Victorious Christian Living (Fervency in Praying) - February 6, 2011

acts29 VOLUME 21 ISSUE 06 | FEBRUARY 06, 2011

Christian Bible Baptist Church official Sunday publication

"And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints."

Psalm 89:5

FEATURES • Fervency in Praying Sunday School Lesson • A Great New Testament Church Featured Article • Lord, Thanks for Your Fervency that Keeps Us Victorious Poetry by Sis. Beata Agustin

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outline Victorious Christian Living (Fervency in Praying)

Luke 18:1-8

I. The successful prayer life demands the faith and obedience of the believers.

A. Believers who want their prayer answered must possess both faith and obedience .

B. Without faith and obedience in prayer, believers are only wishful and not hopeful.

II. The successful prayer life depends on the fervency of praying.

A. God’s silence does not always mean no.

B. God’s silence sometimes means wait.

C. God’s silence most of the time means go ahead and keep on asking.

“

III. The successful prayer life delights the faithful Father.

A. God’s delight is to answer His children’s need.

B. God is delighted to hear and answer again His children’s prayers after He has already answered them.

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DR. ED M. LAURENA

the attendance picked up again. That same year, the Church moved to a new location in San Pedro Ice Plant along the National Highway. Trusting the living Savior, Pastor Ed decided to do more for God’s glory. As a result, the Church attendance grew and reached up to 100-150.

There was then a need for a new and bigger place.

In 1983, Pastor Ed, together with the members, found a lot in St. Francis Homes 2 Subdivision. Prayer vigils were held, with members in every corner of the lot, claiming the property. Their prayers were answered by the living God since the Church occupied it before 1984 ended.

The building was finished in 1985. Along with the Church’s improvements in terms of its physical facilities and the progress of its ministries was its change of name into Christian Bible Baptist Church (CBBC).

“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33 Through 1986-1987 CBBC continued to be a witness for the resurrected Savior. The Church reached its goal and broke its 450 attendance record. To accommodate the growing number of people, the members gave sacrificially and another adjacent lot was purchased in 1987. Construction also began that same year. Simultaneous with the building expansion was the steady increase in attendance. The construction continued until 1988-1989.

As the Church celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 1989, it continued claiming and experiencing God’s power.

Striving to fulfill the Great Commission in every possible way, CBBC held its first motorcade to invite people for the big day. This is the first one in the history of Baptist churches in the Philippines.

By 1990, the average attendance of the church reached 1,000. From 1986-1990, the first time visitors registered twice the average recorded in 1978-1985.

A record of an average of 1,000 in attendance every Sunday and 60 baptisms marked the year 1991. The attendance doubled until the end of the year. The church attendance continued to grow from 1992-1993. The weekly attendance was more or less 1,200. A total of 3,236 first time visitors and 543 baptisms were recorded for 1993 alone. From 1990-1994, more than 2,000 first time visitors were brought in each year.

In 1995, more than 3,000 first time visitors were registered and the average attendance pegged at 1,421. Despite the continuous increase in attendance, the Church continued its efforts in witnessing for the risen Savior. The Area Soulwinning Program was reinforced with the aim: “Always Ready to Evangelize Anybody” with 13 Areas led by able men. This program is one of the Church's most powerful strategies in insuring that many people are reached. Christians, both "old" and "new" have the opportunity to involve in area soulwinning, Bible studies, tract distribution and house to house visitation. Hence, it has become a valuable tool in boosting church attendance and an effective means in uniting the members to achieve church goals.

The average of 23 weekly baptisms was recorded in 1997.

…”a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.” Acts 14:1 Being faithful to God in fulfilling the Great Commission, CBBC reached its highest average attendance record of 1,800 in 1998.

Though only 50% of the "New Building" was completed, the auditorium became usable for the church's 19th Anniversary. By the end of the year, the Church had a total record of 7,102 first time visitors and 1,477 baptisms.

With two decades of God’s faithfulness, the Church prayed to have 3,000 first time visitors on its 20th anniversary and by God’s grace, 3,523 came in January of 1999. The "area soulwinning" set-up became more extensive in evangelism and discipleship and three new soulwinning areas were added.

In the year 2000, the Church aimed for 5,000 first time visitors on its anniversary. With much faith, prayer and hard work, God gave 5,094. When the Church moved to a new auditorium, it hit the mark of an average attendance of 2,000.

CBBC reached an average attendance of 2,300 and on the 22nd anniversary in 2001, it made a record in the history for gathering 7,433 people. A total of 10,800 first time visitors was recorded during this year.

Fired by the success of the previous years, Pastor Ed challenged the Church to reach 10,000 in attendance for the 2002 anniversary. Later, he announced that God could help them reach 12,000 instead. By the grace and power of God, 15,383 people were seen on that anniversary Sunday!

From the attendance of 42 in 1978, the Church grew to an average of 2,250 in 2003. On its 24th anniversary, CBBC aimed for an attendance of 16,000 and a total of 16,091 came for the two consecutive services in just one Sunday! The weekly baptisms have reached 35.

“And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” Acts 5:14 In 2004, CBBC feasted on 25 years of God’s faithfulness. CBBC’s Silver anniversary had a grand total of more than 30,000 visitors in a month-long, five-Sunday evangelistic celebration. The average attendance was 2,007. Total number of first time visitors reached 35, 443 and the total number of baptisms was 1,282. The Book “It Can Be Done” which contains the history and miracle story of the church was published. The following year (2005), the Anniversary attendance was 15,990. The Church average attendance reached 2,214. The total number of first time visitors was 38,946, while that of baptisms was 1,726.

CBBC continued to strengthen its members with its theme, “Grow In Grace” for the year of 2006. Indeed, the Church grew and yielded much fruit.

The Anniversary attendance was 15,769 while the average attendance was 2,650. The total number of first time visitors was 26,949, and the total number of baptisms was 2,272.

Adopting “Expand Our Horizon” as its year’s theme CBBC’s attendance reached its highest record of 3,009 on a regular Sunday morning service on November 4, 2007. CBBC continued being a witness for Christ not only in San Pedro, Laguna, but also in other parts of the Philippines as it sent more missionaries and expanded its ministries. The Anniversary attendance reached 14,766. Fruits of sharing the Gospel gave an average attendance of 2,667, a total first time visitors of 22,346 and baptisms of 2,134.

On the last Sunday of January and first Sunday of February 2008, CBBC celebrated its 29th Anniversary with a goal of 10,000 first time visitors. By God’s grace 10,265 people came. In March, a group of young people from Cleveland Baptist Church visited CBBC for a mission trip.

“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:20 Labouring continually to reach lost souls for Christ, a month-long anniversary was set in February 2009 to celebrate 30 years of God’s faithfulness with three consecutive nights of revival. God indeed showed His power and grace when 20,166 first time visitors came. In September, “Project Nehemiah: The Vision” unfolds as the perspective of the New 3-storey Building was presented to the church. Two new areas were added and the 2-morning services officially started in December of the same year which was another attempt to see God’s power mightily in bringing more people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ’s redemptive work.

The recently-concluded year of 2010 all the more radiated God’s power as the Church set-off with the theme, “Revive Us Again.” Through a month-long celebration, CBBC reached 14, 685 in attendance for its 31stAnniversary. Then, during the March 12 Feeding Program, about 200 kids were fed physically and spiritually.

Again, more children, as well as their families, were reached through the two weeks of Daily Vacation Bible School held in the month of May. It recorded a total of 2,564 professions of faith. The Church’s average attendance also continued to grow and reached 2,869. The total number of first time visitors was 22, 224 and that of baptisms was 1,502.

Indeed, CBBC was revived as it witnessed God’s hand at work again in saving much people and changing more lives. God’s power has truly been evident all through the Church’s 32 years. CBBC is looking forward to experiencing another year of God’s mighty power as it yields to His leadership for the furtherance of the Gospel.

To God be the Glory!

Get Involved!

Last night I took a journey to a land across the sea, I did not go by boat or plane, I traveled on my knees.

I saw many people there in deep sin, and I did not want to send my prayers in.

But Jesus said I should go and see, how many I could win.

everyday

I said, “Jesus, I cannot go and work with such as these.”

He answered quickly, “Yes, you can by traveling on your knees.”

He said, “You pray, I will meet the need.

You call and I will hear.”

So I knelt in prayer and felt at ease as I traveled on my knees.

I said, “Yes, Lord. I know I can do the job, and my desire is to please.

I will heed Your call,” and I traveled on my knees.

Nathan Hale, a great American patriot during the Revolutionary War, was captured and hung by British soldiers. His famous final words were, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

He was willing to die for his nation and its freedom.

During the final days of World War II, it was apparent that the Japanese were fighting a losing battle.

Yet many of their pilots, called “kamikaze,” willingly flew suicide missions. There was great honor in dying for a cause. The pilots were willing to die for glory. In 2009, a mother in Philadelphia, USA went back into a burning building to rescue her children who were trapped inside. After saving two, she died in the flames trying to save the other two. The mother was willing to die for her children. In the ancient empire of Persia, a law was passed making it a

crime punishable by death to pray to anyone but the king. One aged government official refused to obey the decree. It was his habit to pray three times daily to the one true God. As a result, he was cast into a den of lions. Even though God saved Daniel, Daniel was still willing to die rather than give up his habit of prayer (Dan. 6:3–11).

How important is prayer to you? Is it a habit worth dying for? Or, would someone need to pass a law demanding daily prayer or a trip to the lions’ den to get you into the habit of prayer? People are willing to die for that which is of great importance to them. Prayer should be that important! It is our link to God. Without the lifeline of prayer, we grow spiritually weak. Do not neglect the privilege that God has given to us as His children to pray.

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LORD, THANKS FOR YOUR FERVENCY THAT KEEPS US VICTORIOUS e by Sis. Beata Agustin e

Jan. 30 & Feb. 02 1st AM Service 2nd AM Service Sunday Afternoon Wednesday First Time Visitors Baptisms

Lord, You are indeed fervent in Your compassion Keeping us securely victorious in our salvation Thank You for stretching-out Your love’s action To free our souls from sin’s penalty and hell’s damnation.

Lord, You are surely fervent in Your holiness-fire Keeping us righteously victorious in our Christian attire Thank You for teaching what Your standards require To help our testimony shine against worldliness’ mire.

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Lord, You are amazingly fervent in Your graciousness Keeping us humbly victorious in our prayer-earnestness Thank You for listening well by Your ear’s sensitiveness To answer our pleas midst crises and threats of hopelessness.

Lord, You are marvelously fervent in Your mercy Keeping us strongly victorious in our service-persistency Thank You for upholding us thru Your divine efficiency To enable our faith optimize its useful potency.

Lord, You are always fervent in Your truth’s exposure Keeping us prudently victorious in our choice-measure Thank You for enriching us with Your wisdom’s treasure To direct our decisions toward heavenly wealth so sure.

Lord, You are wonderfully fervent in Your blessing Keeping us gratefully victorious in our labor-pressing Thank You for pouring Your provisions always sufficing To meet our needs with miracles undoubtedly surprising.

Lord, You are majestically fervent in Your leadership Keeping us sweetly victorious in our relationship Thank You for enclosing us around Your fellowship To kindle our spirits for a genuine revival-worship.

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MORNING Lev. 22-24 Lev. 25-27 Num. 1-3 Num. 4-6 Num. 7-9 Num. 10-12 Num. 13-15

EVENING Ps. 35:15-28 Ps. 36 Ps. 37:1-20 Ps. 37:21-40 Ps. 38 Ps. 39 Ps. 40

YOUTH QUOTES “...Who best bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best:” John Milton Baptist Youth Fundamentalist will resume after our month-long Anniversary

Ayon sa Biblia, Iisa Lamang ang Daan Patungong Langit!

NG sabi ni Hesus, “Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay: walang makapupunta sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko.” Juan 14:6

Wala nang iba pang makapagliligtas sa iyo mula sa impierno. Magtiwala ka kay Hesus ngayon! (Roma 6:23) “Kung ipahahayag ng iyong bibig na si Hesus ay Panginoon at mananampalataya ka nang buong puso na Siya’y muling binuhay ng Diyos, ikaw ay maliligtas”. Roma 10:9 1. Aminin mo na ikaw ay isang makasalanan. Roma 3:10 2. Talikuran mo ang iyong mga kasalanan (magsisi). Gawa 17:30 3. Manampalataya ka na si Kristo Hesus ay namatay para sa iyo, nalibing at nabuhay namagmuli. Roma 10:9-10 4. Sa pamamagitan ng panalangin, tanggapin mo si Hesus sa iyong puso bilang iyong Tagapagligtas. Roma 10:13

MANALANGIN KA NG GANITO Panginoon, ako po ay isang makasalanan at nangangailangan ng kapatawaran.

Nanampalataya po ako na nadanak ang dugo ni Hesus at Siya ay namatay sa krus para sa akin. Tinatalikuran ko na po ang aking mga kasalanan. Tinatanggap ko po si Kristo Hesus sa aking puso bilang aking Tagapagligtas. Amen.

Kung tinanggap mo si Hesus bilang iyong Tagapagligtas, ito na ang simula ng iyong bagong buhay kay Kristo (Roma 8:1). Ngayon: 1. Basahin mo ang iyong Biblia araw-araw upang makilala pa ng lubusan si Kristo Hesus.

2. Makipag-usap ka sa Diyos sa panalangin araw-araw.

3. Manambahan ka sa isang simbahan na pinapangaral si Kristo at ang Biblia ang tanging pamantayan.

4. Ibahagi sa iba si Kristo Hesus.

ACTS 29 - Christian Bible Baptist Church official Sunday publication