Tree of Life

Meats for the belly

2010-12-11T21:32:00.002+05:30

1Co 6:13 KJV
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God
shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for
fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

The Corinthians counted many things as indifferent
which were of themselves unlawful, as fornication, which
they numbered among mere natural and lawful desires, as
well as food and drink. Therefore the apostle shows that
they are utterly unlike: for foods, he says, were made for
the necessary use of man's life which is not perpetual:
for both foods, and all this manner of nourishing, are
quickly abolished.

But we must not so think of the
uncleanness of fornication, for which the body is not made,
but on the other hand is ordained to purity, as appears by
this, that is consecrated to Christ, even as Christ
also is given us by his Father to enliven our bodies with
that power with which he also rose again.

http://www.ccel.org/g/geneva/notes/1Corinthians/6.html

Help I've sinned, will Romans 8.28 work for me?

2010-11-27T18:23:00.004+05:30

Does god bless everyone, both believers, and non-believers alike?

God is a God who blesses. He blesses both believers, and non-believers, but obedience is the condition – obedience to His commands. When a non-believer - even without any knowledge of God’s commands - is obedient, he benefits from the promised blessing. For example, the commandment to honor your parents……Many non-believers reap the blessing for honoring their parents. Eph 6:1-3

It is true however that the children of God can expect preferential treatment. Let me illustrate.

Romans 8.28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The Word of God promises all things (even negative circumstances) for the good / will turn into an advantage for those who love God and are called by Him (His Children).

Children of God often experience adverse circumstances. (Being a believer is no guarantee that there will be no trouble - John 17.15, Psalm 34:19) But despite the adversities, a child of God experiences not only heavenly peace (Shalom) but the adverse situation / person / circumstance works to his / her advantage.

I have a few past ‘negative’ experiences I have yet to figure out the advantage thereof, but the great many that have since turned to my advantage prove the authenticity of God promise in Romans 8.28.

Even when I have to suffer because of a sin I committed, even then God’s arm reaches out and changes the circumstances into my advantage. This is a privilege only children of God can claim. That’s why beloved it says ALL things (even the things that happen due to your sin) happen for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to his purpose. (Like Apostle Paul let me also caution you from sinning because of this concession - Rom 6: 1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means!)

Was Christianity Influenced by Mystery Religions

2010-03-06T17:43:00.000+05:30

Was Christianity Influenced by Mystery Religions? by Hank Hanegraaff is a must read.

read an excerpt

"S" will serve to remind us of syncretism. The mystery religions were syncretistic in that adherents not only worshipped various pagan deities but also frequently embraced aspects of competing mystery religions while continuing to worship within their own cultic constructs. Not so in Christianity. Converts to Christ singularly placed their faith in the One Who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6). Says J. Gresham Machen, "A man could become initiated into the mysteries of Isis or Mithras without at all giving up his former beliefs; but if he were to be received into the Church, according to the preaching of Paul, he must forsake all other saviors for the Lord Jesus Christ....Amid the prevailing syncretism of the Greco-Roman world, the religion of Paul, with the religion of Israel, stands absolutely alone." 9

Apologetics — the defense of the faith — has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it involves pre-evangelism. We should thus pray that God uses our well-reasoned answers as an opportunity to share the good news that Jesus can become more real to people (like Jennings and the fellows of the Jesus Seminar )than the very flesh upon their bones. On the other hand, apologetics involves post-evangelism. During an age in which Jesus is being demeaned in both private academia and the public arena, knowing how to defend His historicity serves to strengthen our faith

God's call to be Faithful in an Unfaithful World

2010-03-06T15:52:00.001+05:30

Unfaithfulness is what got the nation of Israel in major trouble with God. They found it difficult to stay faithful and loyal to God on a consistent and regular basis. Time and again God called them harlots and adulterers because they kept chasing after other gods.

Faithfulness is a divine characteristic. 2 Timothy 2.13 says, if we are faithless (to God), He will remain faithful (with us), for He cannot disown Himself. (powerful, eh?) Faithfulness is a quality high on the list with Yahweh God. It is a quality that we must carefully cultivate in our relationships. God expects us to be faithful and loyal not only with Him but also with our spouses, children, parents, associates, fellow believers and friends.

Faithlessness with God leads to faithlessness in every other area of our dealings. All around us we constantly hear of fathers walking out of their marriages and forsaking their children. More and more mothers bail out of their responsibilities in search of personal happiness. Husbands and wives having affairs behind their spouses back completely destroying the trust of their spouses and children. Fickleness and inconstancy spreads like an epidemic into such abandoned children and into the very fabric of our society.

In the materialistic and self-centered world that we are living in faithfulness is a quality that has become passé. God however is concerned whether we are going to stay true, loyal and faithful to Him as well as to the family and friends he has brought into our lives.

Watch Out: It's A Trap

2010-03-06T13:37:00.002+05:30

Jesus warned his disciples against offense. The word offense is defined as “the name of the part of a trap to which the bait is attached, hence the trap or snare itself”. You have probably never thought of offense as being a snare. The fact remains that if you allow offense to attach itself to your heart, it will stop the power of God from flowing in your life! (read that again, slowly)

Have you been harboring offenses in your mind? Our mind is a battlefield and all our life battles are either lost or won first in our minds. Jesus taught us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Have you lately caught yourself speaking words of offense, then carefully checklist everything you have allowed to enter your heart.

Nazareth Jesus’ hometown Let’s examine what happened in Jesus’ hometown Nazareth when the people there allowed offense to trap them. (Matthew 13.54-58) Observe that the people of Nazareth were astonished by Jesus’ wisdom and mighty works, yet they dishonored God by rejecting His Son Jesus as the Messiah. They were offended at Jesus for ‘putting on airs’, ‘not knowing his place’. As a result, they put a stop to the mighty works of Jesus in their entire town. Offense laid its trap and the town of Nazareth got caught in it.

John the Baptist While in prison John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was truly the Messiah(Luke 7. 19). [This is the same John who testified about Jesus (John 1.29-34). His disciples reported to him all that Jesus was doing (Luke 7.16-18) . Yet his confidence in Jesus was shaken due to certain personal circumstances] After asking John’s disciples to report to John the miracles He was performing, Jesus made a very profound statement – “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” (Luke 7.23)

You can be a born-again, spirit-filled child of God and yet take offense at God. Jesus warns us not to be offended at Him.

Stronghold: Proverbs 18.19 says that ‘offense is like the barred gates of a citadel’. Nothing could go in or out when the citadel gates were barred. (Citadels were built to withstand any attack. Nothing could breach the barred gates of a citadel). Offense acts like the barred gates of a citadel in our life effectively blocking our blessings. Therefore avoid the trap of offense at any cost. Be on guard. Never allow the devil to sow his seeds and block your healing, deliverance or
harvest.

Stony ground Mark 4:16-17, King James Version)' jQuery1267862726343="14">Mark 4:16-17 talks about seeds sown on stony ground. The stony ground speaks of a heart that is easily offended. Nothing fruitful grows on stony ground. Recognize the trap the devil has set for you and refuse to be offended, and then you will walk in victory and blessings.
Proverbs 14.1 says, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down”.

For many years my heart was a stony ground. I was easily offended (especially with God, I was under the mistaken notion that God was withholding my blessings, despite everything I did for Him!!!) and I bore no fruit (no bonus points for guessing why). The day I learned the Truth about offense I decided to make a radical change in my outlook (You see I had nothing to loose. It was an uphill task, but worth every moment) Looking back I can truthfully say that every blessing that my attitude of offense had held back came pouring into my life and that of my family from that day forth.

Common offense traps:
1. People, especially people in authority
2. Health and financial constraints
3. Adverse situations and circumstances
4. God

Offended at God Everytime we harbor offense against people or circumstances we are harboring offense against God. We are effectively telling God that we do not believe He is able or willing to act on our behalf. The Word of God assures us that God is the defender of the defenseless, widows and fatherless (Isaiah 19.20, Psalm 68.5, Proverbs 23.10-11).

Our God is our defender. He will rise up and defend your cause. But you need to let go of your offenses so that God can grab you by His right hand. Offense is like the barred gates of a castle that prevents us from experiencing the abundant life of Jesus. Every time offense rears it ugly head send it back to its father the devil by refusing to keep it in your heart. If allowed to stay in your heart offense will grow like a weed and destroy your harvest. The price you will have to pay for harboring offense is way too high, you cannot afford it.

In the Gospels if there was anyone mentioned who was entitled to be offended it was that Canaanite woman who had a demonized daughter Matthew 15: 21-28. Initially Jesus and His disciples ignored her pleas for help. Finally when He spoke, Jesus called her a dog. But this woman of great faith knew she could not afford to be offended. Her need was too great and she deftly avoided the trap of offense. Jesus commended her for her great faith and her daughter was set free.

As a born-again child of God you have direct access to His throne room and you can be confident that He will not call you a dog. So let us too learn to avoid offenses like the plague and please God with our faith that seasons of refreshing may come upon us.

Interested in some more additional tit-bit? Read on.

Matthew 15: 1-11 Some Pharisees and teachers of the law argue about the importance of tradition, what is clean and unclean with Jesus.
Verse 12 Jesus’ disciples inform Him that the Pharisees’ were offended at Him. Jesus replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Verses 13-14 If you are easily offended take care, every plant not planted by the Father will be uprooted.
The Disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable to them and He explains to them the meaning verses 16-20.
However, Jesus being the Master Teacher decided to teach them a lesson about offense . That is where the incident with the Canaanite woman became a great teaching tool. (Read Matthew 15.1-28 and Mark 7.1-30)

Sexual addiction

2010-03-03T10:26:00.001+05:30

Must reads:

Sexual Addiction: Ministry and Misdiagnosis
Meg Wilson
Author, Hope After Betrayel
Melanie, an attractive brunette, sat across from me looking down at the soggy remains of a tissue in her hand. She revealed the recent counsel she and her husband received from their pastor the week prior. He had listened to both sides, looked in her eyes, and said, "If you were more available sexually for your husband, this would reduce his need to go elsewhere for gratification." Shocked and broken, Melanie came to me for clarification.
Overcoming Sexual Addiction in Marriage by Dr. Barry Leventhal reminds us that, “First, all addictions, and sexual addictions in particular, are a judgment from God.”
What can we do to prevent sexual addictions from invading our lives and wiping us out? Or, if we have been infected with the disease, how can we find the healing and deliverance from this sexual onslaught? To read more click here
In 2 Timothy 2:20-22 the Apostle Paul tells us there are two kinds of vessels. There is a vessel that is pure, and there is a vessel that is impure. There are two kinds of lives: a life that is pure, and a life that is impure. Here is my question to you today: What kind of life do you have? Is your life full of the debris, garbage, and stench of impurity...of sexual addiction? Or is it sexually pure? Read here what Ed Young has to say about Overcoming Sexual Addiction

Halleluiah, to the Lamb of God!

2010-02-23T11:58:00.001+05:30

Covenant making God
Our God is a covenantal God. He always works within a covenant. However, we see that while the OT covenants were between God and man, in the NT God establishes a covenant with Himself (between God the Father and Jesus the second person in the trinity).

The old covenant under Moses was between God and His people (Israel) in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior i.e., their commitment to worship him alone, from them in return. The entire OT testifies to God keeping his part of the covenant while the Israelites time and again violate the terms of the covenant. The need for a new and superior covenant becomes apparent even to the dull minds of man. Thus God promises through his prophet to form a new covenant with them (Jeremiah 31.31- 34).

The new covenant was cut between God the Father and His son Jesus. In order to keep up his part of the covenantal agreement, Jesus had to remain pure and sinless. Only then could God place the sins of all mankind (past, present and future) on Jesus. Having made sin, Jesus had to die (suffer the punishment for sin). Then and only then could a just and holy God, accept Jesus’ sacrifice as full payment for our sins

OT Passover
Exodus 12 - Passover established.
Verse 3: on the tenth day of the month the man is to take a lamb for his family.
Verse 6: take care of them (lambs) till the fourteenth, and slaughter the lamb at twilight.

For four days the lambs had to be observed, taken care of. The lambs had to be without any blemish and without any physical defects. Only lambs that passed inspection were sacrificed.

Later when temple worship was established in Jerusalem, people would bring in their sacrificial lambs and the priests would examine and declare them without blemish and then the lambs will be sacrificed on Passover day.

NT fulfillment of PassoverRead
Luke 19. 28-44 and Matthew 21, 22
Jesus, the Passover Lamb of God too had to go through the observation period for blemishes and defects. We read in Luke 19. 28- 44 that Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion and was examined by a number of people and declared free of blemish!

Luke 19.47 “Everyday Jesus was teaching at the temple…” Here we see that Jesus made himself available for inspection prior to his crucifixion.

A. Jesus examined by religious people:

Herodians questioned Jesus and were amazed and had nothing further to say (Matthew 22.15-22)
Sadducees questioned Jesus and could not prove him wrong (Matthew 22.23-33)
Experts of the law (lawyers) tested Jesus and were put to shame. (Matthew 22. 34-40)
Pharisees too examined Jesus and dared not question Him further. (Matthew 22. 41-46)

B. Jesus examined by civil authorities:

Luke 23 Pilate and Herod examined Jesus and found him blameless.

John 18. 29-30 Pilate asks Jesus’ accusers, “What charges are you bringing against this man (Jesus)?” Strangely they answer, “If he was not a criminal we would not have handed him over to you”. (Talk about being obtuse!)

John 18. 38; 19.4&6

Pilate said, “I find no basis for a charge against him”.
Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

Pontus Pilate declared Jesus blameless, 3 times!! Without realizing the significance Pilate declared Jesus worthy to die as God’s Passover Lamb.

The Lamb of God was examined by both religious and civil authorities and none could find fault with Him. Meanwhile, at the temple the priests were examining and declaring the lambs worthy of Passover sacrifice.

Passover historically is the remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt’s bondage but was prophetically fulfilled by Jesus when he died on the cross and delivered mankind free from Sin’s bondage!

Passover for Israelites
Exodus 12.7 “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. Verse 13, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

(Prophetically: The blood on the top dripping down formed a vertical line and if you connect the blood on the sides of the doorframes it formed a Cross. This pointed prophetically to the coming messiah who would die on a cross.)

And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that [is] in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.

For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike [you]. (Exodus 12.22-23 nkjv)

Notice the scripture says that when He sees the blood, ‘the LORD will pass over the door…’(verse 23) Passover for Israelites mean ‘God placed Himself over the Israelite home as a covering, protection from the destroying angel He had send among the Egyptians’. (Note: He did not skip over or bypass the Israelite home; He Himself was their covering, shield and rampart from the destroying plague.)

Significance of Passover for NT believers
Psalms 91 speaks of the protection we have when the blood of the Passover Lamb is applied over our hearts.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you shall take refuge;”

Satan the destroyer (Rev 9.2,11) cannot touch anyone who accepts the shed blood of the Lamb and hides behind the cross of Calvary. For the blood brings in the presence of God and renders the destroyer powerless over the person/house under God’s covering. 1 John 3.8 – For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Hebrews 2.14 reminds us that, “Jesus …rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Christ Jesus, our Passover Lamb, standing over your life shields you from satan’s eyes and renders him powerless over you.

Experience Your Personal Passover
Just as Passover is celebrated in the first month of Abib, our personal experience of Passover must come at the very beginning of establishing a relationship with God. We must invite Christ to come and place Himself over us. Then Jesus Christ will become our personal covering prepared by our Heavenly Father (shades of Eden), for all who would be right with God. Jesus is the garment of Righteousness that passes over our head as we put on Christ.

Having received Christ as our personal Passover Lamb, we are secure for, ‘No curse can touch [us]; no magic has any power against [us]. (Numbers 23.23)

Passover Privilege Card
Under the Old or Mosaic Covenant, sins could never really be forgotten, because they were never really forgiven. They were only covered, a shadow and anticipation of the forgiveness in Jesus. (For further reading what happens to our souls when we die) For those who belong to His dear Son, whether they believed under the Old Covenant (e.g. Abraham, David etc. Read hall of faith – Hebrews 11) or New Covenant, God forgets every sin!

As foretold by the Lord to Abraham, Israel suffered 400 years of slavery under the satanic rule of the Pharaohs. (The ruling power of Egypt was satan as symbolized by the crown with a cobra at its front worn by the Pharaohs.) At the end of that time, God made specific provision to save his people the Israelites by Passing Over them and being their cover/shield. It was a new beginning for the Israelites.

Sins forgotten and forgiven Under the New Covenant, believers too enter into a new beginning. 2 Cor 5.17 “therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new”. In Christ our sins are forgotten and forgiven. We are part of a new family, with a new genealogy, under a new covenant, and with a better deliverer than Moses – Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Moses saved Israelites from slavery and its bondage. Jesus saves us from sin and its penalty.

Household Salvation Another privilege of Passover is household salvation. Exodus 12.3: “ on the tenth day of the month the man is to take a lamb for his family”. Household salvation is a biblical concept. Not only can you enjoy salvation; but by acts of faith and obedience you can bring salvation to your whole household.

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, the tax collector, “this day is salvation come to this house” Luke 19.9 Zacchaeus had just paid restitution for his past sins – an act of faith and obedience vs 8

The Philippian jailer was told by Paul and Silas, “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household… then immediately he and all his family were baptized -Acts 16.31 The jailer’s acts of faith and obedience - caring for the wounded and hungry apostles of Jesus despite the dangers to himself.

Remember it was a lamb for a house… Jesus the Lamb of God has already been slaughtered. Now it is time to appropriate the salvation of your household through acts of faith and obedience.
Halleluiah, to the Lamb of God!

What happens to Christians when they die?

2010-02-10T15:16:00.003+05:30

The spirit of Jesus is the Spirit of comfort and encouragement that says ‘be not afraid’. In fact there are 365 ‘fear not’ statements in the Bible – one for each day of the calendar. Any theological theory that inspires fear or apprehension did not originate from Christ Jesus.

I believe that it is scriptural to say that the soul of every born-again Christian goes immediately to be with Christ in heaven. Come with me on a short journey through the scriptures.

Souls of OT Saints
Let's start with what the Israelite Jews believed. They believed that when a person died they went to a holding place. The righteous went to a place of comfort and the wicked to a place of torment.

Obviously the Old Testament saints Moses and Elijah were not asleep awaiting the resurrection for we see these two men with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration Matthew 17:1-3.

Lazarus and the rich man: In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus told a story about Lazarus (beggar) and the rich man. Both Lazarus and the rich man died. While Lazarus was carried to Abraham's side (a place of comfort and joy) Jesus just said, ‘the rich man was buried’.

Jesus went on to explain that the rich man looked up from torment in hell (vs 23 Greek- hades) and saw Lazarus with the patriarch Abraham. (The rich man begged Lazarus give him a drop of water to lighten his intense thirst. Abraham then informed him that there is a permanently unbridgeable gulf between the two places. )

Jesus on the Cross: Now let's fast-forward to another time. Jesus is hanging on the cross and on either side are two thieves. One asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came to His Kingdom. Observe closely what Jesus tells the thief, (Luke 23:43) "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Ephesians 4 tells us that when Jesus died he ‘first of all descended into the lower parts of the earth’. (The thief was promised he would be with Jesus in paradise so both of them were in paradise - the lower parts of the earth).

Now in Ephesians 4:7-12 we have a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ quoted (Psalms 68.18) by Paul. "Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also that the Lord God may dwell among them." Paul continues, "He who has ascended is the same one who first of all descended into the lower parts of the earth. And when He ascended, He led the captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. And to some apostles, and to some prophets, and to some evangelists, and to some pastor teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the building up of the body of Christ. Until we all come into the unity of faith, complete man, the knowledge of the Son of God, the measure, the stature, the fullness, the image of Christ."

Captives of Death
Prior to the death of Jesus Christ, the Old Testament saints could not enter in to the glory of heaven. It was necessary that their sins be put away, something that the sacrifices of the Old Testament could not do. It was impossible that their sins could be put away by the blood of bulls or goats. All of the Old Testament sacrifices only were pointing to the better way that God would provide when He sent His only begotten Son to be a lamb offering, sin offering, a sacrifice for our sins. "So we are redeemed, not with corruptible things such as silver and gold from our vain empty life, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ who was slain as a lamb without spot or without blemish" (I Peter 1:18-19). So because the blood of bulls and goats could not put away sin but only speak of the better sacrifice which was to come, their sins were covered, and they, when they died, were held by death in the grave or in hades (Gk).

Prior to the death of Christ, those who trusted in the promises of God and in the fulfillment of God's promise were held in a place of comfort called Abraham’s bosom. Now these Old Testament men of faith all died in faith not having received the promise, but seeing it afar off they held onto it and they claimed that they were just strangers and pilgrims here. They were just looking for a city which hath foundation, whose maker and builder is God.

He led the captivity captive: In the book of Isaiah, chapter 61, the prophecy concerning Christ, says, "He is going to set at liberty those that are bound and open the prison doors to those that are bound" by death, waiting with Abraham for the promise of God. When Jesus died, He descended into the lower parts of the earth and He preached to those souls that were in prison. It was the glorious fulfillment of God's promise. The redemptive program was complete. The blood had been shed, whereby our sins are now put away once and for all. And now with their sins put away, they can ascend into the heavenly realm. So when He ascended, He led the captives from their captivity. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke sixteen, the quote in Acts chapter 2 ‘thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption’ vs 27 as well as the reference in 1 Peter 3.19 aboutJesus preaching to those souls in prison and Isaiah 61 all ties in together.

gave gifts unto men: And then He gave gifts unto men. That is, within the church, He gave gifted men as apostles, as prophets, as evangelists, as pastor and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints. Paul quotes this in Ephesians 4:7-12.

Souls of NT Saints
Inspired by the Holy Spirit Paul says, (Philippians 1:21-23) “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”

Notice that Paul says he would rather die so he could be with Christ. That would make no sense if he had to wait until the resurrection to be with Christ.

When we come to the epistles in the NT we see the apostles using the word paradise in two different instances to refer to Heaven.

2 Corinthians 12.4 Paul tells us “How (that) he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter”. Here it is clear that Paul is talking about his experience in heaven.

Apostle John writes in Revelation 2.7 ‘…..To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God’.

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
A pre-tribulation rapture of the church is scriptural. During the rapture the alive in Christ will be changed in a split second and those who have died in Christ will be resurrected and clothed with new glorious bodies and reunited with their souls 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18.

Tribulation Martyrs
It’s different for the martyrs of the tribulation period. Revelation 6:9-11 indicates that they will have to wait until the end of the tribulation and the final resurrection to get their glorified bodies. “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow-servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

The above quote makes it clear that the souls of the martyrs are in heaven. They are not asleep awaiting the final resurrection. Although it does seem that their bodies are awaiting the final resurrection to receive their glorious everlasting bodies.

Heaven is where Jesus is
The point is not where the soul is but with whom. ‘I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day’ 2 Timothy 1. 12 Where Jesus is, that is heaven for you and me.

Christ the Bridegroom - a study

2010-01-28T18:02:00.003+05:30

Today’s Christians do not understand the concept of Christ the bridegroom as His disciples and first century Christians did. The concept is not a difficult one to identify with. The idea of God's relationship to man as similar to the relationship of husband and wife has been taught extensively in the Old Testament.

Christ, in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25.1-13), likened His relationship to the Church as the bridegroom coming for the bride. In answer to the Pharisees' question, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking”, Christ refers to Himself as the bridegroom saying, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?" (Luke 5.33-34)

The Betrothal
Traditional Jewish marriage began with the betrothal. The betrothal occurred when the man took the initiative, left his father's home and went to the home of the prospective bride to negotiate the purchase price. This price, the "mohar," had to be paid prior to anything else relating to the marriage. In comparison, Christ left heaven, His Father's house, and came to earth, the home of His bride, to pay the price for a lost humanity. The "mohar" was His life's blood. We are redeemed by His blood. Ephesians 1:7 states, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." We also read in 1 Peter 1:18,19 this, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed ….. but with the precious blood of Christ, ..."

Christ did not negotiate with the father of this world, satan, for the purchase price of the believers. That price was determined beforehand by God.

The Jewish groom obtained his bride through the establishment of a marriage covenant. In the same manner, Christ came to the earth to establish a covenant. This covenant, foretold in the Old Testament by the prophet Jeremiah, was established the same night He gave the promise to His disciples by the shedding of His blood on the cross.

In the Jewish ceremony a shared cup of wine served as a symbol of the marriage covenant during the betrothal. Today the communion cup is the symbol of the New Covenant established by Christ to obtain His bride. (also read Matthew 26.29)

When the price had been paid the Jewish bride was considered sanctified, set apart exclusively for her husband. The Church, too, has been declared sanctified, set apart exclusively for Christ. In Ephesians Paul teaches, "Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Hebrews 10.10 says, “we are all sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all”.

The Preparation
With the establishment of the marriage covenant and the payment of the "mohar", the groom would return to his father's house. Christ, after paying the price, also departed to His Father's house. Just as the Jewish groom is required to prepare living accommodations for his bride in his father's house, Christ is preparing accommodations for us in His Father's house in heaven. (John 14.2)

The Jewish groom remained separated from his bride for a period of time not exceeding twelve months. Christ's return has been divinely delayed significantly longer and the Church is now living in this period of separation. (2 Peter 3.4-10)

The Jewish bride also busied herself meanwhile with her trousseau and learned about her marital responsibilities. Christ has taken care of this for the Church, for when He comes we will exchange our corruptible for the incorruptible. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53)

The Return for the Bride
After all necessary preparations had been made, the Jewish groom returned for his bride to take her to be with him in their new home. The taking of the bride occurred at night and the groom would make his presence known by a shout. Christ too will return for His bride in like manner. It will undoubtedly be at night for some and day for others as we are told by Paul it will occur in the twinkling of an eye. Christ's presence will be made known by a shout also. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul tells us, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel..." (1Thessalonians 4:16)

In the taking of the bride in the Jewish ceremony, the groom was accompanied by a procession of his friends. Christ will also be accompanied by a procession of an angelic escort.

Just as the Jewish bride had no idea when her groom would return for her, the Church today has no idea when Christ will return. 1 Thessalonians 5.2 says, "This day will come as a thief in the night."

Similar to the Jewish bride returning with her husband to his father's house, the Church will return with Christ to heaven. In this way we will inhabit the heavenly dwelling place prepared specifically for us by Christ in heaven.

The Consummation
Shortly after their arrival the bridal pair were escorted to the bridal chamber, referred to as the "huppah". Then they consummated the marriage and thereby completed the marriage covenant. Similarly, when the Church is taken to the Father's house in heaven we enter into spiritual union with Christ thereby consummating the relationship which Christ covenanted with the Church over 2000 years ago.

This spiritual union will be the fulfillment of the promise when Paul says, "For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13.12)

The bride left for her new home veiled and remained so veiled until she was in the the bridal chamber, for it would have been considered improper for her face to have been seen in public.

The Wedding Feast, The Huppah, The Tribulation
In traditional Jewish marriage ceremony the marriage was consummated and the husband made the announcement to the wedding guests. This announcement would signal the beginning of the wedding feast.

Just as the Jewish bride remained hidden in the "huppah" for a period of seven days, so will the Church remain hidden for a period of seven. Both Daniel, in the Old Testament, and Revelation, in the New Testament, give the exact amount of time for this period.

At the close of the wedding feast the groom would proudly escort his bride out of the bridal chamber. She would now be unveiled for all to see. So Christ will bring the Church out of heaven at the end of the Tribulation period in full view of all who are left alive. Paul speaks of this in Colossians 3:3,4, "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”.

Conclusion
The analogy between the Jewish marriage customs and the relationship Christ has with the Church is a beautiful one and full of significance to believers and non-believers alike.

To the believer: It shows the believer the sequence of events up to the present time. It gives him hope for the return of Jesus Christ and the personal relationship we will share with Him throughout eternity. It is also significant in what it teaches about our present relationship to the risen Christ. In the absence of her husband it was possible for the Jewish bride to commit adultery. Today it is possible for the believer to commit spiritual adultery. Paul expressed his concern over this issue when He wrote to the Corinthians and said: “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the Serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:23) [In those days ensuring the chastity of the bride was one of the groom’s best man’s primary duties! Paul here refers to himself to this responsible position of the groom’s (Christ’s) best man.]
James 4.4-5 also speaks of how we commit spiritual adultery through our friendship with the world.

So evaluate your relationship to your Betrothed. What is it He would have you to do in is absence? Is He the center of your life and are you anxiously awaiting His return? Ask yourself if He is controlling your every desire and thought, or if your relationship to the world is of more importance. If you have been unfaithful, do not despair, He will forgive you if you confess your unfaithfulness and ask for His forgiveness. 1 John 1.9 affirms his faithfulness toward us despite our actions.

To the non-believer: Just as the proposal of the Jewish bridegroom could be either accepted or rejected, you too, can either reject or accept the offer Christ makes to you each time you hear the gospel. If you continue to reject Him, you can not become a part of His bride, the Church and you will spend eternity separated from God and Christ.

Christ died on the cross for your sins, and by His shed blood on that cross he paid the price for your sins too. You too can enter into a relationship with Him by admitting your need for a Savior and by accepting Him as that Savior. If you accept Christ's proposal your sins will be forgiven and you will enter into the relationship and be a part of His bride. You will be gathered together with Him when He returns.

Accepting Christ Jesus’ proposal is really quite simple. You simply believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He came to earth and died to pay the price for your sins, that He arose from the dead as proof that His sacrifice on your behalf was acceptable to God. (Romans 10.9-10)

Some must read related posts

You are no Maggot

2010-01-21T14:40:00.000+05:30

For those of you suffering from the ‘worm’ syndrome.

Tragically many are taught at church that they are worms or specks of dust to God and they must grovel on the dirt and beg mercy for after all the Bible says, “humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up” – James 4.10 Did you really read that verse? Yep! it says, …. “He will lift you up”. How conveniently we overlook parts of the same sentences.

Our God is a God who lifts us up because He thinks you are valuable to Him more than other creations. Do not let the media, family, circle of friends or even the church rob you of your self worth. The ultimate judge is God and He considers you absolutely wonderful.

In Luke 5.8 Peter falls down at Jesus feet and cries out, ‘Go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man.” Peter is in effect saying, ‘I am ugly, dirty and worthless, go away Lord’. We all have this tendency of pushing God away from us when we realize His Holiness and our lack of the same. But God’s response is very interesting and gives us a clear understanding of how to deal with similar attitudes.

We see Jesus answering Peter thus, “from now on you will fish for me”. To all intents and purposes Jesus was telling Peter, ‘Peter, I see in you a man of definite leadership quality. You have a great future. You are no worm. Get up and stand straight. You are going to do great things for God”.

When a woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus, He never condemned her. Instead He restored her dignity and went out of His way to make her feel valuable! John 8.10-11

An object is worth what you are willing to pay for it. Though He is rich in gold, diamonds, lands and all things most precious, God Almighty did not pay for you with any of His untold riches in heaven or earth. He paid for you with the life of His only Son - Jesus. You who were created in His image and likeness, you who were knitted and formed in your mother’s womb and fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139.13-14) He considers you His most priced possession.

So tell yourself – “God says I am valuable. So I am going to believe Him instead of the world. I am worth every drop of blood that Jesus shed for me.”

Do not let satan mess with your Mind

2010-01-07T17:43:00.003+05:30

When satan invades our mind and thought-life, our perspective of God alters and distorts. Let me prove this to you through some major events recorded in the Bible.

In the Garden of Eden both Adam and Eve enjoyed God’s presence immensely. I think it is reasonable to assume that they had a fairly clear picture of God and His immutable characteristics (Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and Omniscience). Yet we see that after they sinned (satan messed with their minds) they ran to hide behind a tree! Did they think they could hide themselves from this Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient God? Apparently sin had blinded and distorted their perspective about the very God whom they knew intimately till then.
Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ twelve chosen disciples. He spent almost three and a half years nurtured, protected and provided for by Jesus the Rabbi. Yet on that fateful hour while partaking off the last supper with Jesus and His disciples, satan entered Judas (Luke 22.3-4) and he betrayed his master for thirty silver coins. Up to that point, Judas was an accepted religious leader who raised the dead, cast out demons and healed the sick. What changed? Judas lent a receptive ear to satan and his lies which distorted his mind and blinded him to the consequences of his actions.
Why point the finger at Judas alone? Following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, mighty Peter, John the favorite and few others – seven to be precise- decided to return to their former career – fishing (John 21.2). Remember they were already born-again believers! (John 20.22) Yet following this strange teacher from Nazareth (who allows himself to be killed the most humiliating way known, managed to cheat death finally, and yet refuses to take on the Roman empire and relieve the People from their shameful subordination to the pagan Romans!) had not been as profitable as they had hoped and decided to go their old ways.

Listen to what the Spirit of God has to say about those who backslide. “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” - Hebrews 6.4-6 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! - 1 Corinthians 10.12

What made the disciples to backslide? They allowed disillusion, discouragement and disappointment to enter their mind and change their perspective about Jesus. So ‘above all else, guard your heart (Proverbs 4.23) from all deceptions of the evil one and constantly check for any changes in your perspective about your God.

Leave the Water Jar and Hurry

2010-01-07T11:01:00.002+05:30

The story of the Samaritan woman (John 4. 1- 42) made a strong statement about the role of woman in the early Christian community which remains relevant even in today’s ultra modern society. Click here to read more

http://travancoreann.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/leave-the-water-jar-and-hurry/

Jews - Not to be reckoned among the nations

2010-01-06T13:47:00.004+05:30

The legacy of Jews was a to be a uniquely spiritual one.

In a world of idolatry including human sacrifices, Jews believed in and worshipped one God, and this God was invisible. They subscribed to the idea of circumcision, yet refused to offer human sacrifice.

God said of the Jews, “The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Num. 23:9.

The Jew himself has sought to make void this prophecy.

By nature the Jew, was no different than the Gentiles that surrounded him. And, he instinctively wanted to be like them. He did not want to dwell alone, to be a people apart, to not be numbered among the people. So he has rebelled time and time again.

In the days of Samuel, they asked for a king to be over them. This, was not bad in itself, but they showed what was in their heart when they said, “That we also may be like all the nations.” - I Sam. 8:19-20.

In the days of Ezekiel also, they said, “We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries.” - Ezek. 20:32

So, to cure them of this trait and tendency God sent them repeatedly into captivity.

Remember I said earlier on that the Jews have a uniquely spiritual legacy? It was their God-ordained mission to bring the Messiah to the world, and give Him to humanity! In order to accomplish this, centuries before His coming, strict laws of segregation were imposed upon Israel that separated him from his neighbors, and caused him to dwell in isolation. Many times these laws, and the reason for them, were not understood even by the Jews themselves, and this continued to cause friction.

Their laws of marriage were strict. Marriage was permitted only among their closed community. This was necessary to preserve the blood lines of the coming Messiah. The Messiah's earthly parents - Joseph and Mary - were two direct descendants of the house of David. Thus the Messiah wsa born of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham. The lineage could be traced in an unbroken line all the way back to Abraham – Matthew, chapter one and all the way to Seth Son of Adam, Son of Godm - Luke, chapter 3

Touch of the Master's Hand

2010-01-06T13:27:00.002+05:30

"Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,

"Who'll start the bidding for me?"

"A dollar, a dollar," then, two!

Only two?"Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three . . ." But no,

From the room, far back, a grey-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"

And he held it up with the bow."

A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?"

Two thousand! And who'll make it three?"

Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;

And going and gone."said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

"We do not quite understand

What changed its worth?"

Swift came the reply:"

The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A 'mess of potage,' a glass of wine;

A game - and he travels on.

He is 'going' once, and 'going' twice,

He's 'going' and almost 'gone'.

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought

By the touch of the Master's Hand.

By Myra B. Welch

On Guard!

2010-01-06T10:44:00.000+05:30

The society as a whole is in the grip of what is popularly known as New Age Mysticism. We as Christian parents need to be aware of this trend and protect ourselves and our God-given children from this renewed fascination with Pantheism, New Age Mysticism etc.

Pantheism is a composite word derived from two Greek words ‘Pan’ (All) and ‘Theos’ (God) which presents the view that ‘all is God and God is in all’. In essence, Pantheism promotes worship, or in the least admiration, of all that life is - inclusive of nature, the universe, the laws that govern the galaxies, etc

This fascination with spiritualizing created things is nothing new (Romans 1:24-25) and is once again brought to the forefront with the latest blockbuster "Avatar". It is of great importance that we appreciate society's captivation with the New Age Mysticism and be on guard.

Romans 1:24-25 -Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

Humanity can't get Jesus out of their minds!

2010-01-05T11:22:00.004+05:30

It is intriguing that humanity cannot get Jesus out of their minds and a testimony to this is the vast array of religions that seem to include Him regardless of the way they taint His true identity.

For example,

Buddhists view Him as a great teacher/master,
Hindus view Him as a guru,
Muslims view Him as the sinless prophet and returning messiah - yet they all denounce His true identity as God incarnate.

In fact all religions & cults seem to do one or more of the following…

Strip the deity of Christ
Bring God down to our level
Lift us up to God’s level
Focus on self and not God
Negate God’s existence altogether
Dismiss our sinful nature

This factual and convenient atrocity that lets people define Jesus as they wish is captured by the wonderful Christian Theologian C.S. Lewis in the folling quote:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” - C.S. Lewis

For me Jesus is "the Son of God". Amen!

Tranquility of soul

2009-12-30T10:35:00.002+05:30

The Spirit-filled Christian is peaceful because he or she experiences the perfect love that drives away fear (1 John 4:18).

Ask God to give you His peace in the midst of the storms you are experiencing.

The peace that the Holy Spirit produces within us is the supernatural tranquility of soul. Storms can be raging all about us, but within us is the calm assurance that God is in full control of our situation(s).

When we have this peace despite a personal crisis, the world is stunned and we witness God without effort.

Truth about 'The Emerging Church & Inclusive Gospel’

2009-12-27T12:01:00.003+05:30

The Word of God tells us to, “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3: 15

Nevertheless, the trend of the ‘Inclusive Gospel’ of ‘Emerging Church’ is “Christians can not truly evangelize unless they are prepared to be The evangelized in the process. In sharing the good news, people are enriched by the spiritual insights, honest questions and depth of devotion demonstrated by those of other faiths. Including others involves listening to them, learning from them. Much of what exists in other faiths may not necessarily be hostile to the kingdom. Christians can learn a lot from other walks of life.”

My dear brothers and sisters do not fall into the trap of the ‘Inclusive Gospel’. The children of Israel were warned by the Old Testament prophets about joining hands with pagans, however, they ignored God’s warning. As Jeremiah proclaimed:
“And the LORD said unto me, a conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD, behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.” Jeremiah 11: 9-11

In spite of such clear warnings from Scripture, the very thing that happened to the children of Israel is what is being repeated today, only this time in the name of Christianity.

It is apparent what is happening. Instead of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ that saves sinners from hell, the gospel has been redefined and totally nullified. The narrow pathway that Jesus proclaimed leads to heaven through faith in Him alone now has been broadened to permit open access for the sake of establishing the “kingdom’.

The new evangelization formula promoted by the emerging church promises to provide a bridge to unite all religious beliefs in the name of Christ, by circumventing the gospel of Jesus Christ, is anti-Christ.

The early church was called “The Way” because the members of the church were following Jesus, who said He was “The Way.” Jesus also said the “Way” is a “narrow way” and the “only way” to get into heaven. The Emerging Church way or emergent conversation or whatever name is used to describe this so-called New Reformation, is a wide way that many are traveling and heading in the wrong direction.

Beloved children of God, be like the Bereans, and check out what is being proclaimed as ‘Christian’ with reference to the Scriptures for the sake of your immortal soul. Jesus alone is the lover of your soul.

Wonderous Gift

2009-12-24T11:56:00.001+05:30

This is Christmas:
not the tinsel,
not the giving and receiving,
not even the carols,
but the humble heart that receives
anew the wondrous gift, the Christ.
- Frank McKibben

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town theology.”

2009-12-22T11:14:00.002+05:30

Friends, the following is an excerpt from Dave Burchett's article.

Begin Quote
You better watch outBetter not cryBetter not poutI am telling you whySanta Claus is comin’ to townHe's making a list…checking it twice…three times…every dayGonna find out who's naughty and niceSanta Claus is comin’ to townHe sees you when your sleeping, nows when your awake, he knows when you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.
Oh, he's watching. Waiting for you to screw up so you will get coal instead of a bicycle. You had better please him. And we teach our kids to put on the mask and be something they are not. Because Santa Claus is comin’ to town. This omniscient being who is judging our every deed is coming to town…and we learn to do the dance early. Buck up…be good. Don't cry. Don't pout. Santa Claus is coming to town (© Copyright 2003, William Thrall, Bruce McNicol, John Lynch. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited).

He is exactly right. We learn that we get good things and receive love only when we are good. Santa is pleased (and we later substitute God) when we obey. So we learn early. We had better be good. Or least fool everyone around us to think that we are being good.
Ask any child this Christmas if they are being good and I will wager you will never hear this response. “Well, to be honest, I am really struggling with the whole being nice thing. I have actually been pouty and I cried yesterday. It just isn’t working out this Christmas so I suspect the video game system will have to wait.”
Nope. What you hear is the lie that we learn early and too often keep handy in our arsenal for a lifetime.
“Oh yeah. I am being really good!”
I remember (vaguely) the tension of the Santa Claus years. I knew I hadn’t really changed much. I tried to modify my behavior for a week or two leading up to Christmas but I knew I had failed to really be good. I learned a couple of things early. I learned how hard it is to change behavior by sheer willpower and I learned that I could fool Santa by living a lie. I learned that that he would bring me presents in spite of my failures. I did not learn about grace. That maybe Santa gave me gifts because of who I was and maybe he came to my house because I was lovable instead of rewarding me for what I had done to please him. I figured I had fooled him and to get the good stuff I would have to continue to hide the little boy who broke an ornament and then hid it.
Isn’t that too often how we view God? We had better not cry. Better not sin. I’m telling you why. Jesus is coming to town. He’s making a list and He is checking it not once or twice but every moment of every day. God knows if you’ve been bad or good so if you want to be healed or happy or prosperous you had better be good for goodness sake. If I do mess up I am scared to death that I will get a bad life or miss all that God has for me. So I put on the mask and try to be really good for Jesus. If I can fool those around me maybe, just maybe, I can fool God too.
Satan sells the lie so convincingly. And we buy it for months and years and even decades.
But God and Santa are very different in their approach. God does not keep a list. He is not impressed by our hernia inducing straining to control sin. What God sees is Jesus in Dave Burchett when I sin.
Jesus offers us so many gifts. But the one we seem to have the hardest time unwrapping is the gift of grace. The gift that allows us to become who God desires us to become as we simply trust Him and quit trying to be “good” for goodness sake. We are saved by grace and faith in Christ. We become like Him by the same radical strategy. Faith that He has changed us into a new creation. And understanding the grace that gives us good gifts even when we don’t deserve them.
Don’t let the Santa Claus theology live into the New Year. Go straight to the gift of grace that Jesus left under the Cross. Open it. And clothe yourself in His salvation, acceptance and love. It may be the best gift you have ever given yourself.
Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award winning television sports director, author, and Christian speaker. He is the author of When Bad Christians Happen to Good People and Bring'em Back Alive: A Healing Plan for those Wounded by the Church.

End Quote

Is God lying? Did He make a mistake?

2009-12-19T09:45:00.003+05:30

As Anointed children of God, there is the oil of anointing upon each one of us. Oil always attracts dust, and dust sticks where ever there is oil. What is this dust?

Jesus gave His disciples authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness (Mat 10:1) and sent them to neighbouring cities.

In Mat 10:13-14 He tells them, "If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. ref Matthew 10:13-15

Then the Disciples and now we are bearers of the anointing power of God and as we leave an unwelcome home or town with our message of peace, the dust (depression, rejections, bitterness etc) will attach itself to you. Often we are unaware because the anointing protects us and we move on to other homes etc. However, we soon recognise that our former enthusiam is no longer within us. There is a downward drag! This is why Jesus forewarned us to purposely dust off, shake off, the dust that attaches itself to us then and there. (we can do this either by a prophectic act like dusting our shoes or by speaking the dust to shake off us. Be careful not to wound anyone in your act, and do the same discretely)

Now listen, Genesis 3.14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "..........Cursed are you ..........and you will eat dust all the days of your life. " Let me assure you, scientifically serpents do not eat dust! No, it doesn't! So is God lying? Did God make a mistake?

The evil one is often represented as a serpent in the Bible. After Jesus' vistory on the cross, satan's position has been under the foot of every believer. He is alive and still upto his old tricks but his position is under our feet. Jesus has commanded us to shake off our dust when we come out of an unwelcoming home. This dust of anger, depression, bitterness, shame etc is food for this ancient serpent of Genesis fame.

Importancne of Teaching the Biblical view of origins - High School Students

2009-11-25T12:27:00.003+05:30

High School Students' Attitudes toward Creation and Evolution Compared To Their Worldview

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High school students' beliefs regarding origins are very important. Many high school students claim to believe in a supernatural theistic Creator. Many also report a born-again experience and would thus hold to having a personal relationship with the Creator. Such a relationship should impact all aspects of one's personal life and worldview.

The Scriptures reveal (I Corinthians 2:14-16 and Romans 1:20) that there exists a dichotomy between those that believe the Creation account and those who do not. Only the truly born-again believer is able to take every thought and attitude and compare it to the thoughts and attitudes of the Creator Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 10:5 and Colossians 1:16). Accepting this God-ordained worldview is vital to a correct view of the clash between Biblical theism and naturalism—a clash between two all encompassing worldviews, a "Creationist Worldview" and an "Evolutionary Worldview." This dichotomy of world-views was thoroughly investigated by David Ray; his findings are summarized in this article.

Background for the Ray Study
Ray studied four groups of school students from the eastern section of Atlanta, Georgia. The groups consisted of: (1) two Christian school groups— 30 students; (2) two church youth groups—30 students; (3) one public school class—42 students; and (4) one home school group—30 students.
Instrumentation and Methodology
Two survey instruments, the CWT (Creationist Worldview Test, Deckard, 1997) and the PEERS Test (Smithwick, Nehemiah Institute, 1995), were used to gather the data.1 The CWT test is a 51-item instrument constructed for the purpose of measuring views related to the creation/evolution controversy. The PEERS Test is 70 items constructed for the purpose of measuring Christian views in politics, economics, education, religion, and social issues. Students were categorized into two groups: (1) those holding to a creationist view of life, and (2) those holding to an evolutionist view of life. This evaluation process was based on answers to the CWT. The views of these two groups were compared using three PEERS categories, Education, Religion, and Social Issues. The PEERS test has a scale as follows: Biblical Theism (70-100), Moderate Christian (30-69), Secular Humanism (0-29) and Socialism (<0).>

Research Questions
Research questions were formulated to answer the following questions. How do students with creationist or evolutionist attitudes differ on:
1 and 2 issues related to education?
3 and 4 issues related to religion?
5 and 6 social issues?
7 and 8 their views toward God?
9 and 10 their views toward Christianity?
11 What is the frequency and comparative magnitude of public school students with Biblical theists worldviews when contrasted to home schooling and Christian school students?

Findings and Conclusions
Below are the findings and conclusions based on the above research questions.
To read the findings and conclusions go to the link above. (too long to include here)

The Chi-Square Analysis showed a significant distribution from the home school, Christian school, and public setting. Hence it can be concluded that a positive correlation is present between having a Biblical theist worldview and mode of education.

Conclusions
The Bible commands parents to "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Ray's dissertation provides the Christian creationist community with strong objective and scientific evidence that teaching a Biblical view of origins is fundamental to worldview adoption and development. Training up a child in an environment of evolutionary thinking or in an environment where creationism is not firmly taught, is a certain formula for causing the child to depart from the Christian faith. Departure from this faith will lead to the acceptance of the only alternative, evolution. Few issues could be of greater importance to the Christian family and the church than to teach youth (at home, school, or Sunday School) the Biblical doctrine of creationism.

Salesmen or Signposts ?

2009-11-21T12:15:00.000+05:30

We often get trapped into thinking that we ought to sell Jesus to one and all. Guess what? You don’t have to. Jesus never sold–either himself, the kingdom, or God. Certain Biblical incidents always seemed strange to me. Like for instance, why did Jesus go to the Bethesda pool and heal only one guy? John 5. 1-5 Why did He go thru Samaria and speak to one particular sinful Samaritan woman? John 4. 3-7 Why did he enter a particular house and wait for a certain gentile (Canaanite) woman to come? Matthew 15. 21-29

Well, [Quote] ‘He was locating those who already belonged to him. He was giving substance to the indescribable hunger that true seekers have. He was putting words to their deep thirst. He was explaining why they felt strangely drawn to him.’[Unquote]

Is it not great? It is not our job to create the hunger for God or eternal life. All I have to do is point to Jesus, allow them to [Quote] ‘hear His words of life, see him as he is, and check for signs of spiritual life. The whole endeavor of “converting” someone is a mistake. God converts people.’ Our job is to ‘locate them and help them understand and trust what they are already experiencing. There is much explaining to do, much to clarify, some areas to challenge, and a great deal of listening to do. But there is no burden to create a spiritual interest that isn’t there.’ [Unquote]

So now I can [Quote] ‘stop worrying about how people respond to me. Either they are being drawn to Jesus or they aren’t—and I can’t do anything to change that. I can only help the person determine whether they are spiritually alive or not, and what to do next.

Second, I would focus much less on persuading and more on the signs of spiritual hunger and thirst. I would ask direct and honest questions like, “Do you ever think about God?” “What do you like or not like about God?” “Do you ever wonder what he thinks of you?”
[Unquote]

We belong to God because God drew us to Jesus, and we believed in Him, so we have His life in us. Like wise, when the hungry ones have believed in Him, ‘[Quote] they need to be taught and even challenged to trust, follow, surrender, obey and remain in Jesus.’ [Unquote]

We [Quote] ‘don’t sell admission tickets to heaven; we point to Jesus, the source of immediate, abundant and eternal life.’ [Unquote]

To read the original article click here

Must reads

2009-11-19T18:50:00.001+05:30

Guys, the following are some must read links.

Evangelicals and the Crisis of Authority - http://www.crosswalk.com/11616903/
Idolatry: Worshipping Our Own Image of God - http://www.crosswalk.com/11603342/

Samaritan flashback

2009-11-17T11:32:00.003+05:30

Though geographically placed in close proximity, the hindrances for any meaningful interaction between a Jew and a Samaritan are numerous. The Bible informs us that, ‘Jews have no dealings with Samaritans’, their hostility primarily based on both race and religion. However, cultural, political, traditional differences, and sinfulness made it further difficult to bridge the chasms between the two.2 Kings 17-18

On the separation of Israel and Judah, the ancient city of Shechem became the religious center of the Northern Kingdom. This Israelite kingdom continued to exist in Samaria until it fell before Assyria.

After the Assyrian Exile in 722 BC, (2 Kings 17. 6, 24-41) the remaining Jews intermarried with Gentile colonists and formed a hybrid worship of Jehovah God (2 Kings 17. 33,41), complete with a different temple and an edited Old Testament. They adhered rigidly to the Torah, never admitted any of the prophetical teachings. The Jews thus viewed them as Half-Breed Heretics, and the Samaritans returned their hatred.

Religious differences between Jews and Samaritans
1. Worship only at Jerusalem Temple - Worship in Mt. Gerizim
2. Holy Book - Torah - Pentateuch
3. Abraham honored as Father - Jacob honored as Father
4. Believe heaven is exclusively for them - More liberal

The Samaritans had built their own temple on Mt. Gerizim to rival the Temple in Jerusalem and offered sacrifices according to the Mosaic code. This Samaritan Temple was destroyed by the Jews under the rule of John Hyrcanus (a king of non-Davidic lineage) in about 128 BCE. The Samaritans returned the favor by defiling the Jewish Temple. The rabbis taught it was ritually defiling to touch any utensil handled by a Samaritan. Since Samaria lay between Galilee and Judea, pious Jews normally walked the 20+ extra miles around Samaria rather than go through it.

A Jewish prayer goes like this: "I thank you that I was not born a Gentile, a slave or woman." Rabbis (Jesus was one) were forbidden to speak to any woman in public, even their own mothers or sisters (Jesus came to break off all shackles that bound people and he was often found in mixed company).

Samaritan women were regarded as ritually unclean from birth. To top it all, the Samaritan woman in question was immoral - she had been through five husbands, and currently had a live-in boyfriend!

She was an outcast. In a small town like Sychar, she would be viewed as a threat to the other married women, so she was probably ostracized by them. For one thing, there was a well in Sychar, but she was coming almost a mile to this well. Furthermore, most women drew water in the evening or morning when it was cool, and made it a social occasion. But John 4 vs 6 says she came to the well at noon, in the heat of the day--probably because she was ostracized by the other women of the community.

She was indifferent to spiritual issues, at least initially. To this woman, the lowest of the low, Jesus' brought the message - "It does not matter to me how much of a failure you are in people's eyes, you can still have the living water." Thus begins the talk between Jesus and a Samaritan woman.

Jesus offers her living water as a gift - a spiritual gift. The original word for "living" can also mean "running," so it's easy to see why she easily misunderstands his offer and becomes flippant and even cynical in her response and mocks him about both of his claims. "How are you going to get this water? You don't even have a bucket!" and "Who do think you are--better than Jacob –our Father?"

Jesus offers her living water which refers to the gift of a personal relationship with God through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit--the gift that Jesus has come to make available to us. However the woman thinks, “if it'll save me a trip out here daily, I'll take it."

Having positioned her thus, Jesus suddenly shifts gears and exposes her need. "OK, go get your husband and we'll get down to business." Her answer in verse 17 paves the way for what He really wanted to talk to her all the while.

Before she could be interested in the spiritual gift that Jesus had to offer, she had to first become aware of her need for it. Jesus did not speak of her current situation to shame her, but to cut through her "tough guy" facade and force her take a good look at herself. Apparently her spiritual need for a savior kept popping out with the same symptom repeatedly - her failure to achieve lasting, satisfying romantic relationships and her deep-seated loneliness. Whatever the reason, after five failed marriages, she has given up the formality of marriage and was shacking up with some guy just to survive. This is a woman who has deep inner pain, a deep thirst for love and companionship.

Jesus takes a look into her heart and tells her she's got a hole in her heart that men can't fill. He assures her that there is no need to keep drinking from this old well (of failed relationships). It’s time to admit the need for a different kind of water – the kind provided by Him personally.

Jesus had touched a raw nerve, so she side-steps and begins to talk religion. (a very common ruse.) Jesus was honing in on her personal spiritual needs, but she was not ready for it. She was determined to dodge the issue. So she started a theological argument - a smoke-screen.

Even here we see that Jesus handles her well. First, he answers her question regarding worship. Jews worship God in the place and way that God had prescribed in the Old Testament. However, Jesus her that what matters now is that we relate to God in spirit and in truth.

Jesus expects us to relate to him personally and not through ritual observance. We must also relate to him as he really is ("in truth") as he is revealed to us through scripture. People often object to the idea of a God who is holy, who judges sin, who insists that we come to him for forgiveness through Christ and be willing to submit to his leadership. This is unacceptable to God.

Jesus continues to repeat his offer and she says,"Well, I don't know what to think--let's leave this to the Messiah . . . " at this point Jesus reveals Himself to her and hearing Him (hearing the Word of God Himself speak) she evidently came to faith in him as her Messiah. And she began a relationship with God that changed her life and that of many others.

Having received the "living water," she dropped her old water pot. She returned to town and started telling everyone she knew to come out and meet the man who knew everything about her and still loved her enough to give her a gift. No matter why --they responded and went out to see Him. Many believed through her testimony yet many others believed after listening to Him.

editor's note:
This post is background info for the previous original post - "Reaching Out to Christians" click here to go

Reaching out to Christians

2009-11-16T15:28:00.003+05:30

The Word of God teaches us that we are to fashion our thought, words and actions according to our lord and master, Jesus. In Jesus’ approach to the Samaritan woman we catch a clear glimpse of how to deal with nominal/traditional/denominational Christians.

There are a number of road blocks to overcome before a believer can reach out to a nominal Christian. They may be racial, cultural, religious, political, and traditional. Sin and satan can also keep the two from ever meeting. Jesus faced all of these hindrances in His encounter with the Samaritan woman and yet He did not allow them to keep Him away from reaching out to her and thru her the entire Samaritan village!

Jesus took the unpopular route to Samaria, timed his arrival there to meet a certain Samaritan woman of ill-repute. (we too must be willing to walk paths that are not often trod to reach out)
He made sure that they would not be interrupted by His well-intentioned disciples, or by the self-righteous villagers. (be sensible, as well as sensitive to the Holy Spirit)
He took the first step to breach the gap between them. (overcome your inhibitions for God’s Kingdom sake)
He offered her something that mattered to her. (water that would quench her thirst forever, thereby enabling her to put a stop to her unpleasant trips to the common village well) (identify and trust God for their individual needs, miracles will confirm your work)
Jesus offered her better-quality water. [The Samaritans considered the water from the Jacob’s well superior to any other well. Hence the offer of water (living water) that is far superior to water from Jacob’s well was not to be spurned lightly.] (Jesus has the best offer, none can top it, offer it)
Through His gentle and non-accusing attitude, He convicted this woman of her sins. (She could have said anything and hidden the truth. Instead she confesses that she has no husband. The manner in which she says it makes it evident that she was convicted of her sinful state.) (let your gentleness and love be plain to all)
Jesus calmly acknowledges her statement and gently pushes further by revealing to her His knowledge of her previous relationships. This helps her recognise His prophetical and messianic status. (operating in the gifts of word of knowledge and wisdom will help you reach your goal faster. fan to full flame/put to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit within you to do your work well)
The woman’s revelation of Jesus led to the evangelization of the entire Samaritan village. (a fully convinced disciple is unstoppable)

In these end times, our evangelizations should be fashioned in like manner. We must through prayer and the use of the spiritual gifts discern key person’s to target people groups (people groups may also be a big extended family, a community, a city, an office etc.). Target and mentor such individuals to influence a wide audience for the glory of God.

Click here to read John 4.1-42 - Jesus talks to a Samaritan Woman

Why become a Shepherd?

2009-10-31T15:17:00.000+05:30

It was the custom in the middle-east for the least man to be given charge of the flocks. The shepherd had responsibility to lead the sheep to new pastures and fresh water, defend them from predators, and find the lost ones when they strayed. However, it was a humble job because it was a dirty job.

The shepherd lived amongst the flock and slept across the doorway of the fold to keep the sheep in and the wolves out. It was filthy, smelly, and thankless work. Yet Jesus willingly declared, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14). Let’s not miss the impact of these words.

God humbled Himself and got His hands dirty working directly with errant, willful, and dumb sheep (we humans are often pretty dumb).

The shepherd lies across the doorway of the sheep pen - Jesus became the door for us. He sacrificed His life for us (the flock) so that anyone who chooses to believe in Him may enter God's fold (John 3:16).

Once inside the fold, we are provided for, sought when we wander, and protected from enemies.

Victorious Living

2009-10-31T11:46:00.000+05:30

You want strength to defeat your enemies? Who are your enemies?
Struggling with feelings of inadequacy? read on

Waiting faith

2009-10-30T11:47:00.002+05:30

Read and be encouraged about waiting faith in my post by the same title here.

Time to Change Direction

2009-10-30T11:01:00.004+05:30

Finding praising God in the assembly difficult? Stop grumbling and complaining about people, circumstances and God in your private life and work.

As you discipline yourself to a life of gratitude and praise, the God of High praises will come and entrone himself on your praises and you will recognise that all things do work for your best.

Lets Call a Spade a Spade

2009-10-30T10:53:00.002+05:30

These days we see witchcraft often portrayed as helpful, good, or neutral. This is deceptive and misleading. The Lord condemns witchcraft and sorcery of any type. Witchcraft is truly evil and unrighteous. Not just “dark” magic, but rather all magic is evil. Some believe that there is good or “white” magic, and bad or “black” or “dark” magic. Still others believe that magic is not real, and witchcraft is all a big hoax. Let me tell you, witchcraft is very real, and does work and involves demonic spirits.

The reason why some children of God are adamant that witchcraft is fake is because, such things do not work against the children of God. None of these curses, neither “white” magic nor “black” work against us is because “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world”. We have been given authority over the spirits of darkness, not the other way around, so they can do nothing to us (except oppress or tempt us and we willfully give in).

However, even though things (spells and incantations etc) cannot prevail against the children of God, it still is very real and is practiced throughout the world. Do not associate with it in any forms.

Be of Good Courage

2009-10-29T14:06:00.000+05:30

Courage is a gift of God's Holy Spirit. Courage means ‘strength, power'. The equivalent of the Hebrew word for courage (hazaq) means "to show oneself strong."

In Isaiah 11 we're told that the Spirit of God rests upon messiah, helping Him to do His part in the messianic kingdom.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

This word power is also translated as strength and might, derivatives of courage. The gift of fortitude or courage allows people "firmness of mind’ that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil. As a matter of fact, the gift of courage compels a Christian's will toward doing God's will here and now.

Types of Guilt

2009-10-26T13:32:00.001+05:30

There are two types of guilt: biblical and false.

The first originates with the violation of a scriptural law. This is not a feeling but a reality: we have sinned and should repent.

The second, which includes feeling guilty after confessing a sin, is not based in truth or supported by the Word. This kind of guilt leads to doubt God's love and salvation, which paves the way for fear, insecurity, and inability to enjoy life. It can also open the door for physical symptoms like depression.

‘Jesus wept’ , Why?

2009-10-26T13:05:00.002+05:30

Mary, Martha and the others were blinded by their perceptions to the fact that he really was "the resurrection and the life" despite all his plain words to them: "25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this? 27 She said to him, Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (Joh 11:25-27) Obviously Martha did not believe that Jesus could resurrect her dead brother dead by four days for she said: "… I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." (John 11:24) So Jesus was troubled and He groaned in the spirit, He wept.

To read the full post

To read the full reference John 11.1-44

Learn to Stay Afloat

2009-10-13T10:59:00.003+05:30

Jesus was preaching nearby, but Peter did not care. His heart was troubled and his purse was empty. He could care less if the new teacher in town was drawing great crowds (they have nothing better to do, anyway). He had no time to stop and listen. He must wash the nets and indulge in a pity–party. Peter was sinking but soon He was floating shares. To learn How you too can succeed Click Here

To Have Hope

2009-10-09T10:54:00.004+05:30

1 Cor 10 1-6, 11 -- For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did 11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Romans 15. 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

To read the full reference passage Click here

Why Lord, Why?

2009-10-01T17:54:00.003+05:30

Has God called you to ministry? Have you failed ? Do you feel that God deliberately thwarts your every efforts to achieve your goals?

Lets observe Moses. In obedience to God, Moses told Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" The Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go." Again and again, Moses returned and demanded freedom for his people. Again and again, Pharaoh refused. God sent plague after plague upon the Egyptians. In response, Pharaoh hardened his heart and persecuted Moses and the people of Israel. A paradox? No, God was teaching Moses and the people of Israel to persevere, to obey, and to wait upon the Lord in patient trust for God's perfect time for deliverance.

What is God teaching you? Be learnable.

Quit being a Rat

2009-10-01T15:49:00.000+05:30

Our culture scoffs at both the Father and Jesus Christ. As believers what will be our stand? Confronted by the Philistines and mocking Goliath, David believed that someone had to wipe away from Israel the reproach caused by Goliath's insults. David determined that someone was himself. Will you like David determine that someone is yourself? Will you stand up for God’s honor like young David? Will you turn and run or stand and fight in God's name?

You don't need a sound theological understanding to combat those who would mock God. The "smooth stones" are the truths you pull out from the Bible. The battle and the outcome belong to the Lord. Ref 1 Samuel 17:1-53

FATHER

2009-09-25T18:18:00.002+05:30

Father - it is the most beautiful name in all universe. Sure satan has done his best to twist and pervert this positional name. But it continues to be the foremost name that evokes the most passionate response in the soul of a human being. Those unfortunates who associate the name with neglect or abuse feel a void so deep that nothing, not even the love of Jesus seems to fill it to the full. But there is hope, for Jesus came to reveal God as the Father (Jn 1.18 - No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.)

Jesus revealed the Name of God as Father (Jn 17.6, 26). In this Name and all that it stood for, all disciples of Jesus were to find security (Jn 17.11,12). The Holy Spirit continues to reveal the Father to all who would follow Jesus and seek to know the Father.

There is no love like the Love of God as Father that can keep you going. Secure in His fatherly love we get the courage to face the world and all that it can throw at you. However, this is revelation knowledge that must quicken within each individual.

I spent years as a child of God who knew not her Father! I loved Jesus, and depended on the Holy Spirit for everything I could think of. Nevertheless, the Father continued to be a veiled figure. Occasional glimpses tantalized but I continued complacently with my love affair with Jesus. People who loved and spoke of the Father with an intense passion crossed my path far too often to be ignored. Finally one day it penetrated my hard coconut that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were in the business of revealing the Father to the children. Mal 4.6 As the desire to know the Father and His love began to grow within me He began to reveal Himself to me slowly but persistently. And I started to grasp the meaning of the verse that says that God the Father so loved the world (me) that he gave his one and only Son…. so that I may have eternal life(be with Him forever) Jn 3.16

Words are inadequate to describe the manner of Love the Father has for me. He patiently teaches me of the depth and width of His Love. He is gentle as only a Father can be.

Be not content with the love of Jesus and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Go for the full measure. Get to know your Father. Ask and He shall repond. Seek, He desires to be found. Knock and He will open the floodgates of Love upon you, and you will be swept away.

Beloved, the Father beckons you.

Yoke of Grace

2009-09-25T18:13:00.003+05:30

Are you living under condemnation? If you are, Jesus says, "Come to me . . . and I will give you rest."

In a sense, this is what Jesus is saying: "Why don't we do this . . . why don't we take that heavy yoke of guilt that you're carrying, take it off and put it down over here. Instead, let me put on you my light yoke of grace. Get rid of the guilt and let's replace it with grace. You see how much better this fits; how much more comfortable it is?"

"Take off this yoke of perfectionism, where you're always trying to prove yourself and toss it over to be burned. Put on the yoke of God’s plan for your life; his purpose.When you do that, your confidence will soar. "

No Investment. Cent Percent Profit

2009-09-25T13:19:00.001+05:30

Jesus came proclaiming, “The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because [God] has anointed Me …………….. to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],..” Luke 4.18

Israelites were no strangers to burdens and yokes that weighed them down. Often God came to their rescue when they cried out for relief, but their obstinate ways of turning to other gods brought more trouble upon their neck. So God made a promise through Isaiah of a day that will come when the yoke of burden shall be permanently lifted off their back.

Isaiah 10.27 reads, “..it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (KJV)

The Israelites were bound by strict Laws concerning every aspect of their life. And in addition to the various oppressors, including the Romans, they were further burdened by their own religious leaders (Pharisees) Luke 11.46 The people were weary of trying to please God, under the law. Jesus compassionately calls out to such people to come to him and find rest for their souls. He urges them to come and exchange their yoke for his light one. Matt 11.28-30 The yoke is a symbol of partnership – whether in marriage or in business. 2 Cor 6.14 Jesus invites us to a partnership with Him where He supplies the capital and we get the profit!

Lend not your shoulder to any yokes.

My Yoke is Easy

A Peek into the Garden

2009-09-23T09:14:00.003+05:30

Open your Bible to Romans 7 and read it slowly. Here Paul is addressing those ‘who know the law” (verse 1). Verse 7 says, “I would not have known what sin was except through the law”. Paul continues, “through the commandment sin became utterly sinful” verse 13.

When God placed Adam and Eve in the Eden Garden, He told them not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In other words, God did not intend man to live by a rule book of ‘good and evil’, avoiding all that was evil and doing all that was good. God intended man to live by the Tree of Life – the Holy Spirit who would tell them what was pleasing to God and what was not. To live by the knowledge of good and evil is to live by the law. This would bring us into bondage.

It was never God’s intention that man should live by rule and regulations. The law was not given to man to lead man to life, but rather to show man’s impotency and to test his honesty. Therefore, after Jesus came, the Law was set aside and a new covenant was ushered in. it is written, “you …. died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to him who was raised from the dead, ……………..and have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7.4-6 (ref Ezekiel 36:25-27, Romans 2:28-29)

For further reading and study: Romans 7-8, and Galatians 3-5

Two Believers Pray But....

2009-09-16T15:59:00.006+05:30

Why is it that two believers can pray about the same issue and come away with completely different responses and attitudes? This has to do with :

1. Our relationship with God. The Father speaks differently to the unsaved than He does to His Children. God also tailors His message to individual believers on the basis of their spiritual maturity and unique situations.

2. Our understanding of who God is. If you see God as a loving Father, you will hear His encouraging voice and accept His loving discipline. But if you see Him as a harsh, demanding God far removed from your life, then you may feel as though He expects more than you can deliver.

3. Our Attitude toward God. If we come to the Lord with a proud, rebellious nature, we will naturally not be inclined to hear His voice of authority. However, if we come with a submissive nature, we will most likely hear--and joyfully receive--His Word.

I'll fill your cup to overflowing for I love you

2009-09-15T10:36:00.006+05:30

"My cup overflows". In the Bible, an overflowing cup, is a symbol for total satisfaction. It means, "I've got everything I need.." In the Middle East, it's mostly desert. When some one gives you a cup that is overflowing, it means they're wasting something -- water or wine. You don't waste water or wine in the desert unless you've got more than you need.

Overflow with what?

With Hope
Romans 15:13 "God will help you overflow with hope in him through the Holy Spirit's power within you."
You never run out of hope because you know He's never going to let you down.
With Love
"May the Lord make your love to grow and overflow." I Thess. 3:12
With Joy
"Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow." John 16:24

Have you ever wondered when you go to somebody's house how long you're supposed to stay and when you're supposed to leave? Or have you had someone come to your house and you didn't know how to tell them to "get lost". There is a custom in the Middle East that everyone knew that had to do with filling the cup. If you came to somebody's house, even if you were a total stranger (in the desert strangers take care of strangers), the first thing you do is offer them a cup of water or wine ... They drink the cup and you refill it. They drink that cup and you refill it. ... As long as the cup kept being refilled it meant you were welcome to stay. If you came to somebody's house and after several refills, they left the cup empty, it meant your time was up -- it was time to leave. If the host liked the person and wanted him to stay a long time, they would take the cup and fill it -- not only to the rim but they would let it overflow. You don't waste water or wine in the desert. But when an overflowing cup was shown it was a symbol that you can stay as long as you want. It meant you are special.

When God says to you, "I'm going to fill your cup to overflowing" it means you matter to God and you're special to Him. If you're hurting because somebody has hurt you badly, Jesus invites you to a banquet. He says "I'll prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. I'll anoint your head with oil. Your cup will overflow." He will settle the score, sooth your wounds, satisfy every one of your needs. It's a banquet of wholeness, help, and salvation.

Drinking from my saucer

Love is the fulfilment of the law

2009-09-14T15:21:00.000+05:30

The Ten Commandments were never replaced by the command to love God, and love one another. They were summarised by the command to love God and your neighbour. Afterall if you love your neighbour, you would not kill him, steal from him, lie to him, and sleep with his wife. If you love your parents you will honour them. If you love God you will not take His name in vain, or worship other God’s or idols etc. So if you love God and your neighbour, you would have to keep the Ten Commandments anyway. That is exactly what we see in Romans 13:10, “Love is the fulfilment of the law.”

What's Wrong with the Law?

2009-09-14T12:08:00.000+05:30

There was never anything wrong with the Law, so it never changed from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant (Psalm 89:34), but there was something wrong with the promise. Under the Old Covenant the people promised to obey and keep the law, but as you and I know, people break their promises all the time, just as the Israelites did several times when they broke the law. So that covenant was broken, and under the New Covenant, Christ has promised to give us the power to keep the Law. Christ cannot break a promise, so we know for sure that under the New Covenant we have the ability to keep the law (Hebrews 8:7-10 & 13).

Be wise, Be Patient.

2009-09-09T15:13:00.003+05:30

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Understanding the reason for your anger will give you greater patience and, perhaps, even the ability to overlook an offense.

So next time you become angry, step back for a few minutes and ask yourself three questions to help you understand why you are angry:

Why am I angry?
What do I really want?
How can I get it?

Be wise, be patient.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places

2009-08-31T11:21:00.003+05:30

When Jesus saw a great crowd coming towards him, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. His compassion extended further into their immediate physical need – hunger. So he asked his disciples to provide them with bread. Jesus always taught his disciples by example. Through this incident Jesus teaches us:

Our ministry must flow out of our compassion for the lost souls.
We must not restrict our ministry to teaching the Word and healing the sick.
Our areas of ministry must never be controlled, limited by financial constraints (Mt 14. 14-21, Mk 6.33-44, Jn 6.5-13)

The Disciples' answer to Jesus' command to feed the crowd is another interesting point. While in Matthew 14:17 we read their reply, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”, in John 6.9 we read, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" (Emphasis is mine)

Jesus obviously wanted his disciples to take him also into consideration. It wasn’t just ‘five loaves, and two fish’. He wanted them to say, “We have five loaves, two fish…and you Jesus!” Standing next to the disciples was the solution to their problems…but they didn’t consider him as part of the answer. They stopped their count at the five loaves, and two fish and worried!

How about us? Are we any different? If not, let us determine today to stop wondering, second guessing and worrying over our problems. Let us remember His words and promises and stand on them.
He said :
· Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:19 NIV)
· If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John 15:7 NIV)
· What ever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24 NIV)

Pray:
Lord, I cast the whole of my cares [all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns, once and for all] on you … (I Peter 5:7)

Biggest Sin?

2009-08-24T17:19:00.002+05:30

Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit convicts guilty men and women of sin "because they do not believe in Me." (John 16:9) On that final day, it will not so much be the sin question as it will be the Son in question. All sins can be dealt with and forgiven if we believe in Jesus.

When Disappointment runs into Disappointment

2009-08-24T14:49:00.001+05:30

Often we assume that once we have surrendered our lives to Jesus, our lives will begin to flow smoothly. This belief gets reinforced as we see around us how God prospers and blesses others believers very. We hear repeatedly how children of God walk in blessings and are urged to expect nothing but the very best. But for many years I struggled with all the things that was going wrong in my life. Don’t get me wrong. I was aware of God’s mercy in my life and gratefull for the same. But far too many things were wrong and remained so, and I struggled to reconcile my understanding of God with my experience. read more

Don't Wait, It Might be Too Late

2009-08-24T12:04:00.003+05:30

According to Jesus, giving and receiving works opposite to what we naturally think. We think, “Once I receive, I will start giving.” However, Jesus always said, “Give and you will receive. Be faithful with the little you have and I will give you more.”

What are some of the ways in which we can encourage ourselves to give more freely?

Misfits of Yesteryears

2009-08-21T16:14:00.004+05:30

Abraham was old, • Jacob was insecure, • Leah was unattractive, • Joseph was abused, • Moses stuttered, • Gideon was poor, • Samson was codependent,• Rahab was immoral, • David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, • Elijah was suicidal, • Jeremiah was depressed, • Jonah was reluctant, • Naomi was a widow, • John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, • Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, • Martha worried a lot, • The Samaritan woman had several failed marriages,• Zacchaeus was unpopular, • Thomas had doubts, • Paul had poor health, and • Timothy was timid.

What's your qualification?

Forgotten by All

2009-08-21T11:00:00.002+05:30

Have you ever wondered, “Why did he/ she/they forget me?” In Genesis 40 we read about Joseph, son of Jacob. The life of Joseph in Egypt was never smooth as a slave and away from his father and brothers and native place. He was afflicted mentally, emotionally and physically. He himself says when Ephraim, his second son was born, “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (41:52). read more of this

101% = ?

2009-08-21T09:58:00.002+05:30

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about people who say they are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help
answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

If:

H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K

8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E

11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E

1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the Love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will
get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

"I Want to Die, Take My Life, God" The Three F(s) of Depression

2009-08-20T12:20:00.009+05:30

Can you name any three men who became so depressed that they asked God to take his life?
Answer: Moses, Elijah, and Jonah.

Each of them got depressed, but for different reasons; depression is always a symptom of a deeper problem.Depression is meant to get your attention; it shouts something is wrong! The real problem is not how you feel, but the cause of those feelings. Here are three of the most common causes of depression.

Fatigue (Moses’ problem): When you try to maintain a hectic pace week after week in spite of physical and emotional exhaustion, you set yourself up for depression. Or, if you try to play God, attempting to control everything and everyone around you, depression will eventually catch up with you. In Moses’ case, the solution was to learn to delegate (Numbers 11:10–17).
Fear (Elijah’s problem): Whenever you swallow your anxieties, your body keeps score. Instead of focusing on your depression, ask, “What is it that I’m afraid of? What’s got me worried?” Resolve the worry and your blues will vanish, if that’s the cause. In Elijah’s situation, the antidote was to trust God to handle things out of his control (1 Kings 19:1–18).
Frustration (Jonah’s problem): When you don’t see a purpose behind the events of your life, when it all seems so arbitrary or hopeless or unfair, then depression strikes. Life without meaning and significance is depressing. That’s why God’s solution to Jonah’s depression was to help him see the bigger picture. Perspective is a powerful cure. When Jonah finally understood God’s purpose for his life, his depression faded.

Courtesy: Purpose Driven Connection

Not Geographical but Relational

2009-08-20T11:24:00.001+05:30

‘And YHWH called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9
This question, so routinely overlooked, is THE question of our existence. “Where are you?” God asks each of us. It is the first question of existence.

The Hebrew word here is ‘ayyeh’; not a word about location but a word about relationship. God is not asking our geographical position. He is asking each of us why we are not alongside Him where we belong. Why aren’t we right beside Him? You and I must answer God. Where are we?

What would life be like if God were not in search of us? Would anything really matter? Qohelet (The Teacher), author of Ecclesiastes, describes the reality of life without God’s question. All is emptiness, emptiness. What difference does it make if I succeed or fail, if I am rich or poor, a genius or a dunce. Death swallows everything. I cease to be and memory of my being passes into the darkness of time. I return to the dust. Better I was never born than to live knowing that my life means nothing at all.

But if God searches for me, everything changes. If I am the object of divine concern, if God truly expects me to be a partner with Him in His grand scheme, then my being matters. It is not for nothing. I matter because I matter to God. Now I can seek my own meaning because His meaning finds me.

Unless you have answered the question, you have no idea where you are. The answer must be directed to God for He is the one asking. The answer is: “Hineni.” “Here I am, Lord. What would you have me do?”

Someone!

2009-08-14T12:42:00.001+05:30

Someone has to tell an unsaved friend how to accept Christ as Savior before he does it.
Someone has to “be a friend” to an indifferent non-attender before he will get the church-going habit.
Someone has to “pick up” and bring people who prefer not to “break the church barrier” alone.
Someone has to forgive an enemy before God’s Spirit can work properly in a Christian fellowship.
Someone has to pray that the unsaved will be responsive to the urgings of God’s Spirit.
Someone has to be loyal to the services so that the church can be a real spiritual lighthouse in the community.
Then I realized I was “Someone.”

courtesy of Greg Grant

Let's Chuck the Monster Out

2009-08-12T12:37:00.006+05:30

This is a sequel to my earlier post 'The Monster is Within Us'. To get rid of jealousy from our lives today, we need to follow certain practical steps :

First, acknowledge that jealousy exists in your life. Be honest with yourself

Second, admit that you are in conflict with God. This is an important step. It will prevent you from considering jealousy as "normal" or "acceptable" behavior.

Third, thank and praise God for what He's doing in the other person's life.

The fourth step may seem impossible. Do something nice for the person --even if you don't feel like it—it will start to short-circuit the negative feelings you have.

Fifth, ask the Lord to show you how He views that individual. This will cause us to look beyond our own perspective and view the other person as someone valuable to God.

Sixth, refocus your attention on what God is doing in your life. His plans for you are just as big and important as His plans for the person you envy.

Seventh, adopt a Psalm 37:4 mindset. “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart”. When you truly delight yourself in God and trust Him to bless you according to His will, you'll no longer feel a need for jealousy in your life. Then contentment will replace envy and dissatisfaction.

Moses, my name is I Am

2009-08-11T11:36:00.000+05:30

God has many names in the Bible that describes His character and attributes. In the same way that someone named “Tom” might also be called “father” or “husband” or “the boss,” God has names that describe Him and His relationship with His people.

During the Old Testament times, the Hebrews considered the Hebrew name for “God” so holy that they wouldn’t even pronounce it. So, when God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and sent Him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity, Moses asked God, “Who should I say sent me?” After all, He couldn’t breathe the name of God in public. God replied by saying, “Moses, my name is I Am.” (Exodus 3:14, NIV) In other words, “I am anything and everything you need. I am your joy. I am your peace. I am your strength. I am your health. I am your way to freedom. I am whatever you need.”

The Monster Is Within Us

2009-08-07T14:38:00.003+05:30

Ever come face to face with the green-eyed monster called jealousy at some point in your life? Was it a spiritual attack? Did the Enemy make you covetous? Was someone or something working to make you resentful?

The answer is, 'NO'. Jealousy actually springs from within us, even though we might try to pass the buck. For example, we may say, "Well, they shouldn't have that. They don't deserve it. I'm perfectly justified in feeling this way."

Do you see what is actually going on here? We are not only feeling envious of someone, but we're also saying that our jealousy is the other person's fault! That's simply not true. We are hundred percent responsible for our own feelings of envy.

Jealousy is a product of the flesh. In the Bible, it is listed among such sins as idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, and sorcery. These sins are described as "earthly, natural, demonic" (Gal. 5:17-21; James 3:15).

Envious feelings can lead to unhealthy comparison of one's own success to someone else's. That pattern can grow into a unhealthy competition which could result in full-blown fear and resentment. What a horrible way to live!

Though jealousy is a common emotion, it has no place in a believer's life. So we need to look objectively at our heart motives. Are you plagued with an attitude of jealousy from time to time? Lay your honest feelings out before the Lord, and ask Him to cleanse you of this sinful attitude.

God who comes looking for You

2009-08-04T16:18:00.004+05:30

Ever since our first parents disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, man goes thru life naked and exposed to the wiles and mischief of the evil one. We are in urgent need of a cover and protection. Our sin is never large enough to keep Him away. Read more

Mature in your Faith

2009-08-03T11:02:00.002+05:30

Want to grow in your faith? Read this ..

Aramaic demonic spirit

2009-08-03T10:31:00.002+05:30

The New Testament contains 2,084 verses dealing with money and finance.
Sixteen of Jesus' thirty-eight parables deal with money.

The reason Jesus spoke so much about money was because He was always trying to see where a person's loyalty was. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:21). Jesus said a person could not serve two masters. Instead, he will love one and hate the other - Matt 6:24.

Many people incorrectly believe money is synonymous with mammon. Mammon is an Aramaic demonic spirit that was worshipped as a false god by the Philistines.

Mammon desires to be worshipped, have influence, and control of peoples' lives through the use of money. Money is simply the instrument by which mammon seeks to have power.

Any spirit that opposes God seeks to influence people through deception. It wants to gain loyalty and love without you knowledge. The primary lie behind the spirit of mammon is that money contains power. It encourages people to place disproportionate value on money because of the power it has to influence and control others.

The symptoms of being controlled by the spirit of mammon are revealed when we allow our activities to be governed by the amount of money we have instead of God alone. It makes us believe one's provision is one’s employer, spouse, investments, or other cash sources. So, when we allow money to rule the choices we make, we have yielded to the spirit of mammon. This in turn leads to other problems as Paul wrote to Timothy: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Tim 6:10)
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Old Tricks, New Presentation

2009-08-02T17:19:00.002+05:30

The schemes of the Enemy have not changed. He still whispers lies and twists Truth to convince us that :

a) God cannot be trusted and

b) His ways are not the best.

In every temptation, there is a deception about the character and motive of God, plus an attractive promise of a better way.

The world is filled with voices that vie for our attention and influence our thoughts and actions. Consciously begin to compare them to what the Scripture says about God and His ways.
Remembering what God says in the Bible is our safeguard against deception and temptation.

Daily devotions won't protect us if they're quickly forgotten during the day. Follow Christ's example: be ready with truth in your mind and on your tongue whenever temptation strikes (Matt. 4:1-11). Seek and expect the help of the Holy Spirit to keep you alert with the Word.

In The World But Not Of The World

2009-07-31T15:48:00.001+05:30

You may have heard that believers are to be "in the world but not of the world." Have you wondered about the difference between those two options?

John 17:11-16 says Christians have to participate in their culture's systems, which includes commerce, politics, law, religion, art, education, and science. Believers keep homes, go to church, make and spend money, create things, etc. But no matter how fulfilling these are, God's children are to value the heavenly Father above all earthly pursuits (Matt. 6:33).

Interaction with nonbelievers is a primary way that we model and spread the gospel. If we were to withdraw from society, how would the lost learn about Jesus?

While associating with non-Christians is very appropriate, we should be aware of what's driving the world system. The Devil corrupted God's perfect order, diverting devotion away from the Lord. God intended that we receive peace and contentment from obeying Him, while Satan promotes the delusion of self-fulfillment. No pleasure offered by the world system is permanent or truly rewarding. However, until Christ establishes a new heaven and earth, believers must take part in this world

Test Your Relationship with God

2009-07-31T15:25:00.003+05:30

It is easy to worship God when things are going great in our life—when He has provided food, friends, family, health, and happy situations. But circumstances are not always pleasant. How do we worship God then? What do we do when God seems a million miles away?

The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting Him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant.

Friendships are often tested by separation and silence; you are divided by physical distance or you are unable to talk. In our relationship with God, we won’t always feel close to Him. Yet He is worthy to be trusted.

“The Lord has hidden Himself from His people, but I trust Him and place my hope in Him” (Isaiah 8:17 TEV).

Faith, not feelings, pleases God

2009-07-30T10:52:00.001+05:30

When you are a baby Christian, God gives you a lot of confirming emotions and often answers the most immature, self-centered prayers—so you’ll know He exists. But as you grow in faith, He will wean you of these dependencies.

Faith, not feelings, pleases God. Be strong in your faith.

Step Up the Ladder

2009-07-25T15:32:00.001+05:30

Today I would like to attempt to answer a question which is often asked but goes either unanswered or unsatisfactorily answered.

Why do most adult water-baptized believers not exhibit any significant character changes?

Sadly the question is relevant today as ever. The Word of God says that if anyone is in Christ then the old man is dead and he is a new creation. (2 Cor 5.17) Surely the Word of God cannot lie, so then, what is the reason for this anomaly?

Let us first look at what Jesus had to say about being ‘born-again’. In John 3.5 Jesus said for a man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, he must be born again of water and of the Spirit.

In the Bible, the Word of God is compared to water. The Word of God is said to have the same cleansing property water has. Ref. John 15.3; Eph 5.26 So, for a person to have the new birth experience, according to Jesus, he must be first born of the Word of God.

To be born of the Word, one should hear the Word of God. Faith is generated through the hearing of this Word of God (Rom 10.17) The Word cleanses us from all worldly prejudices and impurities.

The Bible reminds us that we are all spiritually dead. Nevertheless, when the cleansing action of the Word takes place within a person, the Holy Spirit simultaneously brings life to the human spirit and the person becomes a new creation. Thus when a man is born anew of the Word and of the Spirit, he is said to have had a rebirth or new birth experience.

Such a person will exhibit noticeable character changes in line with his spiritual transformation. Such a born-again believer submits to water baptism, as an outward act of obedience to his Lord and Master. Mat 28.19 However, most often, people come to a non-denominational church and are urged to take water baptism as their first sign of accepting the Lord Jesus. So the church may have a great number of baptized members, but the world sees no difference between themselves and the churchgoer. This defeats the whole purpose of water baptism which is the first step to a life of discipleship to Christ Jesus. In such cases, baptism often acts as a hindrance to the further growth of the Christian, instead of being a step up.

For some, the born-again experience is a gradual process while many others come to the realization and acknowledgment of Jesus as their Lord and savior at a specific moment. What is important is that you are born of the water and of the Spirit. If you are already born anew in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to continue to read the Word of God daily and forsake not the gathering of fellow believers. However, if you are still wondering, remember the Word of God says ‘Today is the day of Salvation’ (Heb 3.7, 13, 15; 4.7) for you cannot be certain you may be given another day (Lk 12.20).

I will leave you with this verse from Psalm 2

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

Hagah the Word Day and Night

2009-07-24T10:43:00.003+05:30

We are told to mediate on the word of God at all the times lead a successful life to. Joshua 1.8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

So today let us consider the word mediate as used in the Word of God.

The Hebrew word translated meditate in Joshua 1.8 is hagah which means to muse, mutter, roar etc. (The word hagah occurs 25 times in 24 verses in the OT.) Thus we see here that there are three levels to meditating the Word.

At the first level, after reading we are to ponder it in our mind. It is at this stage that the Holy Spirit drives the Word deep into our spirit (take root). At the second stage, the Word that was in your spirit is now on your lips. The Word has become personal, Rhema to you. The Word is no longer the writings but a message spoken directly to you for a specific purpose at a specific time.

Now it is time to say it aloud. You speak the Word aloud that has become Rhema to you, thereby not only drowning your own doubts, but every other worldly voice that speak contrary to the Word of God.

No Beakthroughs.... then what?

2009-07-20T16:41:00.003+05:30

When we experience sickness without seeing a breakthrough, we can only seek Jesus for our healing and leave the outcome to Him. We need to trust that He knows the answer to our need and the timing for its solution. There are times when we experience supernatural healing and other times that we simply do not know why Jesus chooses not to heal. In either case, our devotion to Jesus must not change. God-delays are always pre-ordained for a greater purpose.

Its the same if you are experiencing various other trials in you life or in that of your loved ones. Continue to seek Jesus and leave the outcome to him. But let not your devotion to Jesus decrease an iota. A day will come when Jesus will reveal His purposes in your situation. Till then faint not. Be of good cheer. Jesus loves you yesterday, today and forever.

Precious Bundle!

2009-07-20T10:01:00.003+05:30

No one has ever seen God (1 JOHN 4:12); true. But John1.1 says 'the Word was God'. If the Word is God then when we carry the Word of God in our hand, we carry God in our hands. When we read, learn and memorise the Word of God, we carry God in our hearts. God tells us to keep His word always before our eyes. When we do that we see God through His Word. (read Deut 6.8; 11.18; Pro 3.3; 6.3; 7.3 etc)

Extraordinary Weapons

2009-07-20T09:50:00.003+05:30

“I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding Him. With these weapons I can capture rebels and bring them back to God, and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ 2 Cor10:4,5

What are these weapons? A holy life, the Holy Spirit, prayer, the Word of God, faith, truth - these are the weapons of God for supernatural warfare. We must Learn how to use them for His glory.

Whenever Satan attacks us, or we observe conflicts in the Body of Christ due to his influence, we must seek to defeat him by using these mighty weapons of God.

Do Whatever He Tells You

2009-07-17T09:47:00.003+05:30

In John 2.5 we see Mary, mother of Jesus, saying to some servants to, “do whatever He (Jesus) tells you”. The key to the miracle in the wedding of Cana was in doing whatever Jesus commanded, no matter how foolish or inappropriate it sounded.

They were short of wine. This would be a major loss of face in this culture.

In verse 6 we read, “Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing”. The stone water jars were nearby, ie, they were available.

The servants obeyed Jesus’ command to fill the jars with water. (Verse 7) They again obeyed Him when he asked them to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. (Verse 8)

Jesus used the obedient, lowly servants to perform his first recorded miracle. The vessels used for performing the miracle were insignificant stone water jars used for ceremonial washing of dirty feet.

Conclusion: You may be insignificant but are you available? You may be asked to do 'foolish, insignificant stuff' but are you willing to obey Jesus? No matter what you are, if you are available and willingly obedient, then God has use of you.

We read in the Gospel of Luke how Jesus had need of Peter’s boat. Carpenter Jesus used Peter’s fishing boat to preach the Word of God and later asked fisherman Peter to put out into the deep sea to fish. Here also we see how Peter’s availability and obedience blessed him in more ways than one. Peter’s disappointing fishing business prospered (material blessing) and his dead spirit was awakened (spiritual blessing).

The servants in the first miracle never questioned Jesus words, though it may have sounded inappropriate. Jesus’ command to put out to the deep also may have sounded foolish or inappropriate to Peter. Yet we see obedience to Jesus words in both these incidents and the resultant blessings.

Waiting.... Waiting

2009-07-15T17:27:00.003+05:30

• Noah waited 120 years from the time he started building the ark until it began to rain.

• Abraham was told he would be the father of a great nation and didn't have a child until he was 99.

• God told Moses he would be the leader to lead his people out of 400 years of slavery, but then made him wait in the desert 40 years.

• Joseph spent years in prison before God raised him up and he became the ruler God wanted him to be.

• God had David anointed as king, but then David waited for years until he actually got to be king.

• Even Jesus waited for 30 years in the carpenter's shop before setting out on his public ministry.

We all have to go through these waiting periods.

Why do we wait?

It teaches us to trust in God.

We learn that His timing is perfect.

We learn that God's delay never destroys His purpose.

A delay is not a denial. As Children we must learn the difference between "no" and "not yet,". Many times we think God is saying, "No," but He is saying, "Not yet."

{Aside: If you have learned any secrets to decern God's "Not yet" from His "No," drop in a line. :-) }

Why Work When God Is Your Source?

2009-07-15T15:22:00.000+05:30

The Lord expects us to trust in Him and His Word, for His Word is our sustenance. Your salary, income or profit from your in business was never intended to sustain you; rather, it’s to provide you with seed for sowing. How do I know? Well, let see what the scripture has to say. In the book of Genesis we read that God created and placed Adam in a world where he lacked nothing. Then God gave Adam the responsibility to tend and keep the Garden (Gen 2.15) not so Adam would have a job as a means of livelihood, but to make him responsible. That is why, our jobs are not our source, it is an avenue for learning responsibility, discipline and contribution.

Besides giving our tithes and offering, we should consciously sow quality seeds from the money God blesses us with. This will move us into higher realms of financial freedom. The extent of your financial freedom or harvest will depend on the quality of seed sown. We must be like the farmer who keeps the best seeds for sowing.

Whenever, you receive money, always remember to put some aside as seed offering to the Lord. And then mix faith with your seed and sow it with great expectation. Then the Lord will cause all grace to abound towards you, so that you will always have everything you need and more so that there will be enough for your needs, and plenty left over to give joyfully to others. 2 Cor 9.8

Wait for the Lord

2009-07-14T16:23:00.003+05:30

We are all familiar with the verses that exhort us to 'wait upon the Lord'. “Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

Definition of wait: to defer action or departure for a specified time or until some expected event occurs; to be expectant or on the watch.

In this culture of our hurried and harried lifestyles, of deadlines, timelines and fierce competition, the Lord speaks into our lives and says, “Wait for me.”

We become angry with people who drive too slow and become impatient with little children who want us to take time to look at bugs and leaves. God tells us to be still and wait.

We have drive-throughs, instant meals, instant banking and wireless communication, and yet God keeps telling us to be patient and wait on Him and for Him.
His Commands:
- “Wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).

- “Be still before Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7).

- “Maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always” (Hosea 12:6).
Benefits of Waiting for the Lord:
- “Blessed are all who wait for Him! He rises to show you compassion” (Isaiah 30:18).

- “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).

- “Surely, this is our God; we trust (waited) in him, and he saved us”(Isaiah 25:9).
Our Declaration to Him:
- “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our heart” (Isaiah 26:8).

- “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning” (Psalm 130:5-6).

Father God, the next time we find ourselves harried, impatient and worried, help us to take a moment to stop and mentally focus on You and Your sufficiency. You are waiting to show compassion on us. Holy Spirit, remind us to increasingly rest in Christ. You can do beyond everything we can ever dream of or imagine. Amen.

Be Adaptable: Be Relevant

2009-07-14T14:53:00.000+05:30

Gospel spoken in the most simple and adaptable manner penetrates even the most hardened and worldly heart. Apostle Paul continuously adapted his gospel message presentation to suit the culture of his audience.

When Paul was first in Lystra, he started by saying, “I have come to tell you about the God who makes the rain fall and the grass to grow”. This manner of introducing the gospel was relevant here. Later when speaking to a Jewish congregation he said, “I have come to tell you about what the prophets in our history has told us, the coming of the Messiah”. The gospel explained in this context made sense to his listeners here. When later still he talked to Greeks he began by saying, “I have come to tell you about the unknown God that you have erected an altar to”.

Our gospel message needs to be presented in everyday language using familiar objects and symbols that our listeners can relate to.

Our motto should be:
One message: different presentation: relevant to the time and place.

I shall lack nothing (psalm 23 - day 2)

2009-07-14T14:50:00.001+05:30

Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord my Provider
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The Lord is my Shepherd.

2009-07-13T13:52:00.004+05:30

Jehovah-Rohi: God my Shepherd
Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd who knows my own sheep by name (John 10:11).” The Lord of the universe knows you personally! Thank Him for your relationship with Him.

Jesus is the great Shepherd of all His sheep. Pray for someone you know who is discouraged and thinks God has forgotten them. Pray for them to know God as their Shepherd.

Willing to Touch

2009-07-13T13:42:00.002+05:30

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, “I will. Be healed!” And immediately the man was healed from his disease.” Matthew 8:1-3

The incident quoted above happened when a leprous man approached Jesus for healing. If you read the above verse carefully, you will observe that it is not Jesus' touch that healed the man but his words. “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, “I will. Be healed!’ And immediately the man was healed from his disease”.

Wonderwhy Jesus bothered to touch the man if it is His words that healed the man?

Leprosy renders the body a mass of ulcers and decay. Fingers would curl and gnarl. Blotches of skin would discolor and stink. It would numb nerve endings, leading to a loss of fingers, toes, even a whole foot or hand. Leprosy was death by inches. The social consequences were as severe as the physical one. A leper was an outcast in the Jewish society.

Jesus healed the disease with a word. However, he healed the man’s loneliness by his touch. Are we willing to touch the untouchables of the world like Jesus?

Decision Making for Couples

2009-07-13T12:14:00.000+05:30

God's principles for making decisions require input from both spouses, regardless of their level of expertise. Many have learned this lesson the hard way after making many independent decisions outside the counsel of their spouse. Husbands bring a totally different angle that may give an alternative side to a situation ... Your wife may not know all the details, nor have the expertise, but......... read more

In The Waiting Room

2009-07-11T16:32:00.003+05:30

Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them. Finally, after two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go to Judea again."
John 11:5-7 NLT

Just like Mary and Martha struggled we too get frustrated when the Lord delays in coming to us and answering our prayers. The waiting can seem like an eternity to us. But in the midst of the "delay," God is not inactive. He is teaching us patience, perseverance, and faith and is planning to glorify himself in our circumstances. While we are waiting, he wants to cleanse our hearts and refocus us on Jesus. The Spirit always knows what will glorify God, and we can trust him when we're in the waiting room.

God often delays His response out of love, as He works all things together for good.

Chrsitian Maturity

2009-07-07T11:21:00.002+05:30

Hebrew 5.12-13 AMP For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

13For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!

Gal 4.1 NLT - Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

Eph 4.14 NLT - Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

There is an important characteristic of the babe in Christ: he is ‘unskillful’ in the doctrine of righteousness. That means he does not understand righteousness – the nature of God that has been imparted into him – which separates him from sin, evil guilt, condemnation, fear, sickness and poverty.

Without an understanding of righteousness, we can’t live victoriously. So we need to grow in Christ. How? By learning and putting God’s word to work in your life. Thus you will grow spiritually mature. Then you will walk in the consciousness of your righteousness in Christ and you will no longer be helpless infants.

Grieve Not

2009-07-03T18:12:00.003+05:30

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10). We are commanded not to grieve like people who have no hope, for the Lord assures us the joy of the LORD will become unto us, our strength. If we place our complete trust in Him, and allow Him to quieten our troubled spirit, we will gather strength.

The Lord is thinking about you constantly (Psalm 139:17). God loves you so much that He is thinking about you all the time! He loves you more than you love your daughter, spouse, or granddaughter. Can anything be more wonderful than having the King of Kings love you that much? So, rejoice in the Lord and He will fullfil all your desires.

Wait for the Cloud

2009-06-29T11:57:00.002+05:30

What areas are laying parched in your life, right now? Is your marriage in trouble? Are you sick in the body? Are you struggling financially? Are your children in trouble? No matter how dry and hopeless your situation is, don’t give up. Our God specializes in restoration and abundance. He will turn around your marriage and to read more

Not Guilty!

2009-06-27T10:18:00.002+05:30

We have all dealt with guilty consciecnce. How can you get rid of your guilt? Medical science says, ‘You can’t. You’ve got to learn to live with it. But that's not true. Learn how to get the verdict, "Not Guilty!" read more

Daily Bread Panic

2009-06-27T09:58:00.000+05:30

What do you need today? Energy to make it through the day? Finances? Wisdom? You have two alternatives: Read more

Reincarnation

2009-06-24T11:29:00.001+05:30

Reincarnation can be defined as the belief that the spirit of a creature or human can enter into a different creature or human after death. Many New Age groups, Eastern Mystics and occultists believe in reincarnation.

Many in Christendom too adhere to this wrong belief system. They say that John the Baptist claimed to be Elijah reincarnated, and that being ‘born again’ refers to reincarnation.

Luke 1.17 says that the Baptist came ‘in the spirit and power of Elijah’. In the Bible the word spirit has a variety of meanings. It does not always refer to the soul of a human or a demon spirit. In this context the word spirit signifies character. So we can understand Luke 1.17 to mean that John the Baptist came in a character or a personality that was similar to Elijah. In John 1.21, the Baptist himself categorically denied being Elijah.

The born-again experience has nothing to do with reincarnation. Jesus flatly denied that people can be born a second time in a womb (Jn 3. 3-8). The born-again experience is a spiritual regeneration not a physical experience.

The Bible teaches resurrection, not reincarnation. Death is real and we die physically once. After death we are judged and sentenced to either heaven or hell for all eternity. (Heb 9.27; Jn 5.28-29; 1 Cor 15.20-26, Rev 20:4-6, 11-15)

Reincarnation is incompatible with Christianity. Reincarnation knows nothing of divine forgiveness because it presupposes the law of karma. Karma means getting what we deserve. According to karma, a murderer, even if he repents, will have to suffer being murdered in his next life. If one follows this logic, why should anyone help a drowning child or a blind beggar? Aren’t they suffering for their misdeeds in their previous life? If we help them, are we not interfering with their karma?

Instead of alleviating the problem of sin, reincarnation perpetuates it. There is no final forgiveness or final judgment, only endless recycling of karma.

Ungodly Belief Systems

2009-06-11T11:03:00.002+05:30

Our mind work in 3 levels - Conscious level, Subconscious Level, and Unconscious level .

Our mind is a thought factory working 24/7 producing thought patterns or ideas. These lead to the building of our - belief systems and value systems.

Both our belief systems and value systems determines our World view. Our world view determines the manner in which we value others and God’s entire creation.

Our belief systems affect our entire life. Pro 23.7 - as a man thinks so is he…
Our belief systems can be compared to the software of a computer. Our body is the hardware and our belief system is the software fed into it. For eg. A poor boy grows up, receives good education. The young man decides to no longer honor his poor and illiterate parents. This change in him is due to his wrong belief systems.

How does a belief system develop within us?
A number of factors contribute to developing our belief system

The womb ( the psyche of a baby begins developing in the womb)
Upbringing
- Parents mixed belief systems influence the child
- Siblings contribute their bit
- Experts like teachers and other authority figures impart their belief systems
- Friends
- Our own experiences

Our core foundational belief systems are imparted during the period between conception and first 7 yrs. This is why the bible says to train up the child in the ways it should go.
Generational belief systems
- Beliefs handed down the families
- Our religion
- Our culture, all these leave their mark on a person’s belief system

2 cor 10.4-6 tells us that we have a divine power to demolish mental strongholds. Strongholds are built in our minds. Wrong belief systems become a stronghold within our mind. When we have strongholds in our minds, we allow demons to hide among them.

Wrong Belief Systems
a. About God and spiritual matters
b. About life
c. About ourselves

· Pantheistic God- God is everywhere and in everything both living and non-living.
They believe in an impersonal God, a super power, but,
John 17.3 reminds us that God desires to be known personally by you and me.

· God is nature itself: Another wrong view is ‘God is the nature itself’, or ‘I am God, you too are one’.

· Cruel God: Even some believers believe that their God is a cruel God. Bible tells us that God is a merciful God. Every time something bad happens people say God is punishing them, but it is not always so. We live in an imperfect world, so believers and non-believers alike, face trouble and pain.

· Loud prayers: People quote Jesus saying not to pray loudly in public squares in support this. Jesus was and still is against praying to impress others. When we pray we pray to God. With that in mind it matters not how loudly or softly we pray. In heaven the angles constantly worship God in a loud voice. Surely God is not deaf, it is the culture of Heaven, so if we are citizens from above we too may worship God likewise. Its good practice, for afterwards! And no, God will not be irritated; neither will he want us to give him some peace of mind. He has all the peace of mind he desires within Himself! It is his desire that we should always stay connected to him thru our prayers.

· God is so Holy, he cannot be directly approached: Jesus said I am the way. Why search for other ways? Go to God, draw near to God thru Jesus. We need no other mediator between God and us, except Jesus.

· No more healing miracles: Hebrew 13.8 says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The same Jesus who healed all who came to him continues to heal today too.

· Soul of man wanders about for 40days after death: this belief may have resulted because Jesus was seen by his disciples 40 days after resurrection. Jesus had a purpose for doing that. Every soul departs to its eternal place (heaven or hell) the moment it separates from the physical body.

· Christian life is sorrow and pain: God desires that we enjoy our life in Christ. Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and abundant life, itself.”

· There is no actual heaven and hell: Heaven and hell are eternal realities but satan would have you think otherwise. Be not deceived. Jesus spoke of both as definite places.

· Horoscope, palm reading, numerology etc: your horoscope was written after you were born. Ps 139 says that all your days are already recorded in God’s book before you were even born. Place your trust in Him. Do not direct your life according to the lines on your hands.

· Zodiac signs: God created every thing. It is He who determines your life, not the movement of the planets he created.

· Black magic, witchcraft: Do not lead your life under the shadow of fear of black magic, and witchcraft someone may have done against you. No metal piece or cock’s head can control your life. Your life is in the hand of God. He is greater than all the magic in the world.

· Cannot conduct a business in a godly manner: most business people believe that one cannot do business in a godly manner. Bible tells us that we can be sincere and honest in our business dealings. It is possible to do so and yet a profit.

· Omens and signs: do not live life in the manner of the worldly; they see omens and signs hiding behind every bush. There is no omen in a black cat crossing a road. Cats were born to cross roads. What else can the poor thing do? Place your faith on God not on black cats, leaning ladders, or pails of water.

· Some youngsters think that everyone in the opposite gender are bad. God made man, male and female, there is nothing bad about it.

· Unlucky Tuesday and Friday: many believe that these days are not propitious and bad things happen if auspicious things like marriages are conducted on these days. God created everyday and everyday belongs to God. All things that God made are good and auspicious.

· Devil is all powerful: God is powerful than any demon and demonic power in this world or otherwise. There is no reason to fear the devil or overestimate him. There is nothing he can throw at us that we cannot defeat by the power of God within us.

· And many more ..

2 Cor 10. 3-5 speaks of spiritual weapons we have that we can use to fight every wrong thought patterns, strongholds, world views and be conformed to the image of God. The first step is to recognize the wrong ungodly beliefs systems within us and surrender them before God. Then replace such beliefs with right, godly belief systems. Read God’s word regularly, it has tremendous power to break off wrong beliefs and nurture the right ones.

Adapted from Ps Damien’s Sunday sermon

Unbridgeable Chasm

2009-06-10T16:47:00.001+05:30

Mankind's engineering capabilities have grown so far that we are considering building bridges across oceans – once considered impossible due to the magnitude, extreme climatic variations and ocean currents. Often as technological advances are made we forget that there are limits placed that no man is allowed to cross. Read More...

Why The Son?

2009-05-30T11:07:00.005+05:30

God created man out of Love. In creating Man God was creating Children who would relate to Him in love. Jesus says in the Gospel of John that if we claim to Love Him we will obey Him. (John14.15) When man wilfully rejected God's love and aligned himself with God's enemy, God had to allow man to go his way.

Though man rejected Him, God being the Loving parent wanted to reconcile with His Prodigal son. So the second person in Godhead (as decided before the foundations of the earth were laid down) went down to earth as the Son of God, to teach man the magnitude of God's Fatherly Love. (surely you know that Jesus was not God's son in the manner of human son, ie born of a woman by the will of her husband) For this reason, Jesus throughout his earthly ministry spoke of His relationship with the Loving Heavenly Father. (john 10.17, He wanted to create a thirst in man to have a similar father, son relationship with God. Jesus assures us that God desires a similar father - son relation with us too. (Mat 11.27, John 14.23)

TO those of us who desires to have this father - son relationship, Jesus says, "I am the way to the father. If you follow me, and me alone, I will ensure you are reconciled to your creator and true father. (John 16.27) Make sure you do not get off the road and get lost".

Purification Water into Wedding Wine

2009-05-29T11:54:00.000+05:30

During OT time worshipers of the One True God Jehovah, could expect only to be cleansed and purified of their many sins through a number of ritualistic procedures. Most of them looked forward to an earthly Kingdom and rule.

OT Israelites’ relationship with God was limited to Temple worship and legalistic obedience. Most of them did not aspire for a personal relationship with God. In fact the majority feared the Lord so much they did not want to come face to face with God nor hear from him personally. They depended on Priests and Prophets in their dealings with God.

Mankind was God’s expression of His divine love. He desired to have an intimate relationship with man but sin corrupted this relationship. Since then man has been running away from His God and God has been reaching out to man with His divine love, in the person of Jesus.

During His earthly days, Jesus always spoke of God in terms of a relationship. God was His Father and Jesus was God’s Son. Jesus taught His disciples to relate to God as their Father too. He assured them that He would return soon and take them to God the Father.

So every disciple of Jesus eagerly awaits His return. Apostolic teaching teaches us that every believer is a part of the Body of Christ, and appointed to be the Bride of Christ. As the Bride of Christ we eagerly look forward to the coming of our Groom and our wedding.

NT believers look forward not to an earthly Kingdom but to a heavenly Kingdom. The King of this Kingdom is their Bridegroom and so they also look forward to a wedding.
So it would seem apt that Jesus would start His public ministry with a miracle that changed Purification Water into Wedding Wine symbolizing a NT believer’s destiny.

Performance Oriented

2009-05-28T09:57:00.002+05:30

Why do believers perform good works?
1. Christian believers do not work in order to be saved. Believers work because they are saved!
2. The works of an unsaved person are grounds for self boasting. (Luke 18:11-12). The works of a saved person are cause for praise to God. (1 Corinthians 1:29-31).

To the person who says they are saved because they perform the rituals of the Law, Paul says, “No, it is by faith in Christ that one is saved as Christ fulfilled the Law by his blood”. James, on the other hand, while in agreement with Paul... Read more

Psalm 16:5-8

2009-05-28T07:44:00.000+05:30

"LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Hallelujah

2009-05-27T18:12:00.002+05:30

In the Bible, the word Hallelujah occurs 21 times in the book of Psalms and 4 times in the book of Revelation. (See Darby translation:DBY for the actual references)

Hallelujah means ‘praise ye Jehovah’, and is frequently rendered "Praise ye the LORD". The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Rev 19:1, 3, 4, 6. It is an, exclamatory expression of praise and adoration.

In the book of Revelation chapter 19, the first 3 renderings of the word Hallelujah is uttered because God judged the great prostitute.

Revelation 19:1 DBY - After these things I heard as a loud voice of a great multitude in the heaven, saying, Hallelujah: the salvation and the glory and the power of our God:
Revelation 19:3 DBY - And a second time they said, Hallelujah. And her (the great prostitute) smoke goes up to the ages of ages.
Revelation 19:4 DBY - And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and did homage to God who sits upon the throne, saying, Amen, Hallelujah.

The great prostitute (Rev 17.1, 19.20) mentioned here does not represent a woman, but is representative of the world religious system. All religions, including Christianity, draw man away from God and focuses on works or actions.

Religion is the discovery of man. God is not connected or affiliated to any religion. God send Jesus to prepare a way for us. He came to restore man’s lost relationship with God. Jesus always spoke about relationship with His Father, God. If he wanted to direct people to a religion he would have spoken for the Jewish religion, after all he was born a Jew.

The fourth and final time the word Hallelujah is written in the New Testament, it is in relationship with the Lamb’s wedding.

Revelation 19:6 DBY - And I heard as a voice of a great crowd, and as a voice of many waters, and as a voice of strong thunders, saying, Hallelujah, for [the] Lord our God the Almighty has taken to himself kingly power.

Jesus invites you to a very intimate relationship. You are invited to become his bride. Get ready.

The Bride or The Guest?

2009-05-25T11:45:00.004+05:30

Rev 19.9 speaks of the guests invited for wedding feast of Christ. “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”

In any wedding, the bride is the center of attraction. She stands beside her groom, radient and beautiful. She considers herself to be the happiest woman on earth. It’s Her Day. No bride is ever invited to her own wedding feast. There is no need for her to be invited. There will be no wedding feast without the bride. Yet many in the Christendom have nurtured the belief that the invitees to the Lamb’s wedding feast is the Bride herself. (Rev 19.9)

Then, who are these blessed guests? In our weddings, the invitees are often the friends and relatives of the bride and groom. If that is so, we may safely assume that Jesus’ friends and relatives will be part of the invited guests in His wedding feast too.

So now the question is who are his blood relatives?

Apostle John puts it this way in John 1.11, 'He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him'. Jesus, the Messiah was born a Jew. He was from the tribe of Judah. Many biblical scholars believe that all the Old Testament Jewish saints will be the invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. Revelation Chapters 7 and 14 also speaks of some 144,000 Jews that are sealed from all the 12 tribes of Israel. Then there are the martyrs from the great tribulation. The guest list of this wedding of the ages is very Long!

The invitees are called ‘blessed, yet it is the Bride who will take her place beside the Bridegroom. The groom is no ordinary man. He is neither an ordinary prince nor an ordinary king; he is the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords and the only begotten Son of Almighty God. He is the sole heir to God and His Bride is co-heir with Him.

To be the Bride of Christ should be our yearning. A bride’s thoughts are centered on her betrothed. She consults him on everything and refrains from everything that displeases him. She does everything to please her beloved. We are betrothed to our bridegroom Jesus and our thoughts, words and deeds must be pleasing to Him. Our focus should be Jesus and his wishes. Speaking of His Bride, Jesus once said that she hears His voice and follows Him implicitly, wherever He leads her. John 10.27

Are we staying close to Jesus’ heart? Are we listening to Him daily and following him wholeheartedly? Let us run the race to win, to win His heart and prepare to be His Bride.

(Adapted from Ps. Damien's Sunday sermon)

Make Your Own Wedding Gown.

2009-05-25T11:19:00.003+05:30

Bible speaks of the wedding gown the Bride (of Christ) will be given to wear at her wedding as self made. Unlike the western custom of ordering the fanciest wedding gown and trousseau, young girls in many oriental and eastern cultures painstakingly sew their own wedding gowns. The intricate embroidery works on each bride’s gown is a sure indication of her skillfulness and hard work.

Rev 19.7b – 8 speaks of the wedding of the Lamb (Christ). “For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)”

The righteousness mentioned here is not the righteousness of Christ it is the, righteous acts of the bride herself.

We became eligible to become Christ's bride because of the gift of righteousness given us by Christ. However, the fine linen gown worn by the Bride is the acts of righteousness done by her. She has prepared the gown and herself for the wedding ceremony.

Eph 2.10 says we are ‘created in Christ Jesus to do good works’. After our new birth experience we involve ourselves in various selfless good deeds like leading souls to Christ, helping the poor, etc. The Bible tells us that these good deeds become the embroidery on our wedding dress.

Now that we are washed in his Blood and given His righteousness, are we diligently at work on our wedding dress?

(adapted from Ps. Damien's sunday sermon)

Worry empties you of strength

2009-05-20T17:29:00.000+05:30

Are you facing a situation that seems hopeless? What are your options? Worrying about it? That’s no option, for worrying does not empty tomorrow of its trouble, it empties today of its strength.

In the Bible, Abraham was in a hopeless situation. Both Abraham and His wife, Sarah, were well beyond child-bearing years and Abraham didn’t see any reason to hope. Yet He had a promise from God that He would be the father of many nations. The scripture says—even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept on hoping. He chose to have an attitude of faith and expectancy, and God was faithful to Abraham and fulfilled His promise!

Let me encourage you today, to stop worrying and put on an attitude of faith and expectancy. The God of Abraham is still the faithful one and will turn your hopelessness into rejoicing.

Church Bulletins Bloopers !

2009-05-19T10:19:00.002+05:30

The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not "afflicted" with any church.
The Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done. Evening massage - 6 p.m.
The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.
Ushers will eat latecomers
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
The Rev. Meriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience.
Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice.
Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on "It's a Terrible Experience."
Today's Sermon: HOW MUCH CAN A MAN DRINK? With hymns from a full choir.
Potluck supper: prayer and medication to follow.
Don't let worry kill you off - let the church help.
The 2009 Spring Council Retreat will be "hell" May 2 and 3.
Pastor is on vacation. "Massages" can be given to church secretary.
8 new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."
The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment

My Brother’s Keeper

2009-05-09T10:28:00.002+05:30

"A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty" (Job 6:14NIV).

According to Biblical standards I am my brother's keeper. I am duty bound to help bear my brother's troubles and problems. read more