The Greatest Invitation That Produces a Life-Changing Impact

John 3: 16

THE GREATEST INVITATION THAT PRODUCES 

A LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT

Rev. Greg B. Fernandez Jr.

Preached @ the only Christian FM Radio Station in

Baguio City, 97.5, May 5, 2008

 Naimbag nga rabii yo amin nga agdengdenggeg iti daytoy nga program, COME UNTO JESUS. Daytoy ti maikatlo nga gundaway ko nga agministro kadakayo. I was here 3 years ago, idi April 13, 2005, before I went back to Cambodia. Sapay koma ta saan nga daytoy ti maudi, ngem adda pay koma ti tuloy na. As a matter of fact, my friend here, Pastor Martin, is willing to give me one slot, every month. Iti daytoy nga rabii, Kayat ko nga adalen tayo ti sumagmamano nga versekulo idiay Matthew chapter 11, idiay verse 28-30. Ngem basaek laeng ti maysa nga verse. Kunana ditoy verse 28, COME UNTO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Ti mensahe, nga kayat ko nga ibingay tatta nga rabii ket napauloan iti THE GREATEST INVITATION THAT PRODUCES A LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT. Daytoy nga invitation ket naisalsalumina. Daytoy nga invitation ket isu ti kaddakkelan ken kapapatgan kadagiti amin nga invitation. Manipud iti intay binasa, adda ti uppat nga puntos nga kayat ko nga ibingay kadayo nga agdengdengeg ita nga rabii. Dagitoy uppat nga banbanang ket ipakitana ti rason no apay nga daytoy nga invitation ket isu ti the greatest among all other invitations.

1. IT IS THE GREATEST INVITATION BECAUSE OF ITS SPIRITUAL ORIGIN
2. IT IS THE GREATEST INVITATION BECAUSE OF ITS UNIVERSAL OBJECT 
3. IT IS THE GREATEST INVITATION BECAUSE OF ITS CONDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY 
4. IT IS THE GREATEST INVITATION BECAUSE OF ITS INSPIRATIONAL OBLIGATION

Binsabinsaen tayo ngarud dagitoy nga uppat nga puntos. Ket rugian tayo iti umuna.  IT IS THE GREATEST INVITATION BECAUSE OF ITS SPIRITUAL ORIGIN. Daytoy phrase nga kunana, “Come Unto Me” Siasino daytos SIAK ditoy nga verse? “ME” Siasino aya ti agaw-awis kadatayo? Siasino daytoy agkunkuna, umaykayo kaniak? Awan sabali no saan nga ni Apo Jesus. What makes this invitation the greatest one is the one who invites us—God Himself. Saan ko nga iricognize nga daytoy nga awis ket naindakklan unay no saan nga ni Apo Jesus ti agaw-awis. It’s the greatest one ta ngamin, ni Apo Jesus nga mismo tinagapuan daytoy nga awis. The source or origin of the invitation is Jesus Christ our savior. Who is Jesus? Saanak nga malpas uray the whole night, no saritaen tayo no siasino no Jesus. Maysa nga banag about Jesus is he is the only Savior. That is the reason, it is a divine invitation. You don’t go to somewhere else to find rest. We must go to Christ because in Him only we can find rest. Adu nga tattao kadgitoy nga tiempo ti agsapsapul iti inana. But they are searching for rest in the wrong places. You may find temporary rest, but it will not last. There is no one in this world who can give real rest except Jesus. Do you remember King Solomon? He tried everything. He tried Liquor. He tried pleasure. He tried treasure. Adda 700 hundred princes nga inkasarna, adda met ti mistresse na nga 300. One thousand women. He was the riches man on earth. In his kingdom, ti balitok ket kasla batbato nga agkaiwara.

          Jesus didn’t say, Go to church because you will find rest there. Well and good if you found Jesus in the church. I believe some peole found Jesus in the church. PTL. But, adda nga talaga met ti mapan idiay kapilya tapno aginana—physically. Adu da dagiti matmaturog no madama ti sermon diay pastor wenno diay padi. Dakayo koma nga mapan idiay simbaan a ket saan kayo nga mapan idiay tapno mapan maturog. Anyways, Jesus didn’t say, go to church for the church give you rest. That is not what Jesus said. Saan nga inbaga ni Apo Jesus nga agmiembro tayo iti maysa a reliyion ta idiay mabirokan tayo ti inana. Saan nga inbaga ni Apo Jesus nga mapan tayo iti maysa nga leader iti reliyion ta idiay ti pakasapulan iti talna ken inana. Ti inbaga ni Apo Jesus, ket umay tayo kenkuana. Nalabit kristiano kayo nga nabayag. Nalabit napnapan kyon iti church. Ti salodsod ko, have you come to the Lord Jesus? In may tayo kadi met laeng kenkuana? You might have gone to church a thousand times, but if you have not come to Jesus, you would not find the real peace. You can come to Jesus tonight, if you have not come yet. We must come to HIM, not somewhere else.

Ti Maikadwa, IT IS THE GREATEST INVITATION BECAUSE OF ITS UNIVERSAL OBJECT

“All that Labor and Heavy Laden”

To whom Jesus gave the invitation? Siasino da dagiti aw-awisen ni Apo Jesus?  Ania ti kunana ditoy? All ye that labor and heavy laden? Amin nga tao nga agkasapulan. Amin nga tao nga marigrigatan ken madagdagsenan. People are in need of Rest. People are carrying a heavy burden. Years and years of carrying a heavy burden and they do not want to bring it to Jesus.

We Rest from Sin and Tradition

Apay aya nga inted ni Apo Jesus daytoy nga awis? Agsipud ta adu nga tao ti nabanbannogan nga mangibakbaklay iti sursoro ti linteg idi ket dida kayan nga baklayen. Adu met dagitoy dagiti tattao nga mabanbannogan dagitoy nga tiempo iti sursuron ti kinapagano. Datayo nga igorot, dakami gayam nga igorot, adu dagiti sursuro dagiti lalakay nga narigat nga suruten kadgitoy nga tiempo. Ammok nabanbannogan kayon. Siguro, nabanbannogan kayon nga agbasbasol, uston kunayo met ten a. Uston ti arak. Nabanbannogakon nga agbarbartek. Uston ti kinapagono. Nabanbannogakon. You need freedom from guilt. You need forgiveness. You need healing from emotional pain. You need Deliverance from the power of sin.

We need rest from the Burden of life’s Struggles and Distress

 Ngem saan laeng nga panaginana iti basol ti iyaw-awis ni Apo Jesus. Iyaw-awis na met ti inana kadigiti tattao nga adda bakbaklayenda nga problem. Burden of Life’s struggle and distress. Dagiti adda problema da iti kinakurang ti kasapulan. Adda dagiti adda bakbaklayen da nga saksakit. Adda dagiti bakbaklayen da nga emotional Pain or Emotional struggle. Adda da dagiti naglabasan yo nga nasaem nga kapadasan ket inggana itatta, saan yo pay nga inibbatan. Ania da dagiti bakbaklayen yo? Ania da dagiti problema yo? To the drunkards, Jesus say, Come! To those tired and carrying a heavy burden, Jesus said, Come! Kadakayo amin nga madagdagasenan ti problema, kuna ni Apo Jesus kenka, UMAYKA KANIAK. Kayat kayo nga ikararagn ita nga oras. LET’S PRAY.

Adda pay dua nga puntos nga nabati ditoy mensahek, ituloy konto no awisen dak manen ni pastor Martin into mamingasan. God bless you with peace and real rest tonight!

The Compassionate Heart of Jesus

A Collection of Ilocano-English Sermon by Greg Fernnadez Jr. 

THE COMPASSIONATE HEART OF JESUS

Rev. Greg B. Fernandez Jr.

Preached @ the only Christian FM Radio Station in

Baguio City, 97.5 (May 28, 2008)

 Matthew 15: 32-38

What are you doing with Jesus when everything is going well? How is your relationship with God when you have everything you a need? Dagiti tattao nga addaan ti amin nga kasapulan malipatanda ni Apo Jesus. 

What is Jesus doing when you are desperately in need? Basaen tayo daytoy nga passage ket adalen tayo no ania ti sungbat ti Dios dagiti kasapulan tayo. I am not talking about wants.

I.                    JESUS SEES YOUR NEED (V.32)

In verse 30-31, Jesus healed people with all kinds of sickness. In verse 32, Jesus saw a different need? What did Jesus see in verse 32? He saw the people’s need of food. Jesus is not only interested in your spiritual need. He is not only interested in your salvation. He is also interested in your physical or material needs.  What are your needs tonight? Ania da dagiti kasapulan yo nga mangrirriribok kadakayo? Ania da dagiti pakaborboriboran yo tatta nga tiempo? Adda kadi dagiti kasapulan yo nga ipagarop yo nga saan nga ammo ni Jesus? Jesus knows you need my friends.

II.                  JESUS SUPPLIES YOUR NEED (VV. 33-35)

Saan laeng nga kitkitaen ni apo Jesus dagidiay nga kasapulan yo, He is more than willing to supply your need. Jesus who sees your need will also supply it. Kasano ti panangi provide ni Apo Jesus iti kasapulan? Jesus uses’ someone else resources to supply your need. Usaren ni Apo Dios ti dadduma, nga tao tapno iprovide na ti kasapulan yo.

Jesus can also multiply what is little to supply the needs. Jesus performs miracle out of an insignificant situation. NEED IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MIRACLE! Miracle does not come without a need. Miracle is a divine response to human desperate needs. Miracle does not happen without a need. You will never see a miracle without a need. The miracle of feeding thousands of people with only 7 loaves of bread and a few fish.

 

III.                JESUS SATISFIES YOUR NEED (VV. 36-38)

This story shows that Jesus does not only see your need, he does not only supply your need, but He also satisfies your needs. Jesus satisfies your longings. When Jesus supplies, he satisfies us. Adda pannakapnek inton ni Apo Jesus ti agtrabaho.

Becoming a Better Servant not a Better Leader

Photo Credit: Dr. R. Bickert

After studying the teaching of Jesus on being a servant, I began to think how can I be a better servant and not a better leader. In the past, I used to think how I would become a better leader. I read dozens of books on leadership because I wanted to improve my leadership ability and skill. I was fascinated with the subject of leadership because there seems to be a leadership crisis both the church and the world. John Maxwell's dictum that, "Everything rises and falls on leadership," is true, making leadership a necessity. 

Despite the leadership crisis around, my encounter with the actual words of Jesus on servanthood forced me not to think how to be a better leader but to be a better servant. In fact God seems to impress on me to go the extreme and take the words of Jesus literally-become a servant-servant of all. After much thought and prayer, abdicating my leadership position might be the radical way to go to become a real servant in a real world! I’d be extremely happy if I’ll just be a pure servant for the Cambodian church.

The path of positional leadership is not the path I should follow. Leading might not work for me any longer but serving; this I want to pursue. I don’t think I have what it takes to be a leader, but I do have what it takes to be a servant. I have the heart to do the least job available. I am willing to do dirtiest job  out there. I can do what a real servant can do. 

Many people think about leadership but not service. Although politicians talk about 'service' what they really want is leadership position, power and prestige. Wait a minute, there should never be no polarization of being a leader and a being servant. Right, and that's why others teach servant-leadership. Servanthood and leadership should go hand-and-hand they argue.  The servant concept becomes a facade as one wants to be a servant yet still clamoring for leadership power and position. 

Ironically, however, one becomes a better leader by being a better servant.

Disciple, Intercede, Give (DIG)

(A message preached on Skype to Wesleyan Churches in Metro Manila)

The mission's message and challenge for you today is this: DIG for GOLD that will Last for Eternity.

D.I.G stands for Disciple, Intercede, and Give. GOLD stands for Godly, Obedient, and Loving Disciples. Let us Disciple, Intercede, and Give in order to produce Godly, Obedient, and Loving Disciples that will last throughout eternity.

The Missions Strategy is to DIG. Disciple, Intercede, and Give.

The Missions Goal is GOLD. Godly, Obedient, and loving disciples.

The Missions Motivation is Eternity.

Let me explain. I love being in this world; I enjoy it. I want to live at least more than 90 years or a hundred; but the way I am eating (my diet), though, doesn't seem to allow me to live that long. 

Let us think about eternity as the motivation to DIG for Gold. There is a danger of losing our sense of eternity because by focusing too much on our earthly responsibility. In 2008, I thought of writing a book with a title Eternity Driven Life. I didn’t write a book, but I did preach a sermon on the same topic. As Christians let us live a life that is eternity driven not earthly driven. It is essential that we think beyond this earthly life. 

It is easy to become unbalance in our approach to life. There is a danger on focusing too much on eternity without doing our responsibility to make a better society. But there is also the danger on focusing too much on the life here on earth that we forget there is life after death. In his teaching, Jesus emphasizes both-the present life and the afterlife. In the prayer He taught his disciples, Jesus prayed... “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This shows the importance of making a difference in this present world-other people call it community transformation. But sometimes Christians can become too unbalance with their emphasis on community development and forget that life on earth is not all that there is.

What I would like to do now is for us to understand DIG as circular not linear. It is not a step that we do one after the other..instead, it is something that we do at once-like the mixer or the halo-halo. So I want to discuss this three words at the same time, not one at a time. 

When you DIG, my appeal to you is to dig wherever you are located-do it where you live. You don’t have to go overseas do missions. You can fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus right where you live or work. If you are a boss, DIG GOLD from your employees. If you are a teacher, think about discipling one of your students. If you are a parent, do it in your home. If have neighbors, do it in your neighborhood. If you have a job, DIG in your workplace. Yes, you can DIG right where you work and you can DIG right where you live. Young people start with your own youth group..your friends..

While you can disciple, Intercede, and give wherever you are, you cannot make disciples where you are not. But when you intercede you can reach the whole world. You can travel around the globe by your intercession. Intercession is unlimited because it is boundless. 

The same thing with giving. When you give money, you can also reach other places. Your mission offering travels to remote places, crossing cross-cultural barriers and geographical terrains. You can reach us here in Cambodia by your intercession and with your missions offering. You may not be here physically but you can be here with your intercession and offering. 

In the past, discipleship is limited to where you are. With the advance in technology, you can disciple others online. Let us not think of discipleship only where we are . We can reach out to others through other means. 

D—DISCIPLE. While missions still the same, the methods changes but the message remains the same-make disciples. Jesus said, Go and make disciples in all nations. Jesus didn’t say, go and disciples of all people. It is impossible to disciple all people in all nations, but it is possible to disciple people in every nation and culture. 

Discipleship is people oriented. Discipleship is a mission and ministry directed to people, not to a building, not to other things..but people only. You are all aware that we cannot bring our possessions to heaven, but we can bring people with us. The parents here this afternoon, you know you cannot bring your possessions to heaven but you can bring your children with you there. 

I believe if each one of us will win and disciple one person for the next three years, our Sunday morning attendance will multiply. But let me remind you not to focus too much on statistics. Statistic is important, but there is more important than mere numbers. That is, the transformation of lives! the question then is: What impact are we making in our society for God? 

Let me get back to the problem of statistics by pointing to the ministry of Jesus on earth. The Lord Jesus discipled only 12 people for 3 years, yet one was a traitor. Although my Bible tells me that Jesus had many disciples, Jesus focused on twelve only. The point I am making is not to think too much about statistics. Statistics have a place, but don’t be an statistically driven. While not forgetting our earthly responsibility, I challenge you to be eternity driven in your approach to ministry. 

I—INTERCEDE

In your intercession, focus on People. Jesus said, The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest field. Matthew 9: 37. Paul told Timothy, that intercession and request be made know to God for all people. Focus on people not simply the material things they needed. 

G—GIVE

When giving, the key word is MAT-Money, Ability, and Time. Other calls this T.T.T - Treasure, Talent, and Time but I call it MAT. This afternoon, I challenge you to give your MAT to God. 

Let us start with M-Money. Is there a verse in the Bible that giving is eternally rewarded? Matthew 6: 19-21. Luke 12: 33-34. Jesus said, do not store treasure on earth but in heaven. Give your alms to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven. When you give your money to God’s ministry, it becomes an eternal investment. This is not a mad-made promises. It is promised in the Bible. I remind people that while you cannot bring your money when you die, you can send to heaven ahead. Did you get the point? You cannot carry your money to heaven, but you can send there ahead. How, by giving to the poor, to the church, and for missions. 

But don’t get me wrong. Giving is not only about money but your ability as well. What are your skills and talents? Many of you are gifted but you are not using them. What a waste of talents. 

Time is another important thing that we can give. Don’t think you cannot dig for gold if you don’t have money. You still have ability and time. Spend time praying. Spend time with people. Pour out your time with others so that they will become better believers. Time is precious so invest it like a precious gold. Give your MAT to others!

Conclusion

When you DIG for GOLD, you don’t have to go across the land and sea to do it. My appeal to you brothers and sisters is to DIG wherever you are located. 

Think with me for a while, if each one of us this afternoon, will DIG for GOLD that will last for eternity, our church will multiply in the next three years. Even if our goal is not for growth, if we truly put effort to DIG for GOLD, our church will surely grow. 

We will DIG for GOLD not out of Christian duty but because of our love for Jesus and our sense of eternity. God bless you!