Steadfastness: An Enduring Quality of Christ-likeness

Transcription

1 Valley Isle Fellowship Love God. Love His Church. Love His World 473 S High St PO Box 886 Wailuku, HI (808) (ph) (808) (fax) Steadfastness: An Enduring Quality of Christ-likeness by Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro A very familiar saying in the sports world is: It doesn t matter how well you start the race, but you must finish well! I believe this statement is talking about steadfastness. I see this quality best lived out in the life of Jesus Christ. During His earthly life, He was faithful until the very end and that is the epitome of steadfastness. Many in the world of Christian faith need to understand if they are striving to become more and more like Jesus, steadfastness is a quality that we all need to hone and sharpen. For me, this is something that I need to work diligently on. It is so easy to get started with something that I believe the Lord has directed me to do and then to completely give it up when the road gets a little rocky. Or another scenario is that I don t necessarily give it up, but I just forget about it because things get busy and hectic. In either case, steadfastness is lost. The following story seems to illustrate steadfastness in light of our earthly weaknesses. The time was the 19th of May, The place was Hartford, Connecticut. The day has gone down in New England history as a terrible foretaste of Judgment Day. For at noon the skies turned from blue to gray and by midafternoon had blackened over so densely that, in that religious age, men fell on their knees and begged a final blessing before the end came. The Connecticut House of Representatives was in session. And as some men fell down and others clamored for an immediate adjournment, the Speaker of the House, one Colonel Davenport, came to his feet. He silenced them and said these words: "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish, therefore, that candles may be brought." (This story was found on the website: sermonillustrator.com) In today s atmosphere of church ministry and church growth, there is a constant search to find something newer, more exciting and stimulating, and more entertaining. There is the constant desire to make the Bible more relevant to everyday people and the issues that they confront daily. There is also the constant drive to meet people where they are and to minister to them the love of God in a compassionate and relevant manner. While all of this sounds so good, if you begin to examine these trends you will find them to be very self centered. A dedicated Christian life needs to be Christ centered. While sounding good, these trends need to be transitioned to be Christ centered. For instance, new does not mean better. There probably needs to be a movement back to the ancient understanding and faith of the 1 st Century Christians who truly knew what a committed love to Jesus Christ really meant. Exciting, stimulating, and entertaining ministries can truly appeal to our desires but true Christian faith should be appealing to the desires of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As far as making the Bible and its messages relevant, we have to be careful that we don t make man central. The Word of God needs to be central and we should strive to make our thoughts and lives conform to it. If relevant means to help each other to understand the meaning of the Word and then striving to make our lives conform to its commands, then we can all be in agreement with that. If relevant means to make the Word of God to conform to our situations and issues, then I believe there will be deep problems and conflicts. The Word of God needs to rule our lives and not the (continued next page) IN THIS ISSUE 1-2 Steadfastness: An Enduring Quality of Christ-likeness 3 A Little Thanks To All of You For Being Partners For Life 4 Tony and Sara Silveira 2-3, 5-6 Announcements 7 VIF Calendar 8-9 Sermon Notes

2 Steadfastness: An Enduring Quality of Christ-likeness by Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro (continued from page 1) other way around. There is an enormous need for Christians throughout the world to be steadfast in their love and commitment unto Jesus Christ in a manner that is pleasing to Him even though it may not be pleasing to us. There needs to be a steadfastness/ faithfulness that will soak through to the innermost parts of our lives that will demonstrate that our lives are truly one in Jesus. A Biblical example of this kind of steadfastness and faithfulness can be seen in Ruth s love and commitment to Naomi, her mother-in-law. Ruth 1:16-17 (KJV) 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Newness, Excitement, Stimulating, & Entertaining are not bad things, but it becomes bad when we begin to demand that God provide these things in order for us to remain committed to Him. We need to be committed to Him even if these elements are totally absent. However, the reality is that by being faithful to the Lord at all cost, Christ will provide these elements and even more so that His will can be fulfilled. After all, all of Christian ministry is His ministry and we need to be His servants doing all that He desires. God bless you all. Volunteers to help us park cars on our High Street property for: Wailuku Elementary School May Day Program Wednesday, May 25 Report at 6:30 a.m. Sign-up at the back table Aloha VIF, Thank you Valley Isle Fellowship for all that you have done for Amy, Grayson, Ava and myself over the past 4 years and especially in the time of our transition. We have enjoyed serving alongside you all. We especially want to thank those that gave gifts and helped at our garage sale/bake sale. All of your generosity is going a long way in helping us transition to Texas. Our hearts are still with all of you at VIF and we will continue to pray for VIF to be the church that God has called you all to be. We are looking forward to hearing what God will do at VIF in the coming years. In Christ, Jeremy, Amy, Grayson and Ava - 2 -

3 A Little Thanks To All of You For Being Partners For Life Pastor Darren Sarmiento In my Bible reading time I came across a scripture passage that reminded me of all of you, the Church, and I wanted to share it with you. Philippians 1:3-6 (NLT) says this: 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. I thank God the Father for my VIF family. I find great joy knowing that we are partners for life in letting people know about Jesus and encouraging them to build a relationship with Him. As I look back at my younger days of being a Christian there were some of you who were my mentors and I wouldn t be here if God our Father hadn t designed it and purposed it that way. It brings me joy all the time knowing that God put us together to encourage, love and inspire each other to go forward with the gospel. So as you encourage me, I pray that the Lord may use me to encourage you to love, commit and follow the Lord Jesus for the rest of your lives no matter what happens in life today and tomorrow. I believe that I will always have the joy in the Lord and I pray you will, too, as long as you and I remember Philippians 1:6. It says, 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Realize that the ultimate joy is only found in Jesus Christ. The life we are living out today is because Jesus is already working within us to live the life that will always bring glory to God. Be joyful that one day we will be with the Father and the Son when Jesus comes back to take us home. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ MCBA Summer Camps Missionary Spotlight: Registration forms are now available: Youth Camp Unashamed June at YMCA Camp Keanae See Lyle Irimata for more information Children s Camp Klash of Kin June at YMCA Camp Keanae See Steffen Yamada for more information -3-

4 A Note From Our Missionaries in Montreal, Quebec Tony and Sara Silveira - 4 -

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS High Street Cleaning Schedule Week of May Edwards, Reimann, Balberdi Week of May Elaine, Marion, Linda Week of June 2-4 Volunteers Needed Week of June 9-11 Volunteers Needed Say YES TO VBS! Are you ready to dive into our great adventure under God s great ocean? Plan to join us July 11-15! 15! Interested in helping? Our first VBS Planning meeting will be held on Saturday, May 6:30 pm. If you have any questions or would like to help, call Steffen@ Today, May 15 Team 2: Elaine Y, Wendy C, Krystle AV, Dmitry V, Corey E May 22 May 29 Childcare Schedule Team 3: Flo N, Lillian T, Jen E, DJ Caoile Team 4: Cheeng Shum, Jennifer B, Hawea R Wayne S - 5 -

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 (ESV) call Church Office Church Cleaning Ministry call Church Office Here are opportunities to gather together in prayer Sundays 6 am (Conference Room) Mondays 6:30 pm (Parsonage) Gather together to pray for God to move within ourselves, our church, community, nation and world. Please join us for these very powerful times with the Lord and our brothers and sisters Joywright.mpcmaui@gmail.com Crisis Care Ministry Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro Andy Sniffen :00 am Prayer Meeting (Conference Room) 6:30 am Set-up 9:00 am Worship Service (Childcare for Birth - 4 years at High St property) 10:30 am Sunday School (Children & Youth-High St Property; Adults-parsonage) 6:00 pm Evening Service (High St Property) - 6 -

7 Valley Isle Fellowship Calendar May am - Prayer Conference Room 9 am - Pastor Stephen 10:30 am - Sunday School at High St Property - Adult Sunday parsonage 12 noon - Trustees Meeting 6 pm - Pastor Stephen 16 6:30 pm - Prayer Sanctuary 18 6:30 pm - Youth Group Sanctuary 19 6:00 pm - King Kekaulike HS Graduation 20 6:00 pm - Baldwin High School Graduation 21 5:00 pm - Maui HS Graduation 22 6 am - Prayer Conference Room 9 am - Pastor Stephen 10:30 am - Sunday School at High St Property - Adult Sunday parsonage 6 pm - Pastor Stephen Lahainaluna High School Graduation 23 6:30 pm - Prayer Sanctuary 24 6:30 pm - Youth Group Sanctuary 26 DOE - last day for students 27 St. Anthony High School Graduation 28 Seabury Hall Graduation 6:30 VBS Planning Meeting 29 6 am - Prayer Conference Room 9 am - Pastor Stephen - Observance of Lord s Supper 10:30 am - Sunday School at High St Property - Adult Sunday parsonage 6 pm - Pastor Stephen MCBA Children s Camp Registration due 30 Memorial Day office closed No Prayer Meeting June :30 pm - Youth Group Sanctuary Today's Worship Songs All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises Son of God Here I Am to Worship Valley Isle Fellowship 473 S High St, PO Box 886, Wailuku, HI ph: (808) vifoffice@hawaii.rr.com Sunday Morning Services Sunday Evening Service Wailuku Elementary School Cafeteria 355 S High St. Wailuku, HI VIF Church Sanctuary 6:00 pm Service - 9:00 am Sunday School - 10:30 am (Children & Youth Sunday School at High Street property; Adults at Parsonage) Senior Pastor Associate Pastor Darren Sarmiento Cell: (808) darrenvif@hawaii.rr.com Stephen Kaneshiro Cell: (808) icastephen@gmail.com

8 Examining the Person that Loves Jesus Luke 10:21-37 Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro I. Powerful faith. Luke 10:21-24 A. God the proud. Proverbs 16:5 & James 4:6 B. God in His Children. 1. His children Him. 2. His children Him. C. The OT and longed for this. 1. To see the. 2. To see before the Son. II. The essence of. Luke 10:25-28 A. Jesus came to the Law, not to it. 1. v. 26b - What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it? 2. Matthew 5:17-19 B. How to inherit life. 1. the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. 2. Love your as yourself. C. this does not save you. D. this is what saves you. v. 28b - Do this and you will live! (continued on next page)

9 Examining the Person that Loves Jesus Luke 10:21-37 Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro (page 2 0f 2) III. Justified actions are in with God s Word. Luke 10:29-37 A. his actions. (feel good about past & current practices) B. Jesus illustrates the of with an illustration. C. The Good Samaritan: 1. tragedy. 2. Only 1 out of Compassion is more than a. a.. b.. c.. NOTES: - 9 -