Love of the Works of God

web-admin March 26, 2017

March 26, 2017, 4th Sunday of Lent
Theme: “Love of the Works of God”
Homily by Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Because we love Christ, we continue His works by bringing His presence and power into people’s lives.”

1 Samuel 16:1-7 – Because Saul continually rejected God, he lost God’s blessing

Ephesians 5:1-10 – We are to live like Children of God. Walking in the love of God, we are to abandon our old lifestyle.

Psalm 23

John 9:1-11

1.(v.1-5) In Christ we have the answer to the needs we face.

2.(v.6-7) It is by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit that we can do His works.

3.(v.8-11) We are witnesses of God’s grace and power.

“God requires us to obey Him in full submission; without complaining, without murmuring.”

3-22-2017 Bishop Ricardo Alcaraz Teachings

Don’t Waste Your Trials

web-admin March 22, 2017

March 22, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: Don’t Waste Your Trials

James 1:2-4 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Trial – is what the enemy wants to do against us.

Adversary/Enemy – prevents you to do what God has planned for you.

Test – Comes from God. God wants you to pass the test.

Count it all joy – looking to God in the midst of your trial.

The testing of your faith produces patience – our ability to hold on to God even when you can’t see any response.

How to waste your trials:

1.) Running away – the trial will just keep repeating until you face it.

2.) Quitting

2 Kings 5:8 (The Story of Naaman with leprosy)

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Love of the Life of God

web-admin March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017, 3rd Sunday of Lent
Theme: “Love of the Life of God”
Homily by Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Learn to love the gift that we have received from Him.”

“Loving the life that God has given unto us. We are to live Christian life and this is not supposed to be a burden. A life that is free, miraculous, lives in the favor and the blessing of God.”

Exodus 17: 1 – 7 – Moses coming to God. A life were we are connected to God.

Romans 5: 1 – 11 – God justifies us through Jesus Christ.

Psalm 95

John 4:5-14

1.(v.5-9) His gift is for all.
2.(v.10-14) We must received His gift to benefit from it.

3-15-2017 Fr. Fernando Ilustre Teachings

Observing the Lenten Discipline

web-admin March 15, 2017

March 15, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Fernando Ilustre)

Topic: Observing the Lenten Discipline

“Lenten discipline will always bring us to the right path.”

Psalm 119:33-34 – Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Lenten Discipline:
1.) Charitable Deeds/Giving – reminds us to return to God what we have and not desire earthly things.
2.) Prayer & Devotion – by reading the Holy scriptures.
3.) Fasting & Abstinence – doing without food to feed your spirit.

“True Repentance & penitence recognizing that we always fall short to the Glory of God.”

“Lent reminds us of the grace and mercy of God.”

Love of Obedience to God

web-admin March 12, 2017

March 12, 2017, 2nd Sunday of Lent
Theme: “Love of Obedience to God”
Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva

“We are to submit to God’s Lordship over our lives. As we love Him, we also obey Him.”

Genesis 12:1-8

Romans 4:1-5

Psalm 33:12-22

John 3:1-17

“We are to continue to grow, be fruitful and useful in the Kingdom of God.”

“Let us reflect on our obedience to God. Is He really the Lord of our lives?”

1.) Through Christ jesus, we have salvation.

2.) We are to believe that God is our Lord.

3-8-2017 Bishop Ricardo Alcaraz Teachings

Being Rooted Firmly In Christ Jesus

web-admin March 8, 2017

March 8, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: Being Rooted Firmly In Christ Jesus

Grace – the willingness of God to use His power on our behalf.

John 15:16 – You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

3 John 2-4 – Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

John 15:8 – By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

“He chose us and appointed us to bear much fruit; lasting fruit.”

“To bear fruit, we need to have a root system.”

Luke 8:11-13 – “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

“The seed is the Word of God.”

Love of the Word of God

web-admin March 5, 2017

March 5, 2017, 1st Sunday of Lent
Theme: “Love of the Word of God”
Homily by Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Let us love God’s Word that we might resist the devil’s temptations.”

Genesis 2:15-17;3:1-7

Romans 5:12-17

Psalm 32:1-11

Matthew 4:1-11

1.(v.1-2) Testing reveals the foundations of our lives

2.(v.3-11) We must look to God and His Word during times of testing.

Built Up In Christ Above All

web-admin February 26, 2017

February 26, 2017, 8th Sunday After Epiphany, Yr. A
Theme: “Built Up In Christ Above All”
Homily by Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“As we focus on Christ, we will learn to live like Christ”

Exodus 24:12-18

2 Peter 1:16-21

Psalm 99

Matthew 17:1-9

1.(v.1-4) As Christ was transfigured, so we are to allow Him to change us to His image.

2.(v.5-9) Let us be determined to follow the Lord.

Hear – to listen with intention of obeying.

To Know and Grow in the Love of God

web-admin February 23, 2017

February 22, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Erel Villanueva)

Topic: To Know and to grow in the love of God

“Love is the greatest law; all the commandments are summarized into love.”

“The Love of God is the foundation of what we are doing to God.”

1 John 4:16 (AMP) – We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.

“To Know” – means to take knowledge of something or someone; growing in the knowledge of something or someone; progressive growth of knowing.

“We have to know the love of God in us.”

Matthew 5

Matthew 5:48 (AMP) – You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

How To Grow In Love:

1.) By reading His Word – Knowing God, meditate on what God has done for us(John 3:16, 1 John 4:17-18).

“Perfect love casts out fear.

2.) Submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Romans 5:5 (AMP) – Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

3.) Put love into action

“Love has always an object.”

“We cannot love others unless we have not known the love of God.”

Built Up In Christ’s Perfect Love

web-admin February 19, 2017

February 19, 2017, 7th Sunday After Epiphany, Yr. A
Theme: “Built Up In Christ’s Perfect Love”
Homily by Fr. Fernando Ilustre

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth – Law of Retaliation”

“When offended by our enemies, Jesus wants us to retaliate in love”

Leviticus 19:1-2;9-18

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Psalm 119:33-38

Matthew 5:38-48

“Jesus came to show us the Father’s perfect love; through His obedience(even if it’s unfair), He gave us redemption.”

“We are to become peacemakers, not causing hate or trouble but bringing solution and peace to others.”

Built Up In Christ’s Higher Way – To Think and Act Like Christ

web-admin February 15, 2017

February 15, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Fernando Ilustre)

Topic: Built Up In Christ’s Higher Way – To Think and Act Like Christ

Matthew 5:21-26(AMP)

2 Corinthians 5:18 – All these things are from God, when we judge, we judge His work.

Judge – to form an opinion on someone.

Correction – to change a mistake or make something right.

Rebuke – expression of a strong disapproval.

Matthew 21:12-16 – “My House is a house of prayer but you made it a den of thieves.” – This is not judgement. Jesus rebuked them concerning their attitude.

“Sometimes God sends someone to us not to judge us, but to correct us.”

Numbers 22:22-35

“We need to renew our mind concerning God’s creation.”

Romans 12:1-2(AMP) – Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

“Renew our minds not according to what we see but according to the way God wants us to think.”

Hebrews 12:5-6(AMP) – and you have forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, And do not lose heart and give up when you are corrected by Him; For the Lord disciplines and corrects those whom He loves, And He punishes every son whom He receives and welcomes [to His heart].”

Philippians 4:8(AMP) – Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Built Up In Christ’s Higher Way

web-admin February 12, 2017

February 12, 2017, 6th Sunday After Epiphany, Yr. A
Theme: “Built Up In Christ’s Higher Way”
Homily by Bp. Ariel Santos

“Encourage, edify, stay, accept, embrace and love each other – Christ’s higher way”

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Psalm 119:1-8;16-18

Matthew 5:21-26 – “We are to love our brothers, even our enemies.”

“Prayer should be 95% downloading and 5% uploading.”

“When God speaks, the focus should not be on His mouthpiece but on His message.”

1 Corinthians 2:6,8 – we speak a wisdom that is not of this age nor its rulers, they don’t understand.

1 Corinthians 2:12-16 – a natural man does not have (yield to) HS.

“Things of God are foolishness to him, he can’t understand them.”

1 Corinthians 1:30 – by His doing we are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

Philippians 3:12-16 – not that we fully understand but we yield and so grow.

Psalm 40 – God’s goodness is always there but sin disables man from seeing.

Matthew 7:3-5 – remove what obstructs sight, vision.

Holy – set apart for exclusive use; not necessarily special or more important.

James 1:20 – anger of man doesn’t achieve the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5 – all these things are from God, when we judge, we judge His work.

Ephesians 2:10 – we are His workmanship.

Edify – Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 14:12, 26b; Ephesians 4:29

I AM BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING