A Celebration of Life

Jon salegumba

Messiah’s Vision

Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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A short sharing of the Word for Lolo Ceferino's wake.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction

I remember a story from my Mom about Lolo Ferino....

Yeah, from that story I gather that he’s that kind of guy who will do whatever it takes to protect his family.

I’ve know him as Tyong Perino but in the truth he’s my Lolo, he’s the brother of my Mom’s Mom. I grew up seeing him coming from the sea after the days’ catch, from time to time if he sees me around their “looban” he’ll ask me if I already ate lunch and tells me there’s food inside the kitchen. I’m sure the family themselves have more stories to tell.

Tonight, though everyone is heartbroken, I believe this is also a night where we celebrate Lolo Perino’s life. I believe that his life is blessed in so many ways. There might be ups and downs, trials in the family, misunderstanding most of the time, but hey who does have a perfect family? All I’m saying, in all 90 years of Lolo Perino’s life, God is good, God is with him and up until the moment he passed a way, God is with him. You know why I’m so sure about this? Because way back 2010, me and my wife was able to have a Bible studies at Arnel’s and Rose’s house. And during those days, Lolo Perino and Tyang Gloria is with them. There was one meeting that I was able to share the Gospel, the saving grace of the Lord, and that night Lolo Perino, together with Tyang Gloria accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Does anybody here can predict that day he will die?

It’s from:

I have a close friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, the doctors says the odds are bad.

I have a friend who already died in the hospital bed, the doctors even told the family members to call in the priest, he is still in West Side, living. I can give you his number and he’ll tell you his story.

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 14 NLT

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. 12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! 15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” 22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” 23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. 30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

John 14:12 NLT

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

Though death is certain, still NO ONE can predict when we will die.

SO CAN ONE BE SURE OF THE NEXT LIFE AFTER WE DIE? YES!

John 11:25–26 NLT

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

John 11:25–26a NLT

1:25-

As we celebrate the life of Lolo Perino, let’s also take into consideration that He himself is celebrating right at this moment, celebrating his new life with the Lord. HE DID NOT JUST EXPERIENCE ALL THE GOODNESS OF GOD DURING HIS EARTHLY LIFE, NOW, HE IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT GOD PROMISED HIM - “Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying”. Lolo Perino is doing much much better now in the presence of the Lord, thanks to the saving grace of our Lord through His Son Jesus Christ.

DO YOU WANT THE SAME

As I close in prayer, I’ll like to extend the same invitation I shared to Lolo Perino back then.

We can never know what will happen tomorrow or next week or next year with our lives, no one on earth will be able to give us the assurance about our tomorrow, it is only Jesus who can assure us of the next life. You can rest assure that you can secure your tomorrow, today only if you surrender your life to the Lord.

Jesus says.

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

So tonight, while your heads are all bowed down, anyone who wants to have that security, open your hearts to God and surrender your life to Jesus now and accept him as your Lord and Savior.