March 12, 2016

God of Chances

"for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." Proverbs 24: 16
 

Why do we have many chances?

1. Because God knows we are not perfect: We are not but God is perfect and He is interested in helping us to be perfect.

" Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Matthew 5:48 

                                                                              

2. Because God knows there is a war between flesh and spirit: our flesh desires evil but out spirit desires the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We must fight against flesh! Keep your mind full of God!

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set 

on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance

 with the Spirit have their minds set 

on what the Spirit desires." Romans 8:5

3. Because God knows we are selfish: value others! Share God´s love! Share your testimonies and rejoice with others´ testimonies!

 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,"(Phillipians 2:3)

4. Because God knows sometimes our faith is down

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Examples of men who had a second chance in the Bible

1. Jonah (1:2,10;  2:9-10)

2. The woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11)

3. Peter betrayed his very great friend (Luke 22:34)

Who among us has not needed at one time 

or another, a new chance from God?

• A second chance to do right for our parents
• A second chance at marriage
• A second chance after wasting our youth
• A second chance after wasting our money
• A second chance after wasting our talents
• A second chance after wasting our promise
• A second chance after wastinf our opportunities

From the message shared by Gustavo

March 5th, 2016

"Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land:
“There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.
There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away;
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea are swept away." 

Hosea 4:1-3

• Hosea means "salvation"
• Hosea was called as prophet for Israel, around 800 a.C.. Israelites thought everything was fine, but they were dying because of idolatry, immorality and injustice.
• God expects our repentance. He believes in us!

"Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt
    and seek my face—
in their misery they will earnestly seek me." Hosea 5:15

• God alerts His people:

“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us;
he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us,
    that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,    like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3

• But people rely in the certainty of God´s mercy and just return to God when they need a "fast" benefit. (Hosea 6:4). And God compares our search for Him to vapour, fog, cloud...
• God is the best Father. (Hosea 6:6) He gives instructions, rules for us to follow so we won´t fail. He is more interested in us to succeed then on us coming to Him to apologize after failing. If we don´t do wrong, we won´t need forgiveness.
• God believes in us! (Hosea 6:8-9). He insists! Even when we don´t look up to Him, He keeps on looking down!

Three steps for been blessed according to Hosea:
1. 14:1: Turn to God! Acknowledge your mistakes and turn to Him! (1 John 1:9)
2. 14:2: Pray! Ask for forgiveness! The Lord is more interested in our prayers, praises, dedication, love... (Psalms 69:30-31)
3. 14:3: Put God in His place! Give God the first place! Recognize you depend on Him! (Isaiah 30:1-2)

• God promises us healing. (14:4). When we admit our sins, God comes to heal us. Sin hurts! Hurts me, hurts God and hurts others around me.
• God promises us prosperity, life and renew! (Hosea 14:5-7)
• We need to leave idolatry. (Hosea 14:8) and be wise (Hosea 14:9)

A summary of Ana´s preaching

 

February, 27, 2016

Martha and Mary

What are the discipleship differences between them?

 At the Home of Martha and Mary

^"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

You may have listened to sexist comments about this text, saying that Mary was more intuitive and Martha was given to house services.

You may also have listened that the story is an allegory:

- They are two types of Christ´s bride - The Church

- They are two types of disciples

- They are two types of minsiters

"a woman named Martha opened her home to him."

- Martha means lady, the sovereign of the house, the owner, the mistress, the decision maker, one with the power of decision = the authority, the host, the leader

- She was named = nominated Martha

- At Martha´s home, Jesus was just a guest. A guest doesn´t do many things

- Anxiety was her food - verse 40

-Charges - accusations. Don´t you mind? Order her to come and help me.

- Martha didn´t hear what Jesus was talking about - she didn´t understand what Jesus was talking about

- Martha, MArtha - you are worried and upset about many things,

-Just one thing is necessary

"She had a sister called Mary"

- Mary in Hebrew is Miriam. A common name. So common, that in the New Testament appears 54 times.  

- Called = to invite - to call = guest. It´s in a different position

- Is a commonplace among all disciples that are called (invited) by the Lord Jesus 
-As a church we all are called - Jesus is not a guest, He is the Lord

-Who sat at the Lord´s feet listening to what He said? 
-What Mary heard?  I have for you a place beside me. (Her testimony was authentic, She corresponded to the voice of her master) 
- Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. 

Psalm 94:19: "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."
"Your consolation cheer my soul."
- Many times, we are like Martha and not as Mary. 
- We ought to develop intimacy with God and His Word and do not consider Him as a guest in our lives.

 

 From Pastor Eduardo Gomes´ preaching

February 20, 2016

Do you have promises from God to your life?
Do you have plans?
Is your future in God´s hands?

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

REACHING OUR PROMISED LAND 

Moses  was chosen by God to guide hebrews from Egypt to Canaan. Observe four points of his life to learn how to get there.

• Obedience: Obeying God, you allow Him to work in you. God gave Moses a command (Numbers 20:8), but Moses disobeyed (Numbers 20:11) and could not enter the promised land. Don´t take any decision without asking the Lord.

• Accept God´s will: There´s a huge difference between His will and your will.  God trained Joshua as Moses successor and assured him that God would be with him. (Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 God´s will = God´s way + God´s time (Time to sow, time to reap)

• Perseverance: Moses´ faith made him persevere. (Exodus 5:3) 

•  Intercession: Pray with someone. Proverbs 18:24 says there is a friend who sticks close than a brother. (Numbers 14:10, 14:12, 14:19)

Remember God´s time is different... It make take a long time for you to reach your promisses...(Joshua 21:45)

Message shared by Gustavo

           

February 13, 2016

 

Learning from Lot´s failures

"The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. ² “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”

³ But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. ⁴ Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. ⁵ They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”

⁶ Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him ⁷ and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. ⁸ Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.” (Genesis 19:1-8)

• Lot  probably wasn´t sure about those two visitors in his house. If he knew for sure they were angels sent from God, he would feel so safe that he would never put to risk his two daughters...
• Unfortunately, some people do the same... Because they don´t know God well, because they don´t trust Him, they risk their lives and the lives of people they love too. 

"The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, ¹³ because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking." (Genesis 19:12-14)

 

• Lot´s sons-in-law did not took him seriously. He probably used to be a not reliable person... 
• And what about you? What people around you think about you?

  

                                                                                                       "With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”

¹⁶ When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them." (Genesis 19:15-16)

• Lot hesitaded. He took time to obey...
• How much time do you take to obey a command from God?

^"17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” ¹⁸ But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! ¹⁹ Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. ²⁰ Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.” ²¹ He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. ²² But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.)" (Genesis 19:17-21)

• Although the announced calamity, all the risks, Lot stopped to discuss alternatives to God´s directions...
• How many times we try to "help" God?

"But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:26)  

• Lot´s wife felt needed to look back... Maybe to check if he had tell her the truth...

• We inspire people around us! People are always observing us... If I am a worthy person, people will trust me.   

(A briefing of the message shared by Ana.)