Children In Our Church During Our Thanksgiving Celebration On December 28, 2014

Children In Our Church During Our Thanksgiving Celebration On December 28, 2014.

This is the first time that I uploaded a video on youtube. This video was taken by one of our young people who have borrowed the camera. She wanted to record what she had taught to perform this action dance by his Sunday School Students (children) in just 1 one day practice.

The Free Pictures Or Photos Online That You Can Download For Your Blogs

It has been a quite time I have no post for the Philippines Christians Journal and in my other blogs, for the reason that we are very busy in the month of November and December.

And beside that, we are now building the Sunday school department for children here in our church property. We thank the Lord for the long desire and prayer that we could build this building - and now it is already to be fulfilled.

Since, the front area of our church building have been occupied by the provincial road, our children's Sunday school department was transferred beside or nearest the pulpit where I am preaching during Sunday worship service, and at the same time having children's Sunday School - very difficult because of the disturbance.

Now the new building is in a distance where we can have two departments - for Junior and the primary.

We have a few photos for this building while I was putting some coconut lumber for roofing. Only two of us working for this building, a carpenter from our church building and me. Thanks God for the other members who help to finish the roofing this week.

We were able to borrow a camera to picture for this. Look at the photos below.

To tell the truth about the pictures I used to post in this blog, mostly taken from the special occasions when can borrow a camera, because we do not have a good quality camera. We have a camera that is built-in with the cheapest cellphone that takes a bad photo.

I have my other blogs which I used to download photos from online. You can try see my other blogs in the links:
1. http://asiatravelpromo.blogspot.com
2. http://isabel-illustrations.blogspot.com/
3. http://your-making-money-online.blogspot.com
4. http://alrenpages.com

The Free Pictures Or Photos Online That You Can Download For Your Blogs

We thank God for the free downloads of Photos online. I will post here some of the websites that you can download pictures whatever you want, they are for free.

1. Big Foto - this websites has all kinds of photos around the globe, from continents to continents, nations to nations. Visit the website and you can see for yourself. They have the good quality photos and you can download them for free.

2. Dreams Time - you can download here the abstract images from animals, natures, architectures, holidays, industries, clip arts and etc.

3. Free Photos Bank - Every photo you need is found here. Thousands of photos from around the world; transportation, life, objects, natures, fruits and foods, computers and technology, architectures, abstract and miscellaneous.

4. SXC.hu it has thousands of high quality images taken around the world by amateur photographers. You can have various searching options and over 350,000 images.

5. Flickr.com gives you the privilege to share, store and search. It has plenty of images available for you to use. Flickr is free, the only thing you must do is to register if you want to upload and edit your own images.

The International Care Ministries Foundation Incorporated

Today is the day that International Care Ministries Foundation Incorporated in Circuit 6 having the Christmas and Thanksgiving Party Celebration.

Circuit 6 is one of the circuits under ICMFI functioning in Upper Valley Area which the members are different Pastors of different denominations. Every second Tuesday of the month all members are encourage to attend in the fellowship, learning in the workshop about the experiences and the things to do to improve each ministry as Pastor and awareness on what to do when there is an accident and emergency.

Me and my wife are already certified members since 2012. I heard about this ministry a long time ago, but we have no chance to join because its system was not to allow pastors to become members unless they will undergo in the seminars. We attempted to invite them to conduct a seminar in our town, but they require no less than 40 Pastors in attendance in which we were not able provide because in all, just only more than 20 active pastors we can expect to attend in this seminar from our town.


Three years ago, its system was changed. They were forming a fellowship like I said above in every area which estimated to have at least 100 members. So the circuit 6 was formed involving of four towns - Banga, Surallah, Santo Nino and Norallah, South Cotabato.

The fellowship is open to all pastors; members or not members, but if a pastor wanted to become a certified member, he should have to attend three successive meetings. Actually the fellowship is called Thrive Meeting, in which the food and snacks are provided by the organization.

The Thrive Meetings will rotate every second Tuesday in four towns hosted by different churches. The obligations of the host is to provide the place, utensils and sound system. The fellowship will start at around 9 AM and will end at 3 PM. The good thing about this system is you can meet new friends and that relationship will be developed if you will continue to attend in the next meetings.

The regular attendance as I have observed during the Thrive Meetings is between 60 to 100 Pastors - in circuit 6 only, although there are many Pastors in Upper Valley area in the Evangelical circles, many are not able to join for the reason that some denominations have their own activities during that schedule.

Another good thing is after the meeting/fellowship each one will receive the Mana Pacts at least three pacts that content of rice with mixed minerals. Also sometimes each one will receive 50 pesos for transportation.

Mabuhay ICMFI...!

Rest In Christ Is One Of The Most Important Messages Of Christmas

Sermon Outline I prepared for the Christmas Program of International Care Ministries, Inc. - 12/09/14 Zone 6

It’s my great honored to stand before all the pastors and wives. In our meeting I did not expect that I will be the one to speak on this Christmas party of the ICMI. … But anyway, I will try my best with the help of the Holy Spirit to deliver God’s message to all of us.

I know that everyone is happy, and your joy cannot be bought even with a million pesos. So we have joy now worth more than a million pesos.

I am afraid if the time given to me is not enough with the message I have prepared.

The REST of Christ

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Rest of Christ is one of the most important messages of Christmas. Rest is in one of the I WILLS of our Lord Christ.

The synonym of REST is peace, as well as joy, happy, contentment, blessed, etc. Contentment and joy is the characteristic of generous, unhappy is the characteristic of greed.

A song in Christmas – “Peace on earth, Joy to the world”

Jesus said, my peace I give unto you that the world cannot give John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

- Jesus has come to give the people his rest. Rest if not the number 1 and important need of man for others, for me it’s the number one why Jesus as come.
- Since the fall of man, REST is the craving of every heart, either you are a believer of God or not we always need Rest.
- Rest is needed in every area in our life. But many times rest is neglected and it’s the reason why we have come to the point of stressed and worry.
- Why we must have to wait to the point of being stressed before we will find rest, that in reality we can find rest before we are stressed out? It is because we neglected the solution of tiredness.
- If we fail to find out the real rest we cannot have actually enjoy life. The real solution of being tired of the heavy loads is REST.

But where to find real REST?

- Some seek rest in honor, others in wealth, some others in love and many others the beautiful places etc. There is no wrong with all of these, but this kind of rest is not the real rest that Christ can give; there is a big difference between the rest of Christ and the rest of the world.
- I am not talking for the sinners here who need rest from the burden of sin, but I am talking here for the pastors, all of us who somewhat need the rest in some areas of our life that you tired and weary. And I believe Christ, is not give rest for the sinners; he also wanted to give us rest in every area in our life.

The 3 Cs of Christ REST

1. Complete Rest – Not Perfect Rest – I will give you rest – Jesus will not something incomplete, the Bible says, we are complete in him.

Col. 2:10 “ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” - Complete vs. Perfect
- Perfect Rest is in heaven – Christ will never give you perfect rest unless if he wants you to depart from this life.
- Complete because we have our responsibility to use that rest. “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”

Illustration: My mother in law was about to cook with gas range.

2. Comfortable Rest - with freedom - having labored and heavy leaden no freedom.

- Comfortable in prison but without freedom - honorable people in prison.

Illustration: My freedom in my senior year in Bible School.

3. Conditional Rest – Come!

- Christ will not give his rest unless we will come to him.

Illustration: His disciples in the troubled sea with Jesus sleeping.

Conclusion:

-It is not the fault of Christ, if people will not have his rest. Illust. Barber
- I believe Jesus will never neglect anyone who needs rest that come to him by faith.

God Is Moving One More Time In Our Place

It's been a quite time I have no post here, due to the goal of my project I must have to finish.

More than two weeks ago we have been doing Birthday celebration services, you know November is the month which most members in our Church celebrate birthdays.

Then, more than a week ago, we conducted a funeral service in a very indigent family which requested us to conduct the Bible Services and the funeral service for free.

I have also speaking invitations for the thanksgiving celebrations in November and this month of December. Thank God for the opportunities.

Also, I was requested to preach in a Bible Service in the home of the Municipal employee who died with brain cancer.  This family belongs to the rich family in the town and the reason that most visitors during that night I preached the gospel were the richest people in the town with the Municipal Officials.

I felt little bit nervous to preach at the front of these people, but anyway the Lord used me with the power of the Holy Spirit, which also gave me wisdom.




The Message

I preach the word of God taken from 2 Peter 3:10-18.

I emphasized about our life and everything we have here on earth is only temporary  and we are going to live in eternity, then if we are saved we will live with God in the new heaven and the new earth, but, if we are not saved we will go to the everlasting torment.

Then I quoted Lazarus and the rich man in the book of Luke.

I let them to picture out how terrible must be to be in hell/hades like the rich man who asked a one drop of water from a finger of Lazarus to satisfy his thirst, but never granted. And the problem having tormented with tremendous thirst, he was never be dehydrated and have to die, but lives in eternal torment.

The last request of the rich man who is in hell/hades tormented, was to send Lazarus to his 5 brothers to tell them to repent of their sins before they will die so that they will not go with him in hell. The rich man in hell felt a great concern for his brothers who are not ready to go to heaven. But again his request was not granted.

Why does the rich man go to hell/hades after he died? Is that because he was rich and Lazarus went to heaven or paradise because he was poor? No!

The reason why the rich man is tormented in hell because of unbelief about God.

We will see clearly that he was full of unbelief about God, when Abrahan said to him, Moses and the Prophets are there on earth let them hear and believe their message. But the rich man, replied no! They will not believe unless one will rise from the dead to tell them about life after death.

Now why the rich man say that they will not believe Moses and the Prophets?

It is because he experienced already with his 5 brothers that they have heard the message about God preached to them, but they never believed.  And the reason he was so concern because if they will  not believe the message and repent of their sins while still alive they will go to where he is after they died.

My Opportunity To Preach The Gospel

So I have now the opportunity to preach to the audience about the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I said, forgiveness of sins is only granted after a heartfelt repentance, but repentance will not take please unless he first heard and believed the message of the gospel.

There I emphasized the importance of the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of the task of the preacher.

In order to be saved or someone will repent and his sins will be forgiven, there must be a preaching of the gospel first before it is accepted. Jesus said, go to all the world and preach the gospel, he that believes and is baptized shall be saved.

Apostle Paid said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to them that believed...

The Audience 

While I was preaching, there was a very silent mode of the people, listening,  the Holy spirit was cooperating, the dogs never did any noise, I remember one time I preached, there was a dog always barking. But this time, it was really God in action, even the microphone and the amplifier cooperated. The owner of the amplifier told me after the service that he was wondering that his amplifier has no problem during the service.

When I started to preach, it seems the others were hesitant because they were talking with the group, but after the introduction, I've got their attention, because I said, no one can escape from death and the judgement of God.

So I continue to preach, about the way of God that people will get saved from sins. I said, God saved us through the Lord Jesus Christ who died to pay our sins, then what Jesus did must be known to all people by means of preaching and it is up to you to believe or not the gospel.

But the Bible says, he that believes will be saved but those who don't believe will be damned.

That is exactly what happened to the rich man who will forever be tormented in hell, because he don't believed God. When someone do not believe the gospel, he actually rejected the only means of God for him to saved.

People will not go to hell because they have committed the grievous sins; stealing, murdering and so forth, but they go to hell because of unbelief about God. There is no grievous sin in the power of the blood of Jesus for someone who believe the gospel, but only the sin of unbelief that the power of the blood of Jesus become powerless.

Those are the points that made no one did not raise their hands when I requested them to raise their hands with faith in God for their salvation. Hallelujah! Then I led them into prayer!




Jesus Did Not Pay The Sin Of Unbelief

After the service I was wondering, why is the condition for salvation is believe? Why did Jesus say, there must be a belief of the gospel for salvation?

As I meditate the word of God, I remember what I said the message that it is unbelief about God that makes man a sinner. He is not a sinner after he committed the sins.

Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, they were not sinners after they have eaten the fruit of the forbidden tree, but they become sinners before they ate that fruit, it was the sin of unbelief in the word of God.

God said to them, do not eat or else you will die. Doubt came into their hearts followed up by unbelief then the action. Before they have eaten the fruit, they were sinners already.

Murders, adultery and all committed sins are only the results of the sin of unbelief. Jesus never died for the sin of unbelief, he only died for the results of the sin of unbelief.

Jesus only paid the fruits of unbelief, but not the sin of unbelief. The reason why, one must have to believe the gospel because Jesus never died for unbelief. He bore our sins, he paid already our sins, those are the sins - the actions of our sinful nature.

We are not to pay our sins anymore, Jesus paid it all, but we are responsible for our belief.

We are not responsible for the payments of our sins, but we are responsible for our belief. People will not go to hell because they have committed sins, but they will go to hell because of their unbelief of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That is why, salvation will be received by faith/belief in the gospel our Lord Jesus Christ.


PS

Prayer requests:

Please pray for a good digital Camera that we can use for our activities. My wife won a digital camera in 2004 in a raffle draw of Avon Cosmetics that she is a dealer. But in 2009, it got troubled  beyond repair. From that time, we used to borrow a camera when we have highlight occasions. We have so many activities that cannot take a good picture.

Include also in your prayer for the Sunday school department building for children. We need some finances to build this project, since the children in our church is increasing in number.

Thanks....

October 2014 Ministry Activity In The Municipality Of Santo Nino

Ministry Updates

By Pastor Alberto Rendon

Hi! And Hello... to all my followers! It has been a quite time I was off line with the Philippines Christian Journal. I have been very busy and our internet has no good connection in the past almost two weeks.

I wanted to post here some of our photos in our Ministerial Sports Fest and the Radical Youth Anniversary and Thanksgiving last October 23-24, 2014. The schedule was changed instead of October 29-30, 2014 because of the schedule of the semestral  break that was made in advanced.

This Ministerial Fellowship is composed of different Churches mostly independent. The event was participated with 9 churches in our Municipality.  

The Juniors youth having fun with the outdoor games. This is one of the games - the open the basket and close the basket. 

The attendees were divided into different categories with different games. We have bad minton for boys and girls and also the Volleyball for boys and girls.

We also have indoor games; like basketball for boys only and for the Chess was for anyone who knows to play.The two-day sports fest and the youth radical anniversary was so very successful and enjoyable, attended by different categories from Kinder up to college and adults.

We have  a worship service in the morning on the first day for one hour and a half. The food was serve free - two meals. And in the celebration of the youth radical anniversary dinner was sponsored by one of the young people from abroad who was the organizer of the YR. This young woman went to work abroad as a domistic helper, and has the burden to help the youth in our churches.

Thanks for the donors, there were who donated rice, chicken, vegetables, ducts and snacks.

There were some outdoor games played  by the Kinder and elementary level. Also we have different indoor games and a few Bible games.

These photos was taken in the last night, the Radical Youth 1st Thanksgiving and 1st Anniversary Celebration service that started about 5 PM up to 7 PM. I was about  to come for the opening prayer. And the prayer for everyone before the closing of the service.

These are some of the pictures taken in the two-day sports fest.



 Pastors Fellowship and Revival in Makilala

Our Pastors Fellowship and Revival in Makilala was very successful.... There was truly a revival. The schedule was held at the new local church  which the members did not know at first what this fellowship and revival means.

It was a half day prayer bonding fellowship that was last Friday afternoon October 31, 2014 and in the night was the revival service.

The presence of the Lord was really moving and the service was blessed by God, together with the members in that local church and the pastors that come from different area in Southern Mindanao was so very happy and blessed. One of the members testified that he wanted to extend to the schedule because he was so blessed, but he said that he will attend whenever the next fellowship be scheduled.

I preached a message in titled "God's way leads to success and victory" I will be sharing the content of this message in my next post - God willing.

The Condition Of God's Liberty

To God be the glory! We just have attended the Care Ministries meeting today, and this afternoon was another meeting with the Pastors in our Barangay/Village about 4 PM and we have finalized our coming activities tomorrow night.

Our Barangay is celebrating its 63rd Foundation Anniversary, and we thank God that the independent Churches have given a one night activities. We are composed of four Evangelical Churches that will conduct a Mini Concert and crusades with raffle draws tomorrow - October 15, 2014.  We thank the Lord for the provisions that we could sponsor for the prizes of the raffle draws, we will give 3 major prizes and twenty plus consolation prizes.

Our Music team is having every night practice, because the other three churches have no musical team, it's from our church that will present the mini concert. Those who can read this post before the event please pray for us.

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The Condition Of God's Liberty

The message I shared last Sunday was about the Liberty that God has promised to those who become followers of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

The Greek word for Liberty is "eleutheros" which literally means "not a slave" or "born free" or "free man or woman."

But what the  Apostle Paul - under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who wrote the Corinthian books in the Bible - means of liberty, is not about literal.  This liberty speaks about spiritual liberty, because it says "...where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

Once we have received the Spirit of the Lord we also received this liberty. In other words, we are no longer a slave "eleutheros." But being free...! Free from what?  We are free from the bondage of sin.

Man is born a sinner, he is born and is bound with sin. In order for a man to be set free from sin, that sin must be broken or removed from him.  And there is no other way for us to be set free from sin except the blood of Jesus Christ. For the Bible says, Jesus Christ is "...the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

In other words, forgiveness of sin is offered and is available for all, but it will not work unless its condition is fulfilled.  That means that liberty is not working until the condition is provided, in short cut, you must receive the spirit of liberty. And is simply you cannot receive something that is offered if you do not have the understanding that it is belong to you.



Freedom is a free gift, forgiveness of sin is a free gift. In other words, salvation is a free gift. Jesus Christ is the greater gift of all, and it is because there a gift we must accept it  by faith and no payment is expected. That is why the Bibles says in Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" KJV.

Justification Is by Faith Alone

Our Mini Concert and Raffle draws last October 15, 2014 was so very successful. We have given 30 consolation prizes and 3 major prizes. We were little bit worried in the afternoon because of the strong rain that lasted about 3 hours, but we praise the Lord it stopped exactly before we started the activities.
 

Tomorrow October 18, 2014 we will have a whole day breakthrough seminar, may the Lord will bless this event and on October 22-23, we will have a Ministerial Sports Fest and Youth Radical First Anniversary and Thanksgiving Celebration. This schedule was changed from October 20-30, 2014 due to advance semestral break.

On October 31, we will have our Fellowship and Revival in Makilala North Cotabato together with the Pastors of Anchored In Jesus Evangelistic Association.

Please uphold us in your prayer.

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Justification Is by Faith Alone
Originally written by Pastor Alberto Rendon 

I have been listening to the teaching  of the Pastor that I am following on the internet. He said that Salvation is by Grace Alone, and not by faith alone, because faith is not alone. I think he missed the point about salvation that is by faith alone and nothing more.



So if Salvation is by Grace alone, it seems that it does not need anything even faith or else salvation is not by grace alone. Right? But it was not biblical because salvation is on two sides. In the side of God, it is by his grace alone that man can be saved, but on the side of man it is by faith alone that he can receive salvation.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephessians 2:8-9

When we say salvation is by faith alone, it is based on the side of man. But in the sense of two sides, salvation is by grace and by faith.

How about works? Works are not necessary for anyone to receive salvation, because salvation is a gift. If it is a gift, it does not need any work as payment, or else the gift should no longer be a gift at all, but a reward because you can receive it as the reward of your works.

If salvation is not received by faith alone because you need to work for it, then, how many volumes of the works you should have to do to merit salvation? Can we give a specific number of works for us to do in order to be saved? If there is a number of works to do in order to be saved, then if you cannot comply all the works required in order to earn salvation, you will never be saved.

That is why on our side, salvation is by faith alone.

At the moment you put your trust in the finished work of Christ for your salvation, you have that faith, and at that moment you have received salvation. Of course you have to hear first the preaching of the gospel of Christ or else you will not put your trust in His finished work for your salvation.

After you have heard and you are convicted by the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have realized that you are a sinner and you are responsible of your sin and you will receive a judgment because of that sin. And now, you realized that you are in need of salvation from the judgment of your sin, and you have seen nothing and no one that can save you from your sin except only Jesus Christ, then you accepted him that he is your personal savior and that he has already paid the penalty of your sin , at that moment you received salvation. At that point, you are on your saving faith.

Salvation is Received On the Moment of Saving Faith

Any moment after a person has received salvation dies, he is saved no matter what he has done because salvation is not based on works but on faith alone. In other words, he has done nothing to merit his salvation before he died except by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus, I believe he is saved it is because he has  already received salvation not because of his works, but through his faith on the finished work of Christ for his salvation. 

It is very clear that salvation is not of your works, but it is by God's grace and through your faith in the finished work of Christ for your salvation.

At the moment you have that faith, God in heaven declared, you are justified.  Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified (saved) by faith, (no additional works) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:.."

Sanctification is by Faith that produces Good Works

Justification and sanctification are the result of salvation as well as glorification. But sanctification will produce good works to show forth that you have been saved.

The reason the Holy Spirit is given is to aid for your sanctification, for without the Holy Spirit you cannot live a sanctified life.

We do not practice good works because we want to have a sanctified life, we do the good works because they are the results of a sanctified life.

Talking about good works, many people could have done many good works, but without the gift of salvation in their lives, their good works are nothing, but as filthy rags before God. Unless your life has already been sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ, the good works you are doing are not credited in the sight of God, as well.



Justification is Passive and Sanctification is Progressive

The Bible says, you have been declared justified, that means your case has been acquitted, you are no longer a criminal, because you don't have a case anymore, it has been settled. That is what it means passive.

But you still have to follow the rules of being a free man or woman. Following the rules speaks of sanctification, so your role as an acquitted man is to follow the rules, that's moving forward doing the things according to the rules. That is what it means progressive and that is what it means to live a sanctified life.

All of this starts when you put your trust on the finished work of Jesus Christ. And that is what it means faith. You have trusted in Jesus Christ that he has saved you through his death, you have trusted in Christ that you have been forgiven of your sins and you have been cleansed by the his precious blood. 

So in Christ alone (God's grace) and by Faith alone (your trust/faith) that you have been justified or saved. You are not only being justified, but your justified life is being sanctified so that you can produce good works that could be counted as good in the sight of God.

Living by Faith With A Heart For God

Romans 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

Previously, I posted an article about the nominal Christians that professed they are Christians because they have a  christian religion, but has no experience of true conversion by the Gospel of Christ.

Today, I want to share about the believer who walk or live by faith with a heart for God, and a believer who live by faith while being with the people that have a heart for God.

There are two kinds of believers of the gospel that I have seen in the Christian life. Beside of being nominal Christians, they are purely Christians not just professing, but living Godly and in obedience especially in time of abundance with the people of God, and when worldly things are prompting to surround him, he gradually compromised.

These believer have been converted by the Gospel, but they have different experiences in their walk with God.

1. A Christian that live by faith with a heart for God.
2. A Christian that live by faith without a heart for God.

However, abundance is dangerous when a believer has no heart for God.

The Blessings of the Lord For the Worshiper

We have many visitors during the night, the reason I did not have many posts this week. 

Do you know what I meant visitors? 

They are the white small moths came from the rice field that enter into our house when the light is on. They can find a whole where they can enter in. 

The tiny hairs of these butterflies are falling while they are flying and very itchy into our skin and I am very allergic with it. That is why it was early in the evening to sleep. 

My wife today bought screen for the windows so that these tiny creatures cannot enter in our house.

The mother of one of the Pastors here in our town has been to be with the Lord and they need our prayers. The schedule of the burial will be on October 18, 2014.   Please pray for the finances and God's sustaining grace for this family.

Today we have our Chaplaincy meeting with all Values Formation Officers and  we will discuss our present task in every Barangay/village. 

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Originally written by Pastor Alberto Rendon - Copyright © 2014

Abraham Was Blessed By the Lord In All Things

The message I shared last Sunday was very interesting because it speaks of our faith in God and in his word that brings God's blessings into our lives. 

Genesis 24:1  "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things."

According to our text that Abraham was very old already and yet he was blessed in all things. This is what we want to see in our lives, that even when we are old enough we will experience God's fullness blessings. But how could we have that? 

The principle in the life of Abraham, I believe is the same principle that will work for us today, because according to the Bible that Abraham walked by faith and we are also told in the Bible that we are to walk by faith. 

Let's find out the secret of Abraham how he was blessed even he was in his old age.  If we will look deeper into the life of Abraham we will see that he was as worshiper of God. From place to place he built an altar to worship God. He has that heart for God and because of that he longs to worship God. 

To worship God is giving God the honor of everything we have received. It is not just to thank God only, but to give Him the credit in everything we have,  acknowledging that without Him we are nothing.  

The Bible says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. " James 1:17

We also find out that Abraham was obedient to his God. But his obedience is not that of respect only, but it was the result of his intimacy with God. Many of us our obedience is the result of respect which sometimes does not come from the heart. Obedience that comes from intimacy is another thing from the obedience that comes from respect. 




The Word Of God In Worship

True worship involves fellowship between God and you. It is the given time to give God the honor and credit due to His name and a time to listen from Him of what he is saying. It is the time that we meditate on the goodness of God and His precious word.  That is what God said to Joshua to meditate his word day and night. That could be done during worship. 

The secret of obedience that comes from the heart is intimacy with God. This is what it means walking by faith. In the time of Abraham, there was no law written as their guide to obey God. Abraham has no law to follow, however the Bible says Abraham obeyed God. Where does he get the guide to obey God? It was not from the written law of God, but he got it from his intimacy with God. 

Worship is an outward appearance of intimacy with God, it is a way of coming closer to God, the more we worship God, the more we become closer to Him. Then that is the time that you get God's guidance for you to do. That's how Abraham live in his life until his death, he was closed with God. He was closed to the source of blessings and no wonder he got God's blessings even in his very old age. 

When we worship God, He will use His written words the Bible to remind us of His will as our guide to walk with Him in our daily life if we choose to walk by faith.  And when we are in His presence during our worship we can be blessed with His word that gives us the fresh Rhema Words or spoken words as our direction. Then when we obey those spoken words that's the time the all blessings will follow. That's how the life of Abraham was.

The fact, there was no Bible in the time of Abraham nor a written word of God for Him that time, it was a personal spoken words of God that He heard and he obeyed by faith. Then and there he was out of anything that would destroy his life and even the blessings he has, that's the reason that in his very old age he was blessed abundantly. In other words Abraham was safe with his family because he  chose to listened to God and decided to obey God to direct his life. All of these were revealed through his intimacy with God. And the key is worship.

The Private Worship

Abraham used to worship God alone. He has a private worship to his creator. 

Today average of the believers are used to gather together for worship once a week and this is what we should do. There is a public worship as well as there should be a private worship. And I hope every Christian should learn to worship God privately. 




The public worship has a limitation because it depends to the worship leader, while the private worship has no limit that when you are used to worship God privately, you will enjoy the sweet intimacy with God. And this is the best place and time to worship God - the private worship. This is what Abraham used to be.

The public worship is awesome where we have the fellowship with the brethren, but we know that it has a limitation it is because public worship is more on celebration and is not so much in adoration.  Public worship is controlled by program while private worship is controlled by your heart.  Once we have the heart for God we will really long to worship God and most of the time in private. That is what Abraham did, it is because he has the heart for God. 

Those who have the heart for God is always thirsty for His presence and hungry for His word.  Unless we have the heart for God, worship is not important in our life, to be with God in his holy presence in worship is not so much important, to meditate God's word is not our priority. The reason why we do not seek God first, because we think that He is not important in our life. 

When we have made God as our first need in our life it is the starting point to have the heart for Him. God is the treasure that we ever need. Jesus said, where your treasure is there your heart will be also.  Abraham made God his treasure, the reason that God is always in his mind and wherever he went he built an altar to worship God. 

Is Salvation by Faith Alone?

Yesterday, I went to Makilala, North Cotabato to attend the meeting with the Board of Directors of our Network of Pastors - Anchored In Jesus Evangelistic Associations, Inc.

We discussed our coming convention next year - 2015. Also we agreed to have a Prayer Fellowship with all the Pastors of the network this coming October 31, 2014 to be held in one of the Churches that belonged to our network -  in Luna Norte, Makilala, North Cotabato.


Today we also have our Ministerial meeting in our town and we have discussed the coming Sport's Fest this coming October 29-30, 2014.  We have many activities this coming month - October 15 is our Mini Concert Crusade in our Barangay, then October 18, we will have a "Break Through Seminar."

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Salvation By Faith Alone In Christ Alone
Originally written by Pastor Alberto Rendon

James 2:14-17 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” KJV

The issue in these verses seems that faith plus good works will result salvation. These are the verses that many believe that salvation is not received by faith alone. If we have not understand the Biblical doctrine of salvation, these verses will convince us that faith alone cannot receive salvation.

This is the problem of many Christians today and we cannot solve this problem unless we see the point of Apostle James here.

The point of the Apostle James here is who really have real faith; it means a genuine faith or faith from the heart/saving faith.  Here, we need to be careful in our interpretation of the Bible. If James meant that salvation is earned by faith plus works, he will contradict all other Epistles especially Apostle Paul who wrote that Faith alone can earn salvation.

If James was led by the Holy Spirit he does not mean that salvation is earned by faith and works. The issue here is, that Apostle James was looking for a real faith –a living faith that bears fruits of good works, because he knew that real faith will have works.

We can understand in the context because he considered that faith without works is dead, but it does not mean that salvation is received by faith and good works. What he meant to say here is that dead faith cannot save, because at first he said.

 “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?”

He pointed out that, that dead faith cannot really receive salvation. He added “Can such faith save him?” (James 2:14) NIV.

James was looking a genuine faith and by works genuine faith is proven. It is clear what he said that faith which is not genuine cannot receive salvation. He was looking a genuine faith that is alive and the result of that faith is salvation and good works.

Faith in God is not the same as Faith in Jesus Christ

The other point James meant to say here is Faith in God cannot really save anyone. It is not faith in God that can save us. He said in verse 19 of the same chapter, that the demons believe there is a God. In other words the demons believe in God, but it has no good works accompany of that faith.

James here is telling that there are two kinds of faith, the dead faith – without works like of the demons and the real Faith /a living faith – that produces good works.

But what we see here is faith in God cannot and will not save even if it produces good works, if we believe that there is a God who created the universe that is good, but it is not the basis of our salvation.

Salvation is received by believing that God by His grace He saved us. It is not believing in God alone, but believing of what He has done for us through Jesus Christ, that He died, buried and rose again. The object of faith for our salvation is not that we believe that God is existing, God is powerful, He created the universe, but by what He has done for our salvation (Titus 3:4-7).

But of course, we must believe in God first or else we will not believe of what He has done for our salvation. Obviously you can also believe in God but you will not believe of what He has done for us. In fact other religions believe in God but do not believe of what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation.

If believing in God can save us, Jesus Christ would not be born and died for our salvation, no need, because before Christ only foolish do not believe in God. The Jews before Christ were very devoted in believing in God, the other religious people were also very devoted in God.




Why Jesus Should Have Come To Save Us?

Because Faith in God is not the basis of our salvation. The works of faith which is based on believing in God is not the same works of faith which is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. The Muslims, Judaism, and other religions believe in God but their works are not the same of the one who believed in Jesus Christ as Savior. In other words James was looking the works of a genuine believer as proofs of the real faith on what God has done for our salvation.

In the time of James he saw and heard many people who called them selves Christians or believers but has no proofs of works.

He questioned and rebuked those who professed they are believers of Christ but no proofs of works. We do not say that faith is enough and no more. Faith should have works. Professed faith without proofs of good works is not real faith. I am talking faith on the finished work of God through Jesus Christ for our salvation. James was looking that kind of works of faith that based of what God has done for our salvation.

James was not looking the works of faith in God. In fact, during his time he saw many religious Jewish people who have many good works produced by their faith in God and that kind of faith  is still genuine faith, it still produces good works, but it is faith in God only that doesn't receive salvation because it is not faith on what Jesus did for salvation. Many groups of  Christians today have this kind of faith.

We should also produce the works of our faith in God according to the New Testament pattern, not just the works of our faith on the finished work of God for our salvation. We do not meant that we will not believe in God and no need of good works of believing in God according to the New Testament pattern, they are also important but they are not required for our salvation. If works are required for salvation after you believe, the question that is very difficult to answer and I am sure only few can answer correctly.

The question is, HOW MANY WORKS SHOULD WE DO TO RECEIVE SALVATION? No one can point out and take Bible verses to give a number of works we should do in order to be saved. If we say ten good works or seven that means after we have faith we have to complete all of them in order to get saved, and then if we have completed the nine or six and we die, still we are not saved. Some say it is two, faith and baptism. It is also the same, that before someone is baptized then he died still he is not saved.

There is no number of rules to follow in the New Testament to produce good works in order to get saved but only faith, genuine faith. If there is a number of a rule to do to get saved, no one can be saved. Because James also said that if we commit one of the other rules we broke all.

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”

If God basis our salvation by faith and good works it would mean that salvation has different levels. Those who did many good works will receive the best salvation and those who only did few, not good salvation. The Bible does not teach that way.

That is why salvation is received by genuine faith alone because of the grace of God.

I believe genuine faith is not alone, to the extent it produces good works, but salvation does not depend on the good works but on the faith alone. I put it on this way, Faith plus Salvation equals Good works not Faith plus Good works equals Salvation. There are problems if salvation is the result of faith plus good works as we have seen above and there is one more.

Salvation is a Free Gift from God

We believe salvation is a free gift from God, totally free, and this cannot be paid and no one can pay salvation. If salvation is the result of Faith plus Good works, salvation cannot be considered free gift, but a reward earned by faith and good works.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:9 of The Living Bible Translation is more clearer; it says, “Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it.”

James was not saying, produce works of your faith so you will be saved, but simply “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do...” He pointed out who has the genuine faith that is proven by works. Nowhere in the Bible found a command to work for our salvation. We are only we told to work out our own salvation?

Phil. 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but  now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Here we see that many people mistranslated this verse. They add for to your own salvation. Nowhere found here to work out for your salvation but work out your own salvation or work out your salvation. To better understand what it means in this verse.

We have already received salvation, but we are to work out or continue to show the proofs of good works. Logically, you cannot work out of a thing you do not have or else we have to say work out FOR IT. Paul did not say work out FOR YOUR OWN SALVATION but work out YOUR OWN SALVATION.

Salvation Is Already Given And Can Be Received By Faith

The problem is many people do not understand about salvation in general. They think that salvation is earned by good works because we will receive salvation after we die, not now. The truth is salvation is received at the point of faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

What Salvation we received at the point of genuine Faith? The Bible is very clear that salvation is at  the point of faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” KJV

The Bible says for by grace are ye saved through faith, this means God saved us by His grace, He did it through our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was writing to the believers in the church at Ephesus that they are already saved, PAST TENSE, they had already received salvation. What salvation they received? Let  us look at the person who is not a believer of Christ. In opposite, they have not received salvation, they are still in the bondage of sin and they are under the wrath of God.

John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall  not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  KJV




The unbeliever or the one who do not believe the Son (Jesus Christ) two things are in his life; shall not see life (eternal life) and the wrath of God abides on him. In other words he is not saved from the wrath of God or the penalty of sin. The opposite is the believer is SAVED from the wrath of God.

Therefore, Apostle Paul said “For by grace are ye SAVED through faith… not of  yourselves …not of works, lest any man should boast.”

What salvation we received? Salvation from the wrath of God, we are saved because we believed. Saved from what? From the wrath of God.

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Here we see that we are saved (Past Tense) from the PENALTY OF SIN. Another Salvation we are going take is we are saved (Past Tense / Present Tense) from THE POWER OF SIN and the next is to be saved (Future Tense) from the PRESENCE OF SIN.

I will continue to post the other tenses of salvation in the future, please stay tuned. 

Why I Do Believe In Miracles In The Name Of Jesus Christ

Original written by Pastor Alberto Rendon

I have been very busy in the past few days doing things online ministries, giving messages, insights, advises, commendations, comments on the very important issues on the Facebook accounts of my friends, FB groups and especially on the FB account of Congressman Manny Paquiao. I have been very concern on the political issues Cong. Manny Paquioa is facing in the two successive days about the people that he was also very concern about.

I am following our Champ on FB. Please let us continue to uphold him in prayer.  I noticed that he is very bold enough to say against the corrupt system of our government.

Why I Do Believe In Miracles In The Name Of Jesus Christ

The subject about miracles is a controversial among the Bible believers today. Believers are divided on different beliefs about miracles. Everyone could use biblical proofs to support its belief. And some are skeptics on the miracles that are always taking place especially in the forms of healing.

Beside among the believers, there are those none Bible believers who could easily refute the belief of miracles. Some of these people would use heresies that support their attacks against miracles.

I believe there are many false miracles taking place everywhere throughout the world, that is why in advanced Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a warning to His followers that Anti-Christ and false prophets could perform signs and wonders. Jesus said, "False Christ and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders so as to mislead if possible even the elect." Then He added as if knowing that many would ignore the warning, "Behold, I have told you in advance," (Matthew 24:24-25. ) 

It is true that there are fake miracles, but they cannot be the reasons that the true miracles will not take place in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why I believe in miracles.

Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

From these two verses in the Bible, I would like to emphasize that there are miracles in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Before Jesus Christ was taken up in the air, he left these words assuring that there will be miracles taking place or signs shall follow them that believe in His name.

I believe in Jesus Christ as well as I believe the Bible His word, and the power of His name. I boldly say this, no matter if you or people do not believe me, but I believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is in favor of me, because this is His promise and I am only verifying what He said - as found in the Bible.

I have been reading of an article that attacks the miracles now a days.  I do not blame the author, because I understand that if he is not a Bible believer he didn't have any knowledge and experiences in the power of the word of God. If in case, he is a Bible believing - but I cannot determine exactly - because in his writing nothing found about himself.  He has been brain washed from the doctrine that has been taught that miracles have ended already. 

The things he wrote about, is that there is no miracle today, because if there is, why is it that those who teach about miracle and healing when they get sick they go to the hospital for healing. He said that, those who believe in miracles died with sickness in many kinds as others that do not believe. Many things he wrote to attack those who believe in miracles. He added that those testimonies heard on TV or read on any magazines and articles are fakes and are not verified. 

I have read one of the known preachers who also believe that the gift of miracle has passed away. So therefore no more biblical miracles today if there is any, it's of the devil. This statement amazed me on how they have made an end the word of Jesus Christ that signs shall follow them that believe? Would that be a clear statement that they do not really believe the gospel, or they must have to say there are no more believers today.  

What they have believed that what Jesus was talking about signs are not miracles, but just providence.  To properly and clearly distinguish if the signs Jesus was talking about are only providence and not miracles, we will throw back to them about their explanation of what miracle is all about.   

They said that; 

“Miracles are extraordinary acts of providence which should not be conceived, properly speaking, as violations of the laws of nature, but as the production of events which are beyond the causal powers of the natural entities existing at the relevant time and place." 

So, miracle is a violation of the laws of nature, which I believe it is true. 

Looking back at what happened in the Bible history times, more likely of what the records in the Old Testament miracles, that God has made an highway in the middle of the red sea, the sun never moved on, the fall of Jericho walls, the iron ax floated and we could put more on the list... and many more in the New Testament. 

But, let us go back to Mark 16:17-18, are the signs Jesus have spoken here, are only providence or miracles or violations of the laws of nature? 

Now let us look first the definition about providence. 

Providence of God, in contrast, is not miraculous other than the fact that God provides the guidance within the minds of men to perform his wishes. And the performance by man is within the realm of natural laws.

 Many confuse near-miracles with actual miracles. The praying for the sick or wounded may or may not invoke the providence from God that will allow the person to heal and return to good health. He may guide the mind of the physician to do the proper things for the person to recover. And on many occasions, even when one is expected to be dying and does not, the reason was not miraculous. The very definition of miracle is something that is beyond the laws of nature.

It is now very clear that the signs our Lord has spoken are two things providence and miracles. 

Casting out devils, could be a miracle and providence. The miracle is, you as human that is against the nature of the spirit have the authority against the spirits or the devils. What is that violates against of its nature? It is the nature of the evil spirits that submit to the nature of the human beings. So it is a miracle. 

The providence is that, it is in the name of Jesus Christ that the authority of the believers came.  And the miracle is that, the nature of evil spirits submits to the human nature which violates the laws of nature.

Miracle as an act of God through the believers is still in effect today. I believe that, and it is happening throughout Christian history. 

My Personal Experience

We stayed in a house we rented for almost four years. 

We were looking a house to rent after we have been moved out from the previous house we have rented because it was already sold to a company to build their gasoline station on that location.  

We have found out a house that was closed, but before that many have been already renting this house for only a short period of time, then moved away because they have seen the movements of evil spirits disturbing them most of the time, and their children got sickly. 

The history was that, in the bath room where the male owner of the house was found out dead caused by severe stroke.  Since then, the family moved out and the house was ready for rent. 

So we've got the agreement to rent the house, but our neighbors were amazed after several weeks and they told us, that they have not seen any signs of the movements of evil spirits anymore, and which before that they can sense and actually see how the evil spirits manifest in unusual ways. That’s exactly, the evil spirits where the one moved out because we have cast them out in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I can tell many stories about providence and miracles. Read this story and it is up to you what you can say. 

The Conversions of the Unbelievers

There was a wife who suffered of severe kidney trouble; they were indigents that they were hesitant to bring her to the hospital. So the wife have suffered several days until they have decided to borrow some amount of money to bring her to the hospital, and on that day as they plan the husband woke up early in the morning to go to their relatives outside the village to borrow some amount of money.  

In the afternoon, the husband was not at home yet, and we get together with the church members of the Church I visited, conducting a bible study in their neighbor's house. Their neighbor invited her to attend in the bible study for prayer.  So the wife attended, and I saw her that she is sickly, seems agonizing inside that according to her she has not eaten breakfast and lunch due to a severe pain.

I was the one preaching the word of God, instead of lecture type as a bible study style, I was preaching boldly, then I sensed the moving of the anointing of God on me, so after that, I told everyone to lay our hands on her and pray for her healing. So we laid hands, of course I led her a sinners' prayer first, then I prayed that God will manifest his healing power through us in the name of Jesus Christ.   

I rebuked the evil spirits that put that sickness on her to get away from her, and then I declared that she is healed in the name of Jesus Christ.  I did not pray that God will heal her in the name of Jesus Christ; my prayer was that God will use us for her healing. After that, it was really instant healing. I saw her now differently as tears falling down from her eyes joyfully. She was completely healed. 

The husband got home later and was told of the healing of his wife. So they did not go to the hospital anymore and both of them were converted and have been born again. And later on I heard that the husband become a pastor. 

So, what can you say? Was that a miracle or only providence? If miracle is against the law of nature, can we see there the things that violates against the law of nature? 

Now, let us look at it closely. The nature is that, the kidney has a trouble that caused the pain. Although, we are not told that there was a stone on her kidney and whatever, we are very sure that naturally there is something wrong in her kidney. But mostly, kidney troubles caused by kidney stone and if ever there is a stone inside her kidney then it is melt or removed not by any medicines or operations, but after we laid hands on her and declared her healing. Was that a miracle or not?  Was that against nature or not? 

Science and medical go together with nature, and their solution is operation or a medicine to melt the stone.  So that's nature or natural means for her healing, if that is so and she is healed then that is God's providence that guides the Doctor to successfully heal her. That is not a miracle, but God's providence as the answer to the prayers. 

But if in case, she has no kidney stone, just something wrong that made an abnormal function in her kidney that caused a sever pain, could we say then, that it is not a miracle that when the abnormality of her kidney has now become normal again without any medicines? I think that's really a miracle.  

Where is the providence there? The providence, is that we have that power in the name of Jesus Christ to rebuke the evil spirits, declared healing and cursed the sickness.  

Why is it that those who believe in miracles still died with sickness like the others who do not believe miracles? The answer of this question will be on the future post.  Please stay tuned....