Heartbroken
The Coming Judgement 10/16/2011
Rev. Jerry Lepasana
There are many people in our society who struggle with the idea that a loving God would one day carry out severe judgment on those who rejected him and the forgiveness He offered. They often verbalize their disbelief in asking, “Would a loving God be capable of even punishing someone?” I believe this is a real contention nowadays that should be tackled in every Bible believing community. It seems that many Bible preachers and teachers love to talk about God being unconditional in His love and grace without putting emphasis on Him being holy and just. They say that preaching on judgment sends a negative message that can turn people off from Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, Often this lopsided theology results in many Christians living irresponsibly. My fear is: with all these feel-good messages, we are developing Christians who are no longer afraid of sin and are no longer conscious of pleasing a holy God. I’m absolutely sure that this is not what God wants to see among His people. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should not preach positive messages in the church. I love to preach positive messages. But, at the same time, we should not also ignore the need for a balance theology. Well, when you examine the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments clearly warn us concerning God’s coming judgment. In fact, as we conclude our series on Malachi, God has chosen to close the last book of the Old Testament talking about this very subject.
No Gain With God 10/02/2011
Rev. Jerry Lepasana
Have you ever doubted or questioned God’s goodness? Many of us would feel a bit insulted if someone would directly ask us this question. We feel as if we know better; that we would never question the goodness of God because we know we believe that He is certainly good. However, the reality is: one of the most effective ways the Devil seduces many of us to sin is by sowing some doubts in our hearts and minds regarding the goodness of God. This truth was perfectly demonstrated when Satan tempted Eve to disobey God in the Garden of Eden with regards to the eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He asked the question in Genesis 3: 1 - "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" In a way, he was suggesting that if God is really good, He would not have denied her from eating such a delightful fruit.
Seeking For Justice 08/28/2011
Rev. Jerry Lepasana
Do you know some people who love to complain all the time or have made it their habit to complain about almost everything? They complain about the weather, their jobs, their relationships, their church; you name it they will always find something to complain about. Do you get tired of them? How do you handle those types of people? Or perhaps, you don’t really try to deal with them; you just let them express their complaints. You have learned to live with them.
Messed Up Marriages 08/21/2011
Rev. Jerry Lepasana
June 24, 2011 will be remembered as one of the saddest day in New York State because of the legalization of the same-sex marriage bill. This passed in the State Senate by a vote of 33-29 and was later signed by the New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo to take effect in 30 days. This legislation made New York State America’s sixth and largest state where gay and lesbian couples can marry one another. All of these are quite alarming because more and more we are seeing the erosion of the Biblical foundation of marriage in our society. Obviously, when you allow people to redefine important issues like marriage, they pervert it to suit what they think will make them happy or what is most convenient for them. Even if it would mean departing from what God has said in His Word. When things like these happen, how would God’s response be? Are these issues about marriage matter to God?
Unworthy Ministries 08/14/2011
Rev. Jerry Lepasana
Today, most drivers enjoy the added convenience of having the ability to use cruise control when they are driving, especially during long trips. It helps in allowing the driver to have short breaks from stepping on the gas pedal. However, those who love to use cruise control should also be forewarned because there have also been some serious accidents as a result of using it. According to studies, those who use cruise control tend to neglect their responsibilities while behind the wheel. Instead of paying attention to driving, they can be distracted by other tasks such as putting on make-up, speaking or texting on a cell phone, or even dozing off. Then there have also been some who were so relaxed while driving with cruise control that they re-moved their feet from close proximity to the vehicle’s controls. So when there was a need to quickly change course or decelerate to avoid a road hazard, their reaction time had been much slower resulting in accidents. So if you are going to use it, you cannot afford to be negligent. You still have to maintain focus on your responsibilities while driving.
Doubting God's Love 07/31/2011
Rev. Jerry Lepasana
How open are you in receiving rebuke or correction? None of us really enjoy receiving them, but because all of us, even the best of us, make mistakes, we have so much to gain when rebuked. Time and again, we all need someone, especially those who care about us, to be honest with us and rebuke us when we are doing things that can eventually hurt us in the long run. So if we are wise, we would be more open to rebuke, not hating those whom God is using to fulfill this unappreciated task in our lives.