The Arm of the Lord - continued

The Arm of the Lord …continued.

In our last message, I presented the Lord Jesus as the arm of the Lord, based or founded on the prophecy in Isaiah 53:1-6. In that same prediction, the Lord Jesus is compared to a “tender shoot” and like a “root of dry ground”. What’s more, it also mentions that there was nothing in His appearance that should make us desire Him, etc.

Insofar that the arm of the Lord represents authority and power, we need to try and understand in what sense weakness and power work together. Thanks to the Lord, we can find the answer in the Scriptures themselves. The answer is found in the incarnation of the Lord Jesus.

Before long we will begin preparations to celebrate the Birth of Christ. In Aruba and the Antilles, the custom is to celebrate this event with colored lights, trimming the Christmas trees, preparing elaborate meals and buying new clothes, and the giving of gifts and more!

However, the day that our Lord was born of the Virgin Mary, He was born in a barn or sheep coral together with other animals. His mother wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn for them. As we well know, a manger is a kind of crib from which animals eat and chew their food. What does this event, related to the birth of Christ, teach us?

To understand this we must take into account that, the One Who was born in such a humble way, was the Christ, the Lord, and the Son of God, our Saviour. (Luke 2:10,11) The Scriptures teach us that the One, Who was born in that humble way, was the One, through Whom, God the Father created the universe. The Apostle John writes the following words about Jesus: Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made…etc., (Read John 1:1-10). That testimony is great and sufficient reason to convince us of the greatness of the Lord Jesus, together with the Father. Other testimonies that we can find are in Col.1: 15-17, and it reads as follows: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” This same testimony is mentioned in the book of Hebrews in chapter one and verses one to three. And it reads as follows: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, and through Whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word.”

It is the same Person here through Whom all things in the universe were made, Who came into this world in such a very lowly manner and in a human body. And in that body, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross.

Considering the majestic grandeur of the Son of God, even before our world and humanity existed, we can ask ourselves, Why did He have to come into the world and suffer so much, and to die in a most shameful and humiliating manner at the hands of man, Whom He created? The answer is found in the Scripture itself, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. The answer is the love of God for humanity. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. “ (John 3:16)

It is quite impossible for me to think I could explain a love and sacrifice of this magnitude. That is why the following Scripture exhorts us: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away, For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” (Hebrews 2”1-4)

Throughout His entire life in the flesh while in this world, the Lord Jesus struggled against temptation to sin. His struggle was against the very same temptations by which you and I fall. He was tempted by Satan and fallen man, who were under the control of the Evil One, and also of the world system. Different from us, our Lord Jesus did not have a sinful nature. However, He carried the burden of suffering when He was tempted. (Hebrews 2:18). “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

As I have already declared, it is impossible to explain such profoundness and depth. The great victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, on our behalf, over the powers of darkness almost seemed as a defeat. But, because He did not sin, and there was no deceit found in His mouth, God, the Father raised Him from the dead and exalted Him and gave Him a Name above all other names!

Trust in the Lord Jesus today, and be free from the judgement of God, which is coming.

Written by Bicento Henriquez.

Do not forget to visit Libreria Victoria during these days! There is no better gift to friends and family than a Bible, or an enclosure of a Christmas Tract, a book, or other reading material. We live in troublesome times – we need to share the Word of God with our family and friends. Visit Libreria Victoria today at Elleboogstraat 25, Oranjestad, Aruba.

The Arm of the Lord

Oh, Oh, at long last WINTER has arrived! Brrr....

In the book of Isaiah chapter 53:1-6, we read the following prophecy about our Lord Jesus Christ, and also how it relates to every human being.

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep, have gone astray, each one of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Dear friends, this portion of prophetic Scripture clearly refers to our Lord Jesus Christ and His incarnation. We would like to suggest that each one of you reading this message would take time to read the entire chapter of Isaiah 53, because each and every one of us is included in this prophecy.

To begin with, our Lord Jesus is referred to as the Arm Of The Lord. The Lord mentioned here is God, the Father Himself. Therefore, whatever happened to the Son of God in this prophecy, was in accordance with the will of the Heavenly Father. That, however, does not mean that Jesus was not in agreement, and that the Father obligated Him to be humiliated and treated in such a scandalous manner at the hands of men.

By no means, because there are other Scriptures that clearly tell us that the Lord Jesus willingly, and motivated by love, took upon Himself the shame and the punishment which each and every one of us deserved. In Hebrews 10: 5-7 we read the following words: “ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.’”
So, Jesus is called “the Arm of the LORD” in Isaiah 53:1. Throughout Scripture the arm of the LORD represents the strength, power, and authority of Almighty God. The Lord Jesus received authority from the Father to do the work that He came to do in the world. To be sure of this we ask each one of you who are reading this message to read John chapters 5 & 6 completely, as well as the 17th chapter of John.

In Luke 4:17-19, we can see Jesus reading from the Book of Isaiah the following words:
“The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”’
Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. While the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Here the Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of the Lord” and that is the Lord , who anointed Jesus with the Spirit to preach the Good News, etc. In the Book of Acts, chapter 10, the Apostle Peter, in a vision, guided by the Holy Spirit, was sent to take the Gospel to a Roman Official called Cornelius. Beginning with verses 38 – 43 we read these words:

“ You know …..how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him, from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. All the prophets testified about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Considering all the Scriptures we have mentioned, and there are many more, we can understand why JESUS is called the “ARM of the LORD” in Isaiah 53:1-6. It is through Him, that God, the Father provided forgiveness and eternal life for every one of us who repents and believes and receives Him as our personal Savior.
Written and prepared by Bicento and Betty Henriquez

The New Birth - continued

Bicento meditating on our balcony!

On the 1st of November we discussed the subject of the New Birth, and why it is important, and now we can experience it. Today, November 11th, we want to continue our discussion on what the Bible teaches about the New Birth. It is important for each person who has repented of his or her sins and believed in the saving grace of the Gospel, to KNOW and UNDERSTAND that the new birth does not mean the entering a second time into his mother’s womb to be born again!

Our father and our mother are responsible only for our birth as a human being. Being born again has to do with the spiritual, and that takes place when a person hears the Gospel, and is convinced by the Spirit of God of his or her sin, repents, and accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior.

There are various ways to express this same truth about faith in Christ, but it is at that time that this transformation takes place. It is at the moment when a sinner believes, that he passes from death to life, from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. From that moment, a sinner admits his or her sin and culpability, and believes in the One who carried his or her sin in His body on the cross, that he or she becomes a son of God, and co-heirs with Christ. From that moment, he is a new creature in Christ, and becomes a member of the body of Christ, which is called the Church. This church has nothing in common with the edifices or structures called churches today. There is only one church in the world today, of which Jesus Christ is the Head, and every true believer is a member of that body. However, it is this truth we desire and urge every believer in the Gospel to understand clearly and be in agreement with.

In the first place comes FAITH. According to the Scriptures it is impossible to please God without Faith. And how can we receive this faith? We read in Romans 10:17 “Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” Continue to read the entire passage of Romans ten, which explains this in details.

In the second place we must know that a person who obeys this message and believes becomes a new creature, but he or she is not born a mature person. When a person believes the Gospel, this person is like a baby who has to have spiritual milk that he might grow and become mature. Read Ephesians 4:1-16 and also 1 Peter 2:1-3.

Speaking about babies, they are born with an appetite especially for milk. They cry and scream until they get the proper nutrition, which is milk. A person who is born anew has an ardent appetite for the spiritual milk of the Word of God so that he or she may grow in the faith. And as they understand and grow in the faith, they will need nutrition, that is more complex and compound from the Word of God. The Scripture calls it “meat” instead of “milk”. This is very necessary for the new believer: it will help him resist against the tests and trials that will surely come to him or her. All our tests actually come mainly from three sources, and they blend.

These three sources are:
Satan,
the world system
and the flesh ( the sinful carnal nature in every person).

Each one of us should be aware of these forces, because we are daily exposed to each one of these sources in one way or another.
But just as the Scriptures and experience disclose our principal enemies, in the same manner the Scriptures reveal to us, from where we can get the authority to daily resist and overcome our enemies.

The Bible tells us that when a person believes the Gospel, he or she is sealed with the Holy Spirit, Who was promised by Christ before He ascended into Glory to be with His Father. This Spirit is as a Guarantor of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession. The word redemption mentioned here speaks of the Resurrection Day, when all who trusted in Him will receive glorified bodies and to live forevermore. (Read Ephesians 1:13,14 and 4:30, as well as 1 Corinthians 15:35-58)

According to the Scriptures, if a person does not have the Spirit, he or she does not belong to Christ. (Read Romans 8: 1-17, or better still read to the end of the chapter.) Now bringing this topic of the New Birth to a conclusion, we have seen that it is a work of God, when a person believes the Gospel. The Gospel simply means: the Good News that Christ died for our sins, and that on the third day, God the Father raised Him from the dead, glorified Him, and gave Him the Name above all other names. We have already mentioned earlier, that the new birth is part of the life of faith.

According to the Scriptures, “the just shall live by faith”. (Romans 1:16,17). But this faith can only come by hearing: read again Rom.10:17. Therefore, we urge you who are reading this message, read your Bible daily, and ask the Lord to help you understand His Word and help you to obey it.

Friends, the doctrine of the new birth is equal to a new creation, and it is only the God Almighty Who can do this. However, if we do not believe or care or have no interest or refuse to believe in the Son of God, Who gave Himself for us; then the Father will not perform that work of regeneration in us. He cannot deny Himself. Believe, today in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved; you and your house. (Acts 16:31)

Kico ke men "Nacemento di Nobo?"

Laga nos descuti ront e mesa kico ke men "Nacemento di Nobo".

Den Beibel tin un versiculo masha stima y aprecia pa tur hende cu ta kere e Evangelio di henter nan curason. Y e ta bisa lo siguiente:

“Pasobra Dios a stima mundo asina tanto cu El a duna Su Unico Yiu pa tur cu kere den djE, no bai perdi ma tin bida eterno.” Juan 3:16

Mescos cu tur otro Scritura, esun aki tambe mester wordo studia den su contexto. Y esey ta nifica cu nos mester lesa y studia of pensa riba e otro cosnan cu a wordo bisa hunto cu e declaracion ey. Ademas nos mester ta conciente di loke e resto di Scritura ta siña tocante e mes un topico aki. Pa cuminsa nos mester lesa for di versiculo uno te na versiculo 21. Haciendo esey nos por mira cu henter e porcion aki tin di haci cu Jesus Su mensahe of siñansa na un Fariseo cu yama Nicodemo.

E Nicodemo aki ta wordo menciona mas despues, con e, hunto cu un otro homber, kende tabata un miembro den e consilio , a percura pa e curpa morto di Jesus, por a haya un entiero digno. (Lesa Juan 19:38-42; y Mateo 27:57-61 y Marco 15:42-47 y Lucas 23:50-56). Ta na e Fariseo aki cu yama Nicodemo, Jesus a cuminsa siña e doctrina di nacemento di nobo ora cu El a bis”e: “Mi ta bisa bo e berdad, ningun hende por mira e Reino di Dios, si e no bolbe nace.” Manera nos por lesa, Nicodemo no por a comprende e declaracion straño aki di Jesus, y p’esey El a contesta cu e pregunta aki: Con un hende cu ta bieu caba por bolbe nace? Sigur cu e no por drenta den barica di su mama pa di dos bes, pa e bolbe nace! Jesus Su contesta tabata esaki: “Ami ta bisa bo e berdad, ningun hende por drenta e Reino di Dios si e nace di awa y di e Spirito….. no keda sorprendi cu Mi a bisa bo, boso mester bolbe nace. E biento ta supla unda cu e kier. Bo ta tende su zonido, ma bo no por bisa ta di unda e ta bini, of unda e ta bai. Asina e ta cu cada uno cu nace di e Spirito.” Nos ta lesa cu Nicodemo a keda mes sorprendi.

Anto el a puntra Señor Jesus: Con esaki por ta? Jesus Su contesta e biaha aki tabatin cierto reprendemento tanto na Nicodemo como pa nos awe. “Bo ta e Maestro di Israel, y bo no ta comprende e cosnan aki?” E Nicodemo aki, por representa tur e siñadornan religioso cu ta biba awe, cu apesar di nan titulo como maestro, no sabi nada tocante e doctrina aki di nacemento di nobo. E declaracion aki di Señor Jesus Su mes ta di sumo importancia pa cada persona cu ta biba aki den Antiyas y den e resto di nos mundo; pasobra ni un di nos por drenta e Reino di Dios, si nos no a nace di nobo.

Awor ta keda e pregunta aki: Kico nacemento di nobo ta? Kico e ta nifica?

Prome, laga nos mira loke e no ta. Nacemento di nobo no ta boutismo di awa sea di un baby of un adulto. E no ta pa ta miembro den un religion, of den un asina yama Iglesia. E no ta nifica pa carga e nomber “Cristian”. Un hende por tin tur eseynan, pero sinembargo no a nace di nobo, y lo bai perdi si e no kere manera e versiculo tan stima ta bisa.

Amigonan stima, nacemento di nobo ta obra di e poder di Dios. Ta Dios e Tata todopoderoso so por haci esey. Nacemento di nobo ta igual cu un creacion nobo, y Dios so por haci esey. Nacemento di nobo ta igual cu bida eterno, y ta Dios solamente por duna un hende mortal bida inmortal. Laga nos bolbe na e versiculo cu nos a cuminsa cu ne, esta Juan 3:16. Lesa e versiculo cu un curason habri pa Dios obra den bo. Aki e ta bisa nos, cu Dios a stima mundo asina tanto cu EL a DUNA Su Unico Yiu, PA TUR CU KERE den djE, no BAI PERDI, ma tin BIDA ETERNO. Den esun versiculo aki ta inclui Dios Su amor pa cada uno di nos, apesar di nos picanan. Den e palabra: “DUNA”, ta inclui: e incarnacion di nos Señor , y Su bida di sufrimento ora cu El a wordo tenta dor di Satan y hende; y Su morto ariba un crus. Ma tambe ta inclui Su resureccion for di morto y Su glorificacion. P’esey cu e frase cu ta bisa: “Pa tur cu kere den djE” no ta nifica pa kere ku E ta existi y cu El a wordo mata y cu El a resucita so. Ma pa kere den Señor Jesus ta inclui cu El a muri pa mi, y den mi lugar pa motibo di mi picanan. Ta nos picnan El a carga den Su curpa riba e crus …. Y pa medio di Su heridanan nos a wordo cura.

Ta awe y awor cada uno di nos mester repenti di nos picanan, y pone nos fe den Esun cu a muri y a resucita pa nos.

Amigonan stima pa Dios y pa nos Señor Jesus; no sigui tarda mas, dobla bo rudianan awe pa nos Señor Jesus, den berdadero repentimento, y asina ricibi pordon y bida eterno.

Si e mensahe aki a toca bo curason, of ainda bo tin pregunta ariba e topico aki, lo bo tuma tempo pa tuma contacto cu nos? Siguramente esey lo ta un encurashamento pa nos, y alabes nos por sigui yuda bo segun cu bo ta refleha y tuma decision ariba si of no bo a nace di nobo. Nos adres di email ta: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

Y na Libreria Victoria na Elleboogstraat 25 na Oranjestad, bo por cumpra Beibel, si ainda bo no tin un pa bo mes. Aserca nan libremente pa esey, y otro tractadonan y buki.

TWO GATES & TWO WAYS

HAVE A STRAWBERRY!
Hi everybody! Well, here in Canada “Winter” is on it’s way! We are all beginning to prepare for the snow that will soon be falling softly or flying fast. Yesterday it came for about a half hour, and it fell in thick, beautiful flakes, but it melted as fast as it fell! But it is a warning: winter is coming!

For the next two Postings, we want to consider some portions in Scripture that talk about TWO WAYS OR ROADS AND TWO GATES OR DOORS: very interesting and at the same time very thought provoking! (Note: some translations use the words: gate for door and road for way)

In the book of Matthew chapter seven and verses thirteen and fourteen, the Lord is speaking about a wide gate and a narrow gate. According to Jesus, the wide or spacious gate leads to destruction, whereas the narrow gate opens to the narrow road that leads to life.

What is more, the Lord emphasizes that many enter through the wide gate, which leads to destruction, whereas only a few will find the narrow door that leads to life. Why do you not take your Bible and read for yourself the following Scriptures to see what Jesus is saying here: Mathew 7:13,14 and also Luke 13:22-30).

According to these Scriptures, Jesus gave this warning, and invitation in answer to a question put to Him by somebody there, which was: “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Then Jesus answered all those that were gathered around at this moment. And we can in reality also say that Jesus is, in answering them, also answering us when we have similar questions in our hearts and minds. Give close attention to the fact that Jesus is saying that only a few will find the door and the way that leads to life, whereas in Luke chapter thirteen, Jesus says that many will try to enter but will not be able to.

Dear friends, Christ died and arose again for us, and that is why it is so important that we read, or listen to what God says in His Word to us, instead of listening to the teachings of mortal man who contradicts the Word of God.

For example: the Bible tells us, and here I can say God Himself is saying,: “that it is not we who sought after God, but He sought us in Christ. If we seek the teachings of man without searching the Scriptures to find if it is so, is the same as if a blind man follows the guidance of another one who also is blind. The end result is that both will fall in the same pit.”
In Luke 19:10 we read, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” We can also read the following in Romans 3:11-18: “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Pay close attention to the fact that it does not say here that it is the pagans who live these kind of lives, nor does it say it is the Jews; but, what is written here includes all of us. Be that a person that is well-educated, or one who is ignorant, or one who is great, small, rich or poor. Romans 3:9,10 tells us this: “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: there is no one righteous, no not one.”

It is possible for someone to come with this question: If this is how it is, who then can be saved?

Let us read Romans 3, beginning with verse 19, where we read the following: “ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth be silenced, and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin.”

Let’s try to understand something now about the wide door and the narrow door that we read about in Matthew 7:13,14. Observe that MANY enter the wide door. It does not say that many seek the wide door or the wide road. But about the narrow door and the narrow road, our Lord says that only a FEW will find it. In the same way as with other Scriptures, it is important that we compare the teaching here of our Lord Jesus, that is speaking of the same topic. We have already mentioned Romans 3:11-18 earlier in this message. There we can see so clearly that there is not one single human being that is good in the sight of God. And there are also other scriptures that affirm this fact. Therefore, since we are born with a sinful nature, we are ready to continue on the wide road, which leads to destruction. Even such who are born into Christian homes of exemplary Christian parents, growing up and hearing the Word of God, will realize, as they grow older and mature, that they, too, are sinners and have the sinful nature within them, and must repent of their sin and obey the Gospel.

Dear friends, you who are reading this message: On which road are you at this moment? Maybe you are asking , "Which is the way to eternal life? How can we know the way?"

Jesus gives the answer to this question clear and sure. It is this: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 N.I.V.) How can we find this way? The answer is that the way to eternal life has come to us today through Jesus, Who came to this world to seek and to save sinners. The Bible is very clear about the fact that it is not us who sought God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a propitious sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10) This means that the life of Jesus, a life without sin; His death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, and His exaltation to the right hand of God, the Father, took place, that we might be reconciled to God today, by repenting for the forgiveness of our sins will receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (John 3:36)

Friends, to enter the narrow gate and narrow road is to repent of our sins, and put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have any questions? Write us at bbhenriquez@shaw.ca We would love to hear from you.
Please pass this message from God's Word to your family and friends.

Our Message to you today is:

Here in Canada it is Thanksgiving Day to-morrow, but in many churches it was celebrated today. However, all over the world we can thank God for His great love manifested to mankind in giving His Son as our Saviour: that "whosoever- which means you" believeth in Him (JesusChrist) should not perish, but have everlasting life." Are you believing in Him today? If not, we invite you to do so TODAY.

Bicento and Betty

CONFESSION - continuation

What a beautiful morning to you from Canada!
Hello everyone! Trust that you are being encouraged and helped by reading our Blog. If you indeed are encouraged, then pass on our blogspot address to other of your family, friends and acquaintances.

As we said, we would continue on the topic of CONFESSION, so lets, together, see what more the Scriptures teach us about this subject-matter. This word is very well known in Aruba, as well as in the Antilles. In particular: auricular confession., which means to confess audibly to another person of what you did or did not do.

In our previous message about this topic, we read a portion of Scripture that speaks to us about this in Romans 10:8-11. We also suggested that you read the entire chapter ten of the Book of Romans. We hope you took time to do this, for it is important. Because, in this passage it clearly and authoritatively emphasizes the absolute necessity of personally confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Jesus from the dead, in order to be saved. It emphasizes here that it is with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth each must confess to be saved. That is why, I again beseech each one of you who read this, that you read the entire tenth chapter of Romans. And while, or even before, pray to God, that He will help you understand, and give you to courage to obey. You will never ever be sorry that you decided to put your trust in the Lord Jesus.

The other part of CONFESSION is that of confessing Christ before people. If you think that this is easy and uncomplicated, think again! We can be very mistaken. Sadly, very many people turn back to perdition, because of being afraid of other. Fear of Religious Leaders, fear of fellow family members, friends and co-workers, or your ties to social life, sports, etc., etc.

We call to your attention again, that for a person to obey the blessed Gospel of God, he himself needs the power of God in his life to make this decision. But thanks be unto God, that this power accompanied the Gospel from the beginning, and accompanies it to this very day, and will do so until the end if the age. That is why God gave the Holy Spirit to the Lord Jesus, Who sent this Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, to remain with us to the end of this age. You can read this in John 15:26,27, and John 16:5-16, and also in Acts 2:29-33.

Now, going back to the importance of confessing Jesus before others. We can read the following words in Matthew 10:32: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven.”

Friends, that is why there is such an urgency in these words in the Scripture: “As fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain, for He says, In the time of My Favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2

What’s more in the book of Acts we are given this exhortation: “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (New International Version).

Dear friends, we join you in asking God for His help at the right time to obey the Gospel, and be freed and liberated in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Remember: Procrastination is Disobedience.
Written and prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez: bbhenriques@shaw.ca

CONFESSION - what does it mean?

Un mainta tipical na cas di nos sobrino y su esposa!

Welcome to our Blogspot! Here in Canada we are in the FALL SEASON. Our trees are turning from green to yellow, orange, brown, and red! The leaves are falling fast, leaving the trees bare and desolate. Winter is around the corner.

Today we want to talk about Confession, or what it means to confess. To this very day this was, and still is something that is well known here in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.

In the Scriptures the word “confess” has more than one meaning. We will try and discuss two of them today. The first is found in Romans 10: 8-11: “But what does it say? The Word is near you: It is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart, that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trust in Him will never be put to shame.” I would recommend that you read the entire chapter ten of Romans, and also Matthew 10:32-33.

The invitation here to receive pardon and eternal life is offered to all people everywhere in the world without exception. Please pay very close attention to the fact that this word of confession must come out of each person’s own mouth, when or after we have believed in our hearts.

Friends, no one, but no one can believe for us, or confess for us. The word “to confess” means to admit, or to acknowledge. It is we who have to admit and acknowledge, and no one else, that we are sinners, and must believe from our hearts, that God raised His Son from the dead. And we must understand that it is for our very own sins He died, because He, Himself, did not know sin, and no untruth was found in His mouth. We must understand very well that we cannot hide sin before God. He knows each one of us exactly as we are!

The word confession can also mean: “conceding or to say the same thing”. This means that we concede, agree, or say the same thing as to what God already knows about us. We may ask: “How is it possible for God to love a sinner as me, when in fact He already knows how I really am?” The answer is clearly and truthfully written for us in the Scriptures. For example in the book of Romans 5:6-8 we read: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will a man die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Therefore, friends, do not turn a deaf ear to the loving call of God today. Repent of your sins, and accept the pardon that God offers to you today. Do not close your heart’s door, because no one knows what the day may bring forth.

The Lord willing, we will POST the second part of this message on Confession in a few days. Have a good and safe day. We would love to hear from you either under COMMENTS or bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

Your friends,
Bicento and Betty Henriquez, writing from our retirement home at 534, 120, LaRonge Road, Saskatoon, SK., Canada, S7K 7Z9

SOME MORE FALL PICTURES FOR YOU TO ENJOY WITH US!

The picture with part of a building on it is the one we are living in. It is very large, and over 500 elderly people are living here, with one hundred more to come, when a new section opens up in a month or so! The river and park are very close to us, only a few blocks away. Until our next POSTING!

What Does It Mean To Be A Christian #2

At last Autumn here! For the last few weeks we have seen signs indicating that winter is around the corner! The Canadian Wild Geese are training their young ones to fly in formations and to follow their leaders. It is so interesting to watch and listen to them honking their orders to the younger generation born this spring. Then there are the various species of green trees gradually turning into shades of light green, yellow, orange, brown, fiery red and colors of deep wine. Oh so beautiful!

Welcome to our Blogspot. We trust that you will be encouraged and helped as you read our Posting today. We continue, as we said we would, on the topic of what does it mean to say: “ I am a Christian?” We want to again go into the Scriptures to see what it says, and not what I think it means.

No doubt, you who are reading this, consider yourself a Christian. As a native-born Aruban, and fellow Antillean of the islands around, as Bonaire and Curaçao, St. Marten, etc; I am totally aware that the great majority of us consider ourselves CHRISTIAN. And if someone would ask us how we became a Christian, many of us would answer more or less in the following manner: I was born a Christian; I grew up in a Christian home; or I became a Christian when my parents had me baptized.

BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT?

In our first message about that name we mentioned that the Word Christian is mentioned only three times in the Bible. And those called Christian, were called that because they believed in Christ, and followed His teachings, and those by the Apostles. But, before that they were called believers, disciples, brethren, but they were also called saints and the Church. Today, after more than two thousand years, the world is still confused and mixed up about titles and names.

But thanks be unto God, Who has made it possible for us to have the Holy Scriptures, through which we can learn and be taught, repent and be corrected in the way of God. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-17.

The name Christian alone is NO guarantee for entrance into the Kingdom of God. However, personal faith in Jesus Christ, motivated by repentance of our sins, is the guarantee to forgiveness and eternal life. This incredible and inexplicable blessing is offered to every living person in the entire world, by grace without money and without price. But, there was a price that had to be paid, and that was the shedding of the blood of Christ, the son of God, on the cross for us. He died in our place to reconcile us to God. We can read the following words in the Bible: “You were bought with a price; therefor honor God with your body.” 1 Cor. 6:20 and 1 Cor.7: 23. And also in Ephesians 1:7,8 we read, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

Dear friends, the blood of Christ is included in His life, and in the cruel way in which He was crucified for us. But God, the Father on the third day, through His power raised up Christ from the dead, and gave Him a NAME above all other names both in heaven and on earth.

One day, friends, all knees will bow to this Jesus, but the better time to do this is today, even at this very moment. Do not delay, obey today.
Written and prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez
Write to us at: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca
Or Write us a Comment - as one did last week. Thanks so much!

What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

The name Christian or the title Christian identifies a person who professes to be a follower or disciple of Christ. In the Book of Acts chapter eleven and verse twenty-six, we read the following words, “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

After this, the name or title Christian, is mentioned only two more times. The Apostle Peter is the only apostle that mentioned the name Christian, and it is mentioned in the context of suffering. This is what we read in 1 Peter 4:12-19. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
That is why, friends, a true Christian, is a person who has heard and believed the Gospel of God, and with the help of the Spirit of God, we are able to understand and obey it.

Obedience is when the sinner repents of his life of sin, and believes with all his heart in the Son of God, who shed His blood on the cross because of our sins. There is no Christian outside of a living faith in Jesus, the son of God.

Water baptism without a personal faith in Christ is in vain. To be a member of some religion, or of a church without repentance and faith in Christ Jesus, is a false hope, in which multitudes are living today.

Ask God today to help you repent and believe the good news that there is forgiveness and eternal life, possible only through faith in the Son of God.

Do you have any question after reading the above words? Take a moment and drop us a line via email sharing your questions or comments. That way we can interact with each other. Our blog address is: www. Bbhenriquez.blogspot.com and our email address is: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

We will continue this topic of WHAT or WHO is a Christian in our next blog! Keep watching for it!

THE GOSPEL - and, what does it mean?

The great majority of Antilleans have heard the term “gospel” since they were children. But for most of us those words were only religious words, and we never bothered to find out for ourselves what the words: “THE GOSPEL” meant. But, today, many of us living on the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao at least have an idea of its meaning, though the majority of us even to this day have not accepted THE ONE , who is the source or foundation of the Gospel. ( I have to say this with deep sadness.)

To begin with, the word Gospel does not mean religion. As we all know, the majority of Antilleans are religious, and are fettered to one or another religion. In most cases, we were brought up in a religion our parents were brought up in, and they in turn by their parents.

We may ask: What in fact does the word the Gospel mean? My friend, we find the answer directly from the Holy Scriptures. To begin with let us read together in Luke 4:17-21 these words: The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him, and He began by saying unto them, “today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

According to this Scripture, friends, the Lord Jesus taught that He is The One that God, the Father, authorized to preach the good news of salvation to sinners throughout the world. How did He do that? The answer is in the Scriptures itself. For example, In Matthew 16:21 we read, the following: “From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Also in this same book of Matthew in chapter twenty, verses seventeen to nineteen we read: “Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will turn Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!”

If we compare these Scriptures here with Luke 4:17-21, we can see that in Luke chapter 4, Jesus was not speaking of the poor in material goods, or about those in incarcerated, nor about those who are blind and oppressed physically. But, instead He is speaking about such who were living at that time, and to all who are living today. He is speaking here to our spiritual lives in this world. He is speaking to us who are poor towards God, and are willingly prisoners of every kind of wickedness there is, and who are spiritually blind and serving Satan without even being aware of it.

In the light of the above Scriptures we learn that “The Gospel” is Good News of Glad Tidings that there is forgiveness and freedom through faith in Jesus, Who was betrayed and given over into the hands of men and was mocked, mistreated and crucified. But, God, the Father, gave Him life again on the third day, that we, you and I, may receive pardon and eternal life. THIS IS THE GOSPEL that we proclaim today in Aruba, in Bonaire and Curaçao and throughout the entire world. This is the GOOD NEWS the Apostles preached – that now there is eternal life available in the name of Jesus to everyone who repents from his or her sin and believes in Jesus Christ. Without repentance, God says, there is no pardon for sin.

Dear friends, the Scriptures teach us, that after Jesus’ resurrection and glorification, God gave Jesus the Holy Spirit, Whom He sent to convince men and women of sin, so that we can repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Read Acts 2:29-30, and Acts 20:21. Without repentance, friends, there is no forgiveness.
Written by Bicento Henriquez and translated by Betty Henriquez
You may communicate with us at: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

DECISIONS

Decisions, decisions, decisions every day we make them! Will we go see so & so today. when? Will it be this morning or this afternoon? Is the weather cooperative? This morning we, Bicento and Betty, had a decision to make! There is going to be a Bible Study on the fourth floor of our building. Will we go? We have made the decision, that yes, we will go. You probably have also made some decisions this morning as well! We all know that some decisions are minor and others are more important. But these kinds of decisions are minor compared to one major decision we must all make in life. It is a decision that will determine where we will spend eternity?

During every human being’s life span, he or she has many decisions to make that are related to choices. Normally, from birth to our adolescence years, it is our parents that make choices for us. They choose what we eat, what we wear, where we go or where we do not go, etc. However, the day comes when each one of us begins to make our own choices. Sometimes we make wrong choices, and we realize it too late. What we are saying here is true for every human, no matter from what part of the world we are from.

In the Bible we read of a decision, of utmost importance, that every one of us must make sooner or later in our lifetime. In the Old Testament we read that Moses, a servant of God, led the nation of Israel over a period of forty years through the wilderness after delivered them from slavery in Egypt. It was then that God revealed to Moses that his days here on this earth were numbered. (Read Deuteronomy 31:1,2, 14, & 15). Since he was the one leading them over this long period of time, he learned to know them personally.
He then made this very important declaration to the entire nation of Israel, saying: “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction…..and he continues to say: This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and ..…” (Deuteronomy 30:11-20).

Dear friends, this solemn invitation and warning , though written more than three thousand years ago, was not only for the Jewish people living at that time, but it is also for non-Jewish people like us who are living today. It is so important for us to know the last words and actions of Moses towards the Jews is given to us in the New Testament. (Read Romans chapters 9-11, and also the complete chapters of Deuteronomy 30 and 31.)

In the book of Romans chapter ten and verses one to five, the Apostle Paul describes to us about how zealous the Jews were towards God, but that their enthusiastic zeal was not based on knowledge. And since they did not know the righteousness that came from God, they sought to establish their own, not willing to submit or subordinate themselves to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for all who believe. Then Paul continues with a portion (verses 5-13) where each one of us: whether Jew or non-Jew, Aruban, or non-Aruban, Antillean or non-Antillean, or from whatever other nation we are from – all of us are included.

It says this: “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith that we are proclaiming : That if you confess with your mouth , “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scriptures say, “anyone who trusts in Him shall never be put to shame. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Dear friends, bearing in mind these words of the Lord , we put before you today life and death; blessing and condemnation. Choose life, so that you may live forever together with the Lord. But, as regards to this important decision, each one of us individually must make the decision. In this matter neither our parents , or anyone else can make the decision for us. Each one of us must make this decision for himself or herself. It is with our own mouth that we must call on the Lord Jesus; and with our own heart believe.

We beseech you in the name of the Lord, to choose TODAY and BE SAVED. Amen.

THE FAITH THAT SAVES

Faith in or of itself cannot save, but it is the object of that faith that saves the sinner. And in this case the object mentioned is the Gospel. The Gospel simply means Good News. And the incredible beauty of this Good News is, that it is for all humanity. It is Good News coming directly from our Heavenly Father directed directly to you, who are reading this message, and of course for all of us.

Give close attention that this Good News is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes. Not only for the Jews, but also for people from all other nations in our world: including Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, all the islands in the Caribbean.

However, pay close attention to the fact that, notwithstanding the glory of the Gospel, and the power of God that goes with it, there remains this very important factor, and it is this: for the power of God to be operative in a person, the person MUST BELIEVE.

The word “believe” and “faith” work together here. One of the principal motives to have faith is: that no one in this world can believe for us. No angels, nor saints who have passed on, nor saints in Christ who are alive today, can believe for us. Nor can our beloved fathers or mothers believe for us. The truth is that this good news of justification towards God is directed towards each one of us individually. This message, this offer of eternal life does not come from man, but from the God Almighty, the only true God who created us, and all things that are created. He is the One that cannot lie, so every single person who believes with his whole heart, can do so with complete confidence; because He is the One Who called us in the Gospel, and is faithful. That is why FAITH is something personal and individual.

We will continue with a few other clarifications about the word Faith. Many years ago I already heard different explanations about faith. I personally defended the religion in which my parents were trusting, and which they passed over to us. It was during the year1947, more or less, and upward, that our islands were blessed with the Gospel of Grace by God’s power.

My personal defense against the Gospel was this: “Well; their message is good, but I believe that if we are faithful in the religion we were born in, is sufficient.” Today I am so grateful that only a few days after I pronounced those words, I was convinced by the Gospel and the Spirit of God, that: that trust based on religion was false. Also that forgiveness for sins, is only found by faith in the One that died on the cross for our sins, and that God raised Him from the dead on the third day. The Scriptures are very clear about this truth in Acts 4:12, where it says: “ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Friends: remember Religion CANNOT save, it is Christ, Who gave His life for us, and Who alone can save.

Not too long ago, in World News, there was a section of news about a soldier on duty in the war in Iraq, how he was saved from sure death, because he was carrying a Bible in his shirt pocket. When a rifle bullet hit the Bible, the bullet veered off, saving the life of the soldier. I did not hear anymore about this incident, but if it is true, I must surely be thankful for the soldier, as well as his family. Furthermore, I hope and trust that this young soldier is one whose faith is in Christ, in the Only One Who can save us from the wrath of God that is coming.

But, nevertheless, I do want to give this admonition. It is not enough just to have a Bible, be it in our pocket, or in our handbag, in our car, or in our homes. That Bible, in itself, CANNOT SAVE US. It is the MESSAGE that we read in the Bible that speaks to us about our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ, Who save us. That is, IF we believe with our whole heart that it is for our (my) sin He died and rose again from the dead, to bring us to God. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we invite you, we plead to all who read this message, that you will repent of your sins, and put your faith in the Lord Jesus. Then you will experience the power of God that is in the GOSPEL that we are proclaiming.
Written and prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez

WELCOME TO OUR ENGLISH BLOGSPOT

Welcome to our Blogspot. It is our deepest desire and hope that our inter-communications will be a blessing and help to you in your daily life experiences. Take time to read our POSTS, and then take time to comment in the space provided on: www.bicentoandbetty.blogspot.com or, write us via email at: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

In today’s POST we are writing a little about us: who we are, where we are from, and a little bit about our history and ministry. In another POST we will write a small message of encouragement from the Word of God. “My word will never pass away.” (Matthew 24.35) “For the Word of God is living!” (Heb. 4:12)

Our address is: Bicento & Betty Henriquez, #534, 210 La Ronge Road, Saskatoon, SK., S7K 7Z9, Canada.

A Little About Us

Bicento: I was born on July 19, 1923 on the island of Aruba. I grew up in the North part of the island in an area called Palm Beach with 5 brothers and 2 sisters. My father’s name was Johannes Henriquez, and my mother’s maiden name was Josefa (Jacobs) Henriquez. Both of my parents were staunch Roman Catholics and so I, too, was raised in this religion. I went to a Roman Catholic school through the 6th grade, which was all the academic schooling I had. And then two great changes in life were confronting me.

On June 4th, 1947, I married a young girl called Ursula Tromp from the area called Monserat, also in the North part of the island. She, too, grew up in the Roman Catholic beliefs. At that time, I was working in the Lago Esso Standard Oil Refinery (USA based), and had only been married a short time before that (about three months, to Ursula, that I heard the Gospel for the first time! I heard it from a fellow Aruban co-worker, who was also my superintendent (boss). He, too, had just become a believer a short time before by hearing the Gospel preached and taught by a missionary who had come from Venezuela, but was an American citizen. I knew my boss to be quite a profane man, and here I hear him witnessing over the noon-hour to a group of fellow workers. I drew near to listen to what he had to say, and to what he was reading. He told us that the word he was reading was God’s Word. At first I scoffed along with others, resisting and profusely rejecting anything and everything he was saying. Daily he sat and read the Scriptures and spoke to anyone who was willing to listen. I finally decided to purchase a New Testament for myself and find out for myself if these things he was saying were so! This was something that at that time in history, the RC Church forbade. It did not take long, and I was persuaded, by the Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ was the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that He was and is the only name under heaven, by which man can be saved. (Acts 4:12 & John 14:6) I knelt down in my own house and accepted Christ as my Savior.

Then I told my wife, my parents and it was an experience, and consequences that cannot easily be put down in words. There was pain and suffering for all concerned. The Scriptures, however, talk about this: “Though my father and my mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me Your way, O LORD….” Psalm 27:10. We also read in Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

So our married life began divided, as far as the “faith” was concerned. We lived in Kamay. To our marital union were born eight children: four sons and four daughters. I thank God, that my wife, though not a believer as yet, did not hinder me from taking the children out of the Catholic school system. Though this caused quite an upset on both sides of the family. Ursula dressed and prepared the children on Sundays, so that they could come with me to the church services at the Oranjestad Evangelical Alliance church, which, in later years, I would have the responsibility and privilege to serve as pastor for more than twenty years. In 1962, my wife accepted the Lord as her Savior, through the ministry of a missionary friend. She in time would serve in the women’s ministries as well as the Bible Camp ministries.

During the years I was pastor in the Oranjestad Evangelical Alliance Church, I also was Radio pastor at Radio Victoria (TEAM). I did a daily program called: “Your Questions Answered”, also a 15-minute daily Bible Reading called “The Open Bible”, for at that time there were thousands that did not have Bibles of their own in the Papiamento language. I was also responsible for a daily 15-minute program called: “Words Of Life.” Our Sunday Morning Worship service was also aired on Sundays, so that exacted being aware that there was also a wider listening audience then what were sitting in the pews. Last, but not least, another program called “Youth for Christ”, I had the privilege of talking to the youth of our islands for about 5 minutes in a program of testimonies and song by the youth.

You easily read between the lines. This was a huge responsibility for one who had no academic training beyond the 6th grade, plus the care of my family. It meant a lot of studying the Word each day for long periods of time, for there were many messages and programs to prepare for. The setting of priorities was essential. Only He, who calls us is sufficient for such things, but He was faithful, and continues to this day to be faithful. I thank Him for His love, His forgiveness, His patience and longsuffering to this very day..

And so the years passed by, the children grew up and each went his or her way. I, together with my wife, retired. My wife had not been well for quite some years, and after a lengthy illness, the Lord took her home to be where He is. She testified to her faith in Jesus Christ as her own personal Savior, was baptized upon her confession of faith and dying trusted in Him.

Then, life again changed for me. I was now a widower, and slowly accepted this new reality in life. I continued living in our small apartment at Kamay 5. Our own home, where all our children grew up in, was transferred to our youngest daughter and her husband and family. I continued studying the Scriptures, and helped as a SS teacher at the church.

In July of this same year, a vacation trip to Canada was presented to me, by friends and family. We had been to Canada on several occasions. I accepted this joyfully, looking forward to seeing many of our friends and acquaintances. Our fellow-missionary friend, Betty Ratzlaff, of more then 30 years, was retired and living in Waldheim. We had visited the Ratzlaff family many times, and they us in Aruba. One of the brothers and his wife provided for me to stay at their place. I had a small motor home parked on their yard, and had complete home-care service!

To make two month vacation short, it ended in a commitment of myself and Betty to each other. We agreed together that we would keep the secret until each one of us could talk to our individual families. Then we announced it at the same time in our individual churches in Aruba and Canada.

December 16th, we were married in Aruba. The Lord willing, we will celebrate our ninth year of marriage, this December. We have lived some of the time in Aruba, and some in Canada. At the moment we are living in a Senior Citizen’s complex in the city of Saskatoon, in the province of Saskatchewan, where over 500 seniors like us are residing.

We both enjoy nature, so spend a lot of time driving in and around the countryside seeing the fields, gardens, birds, animals both domestic and wild. We take part in activities that correspond to our age and energy. We have a Papiamento blogspot, and we also write Gospel tracts for Libreria Victoria in Aruba.

Betty

I was born in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up with seven brothers on a farm. I was an only girl, but a twin who did not live. My parents cultivated land, had cows, horses, sheep, pigs, and chickens. We also had gardens and a fruit orchard, which my father was very proud of. Lots and lots of plum trees, apple trees, raspberries, etc. I attended a rural school for the first eight grades, and then attended highschool in the small town of Waldheim.

After highschool, I attended four years at Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, an adjacent province. During my Junior year, I applied to the Evangelical Alliance Mission to serve as a missionary to South America. However, they were in the very early stages of beginning a ministry in both Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. So in my senior year I was approached about being willing to serve on these islands, to which I agreed.

I graduated in April of 1949 and arrived in Aruba on board a Dutch Freighter, November 29, 1949, that same year. My first passionate goal was to learn the language and learn it well. So it did not take me long to dig in for the long and strenuous task of learning “another tongue”.

The number of missionaries present on these islands, were minimal at the time of my arrival. There was one couple stationed in Aruba, and no one in Curaçao at the moment, because the couple there were in the States because of illness. The work in Bonaire had not yet been started. A couple was preparing to come. One other couple was in Aruba when I arrived learning the language to be stationed in Curaçao, and went as soon as they were able to communicate sufficiently to take over the ministry.

There was so much, it seemed, to be done in those early years with so few to do the many tasks: translating the Scriptures, preaching, teaching, translating of Sunday School materials, of songs, etc. Even as I was learning the language, one of the first tasks given to me, was to type a handwritten manuscript of the Psalms! This was quite a challenge. I was glad that I had taken the subject of Typing at Prairie. This was a wonderful tool in helping me get a large vocabulary in those early years.

I was very active in the foundational work of the Oranjestad Evangelical Church – especially in the musical and educational part of the ministry. Radio Victoria Ministry was begun in the year 1958, and I helped some there as well in the earlier years. I translated World News into the Papiamento language for two men, working at Lago Oil Company. At four o’clock, they would stop off at the station and give the news I had translated and typed for them. Later these men would be hired and do the work themselves. I had a Women’s World 15 minute program three times a week, and also prepared two other programs for other Aruban women to read. It was a Children’s Adventure Hour program, and a Christian Biography program.

Prior and during this time, I had a dream or burden, together with some of my Aruban friends, of establishing a Camping and Youth Center. This became a reality in June of 1965. I would work here for until June of 1980. From here my life took on a different direction. During the camping years, Trans World Radio missionaries came over to help in many different ways: as speakers and musicians; as artists or painters.

In 1982, I was accepted by TWR to come to Bonaire as a Papiamento language teacher to TWR missionaries. This became a full time job, as men and women on the island of Bonaire wanted me to teach them as well. So I had many outsiders taking classes as well. This led to the need of a Papiamento Grammar, so very shortly after I arrived I took on this project, and then on to compile the English/Papiamento BI-lingual dictionary, which made its debut in 1991.

After this I continued to work for TWR, but now I helped in the department of monitoring tapes. This was a very interesting ministry. However, at nights and weekends I always had responsibilities in the TEAM national churches on the island. I helped in the area of teaching and music, and enjoyed it immensely. All the above ministries gave me an enormous amount of friends on the island.

For recreation I joined Bonaire International Snorkeling & Diving Club. Here I met women of all walks of life and from all over the world. What an opportunity and challenge for me. We went for an hour every Thursday morning. It was a very special time. Because I like to draw I was given an underwater drawing board and special pen, and with my snorkeling buddy, I drew many pictures of water-life, and many of these sketches are in the Dictionary mentioned above. I could write a book on these experiences alone!

In 1997, I told TWR that I did not think that I would return to work anymore, but rather find an apartment in Canada and think about retirement. During this year, I helped in activities in a senior center next door, but I was troubled – not at all ready to hunker down and call it quits. But I helped where I could, and was waiting for the Lord to direct my next steps.

Then we received a visit of from an old Aruban friend and co-worker in the ministry of the Gospel. His name was Bicento Henriquez. He had lost his wife, who had been ill for some years, so his church friends and family in Aruba provided him with a vacation trip. This visit provided different opportunities for each of us to once again share with each other our past life and ministry: the loss of a loved one, the enormous change that brought; the change in not working anymore; our hopes of the future, etc. To make it short: we gradually fell in love and the question was popped, and the answer was yes. Then came the plans of when, how, and where, etc. Suddenly our lives were turned upside down as it were. Bicento returned to Aruba and emails flew back and forth in the next weeks.

This coming December, we will celebrate our 9th year of being married, the Lord willing, and have so much in common: the same friends and acquaintances of almost 50 years, in the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, South America and Canada. We worked together in church, radio and Camp Washington, for 30 years plus. We both can communicate in, and understand several languages. We enjoy switching back and forth in our daily conversations. We are not bored! During the past 9 years we have been writing Papiamento tracts for Libreria Victoria in Aruba. During the past year we opened a Blogspot on the WEB, on which we communicate with our Papiamento speaking friends. In the next few days we hope to open an English blogsite. Our address will be: www.bicentoandbetty.blogspot.com

In Aruba there are many English speaking people from the Caribbean islands like Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, St. Croix, St. Lucia, Grenada, etc. So we are praying that our ministry to them, through the sharing of the Gospel, will bring hope and peace to them, and glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Did you know that the Word of God talks about: “THE DAY OF SALVATION?”
What does it mean?
Is it relevant or pertinent today?
Bicento will now try and share with you some thoughts from the Scriptures (the Bible) on this subject.

In the Scriptures we read that the times in which we are living is called: “the time of My favor,” and “the day of Salvation.” You may find this in 2 Corinthians 6:1,2.

Just before this declaration was made, we can read why the “times” are referred to in this way. It is because in 2 Cor. 5:19-21, we read that God was reconciling us to Himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us. He, God, made Christ, Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. What a declaration!

The Apostle Paul then goes on to tell us that he, as a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, together with the other apostles, were entrusted with the message of reconciliation. That ministry was to let the entire world know that God provided a way for us, who by nature, because of our sins, are at enmity with God. By letting us know this way, we could now be reconciled to God, by faith in His Son, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who carried our sins in His body on the cross.

Not only that, but the Apostle also calls himself an ambassador for Christ, which is as though God Himself was making His appeal to us, through the Apostles, to be reconciled to Him.

Dear friends, as you read this message, be sure, it is as though God Himself is personally pleading for you to be reconciled to Him, by putting your faith in Christ. It is then that you can understand this declaration: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!”

This is the reason the Apostle Paul continues to say the following: “As God’s fellow-workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace is vain. For He says, “In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

In another Scripture we find this written: “We must pay more attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message given by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”

The Scriptures mentioned in this short word can be found in 2 Cor. 5:7-21; 2 Cor. 6:1,2, and Heb. 2:1-4. Take time to read them through for yourselves. Think them through and obey.

If you have any questions or desire further explanation please feel free to write us. You may comment on the website, or write us at: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

Written and prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez