Straight From Pastor Ey

Do you still remember our mission statement? Let us all recite it. “Glorify God by Multiplying Biblical, Committed and Loving Followers of Jesus Christ.” This morning we will look into the “multiplying” aspect of our mission statement. It is God’s will that we become fruitful. Jesus said in John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” [1] Yes, if you would look at the context, the word “fruit” probably refers to “love.” Verse 13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” I like how The Message translated this: “This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.” Would you put your life on the line by joining God’s search and rescue operation? Let us read the life of one who did join God’s search and rescue operation. Let us look into the encounter of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. Let me give you the background for our passage. Phi...

One young salesman was so disappointed when he lost a big sale. He complained to his sales manager, “I guess it just shows that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” The manager wisely answered, “Your job is not to make it drink. Your job is to make it thirsty.” (Adapted from Preaching magazine, November-December 1985.) It’s the same with evangelism. During the first two years after receiving the Lord, a believer experiences “evangelism explosion.” He shares the good news of salvation left and right. But it’s sad that, after two years, he experiences “evangelism erosion.” He rarely reaches out to others, if ever he does it again. Like the young salesman, we excuse it by saying that it’s hard to convert a person. Why do we lose the passion for evangelism? Because we forgot what’s our job really is. When we share the Gospel, our job is not to convert. Our job is to make him or her thirsty for God. That’s why Jesus called us the salt of the earth: “Let me tell ...

I came across an article in the Discipleship Journal about “10 Questions To Ask To Make Sure You’re Still Growing” by Donald Whitney. (If you want a copy, just e-mail me.) Basically, Whitney helps us answer the question, “Are you more like Jesus than you were a year ago?” Allow me to share two of the ten benchmarks. One of them is, “ Are you more and more loving?” A sign that we are truly believers is our love for others especially for the brethren. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7, NIV) We can say a person is growing spiritually if he is growing in love. So, Whitney encourages us to ask these questions: “Can you recall recent instances of Christlike love in your life? Have there been occasions when you’ve sacrificed your own preferences, plans, or rights for those of others?” Corollary to that is: “Are you more and more willing to forgive others?” Whitney wrote, “ The more we beco...

I heard about the story (fictitious, I hope) of a missionary-church planter who had a pet cat. The cat was very restless. In fact, it annoyed people by repeatedly rubbing its body on their legs while they worshipped during their services. So the missionary decided to put an end to it by carrying the cat whenever he would go up the pulpit to preach. Then he would tie that cat to the pulpit. After the benediction he would untie the cat. It was a very practical solution to a very simple problem. Or so he thought. Well, after a long, fruitful ministry the missionary died. The cat also died (Apparently it used up its nine lives!) However, generations after generations, that church would always have its pastor carry a cat and tie it up in the pulpit. It became a beloved part of their worship tradition! The church even almost had a split when they debated on the breed of the cat to use for the service. But they never thought of removing the cat. For since they have been doing it for a long ti...

We are facing a new year with lots of challenges ahead of us. Personally and corporately, we are on a mission for God. Our mission statement in Makati Gospel Church is “Glorify God by Multiplying Biblical, Committed and Loving Followers of Jesus Christ.” This defines our church. That’s why we will focus on an aspect of our mission statement in our Sunday messages starting today until February. Allow me to explain what I call the “M=GC3 Strategy.” First, let me share Our Mission: M ASTER’S G REAT C OMMISSION . We read this in Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” [1] Here it’s clear that the Lord promised us His power ( “All authority in heaven and on earth has be...

A blessed new year to all of you! Someone said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” With the year 2007 ahead of us, let me remind you of the main thing that we are to pursue. Let us see how the early church did it in Acts 2:41-47... “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” [1] Keep in mind th...