MATTHEW 11: WHICH TOWN ARE YOU?

 

WHICH TOWN ARE YOU?

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

CHORAZIN, BETHSAIDA AND CAPERNAUM are the towns where Jesus perform the miracles but still did not repent.

 CHORAZIN

• A town near the Sea of Galilee
• Witnessed Jesus’ works
• Yet remained unrepentant

BETHSAIDA was the hometown of apostles Peter, Philip and Andrew. It was also the site of feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17) and healing of the blind man (Mark 8:22).

• Home of some disciples
• A place of miracles and teaching
• Still, many hearts were hardened

CAPERNAUM was Jesus’ base and even called his own city (Matthew 9:1). It was also the residence of several disciples like John, James and Matthew the tax collector. Capernaum witnessed notable miracles, such as healing the Roman centurion’s servant, restoring Peter’s mother in-law from fever, healing a paralytic man who was lowered through the roof, raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead. Jesus himself frequently taught in the local synagogue. But they did not repent, they didn’t care. They went on to their wicked ways.

• Jesus’ “base of ministry”
• Saw the most miracles
• Yet became proud and spiritually indifferent

So Jesus, in deep sorrow, mentioned these three gentile communities Tyre, Sidon and Sodom. Jesus says that if cities like Tyre and Sidon had seen these miracles, they would have repented because:

·       The more you know about God

·       The more you experience His presence
➡️ The greater your accountability

These three towns proved that Miracles Don’t Guarantee Repentance

• They saw healing, power, and truth, yet their hearts did not change

Therefore, It’s possible to experience God and still resist Him

HOW ABOUT US?

We have read the bible from Old Testament to New, from cover to cover, have known all the recorded miracles Jesus had done. We know that those are only few or partial of what Jesus had done, as Apostle John said in John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books. And in John 20:30–31 Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book.31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The record is partial, the bible is partial, but it should be enough. Enough for us all to believe.

Jesus didn’t just show us His miracles in the bible, but we have witnessed it ourselves- in flesh, with our bare eyes. We have been to city ministries where pains were gone in Jesus name, where deliverances were performed in the power of the name of Jesus. During missions, we did what Jesus did, shared the gospel, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead churches. Was it enough to believe in the power of Jesus?

Let us reflect.

·       Is the partial knowledge of Jesus enough for us to care?

·       Is it enough for us to believe in Him?

·       Is it enough for us to truly repent?

·       Is it enough to fully follow Him?

·       Is it enough to fully surrender?

·       Is the firsthand experience of miracles still not enough for us to truly follow and fully surrender?

Jesus clearly expected us to respond to his message and miracles, with true repentance - which is totally turning from sin and turning to God- with total surrender. Failure to repent and believe in Jesus is greater sin than anything ever done in the three notorious Gentile cities. We have read Jesus’ miracles, we have witnessed it by our own eyes, we have experienced His presence, are those not enough for us to fully surrender? Or should we remain in our state of spiritual obesity (taking all the equipping, listening to all the sermons but never moved to follow) and spiritual indifference – where we do not care to whatever we hear and whatever we witnessed? We go on with our life doing our favorite sin, being Christian on Sundays but have different personality on other days, surrendering some aspect of our lives but never the finances, no, I cannot give my tithes, I am short this month and my budget is tight. Did we forget to put God first? It is better for us not to hear and not know God’s words, than knowing but not following. 2 Peter 2:21 (NIV): "It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. James 1:22, Luke 12:47-48, Matthew 7:26

It is not what you have seen or heard about God that matters most—it is how you respond. The greatest danger is not ignorance, but a heart that refuses to change.

 

Let us pray.

Papa God,

Thank you for the revelation of Your word and for the conviction it brings.

Help us to be not spiritually obese, help us to move, help us to act upon what we believe in your words. Help us to care others, help us to be loving enough to find the lost souls, help us to follow you without hesitation. Help us to be sensitive enough of your presence, help us to see you in everything around us, help us not be spiritually indifferent, help us to care on what you care, help us to appreciate you and your deeds. Help us to follow you in total surrender.

These I ask in the mighty name of Jesus.

Thank you my Lord, my God and my King. Amen.

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ELDER MAYEN – JCRC CAMBODIA

Matthew 11: WALK LIKE AND WITH JESUS

 

WALK LIKE AND WITH JESUS

- How did Jesus walk?

 Matthew 11:4-5 Jesus answered them, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

 During his ministry, Jesus confirmed his identity as Christ our Savior through the works he performed on earth…

- He denied himself

- He preached

- He cast out demons

- He healed the sick

- He raised the dead

- He discipled/taught

- He sent

- How can we walk like Jesus?

 By being separated from the yoke of the world and submitting to the yoke of Christ Jesus.

 Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 In ancient times, a yoke was placed on the necks of two animals that worked together in the fields. When we are united with the world and sin, the yoke is heavy. Jesus is the only one who separates us from the world and redeems us from all sin to enter into union with Him in total submission and dependence.

 In Hebrew, the word yoke represents submission, instruction, or influence. When we submit to Jesus and walk in union with Him, we naturally begin to walk like Him.

Are you under the yoke of Jesus or the yoke of the world?

Are you walking WITH and LIKE JESUS?

Jesus invites us to join him.

Are you tired? Come.

Are you burdened? Come.

Are you lost? Come.

 

CAMINANO COMO Y CON JESÚS

- ¿Cómo camino Jesús?

Mateo 11:4-5 Respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Id, y haced saber a Juan las cosas que oís y veis. Los ciegos ven, los cojos andan, los leprosos son limpiados, los sordos oyen, los muertos son resucitados, y a los pobres es anunciado el evangelio;

Durante su ministerio, Jesús confirmó su identidad como Cristo nuestro salvador a través de las obras que hizo en la tierra…

-Se negó a si mismo

-Predico

-Hecho fuera demonios

-Sano a los enfermos

-Resucitó a los muertos

-Discípulo/enseño

-Envió

- ¿Cómo podemos caminar como Jesús?

Siendo separados del yugo del mundo y sometiéndonos al yugo de Cristo Jesús.

Mateo 11:28-30 Venid a mí todos los que estáis trabajados y cargados, y yo os haré descansar. Llevad mi yugo sobre vosotros, y aprended de mí, que soy manso y humilde de corazón; y hallaréis descanso para vuestras almas; porque mi yugo es fácil, y ligera mi carga.

Antiguamente, se colocaba un yugo en el cuello de dos animales que trabajaban juntos en el campo. Cuando estamos unidos con el mundo y el pecado, el yugo es pesado. Jesús es el único que nos separa del mundo y nos redime de todo pecado para entrar en unión con Él en sometimiento y dependencia total.

En hebreo, la palabra Yugo representa sumisión, instrucción o influencia. Cuando nos sometemos a Jesús y CAMINAMOS EN UNIÓN CON ÉL naturalmente empezamos a caminar COMO Él.

  ¿Estás bajo el yugo de Jesús o el yugo del mundo?

¿Estás caminando CON Y COMO JESÚS?

Jesús nos invita a unirnos a él

¿Estas cansado? Ven

¿Estas cargado? ven

¿Estas perdido? Ven

 Elder Catalina – Latin Church

 

Matthew 10: Following Jesus is a Journey of Faith.

 

Matthew 10

“Following Jesus means risk, rejection, and reward—but never abandonment.”

Following Jesus is a journey of faith.

Risk

Matthew 10:16

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

ü He told us that there will be risk—like sheep among wolves—so we must be wise and gentle at the same time.

Rejection

Matthew 10:22

22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

Matthew 10:14

14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 

ü He also said there will be rejection. Some people will not listen, some may even hate us because of His name. But He calls us to keep going, to endure until the end, because salvation is waiting.

Reward

Matthew 10:40–41

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

Matthew 10:32

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven

ü At the same time, Jesus promised reward. When we stand for Him, He will stand for us before the Father. When people receive us, they are really receiving Him, and God will bless them. This is a great encouragement: our obedience brings eternal reward.

 Never Abandonment

Matthew 10:29–31

29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

ü And most of all, Jesus reminds us that we are never abandoned. God cares even for sparrows, and He cares for us much more. He knows every detail of our lives—even the number of hairs on our head. So, we do not need to be afraid.

As believers, this means we can follow Jesus with:

Ø courage when there is risk

Ø patience when there is rejection

Ø hope when we look to the reward

Ø peace knowing we are never alone

But Jesus also warns us:

Matthew 10:37–38

37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Brothers and sisters, this means we cannot be lukewarm. These words are sharp, but they are spoken in love.

Many today live in a lukewarm faith—comfortable, silent, unwilling to risk rejection. Yet Jesus says discipleship is costly. To be half‑hearted is to miss the joy of full obedience. Lukewarmness may feel safe, but it leaves us powerless and unfruitful.

This is a call to wake up:

·       Do not settle for a faith that only works when life is easy.

·       Do not hide your witness because of fear of rejection.

·       Do not cling to comfort when Jesus calls you to carry the cross.

“Jesus calls us to courage, endurance, and surrender. True Christians are not perfect people, but people with surrendered hearts.”

 

Let’s reflect:

v  Am I serious in my walk with Christ, or am I still half‑hearted?

v  When I face risk, do I trust His wisdom, or do I rely on myself?

v  When I face rejection, do I endure with love, or do I give up?

v  When I think of reward, do I fix my eyes on heaven, or on earthly praise?

v  When fear comes, do I remember that I am never abandoned by God?

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PASTORA MAY – JCRC STEUNG MEANCHEY

MATTHEW 9: START WITH THE HEART

 

START WITH THE HEART

Minsan, akala natin ang pinaka-kailangan natin ay physical healing—gumaling ang katawan, maayos ang sitwasyon, mawala ang problema. Pero sa  Matthew 9:1-8 pinakita ni Jesus na may mas malalim pa doon.

May dinala sa Kanya na isang paralitiko—hindi makalakad, totally dependent sa iba. Kung tayo siguro ‘yon, ang unang hihilingin natin:

“Lord, pagalingin Mo siya.”

Pero iba si Jesus. Ang unang sinabi Niya:

“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Parang mapapatanong ka—

“Lord, hindi ba mas urgent yung hindi siya makalakad?”

Pero dito makikita natin ang puso ni Jesus. Hindi lang Niya tinitingnan ang obvious. Hindi lang katawan—kaluluwa ang priority Niya.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:7)

Kung tutuusin, marami sa atin parang yung paralitiko. Hindi man physically, pero may “paralysis” sa loob—guilt, shame, regrets, mga kasalanan na hindi natin mabitawan. At minsan iniisip natin:

“Hindi ako karapat-dapat lumapit kay Lord.”

Pero tingnan mo si Jesus—hindi Siya nang-condemn.

Ang sabi Niya: “Take heart.”

Parang sinasabi Niya sa atin,

“Lakasan mo ang loob mo. May pag-asa ka.”

Yung mga religious leaders noon, nagduda. Para sa kanila, sino ba si Jesus para magpatawad ng kasalanan?

Pero pinakita ni Jesus ang authority Niya—not just to heal physically, but to forgive spiritually. At para patunayan ‘yon, sinabi Niya:

“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

At agad siyang tumayo.

Isang salita lang—binago ang buhay niya.

From broken to whole. From forgiven to restored.

Application 

1. Unahin ang puso kaysa panlabas.

Minsan sobrang focus tayo sa problema—pera, trabaho, health. Pero si Jesus, puso muna.

Kumusta ka spiritually?

2. Lumapit ka kahit hindi ka okay.

Hindi perfect yung paralitiko. Wala siyang maipagmamalaki. Pero lumapit siya—at tinanggap siya ni Jesus.

Ganun din tayo.

3. May authority si Jesus na magbago ng buhay.

Hindi lang Niya tinatakpan ang kasalanan—tinatanggal Niya.

Hindi lang outside ang inaayos—inside transformation.

❤️ Check

❤️Mas inuuna ko ba ang temporary na solution kaysa eternal na change?

❤️May sin ba akong kinikimkim na kailangan ko nang i-surrender?

❤️Naniniwala ba ako na kayang baguhin ni Jesus ang buhay ko?

Hindi lahat ng kailangan mo ay nakikita sa labas—minsan, ang pinaka-kailangan mo ay kapatawaran sa loob.

At kay Jesus, hindi ka lang Niya pinapagaling—binabago ka Niya.

Prayer :

Lord Jesus, salamat po dahil ang pinaka-kailangan ko ay hindi lang healing kundi forgiveness. Linisin Mo ang puso ko at tulungan Mo akong magtiwala sa Iyo sa lahat ng bagay. Turuan Mo akong lumapit sa Iyo just as I am, knowing na kaya Mo akong gawing whole. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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PASTORA SHERLY - JCRC RIYADH

Matthew 8 : NO STORM IS GREATER THAN OUR SAVIOR

 Matthew 8:26 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

NO STORM IS GREATER THAN OUR SAVIOR

Imagine - You and Jesus on a boat – just like His disciples…

And yes, just like His disciples we are still threatened by fear…

FEAR of

📍DANGER 

 👉like the WAVES come crushing, relentless, harsh and often human struggles, trials, and emotional chaos, circumstances overwhelming us

📍FAILURE 

👉like the WIND that tumbles us down, efforts that yield no return, meaningless, intangible and unsatisfying worldly pursuits

📍CHANGE 

👉like the WEATHER that occur suddenly, undeniable shift that is beyond control.

Often we are unprepared to face these things, we panic, we doubt but just like His disciples – Jesus is with them – Jesus is with us, the entire time and the entire time He is peaceful amidst the chaos, amidst the storm.

Jesus did not calm the storm right away, but asked His disciples “why are you afraid?” He instead rebuked their unbelief, their lack of faith. They have seen miracles of Jesus, and yet still finding it difficult to believe that Jesus will see them through that raging storm.

So instead of looking at our situations, let us look at Jesus and not allow the waves, the wind and the weather – the danger, the failure and the change – dictate our reactions.

Instead of responding with fear, with doubt, with unbelief when faced with storms, we must respond with FAITH.

❇️ FAITH ON THE SAVIOR, NOT FEARING THE STORM

⛵️ Start with faithfully trusting Jesus.

⛵️ We trust Him in every chaos for no storm is beyond His control. 

⛵️ Choose to anchor our faith in Him because JESUS HAS POWER OVER EVERY STORM.

Mark 4:39 "And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

❇️ FOCUS ON THE SAVIOR, NOT FIXING GAZE ON THE STORM 

⛵️ Continue our journey of faith focusing on Jesus. 

⛵️ We can turn towards Jesus - the One who calms the storms not on the size of our storms. 

⛵️ No matter the intensity of our struggles, JESUS HAS POWER TO BRING PEACE, ORDER AND SECURITY.

1 Corinthians 14:33: "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace..."

❇️ FINISH WITH THE SAVIOR, NOT FLIP OVER BY THE STORM

⛵️ Our goal is to persevere and finish with our Savior.

⛵️ Our struggles may shake us, but it cannot sink us when Christ is with us.

⛵️ Every storm is temporary but JESUS HAS THE POWER OVER UNCERTAINTY AND HE OFFERS STABILITY.

Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

If today we are overwhelmed by our circumstances, we choose to look at Jesus above everything else.

❤️ WE CHOOSE TO TRUST OUR GOD WHO WALKS ON WAVES, COMMANDS THE WIND AND CONTROLS THE WEATHER, BECAUSE NO STORM IS GREATER THAN JESUS, OUR SAVIOR 🙏🙌🙏

 

Psalm 93:4

Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!

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PASTORA RIVA - JCRC RIYADH

Matthew 7: Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking

 

Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking

Scripture:

Sa Gospel of Matthew 7:7:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Observation:

May invitation ang Panginoong Jesus Christ sa atin, to come to Him and build a real relationship with God. Hindi ito one-time lang, kundi tuloy-tuloy, may tiyaga at may tiwala.

Ginamit Niya ang tatlong salita: ask, seek, and knock, na nagpapakita ng progression sa paglapit natin sa Diyos.

Sa totoong buhay, kapag may kailangan tayo, hindi tayo tumitigil sa paghingi lang. Naghahanap tayo ng paraan, kumikilos, at nagpupursige hanggang makuha natin yung kailangan natin. Ganun din sa spiritual life natin, hindi lang one-time prayer, kundi continuous na paglapit sa Diyos.

Ask – shows dependence

Inaamin natin na may kailangan tayo at umaasa tayo sa Diyos.

Seek – shows desire

Hindi lang tayo humihingi, kundi hinahanap natin ang Diyos at ang Kanyang will.

Knock – shows persistence

Kahit may delay o parang sarado ang pinto, tuloy pa rin tayo sa pagkatok, trusting na bubuksan Niya sa tamang time.

Ipinapakita nito na ang relationship natin sa Diyos ay intentional at active,hindi passive. Gumagalaw, naghahanap, at nagpapatuloy.

Ang promise ng Panginoon ay may sagot, pero hindi laging ayon sa gusto natin, kundi ayon sa Kanyang will, wisdom, at perfect timing.

Ang Diyos na meron tayo is not blind sa needs natin, at hindi rin Siya deaf sa prayers natin. He sees, hears, and responds.

Application:

Minsan, tumitigil tayo mag-pray kapag feeling natin walang sagot. Madali tayong ma-discourage, mapagod, o mainip, at naiisip natin na baka hindi tayo pinapansin ni Lord.

Pero reminder sa atin: don’t give up.

Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.

Check natin sarili natin:

• Consistent ba tayo sa paglapit sa Diyos?
• Lumalapit lang ba tayo kapag may problema o kailangan?
• Siya ba ang first option natin, o last option?
• Kapag delayed ang sagot, tuloy pa rin ba ang trust natin?

Hindi lang ito about asking for blessings, this is about building a relationship with God.

Habang naghihintay tayo, hinuhubog Niya yung puso natin. Pinapalalim Niya yung faith natin at tinuturuan tayong magtiwala sa Kanya fully.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You sa love Mo at sa invitation Mong lumapit kami sa Iyo with faith and trust. Teach us to be consistent sa pag-ask, pag-seek, at pag-knock sa Iyo.

Kapag napapagod o nadidiscourage kami, remind us na nandiyan Ka lang, ready to listen at umalalay sa amin. Palalimin Mo yung faith namin at tulungan Mo kaming magtiwala sa Iyong will at perfect timing.

Thank You, Lord, dahil alam namin na You hear us and You are working in our lives.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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ELDER PANGGA - JCRC RIYADH

Matthew 6: "Finding Satisfaction on What Truly Matters"

 

"Finding Satisfaction on what truly matters"

Matthew 6:19-21

V19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

V20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

V21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus sermon on the mount teaches His disciples the comparison between heavenly and earthly treasures. Wherein He emphasizes the significance of investing eternal treasure in heaven, same with us .

Though,Aminin po ntin na minsan or madalas po tayo ay mahilig talaga mag invest ng time, effort sa mga earthly treasures (it can be):

~People - because we are attached 

~Work- for promotion 

~Possessions - kasi po for future use

~Money- we can buy everything 

~Positions -to gain power

~Higher education -to gain more knowledge 

Why we usually invest in earthly treasures?

It is because we lost our trust to God..so we feel the fear, we fear of what we might lose, we fear of what might we miss ,we fear of not having a lot. We are not contented, we want to gain more than what we have, anything excess is dangerous to our heart most specially if it takes God's place in our heart.

The world teaches us to constantly seek more—more success, more possessions, more recognition. But the more we chase these things, the more our hearts become unsettled. Contentment does not come from abundance of things, but from alignment with God.

That's why Jesus exhorted to us to lay up treasures in heaven to always obey Him to fulfill our heavenly purpose while on earth kasi those are intangible yet fulfilling because it is for Gods Glory. It is eternal and it will lead us to:

•A deeper relationship with God

•Freedom from fear of losing and material bondages

•Peace of not wanting more from the earth

•Joy of contentment 

•Feeling deeply loved by God by having just enough 

• we trust in Gods provision 

•Above all, eternal reward in heaven

***Our heart is never meant to be divided. It was created to be centered on God.

When we choose heavenly treasure, our hearts become lighter, free, and aligned with God’s purpose. But when earthly things take over, they slowly weigh the heart down.

***What we value today is shaping our heart tomorrow.

Question to reflect.

What do we value more- our relationship with God or our attachment to His creations?”

Let us pray,

Lord we thank You for the life and love You shared in every exhortation You bring through Your Word. Search my heart..may this heart of mine always seek for Your Glory, to value what is eternal and to release everything that hold me back in sincerely serving You.

In Jesus name.

Amen 🙏🏼

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ELDER SALLY - JCRC RIYADH