Preached by Captain Moy Hernandez, Jr., of the Pomona Salvation Army Corps. Join our army next week!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
I'll Not Turn Back
I’ll Not Turn Back
Words by General John Gowans
Music by General John Larsson
If Crosses come, if it should cost me dearly
To be the servant of my Servant Lord;
If darkness falls around the path of duty,
And men despise the Savior I adore.
I’ll not turn back, whatever it may cost;
I’m called to live, to love and save the lost.
I’ll not turn back, whatever it may cost;
I’m called to live, to love and save the lost.
If doors should close then other doors will open,
The word of God can never be contained.
His love cannot be finally frustrated,
By narrow minds or prison bars retrained.
If tears should fall, if I am called to suffer,
If all I love men should deface, defame,
I’ll not deny the One that I have followed,
Nor be ashamed to bear my Master’s name
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Understanding of Faith Sermon
Sermon preached by Captain Moy Hernandez Jr., of the Pomona Salvation Army Church. Join us next Sunday fro worship. We need musicians... is that you?
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Washed, Yes Washed Away? 10 05 08
Sermon preached by Captain Erika Hernandez of the Pomona Salvation Army on October 5, 2008. Join us next Sunday for a family Bar-B-Q after the Service.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Going from Good to Great for the Glory of God
By Captain Moy Hernandez, Jr.
In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins after an extensive research time, studying over 1400 American companies’ found that only 11 of them had been able to make a leap from being merely a good company into a great one that sustained great profits and success for a period of at least 15 years. In his findings, he discovered that greatness or success was not related to any external or internal influence but it was a simple conscious choice that these organizations had made to be better than they were.
.
I’ve often wondered why our Army, which did so many great things in its beginning, seems to have now settled into a very recognizable form of contentment. Instead of living to our full potential and allowing God to do great things in us, we are merely content in doing what is good enough and moving onto the next inconsequential pursue. In Colossians 3:23 Paul reminds us that everything we do, we must do it heartily unto the Lord and not unto men. Unfortunately, in our daily lives as officers and ordained ministries of this great Army we have become so busy that we have failed at our primary duty of encouraging other unto the Lord. We have even failed at times to recognize the influence of God in our lives that moves us to share His love with others. We have become so caught up in our responsibilities that we have failed to recognize the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. We have become so enamored with our own abilities and our own name sake that we have failed to give credit where credit is due.
.
It is indeed God who gives us our abilities and it is indeed He who gives opportunities to put those abilities to the test, but yet we do not live up to these expectations. We live in the past instead of looking to the future. We try and we try hard, but mostly in our own strengths. When we fail, we get discourage and then we fall prey to our complaisant attitudes. “Well if I cannot do it better I’ll just do what is good enough, just the bare minimum, only what is expected of me.” Yet we fail to realize that God expects great things from us. We fail to understand that He does not want mediocre followers, but those who would be willing to surrender all for His sake and glory. The good news is that we are not alone in this. God indeed promises to help us, to guide us, to remind us of what we have learned, and to protect us when we take a step in faith for His name sake.
.
We must make a conscious choice to make our beloved Army great once again. Not so that our superior will notice us and place upon us greater responsibilities or what others would call ideal appointments, but so that we may return to our first love of saving souls and making saints for the benefit of God’s kingdom and do a great job at it. My colleagues, I know that we are busy. In some areas of the world we are busy in the business of the ministry; ensuring that we have adequate funds to run our social services and support our world services. In other areas we have real issues with acquiring proper funds, to put a roof on our churches or to feed our church families. God is aware of our needs before we ask Him and He promises to be our provider and so He is not worried like we are. Indeed He says, seek first the kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto you.
.
How can we be better than we are now? How can we produce greater results for the glory of God? We must make a conscious choice to be true followers of God. Meaning that we will lay all worries aside and trust in Him who has began a great work in us and who promised to see it to fruition. We must begin to work in the strength of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of merely trusting our own abilities and strengths. We must not be afraid to try new things as God instructs us, and to when necessary move beyond mere tradition and attempt to meet current needs with updated solutions. Accepting the fact that just because it worked back then, does not mean it will continue to work today.
.
We must recognize our passion for the salvation of others, and stop worrying about the image of our organization and allow God to be our protector. Let go of our doubts and truly let God once again take control of our lives and our Army. It is His Army after all. If we want to be better we will need to try harder, and be innovative and purposeful in our outreach and approach. Actively seeking out the potential in our local leaders and officers and encourage that potential to greatness for the kingdom of God.
.
Look around and see how God is moving in your appointment. Whether it be a work with people or in the field of administrations. We indeed can make this Army better; we indeed can produce success in our endeavors of preaching the gospel and reaching suffering humanity. We can indeed achieve spiritual greatness if we but allow God to take the reign, if we once again place our full trust on His calling in our lives and the guidance of His Holy Spirit. And just allow Him to work through us.
.
Let us consecrate ourselves and come before our God and ask for a fresh pouring of His Spirit. Lets us ask for clarity of direction and understanding of our overall mission so that we may indeed intentionally produce a better product, so that we may indeed sustain long lasting success in our endeavors of saving the world for Christ. Let us have the courage to put aside all other things that have no meaning and that produce no results, and concentrate on the one thing that we are good at; sharing God’s message of love and hope.
.
We will come up to those who will say, but what is so wrong with being good, with just doing enough? I suppose, I would answer by saying nothing really, except that God requires more from us. If you don’t have the time or feel that you do not have the talent to accomplish this task, then seeks God for those things. Come to rely on Him in all things and He will make it happen. Don’t think he will, know that He will. Test Him in this and see how he will open the windows of heaven and pour blessings upon you and your ministry that you did not imagine possible.
.
Friends, we serve a great God and not merely a good God. And He indeed wants to bring greatness in all that we do, whether it be our personal lives, our spiritual calling or our service to this Army. Not so that we can boast but so that He may receive all of our glory and praise. We cannot wait for others to start, but it is up to each of us, right where we are and with the guidance of God to make this leap from good to great. Do you believe it? Then request of Him to help you make this Salvation Army better than it is right where you are at and then let us wait upon Him and see what marvelous things He will begin to do. May God bless you and your ministries.
In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins after an extensive research time, studying over 1400 American companies’ found that only 11 of them had been able to make a leap from being merely a good company into a great one that sustained great profits and success for a period of at least 15 years. In his findings, he discovered that greatness or success was not related to any external or internal influence but it was a simple conscious choice that these organizations had made to be better than they were.
.
I’ve often wondered why our Army, which did so many great things in its beginning, seems to have now settled into a very recognizable form of contentment. Instead of living to our full potential and allowing God to do great things in us, we are merely content in doing what is good enough and moving onto the next inconsequential pursue. In Colossians 3:23 Paul reminds us that everything we do, we must do it heartily unto the Lord and not unto men. Unfortunately, in our daily lives as officers and ordained ministries of this great Army we have become so busy that we have failed at our primary duty of encouraging other unto the Lord. We have even failed at times to recognize the influence of God in our lives that moves us to share His love with others. We have become so caught up in our responsibilities that we have failed to recognize the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. We have become so enamored with our own abilities and our own name sake that we have failed to give credit where credit is due.
.
It is indeed God who gives us our abilities and it is indeed He who gives opportunities to put those abilities to the test, but yet we do not live up to these expectations. We live in the past instead of looking to the future. We try and we try hard, but mostly in our own strengths. When we fail, we get discourage and then we fall prey to our complaisant attitudes. “Well if I cannot do it better I’ll just do what is good enough, just the bare minimum, only what is expected of me.” Yet we fail to realize that God expects great things from us. We fail to understand that He does not want mediocre followers, but those who would be willing to surrender all for His sake and glory. The good news is that we are not alone in this. God indeed promises to help us, to guide us, to remind us of what we have learned, and to protect us when we take a step in faith for His name sake.
.
We must make a conscious choice to make our beloved Army great once again. Not so that our superior will notice us and place upon us greater responsibilities or what others would call ideal appointments, but so that we may return to our first love of saving souls and making saints for the benefit of God’s kingdom and do a great job at it. My colleagues, I know that we are busy. In some areas of the world we are busy in the business of the ministry; ensuring that we have adequate funds to run our social services and support our world services. In other areas we have real issues with acquiring proper funds, to put a roof on our churches or to feed our church families. God is aware of our needs before we ask Him and He promises to be our provider and so He is not worried like we are. Indeed He says, seek first the kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto you.
.
How can we be better than we are now? How can we produce greater results for the glory of God? We must make a conscious choice to be true followers of God. Meaning that we will lay all worries aside and trust in Him who has began a great work in us and who promised to see it to fruition. We must begin to work in the strength of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of merely trusting our own abilities and strengths. We must not be afraid to try new things as God instructs us, and to when necessary move beyond mere tradition and attempt to meet current needs with updated solutions. Accepting the fact that just because it worked back then, does not mean it will continue to work today.
.
We must recognize our passion for the salvation of others, and stop worrying about the image of our organization and allow God to be our protector. Let go of our doubts and truly let God once again take control of our lives and our Army. It is His Army after all. If we want to be better we will need to try harder, and be innovative and purposeful in our outreach and approach. Actively seeking out the potential in our local leaders and officers and encourage that potential to greatness for the kingdom of God.
.
Look around and see how God is moving in your appointment. Whether it be a work with people or in the field of administrations. We indeed can make this Army better; we indeed can produce success in our endeavors of preaching the gospel and reaching suffering humanity. We can indeed achieve spiritual greatness if we but allow God to take the reign, if we once again place our full trust on His calling in our lives and the guidance of His Holy Spirit. And just allow Him to work through us.
.
Let us consecrate ourselves and come before our God and ask for a fresh pouring of His Spirit. Lets us ask for clarity of direction and understanding of our overall mission so that we may indeed intentionally produce a better product, so that we may indeed sustain long lasting success in our endeavors of saving the world for Christ. Let us have the courage to put aside all other things that have no meaning and that produce no results, and concentrate on the one thing that we are good at; sharing God’s message of love and hope.
.
We will come up to those who will say, but what is so wrong with being good, with just doing enough? I suppose, I would answer by saying nothing really, except that God requires more from us. If you don’t have the time or feel that you do not have the talent to accomplish this task, then seeks God for those things. Come to rely on Him in all things and He will make it happen. Don’t think he will, know that He will. Test Him in this and see how he will open the windows of heaven and pour blessings upon you and your ministry that you did not imagine possible.
.
Friends, we serve a great God and not merely a good God. And He indeed wants to bring greatness in all that we do, whether it be our personal lives, our spiritual calling or our service to this Army. Not so that we can boast but so that He may receive all of our glory and praise. We cannot wait for others to start, but it is up to each of us, right where we are and with the guidance of God to make this leap from good to great. Do you believe it? Then request of Him to help you make this Salvation Army better than it is right where you are at and then let us wait upon Him and see what marvelous things He will begin to do. May God bless you and your ministries.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)