Sermón sin título (2)

Pilgrims

We come from so different backgrounds and in our church family. God has given us the opportunity to minister to different cultures. Let us go quickly to the letter of Hebrews chapter 11, and we are going to be reading verses 13-16.

We come from so different backgrounds and in our church family God has given us the opportunity to minister to different cultures right here at CCSKent. Let us go quickly to the letter of Hebrews chapter 11, and we are going to be reading 6 verses. First verses 13-16 and lastly verses 38 through 40.

We come from so different backgrounds and in our church family God has given us the opportunity to minister to different cultures right here at CCSKent. Let us go quickly to the letter of Hebrews chapter 11, and we are going to be reading 6 verses. First verses 13-16 and lastly verses 38 through 40.

Pastor Bobby asked me to share a little bit from the word of God in regards God's revelation to refugees and how the Gospel bring such a beautiful cultural and racial reconciliation. Now bear with me because whenever we speak about these topics we tend to go to our side and block any claim that goes against what we believe. But if we let the word of God enter our understanding and our hearts, if it is true, what we find has the power of total transformation. So again, buckle up and bear with me. Let us go quickly to the letter of Hebrews chapter 11, and we are going to be reading 6 verses. First verses 13-16 and lastly verses 38 through 40.

"13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

We are reading from what it has been called the "hall of fame of faith," I believe that description of the chapter is incomplete as it tends to bring the focus to the characters described rather than giving the proper proportion to the real hero, that is, God who provided the faith to each individual.

When we read scripture we will find characters that received promises and others that didn’t. It is correct to say that the author is letting us know that in their lifetime NONE of them received what it was promised, or in other words, they were still expecting something beautiful and out of this world.

When we read scripture we will find characters that received promises and others that didn’t. It is correct to say that the author is letting us know that in their lifetime NONE of them received what it was promised, or in other words, they were still expecting something beautiful and out of this world. It is funny to see that these verses give to all believers in Christ a migration status! It makes you confess you are a "pilgrim and a stranger.” No matter what is your earthly nationality or culture if you have really seen what it is what Jesus has to offer, and received a vision of the amazing treasure given from the Gospel; It has become more than a culture, a routine, a "good Choice", a way to spend your leisure time. The evidence of this revelation in your heart trespasses all cultural, language and racial barriers.

It is funny to see that these verses give to all believers in Christ a migration status! It makes you confess you are a "pilgrim and a stranger.” No matter what is your earthly nationality or culture, if you have really seen what it is that Jesus has to offer, and received a vision of the amazing treasure given from the Gospel; It has become more than a culture, a routine, a "good Choice", a way to spend your leisure time. The evidence of this revelation in your heart goes to the core of identity.

Just as Jesus who became a stranger. with his early years in Egypt and then went to Galilee, when his family was from Bethlehem. Also Jesus was rejected by his own people.

We can determine that someone who has received by faith the reality of the kingdom, then this person becomes a stranger in this world.

In these church we have family that do not share citizenship or culture. But the gospel brings us together as foreigners. Ultimately as citizens of heaven! We have the best passport , a passport purchased by the blood of the lamb. This reality, if it’s true, must change our lives forever.

It was around 1925, in their prime years, two beautiful somewhat wealthy girls decided to leave everything they knew behind and go to a foreign country. All we know is that they were from North Dakota and their last name was Tollen. For years they spent time in one itty bitty town in Guatemala in the middle of nowhere, sharing the gospel to 3 little guatemalan girls. We know their spanish was broken but their resolve and boldness was big. It is obvious that they could not enjoy what "home" could offer them in regards of safety, wealth and freedom. They decided to become foreigners. One of the little girls they ministered to was my own Grandmother, who became a believer, lived the Guatemalan civil war, had her husband in death row and exiled to Mexico. But in her memories she remember those young ladies. who voluntarely confessed to be strangers in the world. In my family because of that we have the same treasure for 3 generations.

37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

Even if your country or culture is a remarkable one, we are called to a heavenly homeland. What each country has offered to the word that is worthy of eternity are not the earthly possessions or political devices. In my story what i can tell is that what you have to offer to the world that will last, is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, written in the life of millions of missionaries and martyrs. People that the world is not worthy of them, just as for me and the Tollens. Thank you God for the Tollens from North Dakota and the millions unnamed that you only know who they are. This is not an exhortation to seek your works to provoke a change. The better way is to cry out to God to show us his Gospel in a way that will transform our lives in such a way that we can only call home..the heavenly kingdom in Jesus.

The Gospel does not just "work" in the eyes of the world for it can bring suffering. But these “mad” people saw something. Even if your country or culture is a remarkable one, we are called to a heavenly homeland. What each country has offered to the word that is worthy of eternity are not the earthly possessions or political devices. In my story what i can tell is that what you have to offer to the world that will last, is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, written in the life of millions of missionaries and martyrs. People that the world is not worthy of them, just as for me and the Tollens. Thank you God for the Tollens from North Dakota and the millions unnamed that you only know who they are. This is not an exhortation to seek your works to provoke a change. The better way is to cry out to God to show us his Gospel in a way that will transform our lives in such a way that we can only call home..the heavenly kingdom in Jesus.

Even if your country or culture is a remarkable one, we are called to a heavenly homeland. What each country has offered to the word that is worthy of eternity are not the earthly possessions or political devices. In my story what i can tell is that what you have to offer to the world that will last, is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, written in the life of millions of missionaries and martyrs. People that the world is not worthy of them, just as for me and the Tollens. Thank you God for the Tollens from North Dakota and the millions unnamed that you only know who they are. This is not an exhortation to seek your works to provoke a change. The better way is to cry out to God to show us his Gospel in a way that will transform our lives in such a way that we can only call home..the heavenly kingdom in Jesus.