This church exists here in Monaghan because God loves this nation!
We celebrated our first Nations Festival! This was the first of many festivals we’ll have!
We are happy, because this church is the fulfilment of the Word of God;
This church exists here in Monaghan because God loves this nation!
Why is Shalom here in Monaghan, here in Ireland?
1- Because Jesus died on the cross to save people from every tribe, language and nation!
Revelation 5:9 “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation’.”
Jesus gave his life away, He suffered, He shed His blood so that people from all nations and all languages could be saved!
2 – Why is Shalom here in Ireland ? Because Jesus gave us an order and a mission before His death.
Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Before Jesus died He Himself said: You who have been saved, you who have been changed, you who have been born again, go and make disciples, baptise them and teach them to obey everything that I have taught you.
Jesus said: If you were saved, if you love me, go and make disciples!
We’re not here to become church members!
We’re not here to change people’s religion!
We’re here to make disciples in love with Jesus, people who are going to have a real Encounter with Him!
People who will be transformed, made free and healed; people who will turn from their wicked ways, abandon their sins and their vices, addictions, they’ll be saved, baptised and, one day, will be with the Lord in Eternity!
Shalom’s motto is: Love God, Love People, Make disciples.
Do you know how Shalom started? I wanna tell you a brief story.
In 1962, this couple from Colorado, USA, who loved the Lord Jesus, decided to obey God and left the United States and moved to Brazil.
Because of their loyalty, Shalom started in Uberlandia – Brazil.
Harry and Elaine Scates left New York in 1962 on a 12-day ship trip with a 15-month-old baby (Robin, who is now the wife of Pastor Humberto).
They left New York in the winter, with temperatures below 0°C and arrived in Brazil, facing a temperature of 35 °C.
They faced many challenges with the new country and the new culture and the biggest challenge was learning to speak a new language: Portuguese!
It was not easy, there was a lot of renunciation and investment in the new country.
After 55 years, Shalom has more than 5,000 members just in the city of Uberlândia, hundreds of churches in Brazil and churches in many nations.
Fabiana and I were pastors in this church in Brazil, but God told us: Go to Ireland.
In obedience and love to the Lord Jesus, after hearing His voice in March 2008, we left our nation, our family and our church to make disciples here in Monaghan!
If you were in our last service, when Leily preached, you know God spoke to them in the same way, that it was for them to come to Ireland!
That is why Paulo and Leily are with us, making disciples for the Lord Jesus!
What about you? Why are you here?
Just as God brought us to this nation, He brought you to this church, for He has a beautiful plan for your life! Do you agree?
God wants to use your life to save people and make disciples for Jesus!
This is why I said, at the beginning: this church is the fulfillment of the Word of God!
Currently, we have 17 different nationalities serving Jesus at Shalom Christian Fellowship.
We have the following countries with us:
- Ireland;
- England;
- China;
- South Africa;
- Latvia;
- Lithuania;
- Poland;
- Ukraine;
- Bulgaria;
- Kyrgyzstan;
- India;
- 12-Kongo;
- Zimbabwe;
- Angola;
- Honduras;
- Romania and
- Brazil
This is just the beginning! In a few years, we will be thousands here in this city!
And this church will send missionaries and pastors to various cities in Ireland, Europe and the Nations! Do you believe it?
The Bible says: “All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.” Psalm 86:9-10
The Bible says that He created all nations, and they will all come and worship Him!
Many people in this city will come to bring Glory to the name of Jesus!
Because God is all powerful, He is great and He has done great things among us!
Revelation 5:9-10
“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth’.”
In the end, the Bible declares that one day everyone will bow down before Jesus! Those who believe in him and those who did not believe and who rejected him!
The book of Revelations shows us that, one day, there will be a trial!
Whatever you sow here on this earth you will reap!
How you live here will determine where you will spend eternity!
The Bible says that God created us, formed us; we sin, we turn away from Him and then, He sent Jesus to buy us!
He bought us with His blood! He paid a heavy price to have you!
Perhaps, no one has ever spoken this to you: but you’re exceedingly precious, you’re worthy!
You are valuable in the eyes of God! For he bought you with His blood!
Maybe, since when you were little, people have said that you are worthless, you are not good, you are nobody and nothing is going to work in your life.
How many children grew up listening to these words: you’re no good, you’re not worth anything!
You have to choose who you will listen to: what God says about you and what people say.
The most important thing in life is to listen to what God says about us!
He cares about you, he cares so much – for He brought me here to tell you that he loves you and that you are important to him.
While you are alive, He is giving an opportunity for you to meet him.
The Bible says that God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
When you look at the cross, when you look at the Calvary, you see how much God loves you.
Every drop of the blood of Jesus that was shed on the Cross was the price that was paid for you!
You’re worth the price Jesus paid for you!
The same price he paid for me, Jesus paid for you!
The price paid by Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was the price paid by the apostle Paul, who loved and served Jesus!
However, Judas didn’t repent of his sin, if he had repented, Jesus would have forgiven him!
Jesus paid a heavy price for your life!
Revelation 20:15 says: “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
This will be the condemnation to the unsaved!
But you, at this very moment, can receive salvation and forgiveness of your sins.
When we are born again and repent of our sins, our name is written in the book of life!
Live a life that count , make it worth it !