25th Joint Anniversary Worship Service

CCF’s very existence is rooted in the command of Jesus “to go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18). The growth of CCF these past 25 years is a testimony of God’s faithfulness, love, and grace. Amidst two full worship services held at the Araneta Colisuem last Sunday, amidst the mood of joyful celebration and the poignant nostalgia of 25 years passed, was a most powerful message of God’s love and faithfulness – a message of grace.
Heard many times over, the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 probably brought initial responses of “I’ve heard that message so many times before…” or “This message is for first timers, not for me…” But at the end of each worship service at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday, the response to this powerful message of God’s grace was unanimous, “Jesus, I want to commit to love you more.”
A certain man had two sons. The younger son went up to his father and asked for his share of the estate because he couldn’t wait until his father died to get his inheritance. His father acceded to his request. He packed up to leave, went faraway and there, squandered all his inheritance. Having lost all his money, he became so hungry he was willing to work as a swine-feeder. In the Jewish culture, a prostitute has a higher standing than somebody eating pork, and here he was, feeding pigs. Yet even the pods he was giving the pigs looked good to him.
This young man made a decision. But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, and here I am dying of hunger. I will get and go to my father and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired men.” When we experience pain and problems, we can either change for the better or become bitter. We can either draw closer to God or draw farther from Him.
We need to come to our senses and admit that we need the Jesus. Proud people will never admit it. Humility is always the key to experiencing the grace of God. That’s what the younger son did. He got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. The father loved his son and never stopped loving his son. The story began with the younger son going away to leave his father. Now the father is running towards him. This is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus, who had no sin, died and paid the very painful penalty for all our sins. The son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate! This son of mine was dead and has come to life again!” The father lovingly welcomed the son in spite of his sins. He completely restored his son through grace just as the grace of God restores us to Himself. The father threw a grand celebration.
The older son heard about the news of his brother’s return. He became angry and did not join in the celebration. He told his father, “Look, I have been serving you and never neglected a command of yours. Yet you have never given me a goat so that I might be merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
The older brother was angry and judgmental. He had never experienced the grace of God because he was too busy thinking that he was the better son, obeying and serving his father by his own efforts. Since he had never experienced the forgiveness of God, he had a hard time forgiving others.
Experiencing the grace of God will lead us to love and serve Him. Serving God out of our own efforts will lead to disappointment especially when our expectations are not met. Sometimes, we are like the older brother. We are too busy comparing ourselves to others and thinking how much better we are than others. We have the mindset that we can earn God’s love on our own efforts.
Jesus wants us to beware of self-righteousness. Today, there are far too many older brothers in churches around the world. Judgmental, self-righteous, condemnatory, always looking at the faults of others, and never looking at themselves. They have never experienced the grace of God. That’s why many younger brothers do not want to come to church.
The younger brother may not deserve forgiveness andrestoration but the grace that the father showered upon him, is in itself the most compelling factor that will enable the son to willingly love and serve his father.
Are we like the younger brother? All of us need grace. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). When we were lost, a Brother came down from heaven and looked for you and me. Two thousand years ago, He died on the cross to pay for our sins. Our forgiveness and restoration cost Him His life. Accept God’s gift of forgiveness and restoration in Jesus. Come to Him in humility. “Father, I have sinned against You,” the younger brother said. And the Father welcomed him in His embrace.
Or are we like the older brother? Are we trying to earn points in Heaven through our own effort? The grace of God is moving us to serve and obey Him, undeserving as we are, because He loves us unconditionally.