Gethsemane Bible - Presbyterian Church, Cebu City, Philippines

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06/08/2026

HONORING THE LORD IN GIVING OUR FIRST FRUITS

Proverbs 3:9; “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.”

One of the many ways that we honor the Lord is through our giving, particularly the giving of our substance even the first fruits of our increase. True, the Lord is delighted when we, not only bring our gifts to Him but also give to Him first.

Consider the following verses –

Exodus 23:19; “The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God…” Deuteronomy 12:5-6; “But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:” Deuteronomy 18:4; “The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy w**e, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.”

Suppose the Lord bless you with abundance and prosperity that you have earned or gained huge sum of money. What do you do? Applying this principle would mean that we are not to indulge in materialism and covetousness; in buying everything we want for ourselves, only to give the Lord our leftovers.

Instead, God must take the first place. This is the kind of giving that pleases the Lord! However, it is where many seem to struggle as many are practicing the “Me-first” principle. What they fail to realize is that in so doing, they are actually giving God their leftovers and not their first fruits. That should not be the case!

We should know better, the Lord is our Provider. It is He who freely give us richly all things to enjoy and this we affirm by singing the doxology; “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!”

It is best that we honor the Lord not only in our singing but also in our giving, especially of our first fruits.

Maayong Buntag sa Tanan! – Pastor

05/08/2026

WHO HAD KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD?

Romans 11:34-35; “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?”

Amazed at the thought of God’s immeasurable, incomprehensible, infinite wisdom and knowledge, Paul raised up three searching questions for his readers to consider –

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord?” – What Paul asked is, “Who has ever anticipated what God is going to do?” Anyone? Have you ever been able to figure out how God is going to handle the situations you get into? At some point, we all tried but it never turned out quite the way we think it will. For one, just think of the Lord’s calling of sinners like us unto salvation! How can it be?

“Or who hath been his counsellor?” – Who has ever suggested something that God has never thought of? Have you? We all have the tendency to look at our difficult situation, thought of a way to work it out and say; “If only God is able to see it this way.” But it turned out that He knew things we didn’t know and was working at things that we never saw and couldn’t have seen. God’s solution was right, and ours would have been wrong.

“Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” – Who has ever given to God first, that God should repay him? That is, who has ever given God something that He didn't already have? The Lord speaking to Job said; “Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.” (Job 41:11). God is the source, He supplies and He sustains! God is the originator of all things; all things come from Him. He is the sustainer of all things; they all depended on Him.

Having said, all that we have, even all that we are is from God. He gave it to us; we don't give to Him first. Even as we think of our loving Him, the beloved apostle John wrote; “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The Apostle Paul then concludes with this great outburst; “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (v.36)

Realize that God is not just the Source and Sustainer, He is the rightful end of all that exists. All things will find their culmination in God. He is why (the reason) all things exist. Thus, to Him be all the glory forever! Amen.

Maayong Buntag sa Tanan! – Pastor

04/08/2026

THE DEEP RICHES OF GOD’S WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

Romans 11:33; “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

After writing 11 chapters of great and wonderful truth about God especially that of His grand work of redemption, the Apostle Paul in today’s verse made a tremendous outburst about God's unsearchable and unfathomable wisdom; His ways and dealings with men.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” They are beyond human comprehension even beyond exploration! There is no way we can finally fathom God!

There are people who in their pride and arrogance would dare make an attempt to examine God much like they wanted to examine a certain organism or species, believing in their heart that they can really get hold of Him and analyze Him and know everything about Him.

Perhaps, they need to consider the words of the prophet Isaiah; “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” (Isaiah 40:28). Or that of Zophar, one of Job’s friends when he said; “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.” (Job 11:7-9). Also of David; “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” (Psalms 139:17-18).

God is greater than man, He is beyond us. Our minds cannot grasp the greatness of God! True, we can know and understand what He tells us about Himself; but beyond that, there is much more that we do not and cannot know.

“How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” It is clear from Scripture that man is responsible in all his actions whether it be good or bad. And yet, it’s just amazing that there’s nothing we can do to frustrate God's sovereign plan. No matter what we do, whether we choose this or that with a sense of freedom to decide, ultimately it all works out to accomplish what God has determined to happen.

We can only be amazed like the psalmist when he declared; “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered… Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (Psalms 40:5; 139:6).

Immeasurable, Incomprehensible, Infinite – is the wisdom and knowledge of God!

Maayong Buntag sa Tanan! – Pastor

02/08/2026

SOMETHING BETTER

Ecclesiastes 7:1; “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.”

Solomon, in this portion of his writings gave us some points of comparison in which he brings to our attention that which is "better" or more commendable and virtuous among the subjects considered.

"A good name is better than precious ointment;” – A good reputation is better than precious perfume or a good name is better than fame. True, a good name is a legacy! It sums up your entire being and character while precious ointment sums up life's vanity! If precious ointment smells good, a good name that is, a good reputation smells much better.

Later in Ecclesiastes 10:1, we read of Solomon saying; “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Thus, we ought to take care of our reputation, our character, our testimony and witness.

“And the day of death than the day of one's birth.” – Interestingly, people consider “days of birth” as times of rejoicing while “days of death” as times of mourning. Yet, Solomon says the day of death is better than the day of birth! How is it so?

On the day that we were born, we’re actually ushered into life’s journey where we are subjected to diverse experiences in life – wellness and sickness, joy and pain, victories and defeats, prosperity and adversity, abundance and lack, and many other diverse circumstances in life!

While the duration of one’s journey in life varies from one person to another, it ends up in one’s passing that will put a stop to all of life’s struggles, burdens and cares.

It is even far better in the life of a believer – at birth, we are ushered into life temporal here on earth; in death, we are ushered into life eternal in heaven!

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16)

Maayong Buntag sa Tanan! – Pastor

02/08/2026

Sunday Worship Service (08/02/26)

Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

01/08/2026

THE LORD WAS WITH JOSHUA

Joshua 6:27; “So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.”

The Lord was with Joshua! It’s a short statement that sure brings much comfort and assurance to whomsoever it may be attributed as it signifies God’s special favor, as in the case of Joshua in today’s verse.

We read of similar account pertaining to Joseph (Gen. 39:2-3, 21, 23); Samuel (1 Sam 3:19); David (1 Sam. 18:12, 14); Solomon (2 Chron. 1:1) and many more characters in the Bible that enjoyed such privilege that the Lord was with them. Think about it, God’s presence would mean safety and security; supply and sufficiency even success!

In fact, that’s the very context of today’s verse – Joshua and the people of Israel victorious in conquering Jericho!

Perhaps, the question we need to ask is, “What is it that brought Joshua and the people of Israel victory?” And what is it that pleased the Lord to be with Joshua causing him to prosper?

Earlier on, we read in Joshua 4:14; “On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.” This was when the people of Israel crossed over the Jordan River!

So what is it that brought about such blessings upon Joshua and by implication to the people of Israel?

It can be recalled how the Lord spoke unto Joshua these words; “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:5-8).

The Lord is pleased to bless Joshua for he surely have kept and observed all that the Lord has commanded him – Joshua trusted the Lord so much that he obeyed His word, and in so doing, he honored the Lord. How about us?

Blessed Lord’s Day!

Maayong Buntag sa Tanan! – Pastor

31/07/2026

LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND ENSUE IT

1 Peter 3:10-11; “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

Completing Peter’s threefold exhortation, the third and the last says – “Let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

Remember the Beatitudes? “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

It is sad that more often than not, we hear of people looking for trouble and seldom that we hear of those who seek after peace. Why is it so? It’s because that is man’s nature! Yes, man in his fallen nature is like that!

Consider the Apostle Paul’s description of man’s depravity in Romans 3; “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways:” (v.12-16). On top of it all; “And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes” (v.17-18).

Haven’t you notice? Peter’s threefold exhortation is the exact opposite! “Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

Believers are supposed to exercise restraint and control over his temperament as he relates with other people; especially so, in times of provocation. Romans 12:17-18; “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Also, in Romans 14:19; “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

Think of what a big difference we can bring about, if we commit ourselves to controlling our tongue, watching over our temper, and pursuing peace in our everyday life.

Maayong Buntag sa Tanan! – Pastor

31/07/2026

Friday Evening Fellowship (07/31/26)

Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

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#13 1st Street Happy Valley
Cebu City
6000

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