ORDER OF WORSHIP
Call To Worship
Psalm 98 : 1 – 2
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. 2 The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations.
詩篇 98 : 1 – 2
1 你們要向耶和華唱新歌，因為他行過奇妙的事，他的右手和聖臂施行救恩。2 耶和華發明了他的救恩，在列邦人眼前顯出公義。
Worship Through Songs
Good day precious children of God—small, weak, and insignificant creatures who are cared for, indwelt, and empowered by the Almighty God of gods.
When faced with the daunting task of rebuilding the temple after the Babylonian exile, Zerubbabel received an oracle from the Lord through Zechariah, ““This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”
Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” [Zechariah 4]
Zerubbabel faced not only the logistical challenges of clearing the rubble and building a new edifice, but he also faced critiques and detractors among some sectors that seek to weigh him down with negativity and discouragement. And the stakes could not be higher if we remember that the temple represents God’s dwelling place among his people—the center of his presence on earth. The destruction of the first one, built by King Solomon, implied the withdrawal of God’s presence and favor from Israel. The building of the new one represents the return of that coveted presence and favor.
So amidst these pressures and difficulties, the Lord God sought to encourage his servant by reminding him that it is not through Zerubbabel’s might, influence or resources, but it is by God’s Spirit that He will achieve his purposes—that as in the days of old, it is His anointing that will empower his chosen instruments to accomplish their divinely assigned tasks. At the same time, God reminded him and the people that God’s work, done God’s way will be completed in God’s time—that though the beginning may look small and insignificant, it should not be despised for the God who sees the end from the beginning will provide the growth and see to it that the work is done.
In the same way, in our own lives, we too can take courage and have hope in the God of small beginnings. For although He is the great God of Heaven’s Armies who can do marvelous works instantly through his unbridled omnipotence, in his love and grace, He chooses to patiently partner with us, his frail, weak children in doing his work here on earth—for it is his delight to work with us so. O what joy to see, that in the hands of the Master, our meager offerings transcend their native smallness and become glorious tools for his divine work. Just like when Jesus took the boy’s 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and used it to feed several thousands, God takes what little we have to offer in loving surrender and uses them to build his eternal kingdom—all for the glory of his wonderful name.
‘Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to your name alone be glory, honor, power and strength. We boast not in wisdom, nor power, nor riches. We boast in You and only in You.
O God, our light, our life, our righteousness, have mercy on us once more.
By all rights, we should cry out like Peter, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man’, Yet with mercy in your eyes, you call out to us ‘Come to me and I will give you rest’.
In your death, we find life. In your rising, we receive power to deny to ourselves and live for You.
Thus as we come to You, nothing in our hands we bring but simply to the cross we cling.
We implore You, finish what You started in us, as You take the humble offerings of our lives and, making beauty for ashes, make them masterpieces displaying the glories of your love and grace for all eternity.
In Jesus’ name, for your glory. Amen.’
Anthem
耶穌祢已得勝
Scripture Reading
Matthew 13 : 31 – 33 (ESV)
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
馬 太 福 音 13 : 31 – 33 (CUV)
31 他 又 設 個 比 喻 對 他 們 說 ： 天 國 好 像 一 粒 芥 菜 種 ， 有 人 拿 去 種 在 田 裡 。
32 這 原 是 百 種 裡 最 小 的 ， 等 到 長 起 來 ， 卻 比 各 樣 的 菜 都 大 ， 且 成 了 樹 ， 天 上 的 飛 鳥 來 宿 在 他 的 枝 上 。
33 他 又 對 他 們 講 個 比 喻 說 ： 天 國 好 像 麵 酵 ， 有 婦 人 拿 來 ， 藏 在 三 斗 麵 裡 ， 直 等 全 團 都 發 起 來 。
Sermon
Dr. Gerardo Lisbe, Jr.
中文翻譯
Tithes And Offering
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Response Song
