Temptation after Triumph

I heard some people don’t want to be very really very happy on a certain situation, you know why?  because they are afraid of what will come after next.  Some people believe that some sort of tragedy will come after.  Have you heard about this line of thinking?  After a victory or success… after an important milestone… bad news or frustration follows. They say that the louder you laugh now, the more you will cry later. Some people, they just don’t laugh too much. Sounds to me like a superstitious belief right?  Some people have this fear that after they have achieved something significant in their live, something bad will happen. Have you heard about the sword of Damocles?  Sabi nga ng mga Americans… Damokels!  Well, it’s a Roman anecdote which means that there is an impending danger like a sword hanging over your head.  So some people fear that after achieving something so significant or wonderful, there is what seems to a hanging sword of Damocles and frustration is ready to happen anytime after.

But believe it or not, the Bible has to say something about this matter.  This is not superstitious belief. It happened to no less than to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  Isn’t that amazing to know?  Some people thought it’s a baseless fear but it’s not.  It’s biblical.    Strong temptations tend to follow a major triumph.  Trials seem to come after a spiritual victory.    I know some of you have experienced the same.

There was a tradition in Rome that after a military commander returned from a victorious battle, he would parade the streets of Rome and with all the cheering and accolades from the people, and he would proudly ride on his chariot --- tradition states that he has a companion in his chariot who continues to recite the phrase “memento mori”  which is a Latin phrase meaning… “you are only a mortal” or “you are going to die.”    So every one else is cheering for the general but there is always someone to remind him that he is, after all, human and a mortal – and it keeps his head "leveled" to the ground!
I think that is how we should take a look at our message today.  That yes, we may have achieved success left and right, we should not forget that all these things come from God and that after any triumph, temptation, trials & tribulations may come.
I call this the T&T&T after T, i.e. Temptation, Trial and Tributation after Triumph.

We are reading from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4, verses 1 to 11.  It’s funny because you have same chapter in Luke, chapter 4, dealing with this same story.

Our reference verses for today is a good example for Hermeneutics wherein we need to apply interpretation using the immediate context.   If you notice, Chapter 4 starts with the word “Then” … just like the word “Therefore” if you see the word “then” it is a signal that you should look at the preceding chapter.

So what was in the preceding chapter, chapter 3?  It’s the baptism of Jesus.  We all know how significant the baptism of Jesus is.  The Bible did not say much about the life of Jesus here on Earth from the time He was twelve when He disappeared for three days and has been found in the Temple. You can read that in Luke Chapter 2.  Jesus was discussing with the teachers of the law in temple courts. The Bible says  “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. In other translations, it was said that Mary kept these things in her heart – what are those things?  The fact that Jesus was the Messiah and that He has this incredible wisdom with Him.  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.  Then Jesus’ next appearance in the Bible was His baptism.  He was already thirty.   So His baptism is considered His entrance to the ministry.  This is also the reason church why here in WCCC we want to make sure that before you serve in the Ministry, you have been baptized.  We emulate what the Lord Jesus Christ did.  John the Baptist told Him ‘Lord, How can I baptize you?  You should be baptizing me?
And what did Jesus say to John?  LET IT BE SO NOW in order to fulfill all righteousness.  Jesus was teaching us the value of humility and obedience.

Do you think you are ready for the challenges that lies ahead?  Jesus said if you want to be my disciple, you have to take up your cross and follow me.  We know that it’s not an easy task,  we know that there are sacrifices involved.  

LESSONS:

The Bible tells us that in our life here on earth -- our battle is spiritual.  The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”    Our true enemy in this world is not our mean boss in the office, not the unfair teacher in school, not our spouse … our true enemy is the god (small letter) of this world - the devil, aka Satan and his minions of evil.

I always tell people who accepted Jesus for the first time or even those who got baptized or those who just responded to God’s calling to join the ministry --- be watchful!  The enemy is now double time with you.  Of course, when you have not surrendered your life to Christ, the enemy does not bother you at all.   He will not exert any effort, why?  Because you belong to him in the first place.  BUT, if you are a child of God… if you start sharing the Gospel.. if you start preaching His word, if you start serving in the church, if you start talking to your officemates and schoolmates about Christ, if you got baptized, if you started joining the Home Groups, anything you do that will make you grow in the Lord… the devil is very much against that!
So be very watchful.  The enemy is like a roaring lion waiting for someone he can devour. He’s got the eye of the tiger, dancin’ through the fire… and you’re gonna hear him roar!

Did you experience that?   Try to start reading the Bible every day… you can feel the devil’s scheme trying to prevent you from doing that.  Your eyelids will get heavier and heavier.  Sometimes, you will teach in a Bible Study… tapos, you will have an argument with your spouse.  Who among you – you’re on your way to church, that’s when you have an argument with your spouse or child?  That’s why sometimes --- we try to ask the Lord.  LORD bakit naman kung kailan kami naging Christians, saka ako nalay-off sa work?  Lord, ba’t naman kung kailan kami nag-start umattend ng WCCC saka nagka-leche leche flan ang buhay namin.  Now you know the answer why.
Our enemy pays closer attention to us after a spiritual triumph.

So listen to Paul’s warning.  He said:
 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!.” 1st Corinthians 10:12 NIV

You will notice in the beginning of verse 1, our passage tells us that the SPIRIT led Jesus in the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  Did you notice that?
Did you see that?  So was the temptation permitted by God? The answer is YES!

God, in His sovereign permissive will, sometimes allow the enemy to tempt us for His greater purpose.  Do you remember the story of Job?  In Chapter 1, it says there In the Land of Uz, there was a man named Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Who among here ang pwede nating sabihing blameless? Wala no?  Meron, humble lang.  But Job, according to the Bible, was blameless.  And yet, what happened.  One day,  Satan came to the Lord.  The Lord asked him, Satan… “Where have you come from?”  Taning, San ka galing?  Wala lang, patambay tambay lang sa earth.  Pa-walk walk lang.  Pa-fly fly lang.  He said “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”  So obviously Satan is not in hell, with a giant fork, tormenting and poking the sides of poor souls.  He roams the earth but he is not omnipresent.  Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”  Then Satan said to the Lord, you know, yang si Job, the reason why he is like that, faithful and blameless, e kasi you have put a
hedge around him You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But try to take out everything away from him and he will curse you to your face.  The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”  So Job became a subject of what we call “cosmic battle.”  It’s a battle between God and Satan.  We know what happened in the end.  Hindi napahiya ang Diyos kay Job.

What about you?  If God tells Satan… hey Lucy, Lucifer -- have you considered my servant Felix? Take away his job from that architectural company, Or my servant Rommel – let his business lose money or my servant Ralph, take him out of clearly contacts – let us see if they will continue to serve me despite all those things.    Mapapahiya po kaya ang Lord kay Lucy?
From this story alone, we learn an important truth -- God sometimes allow the enemy to tempt us.

However, it is equally important to know God’s promise in relation to temptation.  Most of you know this verse:
 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. 1st Corinthians 10:13a NIV

So even if God allows Satan to tempt us… God knows na yakang-yaka natin ang temptation. God will not allow us be tempted beyond what you can bear.
This is the reason why temptation comes in different forms to different people because we are unique individuals.  Some people seem to have a much difficult temptation than others but that doesn’t mean God is not fair in allowing temptations.  He looks at our capability to bear temptation and He will not let us be tempted beyond our abilities.
So we cannot say – Lord why is it that my temptation is soooo difficult compared to the temptation of Bro so and so.  His temptation is just food, while me -- its much bigger!   But you know there is another angle into that.  Maybe you don’t learn from simple trials and difficulties in life that is why the Lord allows a more difficult temptation for you.  Baka matigas din ang ulo mo?

The third point that I would like to make:

You know when I was studying this passage, even in the past.  One thing stands out between the conversation of Jesus and Satan. Did you notice something between the conversation?  Let us look at it again…

In Verse 4, He said:  “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Then Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’   Jesus quoted Deut. 8:3

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  Verse 6 --  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:  “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’  The devil quoted Psalm 91:11,12.  Verbatim, word for word, just like ETS.

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”  Jesus quoted Deut. 6:16

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Jesus quoted Deut. 6:13

First of all, please don’t make the mistake of assuming that Jesus only received three temptations from the devil during these 40 days.  The Gospel of Luke explains it well.  It says there in Luke 4:1-2  “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.  So forty days siyang kinukulit ng devil.  Parang asawang nagger na nangungulit for 40 days.  Can you imagine that?  Jesus was in the wilderness, praying and fasting… tapos mayat maya – heto si Taning..  Just turn that stone into a cheeseburger… you’re the Son of God, remember?
Bible Scholars classify these three temptations of Christ as those listed by John in

1st John 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Tell these stones to become bread – lust of the flesh (he was hungry)
Jump from this temple and the angels will rescue you – lust of the eyes
All these kingdoms I will give you – the pride of life.

What amazes me in this conversation is the fact that the devil himself is quoting the scripture.  He quoted Psalm 91:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

So church, I know we are memorizing Scriptures and that’s good.  It’s very important to memorize Bible verses. But the devil is not impressed nor scared if you memorize Scriptures.  Why? He knows the Bible from cover to cover.  Remember  I told you before the Latin terms “ascentia” and “fiducia?”  He knows the Bible but he does not trust God. He only has mental acknowledgement.  That's ascentia.  But believers have more than ascentia. They have fiducia.  It's more than mental acknowledgement.  It's a belief that Jesus is the Messiah and a complete trust that He is our savior.

Do you know when the Devil is scared?  If we memorize the Scripture and we start to follow it, when we start applying the Scripture in our lives…that’s when the devil is more afraid.  The apostle Paul said:
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”   Ephesians 6:16-17

You see that Jesus Himself quoted scriptures to resist temptation.  Quoting scriptures is not enough, we know that Jesus is living a blameless life.  He was full of the Holy Spirit as what Luke said.  That is the best weapon against the temptation of the devil.  The Word of God – that we know by heart because we obey and we practice it.

CONCLUSION:

Last week we had Men and Ladies fellowship here in the Centre, we were talking about the temptation of Adam and Eve.  One of our brother who is a new Christian  brought up the question why the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil – this is the tree which God prevented Adam and Eve from eating.  Why was the tree in the middle of the garden e bawal pala yun.  Why didn’t God just place it at the far end of the Garden.  Do you know why?  I don't.   I wasn’t really explained in the Bible.  Only God knows.  It’s the same thing why our nose is here and our ears are on both sides of our head.  We don’t know.  God obviously in His divine power is the only one who knows.
But there is one thing we need to know and learn from the temptation in the Garden of Eden.  The forbidden tree was in the middle.  Temptation is like that.  It always comes handy.  Temptation is always easy.  You don’t need to exert too much effort to be tempted.  Nandiyan lang yan sa tabi mo. That beautiful lady who sits beside you in the office.  That young man that you always meet in the gym.  The money that is entrusted to your possession.    If temptation is really hard to get – We will all be super holy, right?

According to Bro Cesar, if Adam and Eve daw were Filipinos, they will not eat the fruit.  They will cook the serpent instead. Just kidding!

I would like to leave you with some of these words:

But God will always provide a way out.
The Bible says:
But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 
It did not say “IF” you are tempted.  It says “WHEN” you are tempted.  It’s a certainty.  I will happen.  Its only a matter of time. So lets not be to stressed about it. It will happen anyway, whether you like it or not but just remember the promise of the Lord.  Paul said “HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE  A WAY OUT so that you can endure it.”  So we cannot say “Lord, tao lang ako, mahina ako…”  No, Bible says you always have a way out.

Prayer

Wherever you are, whatever you situation you may be -- you need the love of Jesus in your life. Please say this prayer sincerely from your heart:  

Father God, I confess all my sins to you today.  Please forgive me.  Today, I open my heart to your Son Jesus Christ.  I accept Him in my life as my Saviour and as my Lord.  May the Holy Spirit come to my life and make me the kind of person you want me to be.  In Jesus Name, I pray.    Amen.

The above article is an excerpt from a sermon delivered at WCCC NW and Burnaby during its service on  Sunday, January 31, 2016

I apologize if there are grammatical and spelling errors. I also apologize if I have missed acknowledging or making proper references to my sources, if any.  as it is purely unintentional.

If you are looking for a church in British Columbia, Canada please visit our website at:

 www.wordchristiancommunity.com

Keep Calm and Focus on Jesus

 The original KEEP CALM poster was used by the British in 1939 as a motivational slogan during the war – it originally says “KEEP CALM and CARRY ON.”

New Year is always an exciting time.  It’s a time for celebration.  After Christmas, a lot of people look forward to celebrating New Year with lots of noise.  Most of the celebration methods associated with New Year are usually of pagan origins so we must be very careful.  People wear polka dots for luck… people light firecrackers for drive away evil spirits, some displays round fruits all around the house… some keep all their windows open so luck with be able to come in, along with Akyat Bahay gang or thieves.   This is one reason why WCCC as a church, gathers its flock together on New Year’s Eve.  This is one way to keep us away from the temptation of this festivity.  Please do not think that we are taking time away from your family.  If you consider the church as a family, then we are just expanding the family by spending New Year together.

The Apostle Paul said Romans 13:12-14
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living.  Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarrelling and jealousy. 
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

If you go to places like New York or Las Vegas or Paris →  celebration of New Year’s eve is characterized by wild parties and drinking and that is specifically what the Bible reminds us of.  This is the reason why WCCC tends to gather its families and we welcome the New Year in a well-controlled environment where we probably drink, at most is a sip of a sparkling wine or pop.  Then we hold a worship service and we sing songs that glorify the Lord and of course, listen to God’s Word.  Sometimes, even in simple family gatherings – you will see a lot of drinking, coarse jokes, wild parties.

Remember what CS Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures” – we can barely hear the voice of God if everything around us is noisy, right? 

There is a debate as to who wrote the book of Hebrews.  Tradition dictates that it was the Apostle Paul because of the familiarity of the closing phrases of the book similar to the epistles that Paul has written.  The Apostle Peter also wrote: "...just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him (2 Peter 3:15). He was talking to the Hebrews.  In that last verse, Peter is confirming that Paul had also written a letter to the Hebrews!

But the more important point is that the book of Hebrews is an inspired book by God and no other book in the Bible has eloquently described the role of Christ as our High Priest superior to the priesthood line of Aaron and as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. 

I have told you in the past that when a passage starts with the word “therefore”, it is a signal for you to read the immediate context.  If it is a verse, then read the preceding verses.  If it is the start of the chapter, then read the previous chapter.  
Chapter 12:1 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” 

Remember that the chapter and verse divisions of the Bible were not present until 1551.  They were not in the original manuscript.
There has been a debate as to what the “great cloud of witnesses” really meant.  Some people think that these “great cloud of witnesses” are angels.  Some think they are spirits of dead people mingling among us.  But if you study the context, 
If you read verse 11 – you will see a list of people who have boldly demonstrated their faith – Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, David, Samuel, etc. etc.  The Bible says in verse 39 that   they were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,  since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
The ultimate fulfillment of what has been promised to them was actually not realizable here on Earth but in their life after.
These are the “great cloud of witnesses” that chapter 12 is talking about.  They are the great men and women of faith who have died before us.  The author of Hebrews wants us to picture our life as a RACE and we are running towards the prize and all these great men faith are looking at us, cheering for us that we too, may be able to reach the finish line. We should also be inspired by what these men have gone through and use them as role models and follow their examples.  

Sometimes, we look up to other people as our role models.  Our parents.  Our pastor.  But sometimes we get frustrated because we see their imperfections and flaws.  But you know what, if we look at the example of Jesus Christ, we will not be frustrated.  If we emulate His humility, if we follow His example, if we love the way He loved, if we care they way He cared, if we followed God the way He obeyed the Father, then we shall be able to finish the race that He has set before us.  

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a). 
FIX – Greek word “aphorao” means turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something.     
I can picture a child, a lost child, walking alone down a busy hallway in a mall, enthralled by all the lights and sounds and busyness of her surroundings. Her eyes looking around not even realizing that she is lost. Suddenly in the midst of all the noise and flickering lights around her,  she hears her mother’s voice. Looking up, she sees her mother waving her hand and calling for her to come. With her eyes now fixed only on her mother, she walks straight ahead, ignoring everything else.  She cannot afford to be distracted by any other thing around her or she might lose sight of her mother.  So she just kept on walking towards her.  Soon she will be safe by her mother’s side. 

What or who are you focused now?  Is it Christ? Or is it something or someone else?

When I was still a pastor in Surrey Church, I would sometimes go out biking with the boys. We would go mountain biking on the trails of the Delta Watershed in 64th Avenue near Scott Road.  When you’re biking on forest trails, especially if you are not familiar with the trails, we would just rely on our guide. You don’t know what lies ahead.  He would be biking ahead of us and he will shout whenever we are up against some potential problems along our paths.  Because you’re biking fast, especially when you’re downhill, you cant afford to even look at your left or right – you just focus on your leader or the person in front of you and just follow what he is doing.  If he jumps, you jump.  If he bends low, you bend low.  If he stops, you stop.  You just fix your eyes on him.  I remember one time, I made the mistake of taking a quick glance at the biker behind me and the next thing I know, a branch of tree hit my forehead and I fell of my bike and three other bikers behind me… we’re like dominoes falling one by one. 

It is good to think about these things this new year. No one knows what lies ahead for any of us. The Chinese say that this coming year is the Year of the Monkey.  I was born in the year of the Monkey but I think even if I am a monkey or even if I am the smartest monkey, or even if they say I am the luckiest this coming year,  I cannot tell you what lies ahead.  We all have our plans and dreams and expectations but the times and seasons of life are solely in God’s hands. 

Sooner or later we will all come to a dangerous trail where the way ahead seems to be blocked or entangled with branches.   At that moment we can panic and fall into terrible trouble. Or we can fix our eyes on the person ahead of us, the Lord Jesus Christ because He marks carefully his steps before us.  If we stoop low when He stoops low, if we stop when He stops, if we follow whatever He does – we will not fall because you know why?  Jesus knows the way. Even if the road is difficult and dangerous – He’s been there, done that.  Christ has undergone the most serious persecution that any man can ever handle and yet, He did not fail.  He does not only see the way ahead of us, in fact, He IS the way!
This life we have is not always easy. It’s like a forest trail that has lots of bumps and curves and holes and branches block our clear path.  As we run our life’s race, as we bike through the forest trails of life, we should keep calm and focus on Christ. (v2)

The Bible says that Jesus sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

It is not easy to comprehend, especially when most of us are struggling through our daily battles in life.  Sometimes we feel like losing our battles but from God’s point of view, we are already winners and the victory is already ours. And someday we shall be with Christ, and we can experience what He has experienced.  

CONCLUSION
Christ is the “author and perfecter of our faith.”   He is the author of our faith because He laid the foundation of our faith by his death and resurrection. He made our salvation possible.  Jesus provided the perfect example to follow because He trusted God perfectly.  
  

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to run with patience the race that is set before us. We have everything we need to help us along the way. We have the testimony of the saints who have gone before us, we have the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have the promise of coming glory when we finish our earthly course. So keep your eyes on Jesus. Don’t be turned aside or distracted by the things of the world. Keep running. Don’t look back. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run with all your might for the finish line.

When hard times come, don’t start with your problems and try to find Jesus. Start with Jesus and then go back to your problems. This is the reason why when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He started with “Our Father In Heaven” because He knows if we start our focus here on Earth, with all the problems and imperfections of this fallen world, we’ll definitely lose focus.

 Let me end this sermon with an invitation for you to join the race this New Year:

This race is not a 100-meter sprint.  This race is like the Boston marathon.  We need to prepare.  We need to condition ourselves – build our strength and endurance.  We need to fully understand what kind of race are we getting into.  We should get rid of anything that may hinder us from running fast.  The Bible says that SIN can entangle us and it can slow us down so let us avoid SIN at all cost.   We should also let GO of any baggage that we may have been holding on for a long time and again, it slows us down.  You don’t see a runner carrying a heavy backpack, right?  You don’t see a marathon runner wearing jeans!
It is important to remember that we are not the first ones to run. There were people who ran ahead of us… and they have finished the race, they have reached the finish line and they are now cheering for us because it is our turn to run.  It is our turn to race.  Let us remember them, our “great cloud of witnesses” and may their lives inspire us and encourage us to keep on running.
Remember also that we are not running alone.  The Bible says “Let US” fix our eyes on Jesus.  We run together.  We depend on each other – the body of Christ – we run side by side and strengthen each other.  We can’t do it alone. If you think you can run alone in this life, you are gravely mistaken my friend.  We can grow tired and weary and we need somebody to carry us through.  No man is an island. The Bible says “Two are better than one, if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  Sometimes, the road is not smooth and paved. Sometimes it goes uphill or we run through trails with curves and rough spots and quick turns.  There may be puddles and mud and broken branches and even wild animals that will come across our way and these obstacles are trying to slow us down or even discourage us from going through the race but remember, we may just be running the race now and we feel defeated and tired but in God’s eyes we are already winners…we are victors. In God’s eyes the outcome has already been determined. Even though the odds may be against us, if you know Jesus, his victory is yours. And one day you will openly share in his triumph.  Sometimes, when we run, we look at the left or we look at the right and we again, slow down.  We need to focus on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith.When things get rough, KEEP CALM and focus on JESUS. God bless you and let us pray!

Prayer

Wherever you are, whatever you situation you may be -- you need the love of Jesus in your life. Please say this prayer sincerely from your heart:  

Father God, I confess all my sins to you today.  Please forgive me.  Today, I open my heart to your Son Jesus Christ.  I accept Him in my life as my Saviour and as my Lord.  May the Holy Spirit come to my life and make me the kind of person you want me to be.  In Jesus Name, I pray.    Amen.

The above article is an excerpt from a sermon delivered at WCCC Richmond during its service on  

Sunday, January 3, 2016

I apologize if there are grammatical and spelling errors. I also apologize if I have missed acknowledging or making proper references to my sources, if any.  as it is purely unintentional.

If you are looking for a church in British Columbia, Canada please visit our website at:

 www.wordchristiancommunity.com