We gathered for worship on Sunday morning to a sanctuary full of beautiful children. This confirmed they needed new classrooms. There is at least 75 plus children in these church along with about twenty adults and ten youth. The service opened with prayer. Mike read Psalm 103:1-4 and this led the service into singing of hymns. Benditos was song as a welcoming hymn to everyone. Each child had a balloon and went out into the audience to give all the North Americans a balloon.. This is the first time we had experienced this special treat. Our long time friend Melissa age 17 led the offertory prayer. Hannah, Alex and Greg did the special for the team. Hannah was able to sing the entire song in Spanish as Alex accompanied her on the guitar. I saw Melissa and Meida singing along with her during the service. This was a well known hymn here in Honduras.
The service was turned over to Pastor Robert. He shared out of Romans 1:6 and he asked us all a very important question that will impact our eternal destiny. If God would ask you "Why should I let you into Heaven?" How would you answer this question?
Pastor Robert shared I want to give you the answer. God you should not let me into Heaven I am not worthy to be in Heaven. I am a sinner but my total hope into being in Heaven lies in my hope and trust in your Son, Jesus Christ. If your answer is "I go to church", or "I give to the church", or "I do good stuff for others" or "I am not really a bad person" or " I went on a mission trip to Honduras" or "I am a missionary in Honduras" these answers are not going to get you into Heaven. Rather you are a Honduran or North American you are in need of salvation. It all depends solely on Jesus Christ not in what you say or do. You cannot trust your works, your religion or you cannot make your way into Heaven. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 2:23. God's condemnation rest on us unless we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Pastor Robert read out of Psalm 18 I challenge everyone to read this chapter. It is about God being our Rock and Stronghold, our all and all. He is all we need.
Paul was eager to preach the gospel. Why? Because Christ died for Paul's sins as well as ours. Paul was excited about his relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel which saved his eternal life. Christ died was buried and HE arose on the third day. This is the gospel folks. Salvation is only in Christ Jesus, nothing we do.
Three ways the gospel is the way to salvation. Number one it is the power of God. We are born in a dark world and God brings us into the light through his Son, Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." When we were unbelievers we were blinded by the darkness. Out of Colossians 1:13 " For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves," thank you God for Jesus.
John18:12 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 12:46 "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
Out of Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Come out of the darkness into the light.
Number two thought is Grave to Save. Out of 1 Corinthians 6:9 "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men". We are all morally corrupt and will go to the grave, there is not one who is good not even one. We are the grave lost unless we are SAVED. We are lost in this world Ephesians 2:12 "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world." We are children of wrath, Pastor Robert referred to 1 Corinthians 6:9 again. This speaks of depravity of man. In verse of 11 of chapter 6 it refers to being sanctified, justified in the blood of Jesus. That is what was as Christians are washed by the blood of Jesus. Jesus takes us out of the bondage of sins, breaks the chains of sin and frees us if we receive HIM. The church did not save me, or my broken heart or my powerless to break my depravity only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can heal all our brokenness, there is not a church or good works out there that can save us.
Number three point Depraved to Saved. Wow we have discussed the power of the gospel in God, darkness to light and depraved to save.
God is in the business to taking the dead and make them alive. If you are not putting all your hope in Jesus you are dead. Ephesians 2:1-6
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
What are you putting your trust in today? The question God has for us one more time "Why should I Let you into Heaven?"
OUR FAITH ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS NOT IN WHAT WE DO IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.
At the end of the service Pastor Robert offered an invitation for those wanting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. There were two ladies who came forward to receive this gift, Angela and Norma. Praise God for redications and salvations on this Sabbath day. I pray as you read this today, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, have you given your all to HIM. Are you reading this today and you have fallen away from this special and most important relationship of your life, are you angry with God please ask Pastor Neil shared each night in devotions are your hearts cleared today. Do not let this day go by and you not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or clear your heart from the brokenness, the bitterness, the forgiveness you need to share with other but give your all to HIM.
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