Develop faith life by exalting Jesus, urges Bro. Eddie
– by Bro. Bong Pedralvez
“Bro Eddie Villanueva ministers to the crowd gathered in Luneta and passionately prayed for their needs”
Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide’s Spiritual Director and International President Bro. Eddie Villanueva urged on Friday all JIL believers “to develop your faith life” and “exalt Jesus.”
“The key to touch the heart of God is by faith so that we can lift all of our problems to him,” Bro. Eddie said in his message at the JIL 37th anniversary celebration and thanksgiving held in front of a banner crowd at the Rizal Park.
In keeping with the anniversary theme of “Declaring Victory, Exalting Jesus,” he cited I Corinthians 15:57 – “Thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” – as his Scripture text.
The JIL leader, however, warned that even if a person accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior “the benefits [of salvation] are not automatic. We must [by faith] exalt Jesus in our personal life, our family life, our national life, to experience victory.”
Bro. Eddie reiterated that just as JIL has preached over the years, “it is not through religion but relation with Jesus” that people can experience salvation.
Quoting 2 Corinthians 5:21, he emphasized that “it is through Christ’s righteousness and not our own righteousness that we are accepted by a holy God.”
The JIL founder noted that Jesus, through his virgin birth, “showed that he was a sinless man and took the penalty for our sins on Calvary. No one else is able to do that.”
He continued to mention more Bible verses to exhort his hearers and prepare them for one of the most-awaited portions of the program: the pastoral prayer.
Before praying over the faithful, Bro. Eddie, as has been his practice, asked those who had not made a commitment to Jesus so that he could lead them in a prayer of salvation; numerous people in the crowd responded to the invitation.
Following the salvation prayer, Bro. Eddie prayed for all the needs – spiritual, physical, financial – of the attendees, claiming the victory in the almighty name of Jesus.
JIL people have God-given burden and purpose – Joel Villanueva
JIL people, and all Christians, have a God-given burden and purpose, according to former TESDA director general and Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan (KKB) Chairman Joel Villanueva on Friday.
“Like the prophet Nehemiah, we have a burden and are called for a purpose,” said “Kuya” Joel in sharing his testimony during the 37th anniversary of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide in front of a huge crowd at the Rizal Park.
Referencing the Old Testament prophet who oversaw the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, Villanueva stressed, “Like Nehemiah, may burden din pong ibinigay sa atin ang ating Panginoon, sa ating simbahan at maging sa ating inang Bayan!”
“Kaya hindi tayo mapakali hangga’t may kahirapan, hangga’t may katiwalian, hangga’t may korupsyon, hangga’t may nagsasamantala. Nandoon ang JIL people para sa katotohanan, katarungan at katuwiran!”
Now a candidate for senator under the Liberal Party, the youngest son of Bro. Eddie Villlanueva, JIL spiritual director, said that believers are called upon “to build the walls of social justice, good governance, and morality.”
“Joel Villanueva and his family are prayed over by Christian pastors and bishops at the JIL 37th anniversary”
He recalled his 12 years as a congressman of the party-list Citizen’s Battle against Corruption (CIBAC), noting that “fighting corruption is a lonely battle.”
”Napakahirap po. Lahat po ng klaseng persecution, intimidation, ginamit sa atin pero hindi po tayo sumuko,” Joel said.
The Harvard-trained youth leader is proud of his nearly six-year stint as chief of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, transforming it into “one of the best-performing agencies of the government, but not without challenges.”
Despite TESDA’s glowing achievements, he lamented that his name was dragged into controversy involving the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund as a former lawmaker.
“Naparatangan po tayo ng isang bagay na kinasusuklaman ko sa lahat,” he said. “NBI na po ang nagsabing ang documents na ginamit bilang base ng reklamo ay peke. Samakatuwid na peke rin ang reklamong isanampa sa atin.”
Through these trials and adversities, he accepted everything because “heads-up naman ng ating Panginoon, that living out our purpose for him is difficult. But there can be no compromise, no middle ground.”
His experiences in public service has proven that “we are called to make a difference,” citing the accomplishments of TESDA during his watch.
The “TESDA Man” mentioned the agency’s online and mobile training programs that have opened opportunities for more Filipinos to have well-paying jobs and a brighter future. “Dahil po dito, de-kalidad at world-class ang training ng ating mga kababayan sa buong bansa,” he said.
As he enters a new political battle, Joel challenged the JIL faithful not to turn their backs on their respective callings.
“Ano po ang gagawin natin sa ating calling? Tatayo po ba tayo o tatalikod sa tawag ng Panginoon? Kung tatalikod po tayo, we will not have the chance to declare victory and exalt Jesus!”
JILCW’s 37th Anniversary:
“Declaring Victory, Exalting Jesus”
Everyone is struggling. From the child who walks five miles just to reach school, to the CEO whose only companion at night is a cup of coffee, everyone is struggling. Just to attain one word: Victory.
Looking around us, this word appears to be a chasing after the wind—one in ten Filipino children are out-of-school (FLEMMS 2013); 12.4 million Filipinos are jobless (SWS 2014); and 27.9% of Filipinos are living below the poverty line (NSCB 2013).
But looking through the Bible, it is a word that is ALREADY ours—Zacchaeus who received forgiveness; the Samaritan woman who received acceptance; blind Bartimaeus who received sight; Peter who received courage; and the five thousand crowd who received fullness.
Because while all of humanity is fleeing from misery and defeat, there is One who plunged into the abyss of shame, pain, even death—just to give US that most coveted word: VICTORY.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
So we need not struggle. Jesus Christ took our sin, our shame, our pain—now we are forgiven,accepted, healed—and more. Now we can have peace, joy, and life to the full. In one word: victory.
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
Which is why for the past 37 years we have been declaring, “Jesus is Lord” over our lives, over our families, over the Church, over our nation, and over the world. And we will never stop trumpeting that name—that name who is the only Source of all victories, who IS our victory.
“and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)
Jesus Is Lord Church 37th Anniversary
“DECLARING VICTORY, EXALTING JESUS”
1 John 5:4, Philippians 2:11
Declaring victory…
More than anything else, this is an expression of faith. Faith that the God who has done many signs, wonders and miracles in Araullo is the same God who moves in our present-day church… Faith that the different problems and conflicts our church has gone through has all worked together for our good… Faith that in the coming years, victories upon victories upon victories are still bound to happen in this church born in the very heart of God.
Exalting Jesus…
Because every victory must end in thanking the Source of all victories… Because the key to victory is allowing the God of all power to move… Because more than any victory, our church’s sole aim is to glorify Jesus, the name above every name.
So in our coming 37th anniversary, and in the years that will come, let us declare, “JESUS IS LORD!”