2010 WIN- Al Ain Family Day

Word International Ministries Al Ain held their 2010 Family Day at Green Mubazzarah last December 2, 2010.

The Things Above

THE THINGS ABOVE

Col 3:1-17

Col 3:1-17 (NKJV)

¹ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

HOW TO SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE: PUT TO, PUT OFF, PUT ON

1. PUT TO DEATH THE FLESH (Through Obedience)

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

The reason why we find it hard to focus on heaven is because we are still living for the fleshly desires of our body. The cure for this is to crucify the flesh by simply obeying the commands of the Lord. We don’t have strength to combat our earthly desires, but God gave us a will to choose to follow His commandments. Disobedience is the root of all our carnal tendencies. If you are struggling today in your walk with Christ, it is because you are obeying the lust of the flesh and not His will which results in being earthly-minded. Start obeying His word and slowly but surely your mind will be heavenly-minded.

2. PUT OFF THE OLD MAN OF DISCRIMINATION BY PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN OF EQUALITY

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Heaven is a place filled with people from every tribe, tongue and nation. There is equality in His kingdom. On this earth there is injustice, prejudice and discrimination. Deeming yourself more superior to your fellowman results in filthy language and lying, along with anger, wrath, malice, etc. If we deem each other as equal members in the body of Christ, we should not be speaking bad things against our neighbor. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. You wouldn’t lie to yourself, would you now? You wouldn’t curse anyone because you consider the other person as yourself. Such is the character of heaven.

3. PUT ON TENDER MERCIES & LOVE BY FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER

¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

One Facebook Account is named: What Would You Do In Heaven? It says in its webpage:

Heaven is forgiveness. Being forgiven. And being able to forgive. Forgiveness brings peace. Forgiveness unites us and builds bridges where we once built walls. Forgiveness allows us to lay down our burdens, our guilt, our anger. When we finally find healing and wholeness, we find forgiveness as well. Forgiveness is heaven.

Heaven is a place whose inhabitant is people who has been forgiven and are forgiving. The Bible says:

Matt 6:14, 15 (NKJV)

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Unforgiveness will keep us out of heaven. Harboring ill-will and bitterness against our fellowman will keep our minds on the things on this earth, and we will only focus on our hurt pride, ego, and emotions. Forgiving our neighbors will give us a touch of heaven for this is the atmosphere of His kingdom.

Paul also says: Eph 4:32 (NKJV)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Conclusion: 5 Things You Should Do To Have Heaven On Earth

¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

5 Things mentioned here that reflect the character of heaven:

1) PEACE

Peace in heaven - Luke 19:38

2) WORD OF CHRIST

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Psalms 119:89

3) SINGING

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, Rev 5:8-9

4) HIS WILL BEING DONE IN HEAVEN

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matt 6:10

5) THANKSGIVING

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! Psalms 136:26 (NKJV)

And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷ saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. Rev 11:16-17 (NKJV)

C.S. Lewis, in his book, “Mere Christianity,” he wrote:

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.

Let us therefore be heavenly minded so we could do more earthly good.

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Pastor Edward Vincent J. Barcial

Relevance by Pastor Rene Nepomoceno

WE BECOME IRRELEVANT!

· When we fail to know God better

· When we do not live the way we want people to live!

· When we ignore changes and reality

· When we refuse to listen

· When our values have been eroded

Ps Rene Nepomuceno on his talk about “RELEVANCE” last Nov 18, 2010 while visiting WIN- Al Ain. Ps Rene is our WIN - International Deputy Director and International Christian Education Coordinator and our WIN - Europe Overseer. He and his family is now based in London, UK.

Men at Work by Bro. Ruel Cabusas

Philippians 2 : 19 – 30

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. ²⁵ But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶ For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹ So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, ³⁰ because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

Introduction: (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, "The Discipline of Service.")

Self-righteous service comes through human effort.

True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside.

Self-righteous service is impressed with the "big deal."

True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service.

Self-righteous service requires external rewards.

True service rests contented in “hiddenness”.

Self-righteous service is highly concerned about results.

True service is free of the need to calculate results.

Self-righteous service picks and chooses whom to serve.

True service is indiscriminate in its ministry.

Self-righteous service is affected by moods and whims.

True service ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need.

Self-righteous service is temporary.

True service is a life-style.

Self-righteous service is without sensitivity. It insists on meeting the need even when to do so would be destructive.

True service can withhold the service as freely as perform it.

Self-righteous service fractures community.

True service, on the other hand, builds community.

Historical Background:

• Author – Paul

• Purpose – To thank the Philippians for the gift they had sent Paul and to strengthen these believers by showing them that true joy comes from Jesus Christ alone.

• Date written – 61 AD from Rome during Paul’s imprisonment

The following are the narratives of Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus in the work of the Gospel and to their fellow workers.

1. Paul

- He has joy even he is prison (v 19)

- He loves his fellow worker (v 22)

- He is concern with the church even in sorrow (v 27)

2. Timothy

- He shows genuine concern to the church (v 20)

- He is supportive in the work of the Gospel (v 22)

3. Epaphroditus

- He is supportive to fellow worker (v 25)

- He risks his life for the ministry (v 30)

What kind of church is the Philippians?

- Looks out for their own interests (v 21)

- Could not give much help (v 30)

Let me conclude this message by these questions:

Are we like Paul who is joyful in spite of his condition?

Or are we like Paul who is supportive in the work of the Gospel?

Or are like Epaphroditus who is supportive to his fellow worker?

Or are like the Philippians who just look out on their own interests?

WIN-Al Ain Seeds of Hope

Bro. James (real name is Arun Giri) was born a Nepali Hindu but got born again in Christ. While in Malaysia, the Lord miraculously healed him there on his deathbed. Since then he became a strong witness & believer in Jesus. He has a wife named Laxmi Giri (also a believer) and both of them have six children, 3 of their own and 3 they adopted later. His own children are: Asmi (age 10), Joseph (8) & Ezekiel (6). The adopted children are Daniel (12), Suman (10) & Aris (8).

These are not legally/officially adopted by the courts or registered as such by the government, but it is recognized that they live in the home and he has assumed responsibility for them as their guardians.

James used to worked in Sheikh Palace with a security company in Schwaib and then later transferred to Dhaid and later in Al Ain. He came to the office of Chaplain Isaac of Oasis Hospital looking for a church to attend in Al Ain. Chaplain Isaac then referred him to Pastor Stan Rubesh, the chairman of T. E. A. M. (The Evangelical Alliance Missions) AP in Al Ain. Bro. James later joined the Nepali Outreach that Ps Stan started.

James showed spiritually maturity and became Ps Stan’s translator at the Labor Camp where they visit many Nepali workers. James went on to disciple his own workmates.

He recently went back home to Nepal to join his family as advised by Ps Stan that it would be better for him to be with them. Ps. Stan knew about the Seeds Of Hope (SOH) that we are trying to start in WIN – Al Ain and came to my office if whether we are interested in supporting at least James’ adopted children. The Church Council agreed to support James as our initial WIN – Al Ain local SOH project beneficiary. We are also in the process of supporting the WIN – UAE SOH National Programme through Sis. Coi Alea of WIN – Al Nahda that would benefit Filipino orphans through our Philippine Office.

Please pray for our local Seeds of Hope WIN – Al Ain overseer, Sis. Marlene and our dear Bro. James that the Lord will use this ministry to bless orphaned children around the world. Thank you so much for your prayerful support.

James 1:27 (NKJV)

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

May the Lord reward you richly as you give generously to the Lord’s work.

God bless!

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Pastor Edward Vincent J. Barcial