FARM Senior Pastor Rev. Rey Calusay was invited guest speaker in the Assemblies of God church in Dingle, Iloilo. The church was one of the firs two churches planted through SOS 25 years ago. The church is currently -pastored by Rev. Elmo Bais and is a fast growing congregation that is also planting other churches.
Author Archive for
29
May
12
WORSHIP: AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD
Rev. Zeny M. Calusay @ FARM, May 27, 2012
SCRIPTURES:
Psalm 16:11 You will make Me know the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joys. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (KJV)
Genesis 18:1-2 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. [2] Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground (NIV)
THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP: GOD’S PRESENCE.
No Presence of God, No worship!
In His presence we receive His revelation of Himself and there respond to God according to how He disclosed Himself to us.
WORSHIP IS WHAT WE DO IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
1. Worship is an expression of our response to God’s Presence, in whatever form of outward demonstration it takes.
2. The outpouring or out flowing of the whole being: spirit, soul and body under a sense of Divine favor in the Presence of God.
3. All that we are reacting to all the He is.
4. English word ‘worship’ – from 2 words WORTH and SHIP which together means – to recognize the value of a person or object by expressions of courtesy, reverence or homage.
5. Worship – is the dramatic celebration of God in His supreme worth in such a manner that His ‘worthiness’ becomes the norm and inspiration for living (Karl Barth)
WORSHIP AS AN ENCOUNTER ILLUSTRATED
Genesis 18 the patriarch Abraham had a dramatic encounter with God.
THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAHAM
Vs. 1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
1. An epiphany - a manifestation of the divine presence in human form. “The LORD” in verse 1 who appeared to Abraham is Jehovah (or alternatively, Yahweh), one of the Bible’s names for God. And “the LORD” appeared in the visible form of “three men”, a symbol of God’s existence as a Trinity. A classic definition of the Holy Trinity is: “There is one God, eternally existent in three Persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
2. Time and setting: while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. An ordinary hot day, ordinary time in the life of Abraham. This tells the importance of developing an all-day-long God-consciousness that even in a routine day, with routine circumstances, one can have a blessed encounter with God.
THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE OF ABRAHAM
V. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
Actions of Abraham reflected he recognized of the presence of a person in high rank
1. Looked up and saw – he is a man accustomed to the Presence of God
2. When he saw, he hurried from the entrance – having exuberant desire to meet God
3. Bowed down to the ground – In the ancient world this was the essential posture of worship. The message I draw from this is never to take a casual, nonchalant, or (God forbid) a flippant approach to worship. God Almighty is deserving of our utmost respect and reverence as we look to Him in worship, in prayer, and in other ways.
ABRAHAM’S ACTS OF WORSHIP
A meeting too precious to hurry
Gen 18:3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
Gen 18:4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
Gen 18:5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
Gen 18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
Gen 18:7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
Gen 18:8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
1. Ministered to God – have water, wash feet, rest under his tree. We hold Sunday worship services. Our Sunday worship services should therefore be time to minister to the Lord, it’s for Him, it’s all about Him.
2. Did beyond the ordinary, served the very best – served bread from fine flour , and tender meat from choice calf. Ordinarily, offering a drink of water to a stranger who is passing by would be enough. But Abram did much more that what is expected.
3. GAve God exemplary respect - “While they ate, he stood near them under a tree”.
TIME TO RECEIVE
When God appears and pleased with our worship, He is ready to give favors.
God is pleased with worship Worship is what the Father seeks.
Joh 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
Abraham received confirmation of God’s promise. Read Genesis 18:9-14, 18-19
CHALLENGE:
The author of Psalm 42:2 possessed this praiseworthy attitude of hungering and thirsting to regularly meet with God — “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God. Whenever we gather on Sundays for a worship service, God wants us to meet Him, to encounter Him. He has a plan and purpose for every worship service which He develops as we move from praise into worship. He comes in the misdt of our worship ready with a clear unfolding of revelation of Himself to His people. Then, as worshipers we should respond accordingly. We should stay, linger, minister to the Lord, and be ready to receive. We should not miss out on the opportunity to have an encounter with the Lord.
29
May
12
Worship: Giving What’s Best
Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, May 20, 2012
Click for complete sermon presentation
Highlignts of Message:
GIVING What’s Best
Malachi 1:1-14
GIVING WHAT’S WORSE
- Not responding to God’s love, v2
- No vision for God’s Name/honor, v 5-6
- Attitude of Contempt, v6b-7
- Evil, Not pleasing, not acceptable, v8-10
- Treating God as Unimportant, v12-13
Cheating in their offering, v14
WHY GIVE GOD WHAT IS BEST
- God loves you? v1-4
- God is Great? v5
- God deserves Honor and Respect? v6
- God accepts you through your gift? v7-10
- God will be known by your gifts? v11-14
17
May
12
FARM SENIOR PASTOR IS PGCAG EXEC
During the PGCAG triennial convention last April 24-27, 2012, FARM senior pastor Rev. Rey A. Calusay was placed again as the general superintendent by garnering more than 2/3 of the nominating ballots cast. This means another three year term of serving the Assemblies of God movement. The news was welcomed by the FARM congregation. Members of FARM recognize and support the calling of their senior pastor to serve the Body of Christ that is bigger than their local church family.
The Philippines General Council of the Assemblies of God held its triennial convention for the first time in Iloilo City last April 24-27. FARM music team was tasked to lead the praise and worship times in the mroning and evening services of 25th and 26th of April.
13
May
12
WORSHIP: LOVING BACK
Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, May 13, 2012
Worship as “Loving Back”
“Because your love is better than life, V3
“Because you are my help, V7
Three stories are here to illustrate this principke of worship as loving God back.
The sinful woman – forgiven much, loved much
The Samaritan leper – returned to gove praise to Jesus who helaed him. Jesus loooked for the other nine He healed.
Jacob – was commanded to go back to Bethel and build an altar that he promised to do if God helped him in his journey.
Click for complete sermon presentation in pdf format WORSHIP: LOVING BACK
06
May
12
WORSHIP: DRAWING NEAR
Rev. Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, May 6, 2012
Click for whole sermon presentation in pdf format
Elements of Worship: Drawing Near
There was a time when everyone is his own priest and can come to God:
Sin led to separation, Idolatry, religion and vain worship. MAT 15:8-9 “Far from Me”
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” EPH 2:13
“.. a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. Jesus holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them”. HEB 7:19,24,25
“…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. “ REV 1:5-6
“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1PE 2: 5
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1PE 2: 5
FARM Senior Pastor Rev. Rey Calusay starts a new series of sermons on ‘Worship’.
ELEMENTS OF WORSHIP SERIES
INTRODUCTION MESSAGE: THE BATTLE OF THE GODS
Reactions to the Gospel
- Rioted, 17: 6
- Received, 17:11
- Reviewed, 17:20, 32
- Challenge of Idolatry
What to do? Paul’s example
- Provoked – Emotion
- Reasoned – Logic
- Debated – Intolerance
- Explained – Patience
The “Unknown God”
- The Creator of the World, v24
- The Sustainer of Life, v25
- The Ruler of Nations, v26-27
- The Father of Mankind, v28-29
- The Judge of the World, v30-31
Conclusion:
- Face the Challenge of Idolatry.
- Serve Jesus as Lord and God.
- Share Him to others.
Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, April 22, 2012
2Ti 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
1CO 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Click for whole sermon presentation in pdf format THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: SELF-CONTROL
