The last day has arrived. All the hard work and play was coming to an end. The church doors opened at nine am and the adults and children slowly arrived coming from all directions of the community of Pavana. We sang hymns and had several specials done by the children of the church. The beauty of these churches in Honduras is how early they get their children involved with leadership roles. They start them as early as twelve years old leading the worship. But they allow any age to get up before their church family and sing.
The children dispersed to their last morning of VBS. Pastor Joey, translated by Janelle, preached on the Beatitudes out Matthew 5:3-12, the sermon title was "What A Christian Should Look Like". Generally the Christians see the spiritually poor in Christ. There is no pride, they are totally dependent on the Lord. He has control of our whole being. For theirs will be the kingdom of Heaven. Then Pastor Joey continues with verse four, blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. We do not have time to worry about others sins we need to worry about our own sins. God is our comforter and we need to encourage one another in the church. He continues with verse five, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. What is meekness? Power under control. Pastor Joey use the example of two large cows pulling a cart. They are under control by their master. The cows have been taught by their master to follow his commands. God is our master and we are to follow his commands. He moves along to verse six, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. When you live for God you will be filled but with joy. You will desire God like you desire food daily. We need to desire God more than we desire the food we eat daily as if our lives depended on it. Moving along to verse seven, blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. We need to daily meet the needs of others. The church should be a place where people can find refuge. You need to feed the hungry, defend the rejected, and reach out to the lost. The team noticed this with the church members assisting them this past week. God's promise to us if we show mercy we will receive God's mercy. The next verse, 8, is a hard one for some of us because we are all sinners. It is blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. We need to be cleansed from our sin in order to see God. Pastor Joey used an example of a lady washing her clothes on the pilla. Those clothes were dirty from the days labor but after she had cleaned them they were as white as snow. This is how we should be cleansed white as soon. Put our sins at the cross and let them go. Verse nine shares, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Our world is full of unsettling and worry. There is strife amongst folks. But peace is a choice we have and how we choose to find that peace is up to us. We can find this peace only through God through his Son, Jesus Christ. Once we find this peace then we share it with each other. There should not be any fighting among God's people. People need to be able to look to the church for peace. We serve a God of peace. Verse ten says, blessed are the persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. When we strive to live like Jesus it may cost us. It may cost us our family members or our friends of many years. Whatever the cost, it is worth it all to be able one day to see Jesus and him say, "Well done good and faithful servant." Verse 11 continues to share blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of me. Jesus was at the cross being mocked at spit at and called many names. So if Jesus was mocked, then if we are truly living out our lives for Christ then we should not be surprised when we are ridiculed and persecuted for his name. We will be laughed at and judged for how we live out our lives. But I rather be laughed at and judged here by man than to be denied by Christ in Heaven. Finally verse 12, Rejoice and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven. So in closing of his sermon, Pastor Joey shared with the Emanuel Baptist Church how his team asked people, "Do you know Jesus?" A lot of the people said no. This is where you come in as a church and show them Jesus in your daily lives. God bless you all with a happy heart and a happy life in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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