A lesson from the ant (proverb 6;6-11)

proverb 6;6-11 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 

It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 

yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 

How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- 

and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. 

father we thank you this afternoon 

we are here about to listen to your word

empower your people to announce the Good news

help us in understanding and proclaiming your Word.

thank you in Jesus name we pray

today I want to talk about ant (langgam)

ant is so small and weak 

but they have a strong hold on life (they have strong survival power) 

small but terrble

entomologist said 

they have lived in this world 100,000,000( one hundred million )  years ago 

the ants are called "world sweeper" 

it is because they clean up this world 

if some animal,or insect died, 

ants eat all (lahat kina kain)

so ant is important animal for keep clean this world

then what can we learn from the ants 

what lessons we learn from today's scripture 

1st ;self-regulation 

firstly we can learn from the ant is self-regulation

 today's scripture says 

 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 

yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 

brothers and sisters 

the principle of spiritual maturity is self regulation 

Jesus came here in this world to save us 

but nobody forced him 

he did it, by his own accord 

Philippians 2;6-8 

(Jesus Christ ) Who, being in very nature God, 

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, 

being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, 

he humbled himself and became obedient to death-

- even death on a cross! 

he made himself nothing and came to this world and was crucified for us 

nobody forced him, that is his choice 

brothers and sisters 

God did not made us as robot 

we have a free will

and by this free will, God wants us to live for God himself 

look at the Isaiah (6;8) 

the lord said 

"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" 

And Isaiah  said, "Here am I. Send me!"    

God didn't said to Isaiah  you go I will send you 

but Isaiah said Lord here I am you send me 

he did it by his own will, 

he did it by his own accord 

 

brothers and sisters 

God want us to work for his glory and his kingdom amen? 

and God want us to work by our willingness and free will not by force 

let us open the Bible in 1st Peter 5;2 

this verses is important verses, specially bible school students

so high light /underline this verses

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, 

serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, 

as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve

ABC system is self management  system  specially theologians  

you are not children / you are already adult /old enough 

so I don't want you to do something by force

last Monday Ptra. katherine talk to me the students 

they did not submit their requirements

so i told her you tell them by grade

and she said that is good idea 

you know 

if you go to APTS/english exam/ 3 ABC students study ESL in APTS

that is only koreano /japanise enroll kase kulang English 

beloved ABC students

so we do not want you to do something by force

anyway you are not abusayaf 

you know we can bring the horse to the river by force 

but we cannot make it drink water by force 

do it by your will 

if someone attended this chapel unwillingly? 

God will not be glorified with your worship 

for example 

offering 

Sayang this 10 peso, I can buy and eat banana Q 

now is the time of offering 

what shall I do will I give or not? 

brothers and sisters 

we do it by our willingness and with Gladness 

then God will be glorified by your offering Amen 

you know what is opposite word of self regulation? 

slavery nature 

slavery work by force 

you know, after we fall away, and become slave to sin 

but when we become children of God, we are not slave any longer, 

we are free from sin 

so we have to throw Slavery nature 

we should work with our free will amen 

then how to we do it by free will 

self -regulation starts with Love (X2) 

Jesus ask to Peter 

do you love me  yes lord, you know that I love you 

feed my lamb 

brothers and sisters 

do you love God? 

then serve God with our free will amen 

remember self-regulation is the principle of Spiritual Maturity 

2nd ) Union 

secondly we can learn from Ants is union 

the ant do not work alone 

they always work together 

that is why we call the ant social insect 

you know when they work and one ant is in danger 

the others go and help him 

and when some ant is full and other ant are hungry 

they share their food 

that is their style 

you know one of the important teaching in the bible is Koinonia 

it means fellowship 

what is the meaning of fellowship 

fellow ride in ship 

we ride in one boat 

we are in the same boat 

brothers and sisters in christ 

we are family in God 

we are riding the same boat, ABC boat 

whether you like it or not we are ABC Family 

and this mark will follow you till your Grave 

so just love each other help each other 

make harmony with one another in God's love 

make loving community 

share your sorrow and happiness 

pray together 

you know Jesus disciples gathered in one place and prayed together 

that time the power of the holy spirit came upon them 

and they changed the world 

they are not praying in their house 

they pray together in one place 

and we have to know this one 

there is power in praying together amen 

like bonfire 

there is fire

if you separate the wood 

fire will go off 

but even a dying fire,  if you put together the wood 

it will fire again 

there is  a saying "union is strength" 

when family unite, family will be blessed 

when church unite,  church will be blessed 

and when ABC stands together, ABC will be blessed Amen

in korea, when lady is in trouble or when they play game and lose

that time , the lady use to say 흑기사 literally means black knight /knight in shining Armour

and a guy would go to help her

instead of the girl having the punishment, the boy will take her place

it tradition comes from Europe

in Europe, during the middle ages if there is ladies in trouble /specially noble ladies

some knight come with ridding horse /with black dress black mask black horse 

and help lady  in danger 

and ladie said thank you and may i know your name

then he just give to her flying kiss and disappear into dark 

you know why i said this story

last time rappy came to me hosanna did know our dormitory rules that is why didn't wrote log book

pls give her chance one more time

and even mailo came to me ptr. it is my fault coz im the one brought her out 

pls give merse on her

and im touched for showing of unity

so i give to her painting chair as punishment

and i expect rappy and mailo will help /but they did not

on saturday rappy go to Quirino

mailo went pangasinan 

only james is helping

any way i heard when they comeback they helped dao

beloved ABC student 

God calls his people to live in unity with one another

Bible says in Psalm 133:1

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"

American poet Matthew Stepanek says

"unity is strength'

there is a power in unity

when we burn mountain 

no need fire as mountain 

we only need kindling(킨들링), 

then we can burn the whole mountain 

like wise if we become one in God's love 

when we unite and harmony with love of god

we can change Baguio 

we can change the Philippines amen 

3) hard work (diligence ) 

someone said 

An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox

ant is dalagang Diligence

the entomologist said 

Usually the ant work 7 hours in a day Dao 

but when they work they never rest 

they work strait 

they are really hard worker 

and you know diligence is one of God's attribute 

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 

(Psalms 121;사) 

and Jesus says(John 5;17) 

"My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." 

there is a saying laziness is the pillow  of Satan

Satan wants to give us his pillow to sleep

because he wants us lazy 

theologian( Harvey Cox )said 

Adam's original sin started with laziness 

that's right 

sin could come in when we are Spiritually lazy. 

when the time to study we do not study 

when the time to pray, we do not pray 

that time spiritual depression(디프레션) will start 

that time temptation will visit us 

 Bible says Matt. 25;26 

'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown 

and gather where I have not scattered seed?  

Jesus rebuke the one who was lazy 

brothers and sisters 

today's scripture says 

it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 

means there is time to plant and there is time to harvest 

there is time to work and there is time to sleep 

we know that the time is near 

so we have to make preparations in advance 

prepare for our future 

when i drive i see many times they dry mais , palay in the road

there is a saying

make hay while the sun shines 

and strike the iron while it is hot 

Jesus coming is near 

so we have to  prepare the oil like the five wise virgins amen 

Bible says "whatever shall man sow, shall he reaps." 

Now you are studying at ABC 

Your planting will not be in vain, 

Self-regulation, union and hard work 

will bring you bountiful harvest in the future. 

Benjamin Franklin says

diligence is mother of good luck

God bless you

father once again we thank you this afternoon

we thank you the word you given us today

and father when we serve you help us do it with our willingness and gladness

and help us unite and harmony with your love

help us to be diligent in seeking you and your direction 

because we know that we are living on this earth just temporary and that we have mission

so father help us keep prepare oil  to shine this dark world like the five wise virgins 

father we thank you and we love you 

use us as your will for your glory 

we pray this in Jesus name