7/21/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, For Paul, real riches were found in the believer’s full assurance of God’s character and their personal salvation. Many lack full assurance about the character of God and are unconvinced that He is really good and loving. Others lack full assurance of their salvation and wonder if their Christian life is for real. Great freedom and confidence comes when we come to this full assurance.
Years ago before I became a True Believer I went to confession and asked the Priest if I was going to heaven. His reply left me searching. He said, “I don’t know, nobody knows.” Wow! That certainly was a lack of assurance. But Scripture says in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” Beloved, we can have the full assurance of our salvation and of God’s goodness. I pray that you and I will rest in this full assurance! Blessings- Pastor Joe
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7/14/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, today’s study contains what I consider to be the key verse for the Book of Colossians. Colossians 1:27 says, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Yes, because Jesus resides in us, we have an incredible hope of glory.
Therefore, whatever trial or difficult circumstance you may be facing today, remember that Christ is in you to help you through this trial and furthermore we have waiting for us a hope of glory! I would also like to thank all of you who participated and helped with this year’s VBS. The kids had a great time learning what Psalm 56:3 says and means in their lives. Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” This very simple truth applied to our lives will bring peace and comfort even during the most difficult of circumstances. Commit it to memory and use it frequently! Blessings- Pastor Joe 7/7/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, as continue in the Book of Colossians we remember the theme of the Supremacy of Christ. Two weeks ago we learned that Jesus is the Creator and that we were made through Him and for him! Jesus gives our lives purpose and direction.
This week we look at who we were, which was lost; who we are, which is in Christ; and how we continue which is in the faith. The enemy wanted to confuse the Colossians and lead them astray through false teaching. Thankfully, Paul, through the Holy Spirit helped set them back on track. Beloved, if you have gone “off track” then get back on the road with Jesus! One last thing. VBS decorating starts after second service. Please pray for a fruitful week of ministry with the kids and strength to serve with a joyful heart! In Him, Pastor Joe 6/30/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenGood morning beloved, this morning we will be taking a break from the book of Colossians and studying a portion of scripture from the book of Romans. Paul was exhorting the Believers in Rome to deny themselves in their relationships with each other and he pointed to our greatest Example, that of course being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In our servanthood unto the Lord, may we bear each other’s shortcomings, may we be united even when we do things in different manners, and may we be truthful in all we say and do. God bless you, Pastor Jimmy Rosas 6/23/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, the Bible says in John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” This truth permeated the heart of a prominent Russian nuclear scientist named Boris P. Dotsenko.
Growing up in Siberia during World War II, Dr. Dotsenko faced very harsh and difficult circumstances. That made him very curious, and he often asked himself questions about the meaning of life. One hot and humid afternoon while at his grandfather’s home recovering from pneumonia, he found a copy of the Gospel of John, began reading John 1. Those words struck his mind with great force, for they completely contradicted everything he had been taught. Years later he found another Bible in an unlikely place, in the study of his professor, Dr. Jakov Frenkel, a world-renowned Russian scientist. Eventually, Dr. Dotsenko went on to become one of the leading rocket and nuclear scientists in the USSR. In that role he was asked by Russian officials to meet with Canadian scientists and to report on their activities. As he unpacked his luggage in his hotel room in Edmonton, he found a third Bible, one placed there by the Gideons. He opened it to John 1:1, and spent virtually all his time reading that Bible, and soon thereafter he prayed, asking Jesus Christ to become his Lord and Savior. Dr. Dotsenko is one of many scientists who are convinced that All things are made by him, and without him nothing has been made that is made. Blessings- Pastor Joe 6/16/2024 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, as we continue our study through the Book of Colossians, we must remember that Paul is praying from prison. He is locked up and certainly has the time but also the incentive and acknowledgement that the Lord hears our prayers!
Prayer is powerful and necessary for our survival as believers. We remember that great promise found in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As Paul prays, he combines his prayers with thanksgiving. Beloved, we have many things to be thankful for. Whether in prison or at home may we pray without ceasing as we acknowledge our tremendous need of our Savior. He is sufficient! Blessings- Pastor Joe 6/9/2024 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, as a young man growing up, I would relish the day that I got to take home my report card. Most of the time I would bring home a good report card. My parents would look it over, sign it, and then return it to me so that I could give it back to my teacher. I think I may even have some of my old report cards.
My Dad would say, “good job! It seems that you are going to school not just to look at the girls and eat your lunch!” True enough though I did participate in those two things my Dad mentioned. Here in Colossians, Paul is writing the Colossians a letter in response to a report he heard about them. Epraphas brought to Paul some information concerning the Colossians and overall it was a good report, though there were some thing that would be addressed. This leads us to ask the question concerning our Christianity: how would our report card read? My prayer is that we would each have a good report of faith, hope and love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for those in our lives! Blessings- Pastor Joe 6/2/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenGood Morning Beloved! Today we start studying a new book of the Bible, the Book of Colossians. The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians to combat a heretical teaching which had crept into Colossae namely Gnosticism.
The method which Paul used to combat this heresy was to focus on the supremacy of Jesus Christ. In fact, that is the theme of the Book of Colossians, the Supremacy of Christ. My prayer is that as we study this book together it will solidify our believe that Jesus is all we need. He is to be the passion and purpose of our lives. I look forward to spending the next couple of months together as we unfold this glorious book of Colossians. May all glory go to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is supreme! Blessings- Pastor Joe 5/26/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, the Book of Acts ends rather abruptly. What happened to Paul? Where did he go? Did he ever get to Spain? How did he die? Those are all questions that the ending fails to answer. It has been said that if any movie would end this way, we would be upset. Who ends a movie this way? Who ends a book this way?
But God knows that the Book of Acts is an open-ended book. I am not telling you that we are going to add to the Bible. That would be heresy. But I am going to tell you that the Book of Acts ends abruptly because the Lord expects our lives to fill out the last Chapter. The Lord left the Book of Acts open ended because we are to continue His work of building His Church! The Book of Acts is about the Church. How it began, how it grew and how we are to continue to help it to grow! Beloved, God has a role for all of us to help build His church. Remember the promise that Jesus gave us in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Hence, our role is to continue to build His Church. Jesus said in John 9:4- “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” Beloved, the story continues. Will you fulfill your part?! Blessings- Pastor Joe 5/19/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, Sheila and I are out of town visiting Sheila’s Mom, sisters and other relatives in Florida. We will be returning home late this evening. In my place, Pastor Joel Hernandez will present a message from Psalm 127. Please take heed to God’s Word.
Now, concerning Summer home fellowships, there are five different Home Fellowships which will be available throughout the week. Sign-up sheets are located in the Fellowship Hall. Please continue to pray for our upcoming VBS and for one another. Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (ESV) We will see you soon! We love you and continue to pray for you and your family! Blessings- Pastor Joe & Sheila Marquez |
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