JULY 1, 2018 – NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

Dear Brethren,

It is our special Sunday morning worship service today as we welcome our newly elected Barangay officials here in Palanan,and in nearby San Isidro. They are about to actually assume their office and perform their functions starting tomorrow, Monday, July 02. It is indeed a good, timely, and fitting opportunity to recognize, honour, and corporately pray for them, and likewise share with them the Biblical principles in righteous governance beginning essentially in a local community level. They will be joined by 3 of our brethren who likewise were elected to such position of responsibility in their respective communities, and who have likewise invited some of their colleagues to attend this special gathering.

Among others, the Bible in I Timothy 2:1-4 urges us, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thank s, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

We are to pray for, and give thanks for those who are in authority, because God has ordained government in society to keep order (Romans 13:1-7).

We pray that God may grant our community leaders wisdom, guidance, and direction in the discharge of their servant leadership function. We are to realize however, that our prayer for those in authority should always have an evangelical purpose and intensity. Our real goal is that they would come under the authority of Jesus, and make decisions allowing the gospel to have free course, and in doing so, God be glorified!

The only way a society is changed for the better is by changing individual people. We are to recognize that the heart of the problem is the problem in the heart.

The Bible in Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” That means it is sick and has all kinds of problems. That is where the change should take place.

The only person who can change people like that is Jesus Christ.

All By God’s Grace and For God’s Glory!
Pastor Gerry Nable