I Corinthians 1:18
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of GOD.”
God’s blessing new day for the Church service!
First of all, Pastor Nenglian took the stage and read out the scripture, Matthew 11:28-30. He explained thus:-
1) Lets commit our hard labour and difficulties unto the Lord, in Him there is complete rest. In Him, there is completeness.
2) Our Lord Jesus Christ is the answer of all our prayers, the answer of all our queries; the solution to all our problems, our sorrows; in Him every of our need is completed.
3) His yoke is easy and His burden being light...
Pastor dedicated the Service through prayer, followed by a pleasant, heart touching and blessed Church service with the praises songs led by Worship Team. As the praises songs keep going, offering was collected and dedicated to the Lord by Upa Khamkhanpau.
The congregations were fortunate to hear a report of “Phaitong Gospel Centenary (1914-2014)” from Pa Robert Suanlian who witnessed the celebration. The entenary was held at Phaitong Village, Thanlon Sub-Division from January 31 - February 2, 2014. Following are the programme and events that took place as reported:-
1) On January 31, 2014, Local Pastor Thangkhenmung led a group of people to collect Centenary torch from Senvon. From there, they return back to Phaitong the same day with the Centenary torch being given to them by representatives of twelve of our brethren from Hmar community who gathered, prayed together and hand over the offering they had collected.
2) The main pioneer of this Gospel Centenary Celebration was Evangelist Pu Thangvang Guite (Pa Robert Suanlian’s grandfather). He single handedly preached the Gospel in Phaitong and its surrounding villages from 1914 inspite of vehement opposition, even physical assault from his own people, the unbelievers.
3) In 1915, a Church was started in Phaitong Village.
4) Unveiling of the following memorables in Phaitong Village took place:-
i) ‘Centenary Waiting Shed’ by Pu Langkhanpau, Chairman, MDC.
ii) A 20 feet tall ‘Centenary Stone’ containing pioneers of Gospel and the ‘Centenary Cross’ in the uphill of the Village by Rev. S. Vungminthang, Gen. Secy. EBC.
iii) ‘Centenary Gate’ by Pu Vungzagin Valte, MLA & Parl. Secy., Govt. of Manipur.
iv) ‘Centenary Souvenir’ by Upa Phungzathang Tonsing, Minister (Health, FW &GAD), Govt. of Manipur.
5) Praises songs:
i) Central Choir led the ‘praises and worship’ and thrill the participants. Everybody enjoy and felt the blessings of the LORD.
ii) Other choirs/artists consisted of EBCC Phaitong Choir, BYF Singzawl Serafim team (Meetei song), Miss Lalparzou and Miss Betsy Gangte.
6) An encouraging words:
i) Pu Thangvang can’t kept in him, the happiness, the love that he got through the Gospel, so he eagerly preached the Gospel to our people. Through this Gospel, we enjoy so many blessings from the LORD, even though 100 years passby.
ii) ‘Let’s not hesitate to do good, for in an appropriate time, we will reap the harvest.’
After this report, Pastor Nenglian took time to deliver the words of GOD.
At the outset, Pastor said:-
1) God has given each of us an opportune time to serve HIM.
2) We should glorify God through us.
Later on, Pastor call on the First Timer. Among those first timers included, Mrs. Roui Kullai; Upa Chinkhanneng, BOT member, EBC Hqtrs. & his wife.
To start his sermon, Pastor took a topic, “COMPLETE VICTORY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST”. Just to recap, he reminded us of the previous Sunday’s topic, i.e., ‘spiritual warfare”. We should have faith not like ‘the same size’ as that of mustard seed, but a faith ‘like’ the mustard seeds. We battle the evil spirit with a ‘fighting from victory’.
Pastor took Bible verse, Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” To clarify this, he gave an illustration from ‘umbrella’. Why do we use umbrella? Usually, we use umbrella in order to lessen the effect of soaking from the rain water. It’s not that we use umbrella to prevent rain from pour down (on us), but in order to prevent the rain water from directly hitting us. Likewise, when we are filled with the completeness of Jesus Christ, it’s not that we should not come across failures or difficulties in life, but this completeness in Christ can prevent us from being directly hit by the adverse affect of those failures and hardship in life. Our steps or initiative taken in the name of God is surely counted by Him. We will be rewarded through the work we take in the name of Jesus Christ. That completeness in Jesus Christ is our protector.
Pastor quote another Bible verse, Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” There is a complete victory/triumph in Jesus Christ through His blood. Through this, we have the victory from the evil spirit. We also share the victory of Jesus Christ who suffer for us and died on the cross. In our daily life, we cannot serve God in secret, but we should expound or preach to people our faith, the death of the Lamb and Christ’ resurrection, in the name of the Lord.
“......and they loved not their lives unto the death.”(Rev.12:16b). Paul said, I cannot ignore the call of Christ, He has sent me compulsorily. Pau also said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). So, let’s not forsake the completeness of Jesus Christ.
Another illustration, Pastor gave, was ‘a drive through heavy rain’. A daughter (the driver) and a father drive in one rainy day. Foreseeing the danger of driving in such a situation, she requested her father to stop and get out, but her father was firm on her driving nonstop even in almost zero visibility. At last, they come across a clear road after few kilometres of hard drive. At that time, she tries to take up speed but her father forbade and ask her to stop and get out instead if she wishes, so that they will not be wet now. In the same manner, at times, Christian life goes on. As a Christian, we have to suffer; we have to go earnestly in the name of the Lord inspite of so many hindrances in our way. If the daughter-father duo get out while driving in the rain, they will get soak, but on continued driving inspite of the difficulties, they overcome being soaked by the rain. So, we have to be in Jesus Christ even at the difficult times. We can have completeness in Him. If we are not in Him, eventhough if we earnestly work hard, we might not get counted by Him.
The sermon was followed by “Holy Communion” led by Pastor and Elders.
With the Church full of attendants, singing praises songs, listening to reports and the sermons followed by the Holy Communion, the day’s programme was closed with benediction by Pastor.
Highlight of next Sunday (February 23, 2014) programme:
“PPF-Delhi Pulpit Exchange Programme”
1) Pastoral Prayer for “Prayer Cell Convenors”
2) Induction of New Church members by Local Secretary
3) Message: Pastor Letlal (KWS).
By- P Chinliankhup
Media Team.
