 PRAYER, THE IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LIFE, YET WE NEGLECT IT THE MOST
Prayer, I have often said, is like breathing in a Christian’s life. I learned more how important the breathing was, as I watched my mother in intensive care. The doctors and nurses were doing their best to make sure that she was comfortable IN BREATHING.
In the Bible we see that men and women of God have prayed unceasingly, everywhere they felt the need. Even on the beach.
“ALL THE DISCIPLES AND THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN ACCOMPANIED US OUT OF THE CITY, AND THERE ON THE BEACH WE KNELT TO PRAY.” (Acts 21:5)
I wonder what the people around them thought when they saw them praying on the beach.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is telling two parables on praying. In today’s passage Jesus is telling us about an unjust, cruel, and a wicked judge who did not want to hear the poor widow’s case. Maybe because she was poor, helpless, and unattractive. Or, because being poor she could not bribe him. She had no one to protect her or present her case to this wicked judge. She was armed with nothing, except the fact that she had the right to be heard. Whatever this helpless poor widow has she used it. HER PERSISTENCE!
How often have we felt like we ran out of resources? Have we felt helpless and hopeless? But, when we stop and think we find inner voice telling us: “don’t give up, keep trusting and be persistent.
Jesus, by telling the parable of the “Unjust Judge,” is telling US today that even an unjust judge can sometimes do justice, much more must we expect that the righteous, all loving and compassionate Father will vindicate to His children, who cry day and night without loosing heart.
When we are misunderstood and mistreated by people do we get hurt? Do we give up hope? Or do we go to God and present our case to Him?
Paul writes, “…PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING…” (Eph 6:18)
The lesson of the parable is, to be persistent, not to give up, but to keep on going to God the Father, knowing that He knows your circumstances and will vindicate you soon. Even if He delays, DON’T GIVE UP!
3/25/07 THE HOPE OF THE BELIEVER
Years ago when Yeretzgin was a young girl, on Easter Sunday while in the Church, during the “Kiss of Peace”, she noticed people whispering in each others ears and she turned to her aunt and asked, “What are they whispering?” Her aunt said, “the Easter bunny is coming, the Easter bunny is coming.” Of course being an innocent little girl, she got excited.
I think in these gloomy days we need “good news” to make us excited. News that will lift our souls up. News that will give us hope and to look forward in living a life with a purpose in mind.
Something about Christianity erases terror and gives us hope. The Good News that Jesus, having conquered death by dying and rising again, offers His followers is a hope of eternal life in a kingdom where death, uncertainty, tear, pain and fear is excluded.
What difference does it really make if Jesus comes back to earth or if He just welcomes us into heaven when we die? Maybe to some of us the Second Coming is not that important. Most of us never think or are not concerned about it.
While the world grows hard and cold to spiritual matters, church members feel a loss of personal faith and find their churches less and less relevant and effective to the issues of modern life.
Some people say, “the weak and the needy people go to church or believe n God. Church and faith is not for the intellectuals.” Jesus said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most (toward God and mankind) will grow cold.” (Matt 24:12)
Three reasons as to why the Second Coming of Christ is important.
(A) IT TELLS US THAT GOD IS IN FULL CHARGE OF HISTORY The newspapers and television gives us the impression that man is in control of making and changing history. By the Second Coming, God has the last word to say.
(B) BY THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST GOD WILL ONCE AGAIN PROVE THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF BOTH NATURE AND NATIONS.
(C) IT TELLS US THAT GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF EVIL.
The early Church was concerned about the Second Coming of Jesus. They needed to be reminded that the dark powers they faced were being kept within rigid limits and that relief was certain to come in God’s time from their returning Lord.
4/1/07 WITH COURAGE, FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE LIFE. THAT’S WHAT JESUS DID ON PALM SUNDAY
“PALM SUNDAY” is also called “THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM."
When we say ‘PALM SUNDAY” of course refers to the event itself. When Jesus entering Jerusalem, the Scripture says that “THE CROWD TOOK PALM BRANCHES AND WENT OUT TO MEET HIM.” It is also said that they had olive tree branches.
Palm branches symbolizes victory. Palm trees being tall is a symbol of victory. As for the olive tree branches; Do you remember Noah, when he sent a dove to check the condition of the earth? The Scripture says that “WHEN THE DOVE RETURNED TO HIM… THERE IN ITS BEAK WAS A FRESHLY PLUCKED OLIVE LEAF.” (Gen 8:11) The live branch, or leaf symbolizes peace.
The entry of Jesus was not that easy. We must remember that Jesus was an outlaw for some people, therefore the authorities were determined to kill Him. Even His disciples warned Him not to go to Jerusalem. If He was to enter Jerusalem at all, all caution would have demanded that He enter secretly, but he came such a way as to focus every eye upon Himself. It needed courage, compassion and love to do that.
As we can see, Jesus did not enter Jerusalem a warrior king on a horse and chariot, but as the prophet had foretold, “meek and sitting on a donkey.” Matthew tells us that all the city was moved at the sight of the strange procession. People had mixed feelings, some out of curiosity wanted to know who Jesus was. And some came to see Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
Interestingly enough, two people who were neglected and even “rebuked” who did not have physical sights, because they were blind, they wanted to take advantage of this visit. When they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.” Oh the compassionate Jesus, He stopped and called them, asking; “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, we want our sight.”
Physically blind people acknowledged the Lordship and the Deity of Christ. They knew that Jesus was able to give their sight back, yet people who were not physically blind did not “see” who Jesus was.
Isn’t that a tragedy. Year after year, we celebrate Palm Sunday, Easter, Christmas, do we really know who Jesus is? Have we, by faith, asked Him to open our spiritual eyes, have we welcomed Him in our hearts? Or, are we still in limbo, living in darkness?
That’s what the majority of people did when they “welcomed” Jesus, they were spiritually in darkness, because the next day the same people shouted: “Crucify Him, crucify Him”.
4/8/07 “IF WE WHO ARE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST HAVE HOPE ONLY IN THIS LIFE AND THAT IS ALL, THEN WE ARE OF ALL PEOPLE MOST MISERABLE AND TO BE PITIED.” (1Cor 15:19 amplified)
For centuries the issue of Resurrection has been a problem to many people. Many Christians have been tortured because they believed and preached the reality of the Resurrection. When the Apostle Paul was preaching in Athens on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Scripture says that “a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him.” Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” (Acts 17:18-32) They sneered, they ridiculed, they laughed at him. Even King Agrippa, after hearing Paul speak on the Resurrection, interrupted Paul and shouted, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane.” (Acts 26:24)
In spite of this misconception, misunderstanding, and disbelief on the part of many regarding the Resurrection, during the history of mankind we have had people like Abraham, in the Old Testament, who believed in the Resurrection when he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. He knew that God was able to raise up children for Him if need be. What do you think was the secret of our forefathers when they were able to endure persecution for Christ and for their faith in Christ, if it was not for the hope of the Resurrection.
Our Church is full of hymns (sharagans) proclaiming the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. For instance, during Easter, we sing “Today the heavenly and immortal bridegroom (Jesus) rose from the dead. Greeting of joy to you earthly bride (the Church) and joyful voice bless your God…”
Yes, Christ was resurrected from the dead, as the Apostle says “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” (1Cor 15:20) HALLELUJAH!
If Christ was raised, then, according to the Scripture, we and our loved ones will one day be raised. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command and with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1Tess 4:16) During which time, Jesus said, God will reward each person according to what he/she has done.
God raised Jesus to demonstrate His power over sin and death. We can participate in the same power over sin and the grave if we completely commit ourselves to Him.
During this Easter season, may God put in our hearts a greater desire to live and labor for the Resurrected and living Master.
Kreesdos Haryav Ee Merelotz, Orhnyal Eh Harootyoonun Kreesdosee. Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.
Apostle John writes: “IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD, HE WAS WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING. THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS WERE MADE; WITHOUT HIM NOTHING WAS MADE.” (John 1:1-3)
If you only read these words you wouldn’t know what John is writing about, but if you study the Bible and dig out the meaning of the WORD, you will find out that the Apostle is talking about Jesus.
If someone asks you this question, “Who really is Jesus? What will be your answer? Where was Jesus before His incarnation, that’s before He became man?
Until now it is still puzzling for so many.
As the above verse says, JESUS WAS THE WORD JESUS WAS WITH GOD JESUS WAS GOD EVERYTHING WAS CREATED BY JESUS, AND NOTHING WAS CREATED WITHOUT HIM.
Did you know that Jesus had part in creating the world and its habitation and that it was created by His word?
Professor John Paterson puts it this way; “The spoken word to the Hebrew was fearfully alive… it was a unit of energy charged with power. It flies like a bullet to its billet.”
Both the Old and the New Testaments are full of evidences.
For instance, we read in Genesis 1:3, 6, 11, that the Word of God had creating power. “And God said ‘let there be light…’ ‘and God said let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water…’ ‘and God said let the land produce vegetation…’ etc, etc.
In Psalms 33:6 we read, “By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made.”
Not only did God create by His word but, according to the Scripture, “By the same Word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire…” (2Pet 3:7)
You can see how powerful the Word of God is and that Word created you and me. We better pay attention.
4/22/07 WHY DID THEY CHOOSE TO DIE?
In Memory of our Forefathers April 24, 1915
In the Old Testament, when God performed a miracle or, when a memorable event took place, men of God erected pillars, memorials to remind themselves of the event, or the work of God.
The reason we commemorate events, happy or sad, is to make a connection with the past and remind ourselves of the past and:
TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS: LEAVING US A REMNANT, SURVIVORS.
TO LEARN FROM THE PAST, IN ORDER NOT TO SEE THE SAME MISTAKE HAPPEN AGAIN.
TO GO FORWARD AND LIVE A LIFE OF HOPE…PLEASING GOD.
In chapter 11 of the Letter to the Hebrews we read as follows; “THE HEROES OF FAITH.”
In the first few verses the writer gives the definition of faith. Tells us what God pleasing faith is, then he writes about the men and the women of God who, by faith, walked with God in spite of persecution, torture hardship and death.
The writer, referring to the people of God writes: “ALL THESE DIED WITHOUT OBTAINING POSSESSION OF THE PROMISED. THEY ONLY SAW THEM FROM FAR…ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE STILL LIVING BY FAITH WHEN THEY DIED, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS PROMISED, THEY ONLY SAW THEM AND WELCOMED THEM FROM A DISTANCE. AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE ALIENS AND STRANGERS ON EARTH. PEOPLE WHO SAY SUCH THINGS SHOW THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A COUNTRY OF THEIR OWN. (Heb 11:13-14)
None of the patriarchs entered into the full possession of the promises that God had made to Abraham. To the end of their days they were nomads, never living a settled life in a settled land. They had to be forever moving on. Why?
They lived forever as strangers and foreigners. In other words, they had fixed their eyes on eternal things, as the Apostle said. (IICor 4:18)
So were the Armenians, though we had our own properties, houses and businesses but we were put out of our own Country. In verse 13, the writer says: “THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS PROMISED…”This is of course talking about the promised Land. For our forefathers, the enemy, the Turks, promised comfort and future if they had denied their faith and nationality. Like the apostles they said: “THEY RATHER OBEY GOD THAN HAVE EARTHY PROMISES AND POSSESSIONS.”
We ask the question, why God allows tragedies and massacres happen?
Sometimes we do not have the answers. One thing we know that our habitation here is temporary and not permanent. Like the Heroes of the Bible and the Armenians believed that ‘GOD HAD PLANNED SOMETHING BETTER FOR US THAT ONLY TOGETHER WITH US WOULD THEY BE MADE PERFECT.” (Heb 11:40)
4/29/07 ARE YOU IN A “REMOTE” AREA?
Today’s Scripture reading is, THE FEEDING OF THE 4000. The miracle is recorded in all four Gospels. Jesus performed two similar miracles; one by feeding the 5000 and the other 4000.
Jesus, besides nurturing His followers spiritually, He was also concerned to take care of their physical needs. God is concerned in EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE. Paul writes: “MY GOD WILL MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS RICHES IN CHRIST JESUS.” (Phil 4:19)
Faith makes you seek God, as these people were doing. It is not enough just to believe that God of the Bible exists, it is not enough just to know about God’s promises, in order to please God WE MUST BELIEVE AND TRUST THAT GOD IS THE PROVIDER AND THE REWARDER OF THOSE WHO SEEK HIM IN SPITE OF THEIR HOPELESS AND “REMOTE” SITUATIONS.
DON’T DEPEND ON YOUR ABILITY ALONE, TRUST IN THE LORD!
Although we cannot understand and explain as how the miracles were performed, but we know that Jesus performed the miracles not only in order to demonstrate His power but His concern for the weak, the afflicted and the needy.
Jesus who performed miracles in the past, is the same today. (Heb 13:8). If He had compassion for the people of His time, He has the same compassion toward you today. Jesus is able, ready and willing to perform miracles in your life, if you allow him to take charge of your life.
OUR GOD IS A PERSONAL GOD
Compassion is more than having a mere love toward a person. Compassion says, “MY HEART GOES OUT FOR YOU. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOU AND I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.” That is what Jesus did!
This is the kind of heavenly Father we have, who is not sitting far in heaven and just observing what is going on down in your life. He is personally interested in you and the things that are taking place in your life. He wants to provide your daily needs.
5/6/07 LET THE AUGUSTINIAN MONK, THOMAS A KEMPIS, TALK TO US ABOUT THE CROSS
AS CHRIST OFFERED HIMSELF ON THE CROSS, SO WE MUST OFFER OURSELVES TO HIM
As I, with My hands stretched out on the cross and My Body naked, offered Myself a willing victim to God the Father for your sins, so that there was nothing in Me which was not made an atoning sacrifice, so you also ought to offer yourself freely to Me every day in the Mass as a pure and holy offering, with all your powers and affections, as earnestly as you can. What more do I ask of you than to try to give yourself up entirely to me? Whatever you give besides yourself is nothing to Me. I seek not your gift but yourself.
Just as you could not be content without Me, though you possessed everything else; so nothing that you give can please Me unless you offer me yourself.
Offer yourself to Me, give your whole self to your God and your offering will be accepted. Behold, I offered Myself wholly to the Father for you, and I have given you my Body and Blood for your food that I may be all yours and you may be always Mine. But if you keep any love of self, and do not offer yourself entirely to My will, your offering is not complete, and there cannot be a perfect union between us. Therefore, if you wish to obtain true liberty and grace, a full and free offering of yourself into the hands of God must go before all your works. For it is because men do not understand that they must utterly renounce their own will, that so few become enlightened and enjoy inward liberty. My word cannot be changed, “Unless a man renounce all that he possesses he cannot be My disciple.” Do you, then, if you wish to be My disciple, offer yourself and all your affections to Me.
5/13/07 EVEN ON THE CROSS JESUS TAKES CARE OF HIS EARTHY MOTHER
Once again we are reminded to remember and appreciate our mothers, and I will add the Grandmothers.
Jesus, our Model in everything, though is not mentioned in the Scripture, I am sure, He always was grateful to His mother.
While on the cross we see two types of people.
The one who had escorted Jesus to this place of crucifixion. Jesus wore five articles of clothing- sandals, a turban, a girdle, a tunic, and an outer robe. We read that each got one article. Only the inner tunic, the undergarment was left. Rather than destroy it but cutting it into four pieces, they cast lots to see who would win it. (this was prophesied in Psalms 22:18) How sad, here before them hung the Savior of the world, the Son of God, and they could see no further than a few articles of clothing to take home or sell.
Over the other side stood four women. Jesus’ mother Mary, who had given birth to Him and who had nurtured Him, watching her Child suffer. His mother’s sister, Salome. There was Mary Magdela, and then Mary, the wife of Clopas.
There they stood near the cross. Jesus saw them and He saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved. Jesus seeing these two whom He loved so much, said to them; “Dear woman, here is your son” and to John, “Here is your mother.” These words are very caring and personal. They teach us very important things about Jesus and about ourselves.
Jesus, in His agony on the cross. The pain of the stripes where He had been whipped. The thorn of His crown piercing into His head. The nails which had been driven into His hands and ankles. Here the Son of God, the Son of Mary doing the will of His Father, even in His pain caring for His earthly mother. Jesus was showing His love toward His mother.
There is an important lesson for us in this. How unselfishly do we love our mothers who cared for us, or do we take their love and dedication for granted?
“WHICH OF THE TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE DO YOU LIKE BEST?” Was asked
“I LIKE THE VERSION ACCORDING TO MY MOTHER,” Was the answer.
5/20/07 THE ASSURANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN
There are so many things in this world that we don’t know and we do not understand. Some times we think we are smart and understand most of the things around us.
Scientists do not know too much about the universe. They know very little. They don’t know how the world came into existence. They don’t know when the “beginning” was. Most of the “evidence” they have are theories.
Xenophon tells of a discussion between Socrates and a young man. “How do you know?” says Socrates. “Do you know it, or are you guessing?” “I am guessing,” is the answer. “Very well,” says Socrates, “when you are done with guessing and when we know, shall we talk about it then?”
Who am I? What is life? Who is God? Where did I come from? Why am I here for? Where am I heading to? What is truth? These are the questions to which men can reply only in guesses apart from Jesus Christ, who has the answers of all.
In Christ and through Christ we reach the reality, which is God, and comprehend the truth, Who said, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE...” (John 14:6)
Life is full of illusions, and we get fooled by them. By himself man can but guess and search; but in Christ the person enters into the knowledge of reality.
Today’s Scripture tells us about the Mission of Christ, the purpose of being here and the destination of the person.
Jesus said, “I HAVE COME THAT [YOU] MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.” (John 10:10)
This was the Mission of Christ to give you and me eternal life.
As far as the purpose of our being here is concerned. It is to know Him and to make Him known, as the Mission Statement of our Church states.
Our destination is designed by God Himself. We are not created for this world only, we are destines for eternity. Again Jesus confirmed this truth when He said, “IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS; IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I AM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM.” (John 14:2-3)
You see Jesus’ desire is for us to be where He is, and our assurance is in Christ Jesus, and in order to obtain that assurance we have to put our trust in Christ Jesus.
The human being was not created to be alone.
After God created Adam He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Then He created Eve who became his companion. Just before His crucifixion when Jesus knew it was going to be difficult to continue life without Him, He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled… I will ask the Father, and He will give you the Counselor to be with you forever. It was difficult for the Apostles to be without their Teacher, Jesus, that is why it was important for them to have the third Person of God hood, the Holy Spirit.
That is what happened the day of Pentecost. The promised Holy Spirit came.
Every Sunday we recite the creed of the Church, which is the Creed of the Universal Church.
“WE BELIEVE ALSO IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE UNCREATED AND THE PERFECT; WHO SPOKE THROUGH THE LAW AND THROUGH THE PROPHETS AND THROUGH THE GOSPELS; WHO CAME DOWN UPON THE JORDAN, PREACHED THROUGH THE APOSTLES AND DWELLED IN THE SAINTS.” (The Nicene Creed)
Before His departure, Jesus told His disciples “IT IS FOR YOUR GOOD THAT I AM GOING AWAY. UNLESS I GO AWAY, THE COUNSELOR (THE HOLY SPIRIT) WILL NOT COME TO YOU; BUT IF I GO I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU (John 16:7) And later Jesus told His disciples, NOT TO LEAVE JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED.” (Acts 1:4)
What happened at Pentecost?
The disciples were all together, united in prayer when “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:1, 4)
We see the early Church vibrant, effective and in action because they waited and received the Holy Spirit.
If we believe and confess that God so loved us and sent His only Son to be crucified on our behalf, (John 3:16) and that Jesus loved us and “Laid down His life for us,” (I John 3:16) and if we believe in Trinity, as we should, then I ask; what is the function and the duty of the third Person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit?
HE MUST DWELL IN US!
It will sound strange to some of us. But that is what the Church is teaching and that is what Jesus said in Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
It is not good to live a life without having the Holy Spirit in us and with us.
IS ANY ONE OF YOU IN TROUBLE? HE/SHE SHOULD PRAY IS ANYONE HAPPY? LET HIM/HER SING SONGS OF PRAISE. IS ANY ONE OF YOU SICK? LET HIM/HER ASK AN ELDER TO PRAY.
The Apostle is asking questions and gives the answers himself.
He is telling us the remedy of having a healthy soul and a healthy church.
What James is saying is this:
IN ORDER TO HAVE A HEALTHY CHURCH, THE CHURCH FIRST MUST BE A PRAYING CHURCH.
The Apostles did not start preaching the Gospel unless first they devoted themselves in prayer.
Then James adds, “Confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other, that you may be healed.”
James is also suggesting that in order to be an effective and healthy church, confession of sins to God only is not sufficient but also must be done to the fellow Christian if necessary.
Jesus said, “If you are offering your gift at the table and then remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matt 5:23-24)
In a very real sense it is easier to confess our sins to God than to confess them to our fellowman; yet in sin there are two barriers to be removed – the barrier it sets up between God and us, and the barrier it sets up between us and our fellowmen. If we wish to see both of these barriers be removed, both kinds of confessions must be made. This was the custom of the early church, they used to meet two or three times a week “to confess their faults to one another and pray for each other that they might be healed.”
There will be no reconciliation without confession. “Therefore”, as James states, “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
6/10/07 HOW TO CONFRONT ADVERSARIES
Almost every day I have conversation with people, including clergy, who have problems with people.
The human being is a complex being. Let’s face it, sometimes there are people we must live with whom we just can’t stand. He/she may be one of your family members or relatives whom you only see on Thanksgivings or Christmas but that person manages to ruin your holiday year after year.
In every church we find some people who can not stand each other. They can’t work together, they can’t pray together, even they don’t greet each other.
Yet every Sunday, during, “THE KISS OF PEACE” they sing; “THE CHURCH HAS BECOME ONE PERSON, THE KISS HAS BEEN GIVEN AS A BOND OF FULLNESS. ENMITY HAS DISAPPEARED AND LOVE HAS SPREAD AMONG US ALL.”
ARE WE LYING?
I am not saying that our feelings and affections should be the same with every person, naturally we feel closer to some people then to others. Even Jesus and the apostles had that experience.
As human beings, we want to love and be loved. As Christians, we are commanded to show our love to others. But, let’s be frank, loving someone who is a constant source of irritation is not an easy task. It can not be successfully accomplished over night, more over, can’t be accomplished without the help of God.
Let’s be honest and accept the fact that, if someone is annoying you, don’t forget you may be annoying the same person yourself. We have to understand the weak side of the person and treat him/her accordingly. For example, we speak loudly to a person who is blind forgetting that he is not deaf as well. Sometimes a person who has one or two emotional “hot spots” will annoy us so much that we write him/her off as incapable of any healthy relational attitudes.
One thing I want to mention, Always remember that the other person is NOT the enemy! Satan is, who wants to destroy relationships and promote bad feelings. The Apostle says, “…LEAVE NO ROOM OR FOOTHOLD FOR THE DEVIL – GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO HIM.” (Eph 4:27)
How then to confront the adversary? Leave room to God, give Him an opportunity, He will work it out for you.
6/17/07 A Father’s Faithfulness
It’s a fascinating story that comes out of the 1989 earthquake which almost flattened ARMENIA. This deadly tremor killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of all the confusion of the earthquake, a father rushed to his son’s school. When he arrived there he discovered the building was flat as a pancake.
Standing there looking at what was left of the school, the father remembered a promise he made to his son. “No matter what, I’ll always be there for you!”. Tears began to fill his eyes. It looked like a hopeless situation, but he could not take his mind off his promise.
Remembering that his son’s classroom was in the back right corner of the building, the father rushed there and started digging through the rubble. As he was digging other grieving parents arrived, clutching their hearts, saying: “My son! My daughter!” They tried to pull him off of what was left of the school saying: “It’s too late!” “They’re dead!” You can’t help!” “Go home!” Even a police officer and a firefighter told him he should go home. To everyone who tried to stop him he said, “Are you going to help me now?” They did not answer him and he continued digging for his son, stone by stone.
He needed to know for himself: “Is my boy alive or is he dead?” This man dug for eight hours and then twelve and then twenty-four and then thirty-six. Finally in the thirty-eighth hour, as he pulled back a boulder, he heard his son’s voice. He screamed his son’s name, “ARMAND!” and a voice answered him, “Dad?” It’s me Dad!”
Then the boy added these priceless words, “I told the other kids not to worry. I told ‘em that if you were alive, you’d save me and when you saved me, they’d be saved. You promised that, Dad. ‘No matter what, you said, ‘I’ll always be there for you!’ and here you are Dad. You kept your promise!” (Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, Chicken Soup for the Soul)
The father of five children had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which of them should have the present. “Who is the most obedient?” he asked. “Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?” Five small voices answered in unison, “Okay, dad, you get the toy.”
6/24/07 THE WAY WE SHOULD PRAY
There are two ways to communicate with God. a) Reading His Word, the Bible. God’s way of talking to us. b) The other is prayer. Our way of talking to God.
People ask me how should we pray? And when should we pray?
WE MUST PRAY CONSTANTLY.
We must make a habit to pray regularly. For Daniel it is said that “THREE TIMES A DAY HE (DANIEL) GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND PRAYED, GIVING THANKS TO HIS GOD, JUST AS HE HAD DONE BEFORE.” (Daniel 6:10) For Daniel it was a life style to regularly pray.
The Bible admonishes us to pray constantly. “THEY SHOULD ALWAYS PRAY AND NOT GIVE UP”. (Luke 18:1)
WE SHOULD PRAY HONESTLY:
Let’s not forget when we are praying we are talking to our heavenly Father who knows everything. We must be transparent and honest with Him. If we are hurt, we must tell Him our feelings. If we have complaint for things that are not going the way we want them to, we must express ourselves and our displeasure. (read Psalms 86 over and over and see how David talks to the Lord)
WE MUST PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE:
When you were a little boy or girl were you afraid of asking anything from your dad? The Bible gives us the permission to go to God with confidence. “LET US THEN APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE, SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED.” (Heb 4:16) It means telling God exactly how we feel about ourselves and about the circumstances.
Prayer is NOT a one way communication. It involves listening as well as talking. I suggest to read the Bible first (God will talk to you) then pray (you will be talking to God).
Prayer is not always verbal. We can lift up our souls or pour out our hearts to God without speaking any words, just thinking them. Don’t feel bad if sometimes you don’t know how or what to pray, the Spirit will help you. “…The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Sometimes written prayers are good to read.
Regardless of what discipline we follow, what methods we use, the most important thing is to pray. CONSTANTLY, HONESTLY AND CONFIDENTLY.
7/8/07 “HE WHO HAS EARS, LET HIM HEAR” said Jesus
The Bible tells us that God speaks to us in four different ways.
1) God reveals himself in nature. Psalm 19 describes this kind of revelation: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (v1).
Romans 1:20 also speaks of the revelation of God in nature. “God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” Anyone who has seen nature knows enough about God to seek him out.
The revelation of God in nature proclaims that God exists and that he should be followed. But although this is a true revelation, it is limited. It doesn’t tell us anything of God’s moral character. More important, it doesn’t tell us anything of his love. It has never led anybody to faith.
2) God reveals himself in history. In the Old testament, God spoke to people personally and intervened in a miraculous way by altering the rules of nature. For example, in delivering the Jews from Egypt, he revealed his character and his moral low. He delivered the Israelites from bondage so they would follow him and obey his commandments.
The chief revelation of God in history is Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews describes how “God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Heb 1:1,2). In Jesus Christ we discover things about God we don’t learn from nature. We learn that God is a person, that God is loving. Above all we find the way of salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection.
3) God reveals himself in the Bible. God’s written revelation is crucial, because whatever we say about God is based on his revelation in the Bible. The Bible is the record of what God has done, focusing on what he has done through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament anticipates Christ’s coming. The four Gospels detail his earthly ministry. The Epistles and the other books of the New Testament explain the rest of the Bible for our benefit. More than nature and history, the Bible leads us to seek God.
4) God reveals himself through the Holy Spirit. Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, a person experiences rebirth. This is the most personal form of God’s revelation. Without the Spirit, we cannot understand spiritual things. They are “foolishness” to us (1Cor 2:14). We can’t understand the revelation of God in nature, history, or the Bible. But the Holy Spirit makes us alive in Christ. He gives us a new nature. He gives us a new capacity to see God in nature and history and to read the Bible with new understanding.
The same process is still at work today. If we want to know God, I can read the Bible and pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate what I read. Then he will open the Scriptures, my eyes, and my mind so I can know him better.
What is the Feast of Transfiguration that Christian Churches of all denominations celebrate once a year?
This event is mentioned in the three Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Remember, when any event is mentioned in more than one Gospel, we better pay more attention to it.
In chapter 16, when Peter confessed that Jesus was the Son of the living God, Jesus then said, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His glory.” (Matt 16:28)
A week after He made that promise, Jesus took the three disciples, Peter, John and James on Mount Hermon to show His glory and what He will look like when He comes back in His glory. In a way it was a portrayal of the future event miniature form. (please read 2Peter 1:16-21 and 1Thes 4:16-18)
The other reason Jesus went on the Mount was, to pray. He wanted to understand the will of His Father concerning the crucifixion that was about to take place. Luke the Evangelist, gives more detail in chapter 9:30. “Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His departure, which was about to come to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”
Every step of His life, Jesus wanted to be sure that He was fulfilling His Father’s will. Even the way He was about to die, on the cross.
One day He said to His disciples: “ MY FOOD IS TO DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME AND TO FULFILL HIS WORK.” (Jn 4:34)
And the disciples seeing Moses and Elijah were perplexed, since they were great prophets of the past. Peter suggested to pitch three tents and stay with then. But God from heaven interrupted Peter. The Scripture says, “While he (Peter) was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, who I love. Listen to him!”
So, as Jesus’ desire was to understand His Father’s will, and fulfill it in its fullness, so must we, Jesus said: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (Jn 14:23)
7/22/07 DON’T LOOK DOWN ON A CHILD, RATHER BE LIKE A CHILD
“SEE THAT YOU DON NOT LOOK DOWN ON ONE OF THESE CHILDREN.”
What is a child like?
An innocent child doesn’t try to impress his Father to gain his Father’s attention and love. A child does what he does because he knows his Father loves him and because he loves his Father. Why complicate it? When a child receives a gift, he leaps in joy to express his delight. When a child imitates his father, he does it because he admires his father. When a child obeys, its because he respects his father, even his father’s authority.
He’s not looking to become great. He’s looking to be grateful. He’s looking to imitate his Father. He’s looking to obey out of reverence.
Here’s the point – in our relationship with God, we adults are in the same position as our children, except that we don’t know it. We sometimes behave as if we are running our lives, and that we are in control. We feel capable, and sometimes to such an extent that we feel we don’ really need God.
We need to know, that we are not in control. And like a child, to be always looking up to someone for security and for help. We have to remind ourselves that we cannot handle life with our own wisdom or capabilities. We have no absolute control over our life.
We look at the news everyday. We see all kinds of forces – natural, social, political or economic forces at work around us – every day, over which we have little or no influence at all.
But we know we have Someone who is wiser, bigger and stronger that we are.
The child knows that. The child often looks around to see if his parents are around. If they are not, they’ll start to cry, because they feel insecure.
Today, like a child, we must humbly acknowledge that there is this “Adult” in our life – our heavenly Father. He is that Someone who is bigger and stronger, that Someone we can look up to. We are not in control be He is.
Jesus wants us to look away from ourselves – from seeing how great we are, and be like a child – to see how great the Father is. He is the King in the kingdom of heaven, and we are to look up to Him.
This perspective is critical, if we want to stay strong in a chaotic world like ours today. Our God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He will accomplish His purposes on earth and no one can change His plans.
7/29/07 SERVING IS HARD, BUT PLEASES GOD
Love starts as an attitude that is willing to do the best for the other person. That (love) attitude becomes an action, serving what is best for the other person.
The first step then is attitude, then action (serving), then comes the feelings. Good feelings result from the loving attitude and action.
You and I were put on this planet for contribution. That is for others. The Apostle Paul says, “NONE OF US LIVE TO OURSELVES…” (Rom 14:7)
When God created you He had in mind to add to life on earth, not just to consume.
Serving God and the people around you is part of the PLAN AND THE PURPOSE OF GOD.
Our motive for serving God and others, however, should never be what we will get out of it. If that becomes our motive, we are not giving with a clean heart, and God will not reward us with His full blessing. But if we serve because we want to give, we will get back much more than we give. We will grow spiritually and in our capacity to serve even more affectively.
The more we serve, the more God will give us opportunities to serve. And to serve Him and others is a God given privilege to us!
The Bible says, “(God) HAS CREATED US FOR A LIFE OF GOOD DEEDS, WHICH HE HAS ALREADY PREPARED US TO DO.”
If Jesus, the Master, said “THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE.”, how much more must we realize that God has put us here to be His servants.
Paul writing to the Church in Rome says, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus…”. Then when people thought highly about him he says, “What is Paul? Only a servant…”
It is not an easy task to serve, we all like to be served. It requires humility.
We have a lot of opportunities to serve in the Church and outside the Church. We have to find our “Assignments”, our gifts and the capacity. Age and education has nothing to do in becoming an affective servant of God. Your willingness counts!
Life becomes more meaningful and purposeful, and we become more effective when we serve people as of the Lord. The Scripture says, “SERVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, AS IF YOU WERE SERVING THE LORD, NOT MEN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE LORD WILL REWARD EVERYONE FOR WHATEVER GOOD HE DOES.” (Eph 8:7-8)
8/5/07 “WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS”
That is what people said after seeing the paralytic healed. In today’s Scripture something unusual took place, and people who saw it were amazed.
The Gospel of Luke, the physician, mentions that “Jesus healed many who had various diseases.” (Lk 1:24). He drove out an evil spirit, healed Peter’s mother-in-law and the leper.
In all the healings people came to Jesus willingly. They came with faith, trust and expectation. Just remember, Jesus did not heal every sick person. As a matter of fact in some cases, He could not heal them because of their disbelief.
In chapter two of Mark’s Gospel, we read that as soon as people heard that Jesus was in Capernaum, they rushed to hear Him speak. The room was packed. We read that inside and outside the house was full of people. “SO MANY GATHERED THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM LEFT, NOT EVEN OUTSIDE THE DOOR.”
Years ago that used to be the case in Armenia. During the Communist Regime, when preaching the Gospel was prohibited, I was privileged to preach in large homes when inside and outside and the rooms used to be packed. Many went back because there were no standing room. People were hungry for the Word of God. They came with faith and expectation and God, seeing that hunger, blessed them.
Nowadays we have plenty of room in the churches and not enough people to fill them.
The Scripture says that EVERYONE WHO COMES TO HIM MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM. (Heb 11:6)
The “EARNESTLY SEEKING” part is missing in our lives today. We come to church but are we “earnestly seeking God”?
The four people who brought the paralytic to Jesus were EARNESTLY seeking and expecting a miracle to happen. That EARNEST desire and spirit made them overcome all the obstacles and difficulties in order “TO LOWER DOWN” their request to Jesus, which was the healing of the sick one. Jesus seeing their faith healed the paralytic, and when people saw the miracle, “THEY WERE AMAZED, SAYING, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS”. (verse 12)
You too will be amazed, when you see miracles happen in YOUR life when you go to Christ with expectation and seek Him EARNESTLY.
As the saying goes, “you haven’t seen anything yet”.
8/12/07 THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY
The Armenian word used for the Assumption is, “VERAPOKHOOM”, which means “transport up”.
This Feast is called “The Tabernacle Feast of Assumption”.
After the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, much loved disciple, Apostle John, per our Lord’s request, became the guardian and the supporter of Mary. (John 19:26-27)
According to the tradition, Mary lived in Jerusalem the rest of her life and she died at the age of 50.
All the apostles were present at her burial, except Bartholomew, who was in Armenia preaching the Gospel of Christ. After a short while, St. Bartholomew returned to Jerusalem. When he was informed of Mary’s death and burial, he insisted on going to the grave and see her for the last time.
The apostles gathered in the cemetery, trying to satisfy Bartholomew’s request. However, according to the tradition, when they opened the grave Mary’s body was not there. The apostles assumed that Jesus had taken her into heaven to be with Him.
I should mention here that this tradition did not become a teaching of the Church until the 9th century.
When you read the Gospels, you can see that Mary’s life, as a mother of our Savior, was not easy. She knew what was going to happen to her Son Jesus. Do you remember, when Joseph and Mary brought the Baby Jesus to the temple to be presented to God and the Temple, what Simeon said?
“THE CHILD IS DESTINED TO CAUSE THE FALLING AND RISING OF MANY IN ISRAEL, AND TO BE A SIGN THAT WILL BE SPOKEN AGAINST…SO THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS WILL BE REVEALED. AND A SWORD WILL PIERCE YOUR OWN SOUL TOO.” (Luke 2:34-35)
Mary faithfully took care of the Baby Jesus, followed Him wherever He went, and painfully as the Scripture says, “TREASURED UP ALL THESE THINGS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.” (Luke 2:19)
MARY LISTENED TO GOD’S COMMANDS AND FAITHFULLY FULFILLED THEM.
8/19/07 PEACE AND TRANQUILITY WE ALL STRIVE FOR
“PEACE I LEAVE WITH; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU I DO NOT GIVE YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES, DO NOT LET YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.” (John 14:23)
What is Peace?
Peace is, having calmness, freedom from fear, and a tranquil life, in spite of circumstances, tragedies, troubles, tribulations and the chaos of the world that we are living in. Today, people, families and nations are striving to have peace. Some build their houses in “peaceful areas”, near the ocean and on the hills, in order to live a peaceful life. But after a while they become the usual and they find out peace cannot be obtained in material things.
Peace is a gift from God to all of us and must start within and not without. God has promised it to all of us, and its is not something that we can generate. Godly peace does not depend upon outer circumstances, rather it is given freely to those who seek.
Most of the time we loose our peace, because we become anxious for many things. The Bible says, “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING, PRESENT YOUR REQUEST TO GOD.” (Phil 4:6) We must take our anxieties, concerns and worries to God and leave them there, believing that God will take care of them better than we can. The Bible says: “YOU (GOD) WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE HIM WHOSE MIND IS STEADFAST, BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN YOU.” We often forget that God is more concerned about our needs than we are. He has promised to give us more than we ask, we imagine, pray and expect. (Eph 3:20) But we have to go to Him with the attitude that He is, willing and able to take away our worries and anxieties.
PEOPLE PROMISE PEACE: “Travel with peace” – by insurance companies “A little peace in heaven” – by entertainers “Peaceful and secure retirement” – by investment agencies
Only Jesus said, MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU, I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES” (John 14:27) . The peace that “transcends all understanding”, (Phil 4:7) comes only through Jesus Christ our Lord. Go to Him!!
8/26/07 WHAT SHOULD CHURCH BE LIKE? “OFFER HOSPITALITY TO ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT GRUMBLING” (1Peter 4:9)
To be a hospitable person or a church, is a God given gift.
When we say “Church” often we thing of the physical building, and unfortunately most of the times we admire and pay more attention to the building, the sanctuary, than the spiritual church, the Body of Christ, the believers.
A few years ago this church came up with a Mission Statement:
“TO KNOW CHRIST AND TO MAKE CHRIST KNOWN … THROUGH WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE.”
When we came up with this Mission Statement we had in mind to have a Church with serving others.
Having the kind of “serving others” in the life of the church will help build us up into a responsible community, where we really care for and equip one another. It will provide an opportunity to minister, equip and guide others.
That is what we, as a church, did last Sunday. Made our Annual Picnic an opportunity to minister the Community at large showing them the love of God.
The purpose of running a picnic, golf tournament and bazaar should not only be fundraising projects, but to bring people together to show them the love of God.
If our involvement in the church does not “spur one another on toward love and good deeds”, as the Apostle says (Heb 10:24), if being involved in Christian Communities just for the matter of receiving and does not include in serving and giving others, then the church has not really become the church in the biblical sense that God intends. We admit that sometimes we fall short in this are to some degree, but we should not stop striving for the kind of vital Christian Community where we can worship God through giving, serving and equipping each other to be in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church in its various ministries should be a community to attract others to Christ. The Apostle says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”. (1Cor 10:31)
That is what you, as a Church did last Sunday to some 1200 visitors to our Picnic.
YOU DESERVE TO BE CONGRATULATED! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
9/2/07 PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL DRYNESS
Joy is the most natural expression of life living in close fellowship with the living God. That is why David says, “O, Lord, the king rejoices in your strength…surely you have granted him (David) eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.” (Psalms 21:1-6)
Unfortunately some of us either have not experienced the real joy of the Lord or lost it. Sometimes our heart does not sing for joy, in fact, any joyful feeling seems far away and all our efforts to bring about such a feeling fails. In last week’s “TIME” Magazine’s writing about Mother Teresa, the saint in one of her letters writes, “Jesus has a very special love for me - The silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, - Listen and do not hear.” It seems at one point Mother Teresa is describing the absence of joy in her heart.
Sometimes we feel that the living God is dead in us. The Bible readings, church services and sermons do not speak to us. Our devotional life becomes empty, mere habits. We have no desire to pray and the Sacraments of the church become indifferent. Christian virtues strike us as dull and unattractive. Our conscience becomes insensitive and blunt. And, eventually life itself becomes meaningless.
WHY?
To over come spiritual dryness we have to understand first its causes. Here are some of the reasons we feel spiritually dry:
Prescription #1 – Search your heart. Most of the time sin and disobedient to God puts us in a dry life. That is why self examination and searching of our hearts and souls are very important. David pleads with God, saying, “SEARCH ME O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART; TEST ME AND KNOW MY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS. SEE IF THERE IS ANY OFFENSIVE WAY IN ME, AND LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
Prescription #2 – Give time to God. It is not sufficient to come to church, read your Bible or hear a sermon. Daily quiet time is essential. Spiritual dryness may also be the reason when we do not give time to the Lord. When we do not pray.
Prescription #3 – Confessing and forgiving. Confession and forgiveness of our sins, and forgiving OTHERS in our hearts will bring the joy of the Lord in our hearts. Though I have a few more to give, I ran out of space. Let’s take the above dosages and apply them daily in our lives.
9/9/07 BEING A CHRISTIAN vs JUST BEING RELIGIOUS
There is a chasm of difference separating the true Christian from the person who just considers himself religious.
Being religious focuses on man’s search for God. It emphasizes doing in order to please God – living right and morally, going to church, giving money to Christian causes. Being religious focuses on the individual, and salvation depends on what the person does.
Being a Christian focuses on what God has done for you. You cannot be doing things in order to please him. You must simply love and believe in him because your salvation is based on your faith. When you are a Christian, you do good things, love God’s Word, love fellow believers, but you do those things out of love for God. You know they do not save you. Christ saves you. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.- not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2: 8,9)
Being a Christian means you both worship God and desire a relationship with him. Your love focuses on God, not you, and what God has done for you.
9/16/07 EXALTATION OF THE CROSS (KHACHVERATZ)
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross memorializes the last of the episodes of the Cross as recorded in the history of Christian Church and as such it is universally recognized in all churches, as well as in the history of many nations.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross represents one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church. (The other four are, Christmas, Easter, Transfiguration and Assumption). It is also the oldest of all four Cross feasts observed by the Armenian Church.
Three different historical traditions have been transmitted to us about the great feast.
According to the first tradition, the Apostle James, who was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, had elevated the Cross in public, saying the following prayer.
“TO THY CROSS, O CHRIST, WE WILL BOW DOWN.”
Another tradition tells us that Queen Helen, after discovering the Cross of Christ, gloriously placed it in the Cathedral of Holy Resurrection of Jerusalem.
The third instance to which special importance is given in the Christian Church is the Glorious return of the Cross of Christ. The date in which Jerusalem was captured by Persians and the Cross had been carried away, it was 610 A.D. The Emperor personally placed the Cross in the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection in a glorious public ceremony.
In this event the Armenian nation also have its own share.
When the Cross was emancipated from Persia, it was brought first to the City of Garin (a City in Armenia) and it was carried through Armenia into Constantinople and then to Jerusalem. Patriach Zakariah of Jerusalem decorated the Cross with roses and flowers and erected it on the hill of Calvary. On this occasion the Church of Jerusalem celebrated in emancipation of the Cross of Christ with great honor and much enthusiasm in order to inspire the people with the spiritual meaning of the Cross.
St. Paul has preached and written a lot on the Cross. To one point he writes to the Galation Church:
“MAY I NEVER BOAST EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHICH THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME, AND I TO THE WORLD” (Gal 6:14)
9/23/07 THE MESSAGE THAT PUZZLES MANY
Today, the Scripture reading is from John’s Gospel chapter three. It puzzled Nicodemus, the scholar, the Rabbi, and it puzzles many of us today.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN AGAIN?
At least once a year we read this passage in our church, and every time when we baptize a child.
Nicodemus, the Jewish Rabbi, comes to Jesus by night and declares his belief saying, “Rabbi, (to Jesus), we know you are a teacher and who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him” (3:2)
Nicodemus accepted the fact that: (a) Jesus was a teacher who was sent from God. (b) Jesus was performing miracles by the power of God.
But, when Jesus said, “Unless a man (any person) is born of water and Spirit, he/she can not enter the kingdom of God.” He did not understand what it means to BE BORN AGAIN.
Nicodemus was puzzled and asked – “How can this be?”
Here is the key: the crowd believed what they saw Jesus did, but they did not put their trust on what Jesus said to them. So was Nicodemus, he believed what he saw, but did not understand what Jesus told him. Nowhere in the Scripture are we told that people come to faith in Christ through seeing. Instead, we are told that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message heard through the word of Christ.” (Rom 10:17)
Anyone of us who professes to be Christian solely because of what we have seen is in the same category as the people in Jerusalem and as Nicodemus. We must take the Word of God literally and put it into practice.
The Bible says, “HE (JESUS) CAME TO HIS OWN BUT HIS OWN DID NOT RECEIVE HIM. YET TO ALL WHO RECEIVED HIM, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD – CHILDREN BORN NOT OF NATURAL DESCENT, NOR OF HUMAN DECISION – BUT BORN OF GOD.” (John 1:11-13)
Are you born of God? That is what the Church is asking you and me today.
10/14/07 WHAT’S IN THE NUMBER?
During my more than 35 years of preaching. I have preached many times on THE LOVE OF GOD. I am sure you have heard many times yourself that God is love and that God loves everyone regardless of our race, color, nationality and religion.
But the sermon series that, God willing, I will be preaching on John 3:16. I assure you , you have not heard the same sermon before.
I hope that after you hear these sermons. John 3:16 will be a new source of strength and inspiration to you and not a mere verse from the Bible.
THE PERSONAL LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS YOU!
First of all, how do we define love?
The American Heritage Dictionary defines love as “an intense affection for another person based on familial or personal ties”. Often this “intense affection” we love other people, or we say we love other people, when we are attracted to them and when they make us feel good. Notice that a key phrase in the dictionary definition of love is the phrase “based on”. This phrase implies that we love conditionally, in other words, we love someone because they fulfill a condition that we require before we can love them. How many times have you heard or said, “I love you because you are cute”, or “I love you because you take good care of me”, or I love you because you are fun to be with”?
But there is also the “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” that parents have for their children and grandchildren. Through good and bad times we assure them that when they need us and we will always be there to help them. God’s love goes beyond that. God’s love transcends the human definition of love, even to a point that it will become hard for us to comprehend.
I hope you will not miss these series as we will study John 3:16, the most powerful and inspiring verse in the entire Bible.
10/21/07 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN REJECTED?
In today’s Scripture reading the Church is teaching us about the Mission of Jesus and His rejection by His own people.
After Jesus returned from the desert where He was tempted by Satan, He came to His own town, Nazareth. As it was His custom, He went to Synagogue. He was 30 years old, He was a Rabbi and now He was authorized to teach and preach. They brought the Scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus, knowing the Scripture, He opened the Scroll, found the place in Isaiah (61:1) written some 700 years before and read the following: “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPTON ME… TO PREACH GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE (GOD) SENT ME TO PROCLAIM FREEDOM FOR THE PRISONERS AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT FOR THE BLIND, TO RELEASE THE OPPRESSED.”
It is ironic, on one hand when people heard Him preach, the Scripture says that, “ALL SPOKE WELL OF HIM AND WERE AMAZED AT THE GRACIOUS WORDS THAT CAME FROM HIS LIPS” Later we read that “PEOPLE IN THE SYNAGOGUE WERE FURIOUS WHEN THEY HEARD THIS… THEY GOT UP, DROVE HIM OUT OF THE TOWN, AND TOOK HIM TO THE BROW OF THE HILL, IN ORDER TO THROW HIM DOWN THE CLIFF.” (Luke 4:28-29)
How vicious a person can be? The Son of God preaching the good news, promising and offering them healing and forgiveness, has been rejected and they tried to kill Him. It happened also to the apostles and the followers of Christ.
Have you ever been rejected by people and felt down? Just remember Jesus, the Son of God, who did nothing wrong “WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN.” (Is 53:3)
The way to overcome rejection and not take it personally, I suggest to use St. Paul’s “formula”.
”I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AND I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME.” (Gal 2:20)
Does a dead person feel pain and insult?
10/28/07 GOD GAVE HIS SON AND WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GIVE IN RETURN?
For the last couple of Sundays we have been studying the Gospel of John, Chapter 3 verse 16.
In this chapter we see the generosity of God, where God, without any reservation sent His Son Jesus in order to save us from our sins.
The question then comes, in return what do we have to give or sacrifice to God? In other words, in response to God’s sacrifice what do WE have to do in order to receive that salvation?
The biblical emphasis in NOT on what you and I have to sacrifice or do but on what God through Jesus has done for you and me.
No matter how hard we work for the church and society, we can not earn our salvation. If it were so, Jesus did not have to come.
The Bible clearly says that,
“IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH – AND THIS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD – NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST.” (Eph 2:8-9)
Being a Christian is, accepting the gift God gave us and then living as He directs us through His Word and Christ’s example. So we let God’s love flow through us so we can love others.
Remember? “GOD GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON” just for you! He would have given His Son, even if you were the only one on this planet.
Some people look at sacrifice, or giving ourselves, our time and energy to God negatively. If we think this way it becomes a burden and not a joy.
For Christians, however, sacrifice should be nothing more than a discipline that permits them to live the kind of life they have chosen. That is to please God, our Creator. This disciplined life would be abundant not only in the present world, but it promises eternal life and rewards.
The Scripture says, “WE LOVE (HIM) BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVES US.” (1John 4:19) Dedicating ourselves to Him (as our parents did when we were baptized) should be a joyful response toward His love.
11/4/07 THE REASON GOD LOVES YOU!
Today is the fourth in a series on the Gospel according to John. In chapter 3 verse 16 we read:
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT IS YOU AND ME, THAT HE GAVE HIS BEST, HIS ONE AND THE ONLY SON JESUS.
The Psalmist says: “BECAUSE YOUR LOVING KINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE YOU” (Psalm 63:3)
The other day I was reading one of the messages in “Our Daily Bread” (incidentally, you may obtain a copy found in the foyer.) I found it appropriate to our subject and I want to share it with you.
In his book Object of his (God’s) affection, Scotty Smith shares his journey of learning to personally experience the passionate love of God.
As a young boy, he lost his mother suddenly in a car accident. Because of this, he closed off his wounded heart to others – including God. Several years later he received Jesus as his Savior and began to learn the truths of Christianity. Yet his relationship with the Lord in those days was , as he described, “side by side rather than face to face. Important, but not intimate.”
Do you feel that way? You talk to the Lord a little bit, read His words in the Bible, but don’t sense a passionate connection with Him like that expressed by David in Psalm chapter 63.
The Author suggests ways to overcome the obstacles in intimacy, from which we may glean these two ideas:
A – Live honestly – Open up to the Lord about the pain of your losses and admit your failures – “draw near to God and He will draw near to you” tells the Scripture (James 4:8 and 1John 1:9)
B – Ponder and believe the Scriptures about God’s character and His longing for you. “Your loving kindness is better than life” says the Psalmist (Ps 63:3, 139 and Eph 1:3-6)
Beloved, being close in relationship with God takes time and effort, but is worth the time and the effort. After all, Christ came down to lead us to have intimate relationship with God the Father through Him.
11/11/07 TRUSTING IN THE LOVE OF GOD
John, who is also called “The Beloved Disciple of Christ”, unveils the Deity of Christ. He tells us more about Jesus being God than any other Gospel writers.
In this chapter Jesus, after discussing with Nicodemus on the most sensitive subject, that is how to be born a new, He goes on and tells about the UNMEASURABLE LOVE OF THE FATHER.
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD,” Jesus says, (that is you and me) “THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM (that is in Jesus) SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” (John 3:16)
This is the best-known and most often preached verse in the entire Bible. I know I have preached to you on this verse but today I am going to speak in a different perspective.
This verse is a masterly and moving summary of the Gospel, cast in terms of the love of God.
As the apostle says, “the unfathomable depth of the love of God” is stressed in this verse, it seems that John had no other way of measuring God’s love, therefore he says, “GOD SO LOVED…. We must consider here a reference to Jesus’ incarnation and His crucifixion. Giving up His glory and throne.
God could not have expressed His love more than this.
The love of God is a grace to us, therefore we receive the Love of God by His grace. The Love that we do not deserve.
Today John stretches the NEED OF THAT FAITH in order to enjoy the benefit and the blessings of the love of God. In chapter 1:2 John writes: “Those who receive the Son, that is who believes in His name will receive the new, endless, supernatural life of the kingdom of God. It is very clear, that this eternal life is not granted automatically. Where the response is unbelief and rejection, the result is condemnation. But God’s purpose is NOT to condemn us but to save us, that is why He is giving us the opportunity to love Him in return and put our trust in Him for our salvation.
“FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEM THE WORLD, BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM.” (John 3:17)
This morning we are going to discuss the way to enjoy the love of our heavenly Father. To see ”HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE THE FATHER HAS LAVISHED ON US.” (1John 3:1)
11/18/07 IN EVERYTHING BE THANKFUL TO GOD
DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING BUT IN EVERYTHING, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUEST TO GOD (Phil 4:6)
The letter to the Philippians was written from jail, where the Apostle Paul was. Being in jail, of course Paul had many things he would be worried about. For his health, concern for the church and the believers, yet he was writing to the church not to worry or get anxious about anything.
Human nature is prone to worry. We think by worrying we can change situations. Paul is suggesting instead, to be thankful for what we have and, with a thankful heart to take our problems and concerns to God in prayer, knowing that there is “nothing too hard for God’s power; and nothing too small for His fatherly care.”
Every prayer must surely include thanks for the great privilege of prayer itself. Unfortunately we take everything for granted and grumble for the things we do not have, instead of thanking for the things we already have.
Someone has said, “the unthankful person will even grumble at the accommodation in heaven if he ever gets there”.
If we thankfully present our needs to God, then as Paul says, the peace of God will fill our hearts and guide our lives. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)
When we thankfully approach the Lord we must remember three things.
A) We must remember the love of God, whichever desires only what is best for us. B) We must remember the wisdom of God, which alone knows what is best for us. C) We must remember the power of God, which alone can bring to pass that which is best for us.
The person who prays with perfect trust in the love, wisdom and power of God will only experience the peace of God.
May God help us, during this THANKSGIVING Day to learn not to be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present our requests to the almighty God, our heavenly Father.
HAVE A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND A BLESSED THANKSGIVING
11/25/07 IN ORDER TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH GOD WE MUST HAVE FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
The Church, through the Scripture, is teaching us the importance of having GOD PLEASING FAITH. Frankly speaking, sometimes we don’t know what faith itself is, or we are not aware of whether we have GOD PLEASING faith or mental faith, that is we think we have faith.
Faith is the connecting tie to God. Only through faith we can have fellowship with God and understand the will of God for our lives.
Through faith we accept the gifts of God through Jesus Christ. Through faith we receive grace and forgiveness. By GOD PLEASING FAITH we can approach God and present our requests to Him. By faith the whole nature of man can be changed to the better.
It is loosely used “We believe in God,” but do we really know what believing in God means?
In the Letter to the Hebrews the Apostle gives the definition of faith, that is, the meaning of it. He says:
“FAITH IS THE ASSURANCES, THE CONFIRMATION, THE TITLE-DEED OF THE THINGS WE HOPE FOR, BEING THE PROOF OF THINGS WE DO NOT SEE AND THE CONVICTION OF THEIR REALTY – FAITH PERCEIVING AS REAL FACT WHAT IS NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES.” (Hebrews 11:1 amplified translation)
The Oxford American Dictionary says faith is: a) Reliance or trust in a person or thing b) Belief in religious doctrine c) A system of religious belief, the Christian faith d) Loyalty, sincerity
The entire chapter of 11 of Hebrews talks about the supremacy and superiority of faith. Gives us the names of the persons and floods us with examples of people who lived by faith and showed it by their deeds.
The Christian who says he/she had GOD PLEASING faith must show by his/her deeds.
The Apostle James makes it very clear when he writes: “FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION, IS DEAD.” (James 2:17) What the Apostle is saying is, that God pleasing faith must produce God pleasing life and work.
How do we know if we have God pleasing faith? And how can we obtain it? We will see.