Crown Of Thorns

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”

(Matthew 27:27-29)

“And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

(Matthew 27:37)

Because Jesus was never found guilty before His crucifixion, the only accusation placed on His sign was the “crime” of being King of the Jews. The signage was “I.N.R.I.” The Latin reads: “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaerum”, meaning Jesus of the Nazareth, King of the Jews. The initials of the Latin superscription which Pilate had placed above the cross of Jesus in three languages (Greek, Hebrew, Latin). A sign stating the condemned man’s crime was often placed on a cross as warning to the people.

So They placed a crown upon Jesus but did not make Him their King. The soldiers dressed Jesus as a king. They placed a scarlet robe but they were only pretending.

The lesson here is sometimes we pretend that Jesus is our King. Jesus seems to be king at Church but not at our home! Jesus seems to be KING before believers; but not at work. When we only pretend, we hurt our Lord. Many say things about Jesus they do not mean. Many songs are but lies. Many commitments are never carried out. Many testimonies don’t ring true.

A hypocrite is not himself on Sunday. On Sunday we sing, “I love to tell the story” and never mention it all.On Sunday we sing, “Serve the Lord with gladness” and gripe about all we do.On Sunday we sing, “Sweet hour of Prayer” and are content without a prayer a day. Question: “If you were on trial for being CHRISTIAN, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

John Wesley said: “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such along will overthrow the Kingdom of Satan and build up the Kingdom of God on earth.

Here is a poem entitled “If Jesus Came To Your Home:”

“IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOME”

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two...
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do.
Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honored guest.
And all the food you’d serve to Him would be the very best.

And would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there...
But...when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door.
With arms outstretched in welcome to our heavenly visitor?
Or would you maybe change your clothes before you let Him in.

Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?
Would you turn off the T.V. and hope He hadn’t seen.
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about.

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you’d plan to go,
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends,
Or would you hope they’d stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on.

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do,
If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.

Let’s really make Him KING of our lives. Let’s give Him our lives without reservation. Jesus deserves our total Dedication. There are no crown wearers in heaven that were not cross bearers here below.

(Messages By: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)

Security In Christ

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33)

Today’s world is a world of trial and tribulation. Man is trying desperately to find security. Analyzing this verse, (John 16:33), we can learn how God counsels us, makes us calm, taught us to handle conflict, place us in comfort, and conquer the evils of the world.

I – COUNSEL- Notice the verse “These things I have spoken unto you.” This means that God has told us His word. “I have told you all this…”It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”(John 6:63).
The lessons here are: Every Christian must know God’s Word – what it says, what it means, and how it applies to daily life. How much time do you spend in God’s Word? We should build our lives on His Word and build His Word into our lives, because it alone tells us how to live for Him. What we need today is both guidance and a guide. A map that gives us landmarks and directions and a constant companion who has an intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly. As you make your way through life, lean upon both the map and the guide.

II – CALMNESS-“That in Me ye might have peace.” Statistically, in 3,521 years, only 286 have been warless. 8,000 treaties have been broken. For every year of war there have been two minutes of peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27).

The secret of peace of mind and calmness of spirit is found only in Jesus Christ. Here is the story of John D. Rockefeller, a United States Industrialist and Philanthropist:

John D. Rockefeller, Sr. was strong and husky when small. He early determined to earn money and drove himself to the limit. At age 33, he earned his first million dollar. (oil industry). At age 43, he controlled the biggest company in the world. (Unified the oil industry into the standard oil Trust). At age 53, he was the richest man on earth and the world’s ONLY BILLIONAIRE.

Then he developed a sickness called “alopecia” where the hair of his head dropped off, his eyelashes and eyebrows disappeared. And he was shrunken like a mummy. His weakly income was one million dollars, but he digested only milk and crackers . He was so hated in Pennsylvania that he had to have body guards day and night. He could not sleep, stopped smiling long since and enjoyed nothing in life. (“Millionaires seldom smile”). The doctors predicted he would not live over one year. The newspaper had gleefully written his obituary in advance for convenience in sudden use.

Those sleepless nights set him thinking. He realized with a new light that he “could not take one dime into the next world”. Money was not everything. The next morning found him a new man by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He began to help churches with his amassed wealth; the poor and needy were not overlooked. He established a Rockefeller Foundation where funding of medical researches led to the discovery of penicillin and other wonder drugs. John D. Rockefeller began to sleep well, eat and enjoy life. The Doctors had predicted he would not live over age 54. He lived up to 98.

III – CONFLICT - “In the world ye shall have TRIBULATION.” Note the words: “World” and “Tribulation.” A world influenced by Satan, full of cruelty, tragedy, temptation and deception.“A world of TRIBULATION.” Following Christ does not mean a trouble-free life. God does not exempt believers from day-to-day circumstances of life. Christianity doesn’t guarantee problem-free life. Earth has no trouble-free environments. There will always be problems as long as the world is filled with sinful people. Not even Christian churches, Christian homes are problem-free. Times of financial burdens. Times of family conflict. Times of the loss of our jobs. Times of physical problems. How we act in such situations reflects what we believe.

“Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.”(2 Thessalonians 1:5).“He is using your sufferings to make you ready for His kingdom.” Our problems help us look upward and forward, not inward. Problems are unavoidable because we are trying to be godly people in an ungodly world. Your troubles may be a sign of effective Christian living.

IV – COMFORT - “Be of good cheer.” “Take courage.”Here are some illustrations:
1st Illustration is Foster Walker – accidentally strolled into the scene of a hold-up at a store in Memphis, Tenn., and heard the gunman order him to surrender his money or “I’LL SHOOT YOU!” Walker said: “You go ahead and shoot, I just got through reading my BIBLE, AND I’VE ALREADY SAID MY PRAYERS.”The robber was dumbfounded and Foster Walker, walked away. LESSON: In spite of the inevitable struggles we will face, we are not alone. Only GOD can give courage and comfort in days of fear and instability.

2nd Illustration:“THE UNSINKABLESHIP TITANIC versus MB GALILEE.” In 1912, the largest and most luxurious ship ever built at that time. 852 feet long – boasted sixteen watertight compartments to keep its passengers safely afloat no matter what hazards befell the sea. The Titanic was said to be the safest ship ever built. It set sail from England on its maiden cruise, bound for America. One of the passengers purportedly asked a deckhand “IS THE TITANIC really UNSINKABLE?”“GOD HIMSELF COULD’T SINK THE SHIP”, replied the seaman. Before midnight on a clear, moonless night in the North Atlantic, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank less than 3 hours later carrying 1,500 souls into eternity. The “UNSINKABLE SHIP” built to last for several lifetimes had SUNK on ITS FIRST VOYAGE.” In contrary, the frail boat on the sea of Galilee is UNSINKABLE! Why? Because JESUS the master of land and sea was with them in the hidden part of the vessel. Jesus still lives and rides the billows and controls the storms. When the children of men take their only TRUE PILOT back on board, we will ride out the present storms and He will bring the vessel through the fair harbor of our hopes. . Note: RMS Titanic – Captain shouted: “ABANDON SHIP!”JESUS our PILOT SHOUTED: “PEACE BE STILL!”Only He who can say: “The Lord is the strength of my life” can say: “Of whom shall I be afraid.”Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live. Peace is not REAL PEACE until it has been tested in the storm.

V – CONQUEST - “I have overcome the world.”-LESSON: When facing a tough decision, don’t let the negatives cause you to lose sight of the positives. Don’t let potential difficulties blind you to God’s power to help and His promise to guide. When you are afraid, look to JESUS CHRIST. Remember the empty tomb. Christ’s resurrection help us find meaning even in the midst of tragedy. No matter what happens to us we walk with the Lord. Today people are looking for someone to give them security in an insecure world. Our job is to point them to Jesus Christ and to show that He is the ONE they seek. Focusing on our human predicament may paralyze us because the situation may appear humanly impossible. But concentrating on God and His Power help us see the way out. Jesus said: “I am the Way” (John 14:6). We trust in God by recognizing the insufficiency of our own efforts to find solutions and by asking Him to do His work in us. If you are bending under a burden and feel that you are about to fall, turn to God for help. He is ready to bear your burden.“Faith is not believing that God can, but that GOD WILL!” Only in Christ can real security be found.

(Messages By: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)

Emergency Tips

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

(Mark 13:17).

Disaster and emergency comes in a very unexpected time. Therefore we must prepare to meet our God. Jesus is teaching us that PREPARATION is needed. Here are some tips to be prepared:

I – GET ON THE ROCK (Jesus Christ) - “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.” (2 Samuel 22:2). Rock is a frequent symbolic metaphor of God as a place of security and rest. Rock – firm, strong, and unchanging. We must not build our lives on perishable pursuits, but on the solid foundation of God. Then even if everything we have is taken away, we still have GOD, who is all we really need anyway.
Illustration:
A sailor in a shipwreck was thrown upon a rock where he clung in a great danger until the tide went down. Later a friend asked him, “Jim, didn’t you shake with fear when you were hanging on that rock?” “Yes, BUT THE ROCK DIDN’T MOVE!” Be sure your life is built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, foundation that will not changed.

II – STAY IN THE FLOCK (Church) - “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11).
“And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones.”( Numbers 32:16.). Note the word: “Sheepfolds.” An enclosure intended for the protection of sheep and also to keep them from wondering out and getting lost.

III – PUT KIDS ON DRY DOCK (Church School) - “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 ). The average child will, by age 65, have spent 9 years sitting in front of a TV set. But if he goes to Sunday School every Sunday, he will have spent only 4 months studying the Bible. Out of 8,000 delinquent children, only 42 attended Sunday School regularly. A man proudly said: “I go to church only 2 times in my life.” The first time, they sprinkle water on me the second time they sprinkle rice. A hearer added: “And the third time they sprinkle dirt.”: Parents, don’t send your children to church – BRING THEM!

IV – BUILD A ROADBLOCK (Against the Devil) - “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1Peter 5:8-9). Satan has launched an all-out war against our families. Satan has been infiltrating our homes, attacking the minds of our children, sowing seeds of violence, rebellion and sexual permissiveness. Problems of divorce, suicides, runaways, teenage pregnancies – this crisis is not just affecting isolated groups of people. It is worldwide and reaches into every segment of our society. Refuse to give Satan a foothold in your family. There are many Christian homes where the parents have left an opening for Satan to work because they no longer have the hunger for the church. Church going is a seasonal affair, the parents have become too busy. They no longer set aside time to pray and worship God together and intercede for their families. It's high time for us to RE-EVALUATE our PRIORITIES.

V – KEEP AN EYE ON THE CLOCK (Watchfulness) - “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame”.(Revelation 16:15). Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is the only cash you have – spend it wisely. Each moment is the meeting place of two eternities.
Here is a poem:

If Christ Should Come Next Sunday

If Christ should come next Sunday, And it may be that He will,
Would the thing that I’ll be doing Set the Master’s heart a thrill?

If the Christ should come next Sunday, Would He find me loyal, true,
In my place with my influence Doing what He’d have me to do?

If the Christ should come next Sunday, Let’s suppose He came at ten,
Would He hear me answer “PRESENT”, In the class I should attend?

If Christ should come next Sunday, If He came just at eleven,
Would He find me in His service, Singing praises unto Heaven?

(Messages By: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)

Recipe For Child Raising

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. “

(Ephesians 6:4)

Here is God’s recipe in order to raise a good child:

1 cup of Proverbs 22:6
2 tablespoons of Proverbs 19:13
1 dash of Proverbs 23:13
1 teaspoon of Proverbs 3:5
½ cup of Titus 2:2-3

Mix all the ingredients, add a pound of persistence, one cup of love, and whip until right consistency. This recipe is recommended by the Creator of mankind. Please add a pinch of Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

I – 1 Cup of Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”- The home is the child’s first school. Don’t forget: One (1) percent of the child’s time is spent under the influence of the church. Seven (7) percent under the influence of the school. Ninety (92) percent under the influence of the home.

II - 2 Tablespoons of Proverbs 19:13 “A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.” – We parents should be a role model to our child. A child believes us if what we say is what we do. Integrity and sincerity must first be seen to us to have moral authority to direct our children. When we say to our children not to smoke, drink , gamble, gossip, we must see to it that we don’t smoke, drink, gamble, gossip also.

III - 1 Dash of Proverbs 23:13 “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”- “The time to start correcting the children is before they start correcting you.”

IV - 1 Teaspoon of Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

V - ½ Cup of Titus 2:2-3 “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.” Parental delinquency is the root cause of much of child delinquency. Reasons for Prisoners: a. Six out of ten had fathers who drank to excess. Many had mothers in the same condition. b. Seven out of ten had homes where no family activities were enjoyed – no church attendance.

VI - Add a pinch of Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”. - “Patrick Henry’s Will” - Patrick Henry, is best known in his heroic exclamation: “Give me liberty, or give me death”. In his death in 1799, the family opened his last will: “This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family, the religion of Christ will give one which will make them RICH indeed.”

(Messages by: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)

"The Model Prayer" (Part 3)

“Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

(Matthew 6:11-12)

I–It Speaks Of Food -“Give us this day our daily bread." A petition respecting our own daily needs. We are here taught to acknowledge our ENTIRE DEPENDENCE on God for the supply of our daily necessities. We are acknowledging that God is our Sustainer and Provider, as opposed to the misconception that we provide for our need ourselves. We are also showing that we trust God DAILY to provide what he knows we need. The source of bread is more important than the bread itself. But he answered and said, It is written, " Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4).

Bread is a staple food every day and is needed daily – Christ is necessary for life. Rich or poor, young and old, bread is for everyone – Jesus is available to all who want Him. Bread satisfies a hungry stomach – Christ satisfies a longing heart. As the manna is gathered daily – our soul requires spiritual attention each day too.

II – It Speaks Of Forgiveness - “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” A petition respecting our sins. We confess that we are sinners saved by grace and need daily grants of pardon and forgiveness. We are instructed to keep us a continual habit of confession at the throne of grace, and a continual habit of seeking mercy and remission. “ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8). In this life, no Christian will ever be beyond sinning, so no one should dare let down his guard. We are sinners by nature and by practice.

At CONVERSION, all our sins are forgiven – past – present – and future. Yet even after we become Christians, we still sin and must confess. It takes humility and honesty to recognize our weaknesses. Don’t pretend we are strong. We need not fear revealing our sins to God – He knows them already. He will not push as away – no matter what we’ve done. Instead He will push away the sins and draw us to Himself. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(1 John 1:9).

Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with God. Confession ease our consciences and lighten our cares. True confession involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We are not genuinely confessing our sins before God if we plan to commit the sin again and just want temporary forgiveness.

(Messages by: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon).

"The Model Prayer" (Part 2)

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

(Matthew 6:10 )

I-God Speaks of the Future - “Thy kingdom come”. By His Kingdom we mean: the Kingdom of grace which God sets up and maintains in the heart of all living members of Christ, by His Spirit and His Word.“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2).

Jesus’ kingdom is not centered in palaces and thrones, but in the hearts and lives of His followers. The Kingdom of God begins in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus. The Kingdom of God is personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are REPENTANCE and SPIRITUAL REBIRTH. Jesus as King – not a military or political leaders as the disciples had originally hoped, but a SPIRITUAL KING who can overcome all evil and reign in the heart of every person. If we refuse to SERVE THE KING faithfully, we are DISLOYAL SUBJECTS, fit only to be banished from the Kingdom.

By His Kingdom we mean chiefly, the Kingdom of glory which shall one day be set up, when Jesus shall come the second time. When Jesus ascended into heaven, God’s Kingdom would remain in the hearts of all believers through the presence of the Holy Spirit. But the Kingdom of God will not be fully realized until Jesus comes again to judge all people and remove all evil from the world. Christ’s second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no opportunity for afterthought, last-minute repentance, or bargaining. The choice we have already made will determine our eternal destiny. Our tomorrows are all safe with Him. Our father has planned better times for the future.

II - A PETITION CONCERNING GOD’S WILL - “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”. We here pray that God’s laws may be obeyed by men as perfectly, readily, and unceasingly as they are obeyed by angels in heaven. When we communicate with God, we don’t demand what we want, rather we discuss with Him what He wants for us. If we align our petition to His will He will listen, and we can be certain that if He listens, He will give us a definite answer. Obedience to God’s will cannot be negotiated. When it comes to obeying God’s will – HALF-WAY obedience won’t do.

(Messages by: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)

Winning More Souls

"Soul winning is God's fruit for every Christian."

(John 15:1-2)

"The greatest and most eternal fruit you could ever have in the Christian life is fruit of other souls brought to the Lord."

(Taken from Dr. Armie F. Jesalva's article in The Baptist Herald: "How God Trains Global Gospel Team")

Here in Odiongan Baptist Church, Odiongan, Romblon, just recently, six (6) more souls were won and were baptized, a proof that God never fails His promises for His people. The Church sincerely believes that through the intercession of the Holy Spirit which moves through every member, God will send more servants and workers in order to labor to His vineyard.

With the dynamic leadership of Pastor Teofilito Rufon, strong faith and determination of Baptist Men, Women and Young People alike joining forces together, the Church will conquer and crush the heads of the serpent which are trying to destroy God's Church and ultimately bring more souls to Christ. Constant prayer, visitation, love, unity, patience and concern to fellow members are the weapons of the Church to grow and live in harmony with every Christian believer.