DIVINE HEALTH

I was listening to Pastor Joseph Prince this morning (on my way to work) and he said something very funny (with a hidden message of course!). When he was a young boy, he was into eating health foods and would eat a lot of salad greens. He quipped with a ‘So people think that eating carrots and greens like rabbits will give them health!’ He later went on to say that people confuse the ‘Health and Fitness’ issue with gaining health by eating/exercising right however, ‘Fitness’ comes from going to the gym and ‘Health’ comes from the Lord!

Pastor Prince was preaching on the topic of ‘Grace’ but I got inspired to write on ‘Divine Health’ today!

God's will that the human race be healthy was revealed in the Garden of Eden. Man was made in the image of God, possessing a perfect physical body that was free from sickness. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Gen.2:17). If Adam and Eve had obeyed God's command not to eat the forbidden fruit, they would have lived indefinitely in the Garden, enjoying the gracious bounty without sickness, disease, pain or death. Though man was created mortal, God intended that he should ultimately be immortal. The Tree of Life was planted in the midst of the Garden. If our first parents had resisted the temptation to disobey God's command, eventually they would have partaken of the Tree of Life and, as a result, lived forever. In fact, after they sinned, they were banned from the Garden to guard against that possibility. Until the fall, Adam and Eve had enjoyed the glory and vigor of ‘Edenic’ youth, without worry or care. But afterwards, life changed. There was generation after generation of sorrow, sickness and suffering. Man eventually turned back into dust from which he came. And, in the process, he experienced pain and suffering, incapacitating disease, the physical deterioration of old age and finally death.  

Therefore, here’s The Bible Secret of Divine Health:  Adam and Eve experienced divine health in the Garden of Eden before their fall. Sickness came as a result of sin. We are redeemed not only from sin, but also from sickness— the curse that follows sin—a double cure for a double curse!

(Please reflect on: 1Pet 2:24 below…..UNDERSTAND IT WELL and CLAIM IT! IT will guarantee you DIVINE HEALTH)

1 Pet 2:24 -“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

Somebody has said, ‘If you get into God’s dream, God gets into your dream’.

Often times, we blame the devil for not being able to achieve our dreams but Satan IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Jesus identifies the ‘flesh’ (Earthly thinking, carnal mindedness) as being the obstacle to achieving our dreams! It is in fact our Worldly, sinful mindsets that do not allow our dreams to turn into reality!

In Col 2:13-15, St. Paul points out that it is not God’s design for us to conquer Satan but your ‘flesh’. A Christian should never forget that he/she is more than a conqueror in Christ!

Earlier this month, I heard Bro. Johnson preaching the Word.  HE gave us the following example: Imagine a boxer who gets a heavy beating from his opponent … round after round … It is now the last round and in that round, the boxer gets one hard punch into the face of his opponent and knocks him out for the count! He comes home and hands over the trophy and the cash to his wife. His wife is shocked to see his bleeding face but the joy of winning, the trophy and the cash soon outweighs the pain and the bruises!

In the Christian context, Jesus has fought this war with Satan and has reduced him to a powerless creep! He can no longer harm us except for troubling us with tempting thoughts that can lead us to sin and hell! Therefore, if one goes to hell it is not for his/her sin but for UNBELIEF!

All that is required of us is to say, “LORD I NEED A SAVIOUR” and TURN TO JESUS. The moment he/she does that, you are on the way to be truly ‘BORN AGAIN’. You can then share in His victory and glory.

Come on brothers and sisters, it is time to CHANGE your MESS into a MESSAGE, your SCARS into STARS. Christians have been given the MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor 5:18). GO and give others the GOOD NEWS!

BECOME AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST!  (2 Cor 5:20)

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.

Recently, I was talking to a wonderful human being who, at the end of our conversation on 'Religion and Humanity', concluded with that oft heard cliché - 'All religions lead to God'. I shared with him a few thoughts on Christianity.

What makes the Christian religion different from every other religion is love. I'm not saying that other religions don't concern themselves with love (because every religion worth the title does deal with love), but that in Christianity love is the central reality, not just one among a number of other values, and it is given far more importance than in any other religion. This emphasis on love is what sets Christianity far above every other religion because love is the central reality of human life.

Christianity sees the basis of reality as love: the love that constitutes the Undivided Unity of the Divine Trinity pours itself out in creating the cosmos, and then reveals itself in Jesus' redemptive incarnation and sacrifice on the cross.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen 1:27)

Communally man bears the image of God in his ability to love another-- not only the love of the male for the female and of the female for the male, but also to love others in general. Perhaps the greatest of all of God's gifts to man was a share of his own divine life so that man would have the ability to do what only God is capable of doing: loving God with the infinite love of God.

God's love impelled him to take action to help his creatures gone astray so when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman (Gal 4:4) Jesus is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, who was sent for love of mankind:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.... The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (Jn 1:1-5,9-14)

In the last three years of his life, Jesus taught the truth behind the Jewish law (cf. Mt 5:17): the fullness of the truth about man and his place in creation. The morality of Christ is not a set of arbitrary laws designed to keep people from enjoying life. Quite the contrary. Jesus' teachings reveal who man is, and by accepting the truth about oneself, one becomes truly free. This is why Jesus himself proclaimed, ``You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'' (Jn 8:32)

MARTYRDOM

Martydom crowns the spires of the Church as the most dramatic act of witness for the faith. No matter how a Christians dies, he knows that he who endures to the end will be saved (Mt 10:22, 24:13; Mk 13:13), so that with the grace of God he can say with St. Paul I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim 4:7)

Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. (Jas 1:12)

 Vivia Perpetua was an early martyr. She was a twenty-two-year-old catechumen (person preparing to enter the Church) when she was arrested in 203 A.D. during the persecution of Emperor Severus. Her father was a pagan. She was still nursing an infant son at the time of her arrest. She was liberally educated and married to a man of high rank. In short, she possessed every advantage of Roman society, yet she looked upon her worldly goods as nothing next to eternal life with her Lord, the crown of the martyrs. Her written account of her stay in prison, partially reprinted here, stands as a powerful witness to the trials she underwent.

A few days afterwards, a rumor was spread that we were to be examined. On hearing this, my father hastened again to the prison I saw at once the deep sorrow depicted on his countenance; he looked pale and emaciated with anxiety He came to me and said:

`My daughter, have pity on my gray hairs; have pity on thy father, if I still deserve to be called by that name. If thou still rememberest, that with these hands I have brought thee up to this the flower of thy age; if I have cherished thee more fondly than any of my other children, do not make me a laughing-stock to men. Look upon thy brothers, look upon thy mother and thy aunt; have compassion on thy darling babe, that cannot survive thee. Lay aside that haughtiness and foolish courage, before thou bring us all to ruin. Shouldst thou perish by the hand of the executioner, which of us shall therefore be able to lift up his head?'

Thus spoke my father, and taking my hands, he kissed them; he threw himself at my feet, and shedding a flood of tears, he called me no longer his daughter, but his lady. A great sadness overpowered my soul at this moving scene, which was much increased when I reflected, that my father was the only person in the family who would not rejoice at my Martyrdom! I endeavored to console him, and said: `My father, grieve not; nothing will befall me upon the scaffold, save what is pleasing to God. Remember that we are all in God's power, not in our own.' Then my father, without uttering a word, went away, weeping as if his heart would break.

The following day, whilst we were taking our meal, some officers suddenly presented themselves, and summoned us to appear before the judge We repaired to the forum The report of our trial had already been spread throughout the city; a vast concourse of people of every rank filled the tribunal one after another we were ordered to mount an elevated platform, whereon was seated Hilarian, the Procurator of the Province. Every one of my companions, when interrogated, generously confessed the Faith. It was now my turn; I was ready to make, without fear or trepidation, the same firm confession of my Faith, when behold, I see my father standing before me with my infant in his arms. He draws me a little aside, and, in a tone of gentlest supplication, he addresses me:

`O my daughter, have pity on thy innocent babe!' Hilarian, the judge, seeing the entreating looks of my father, immediately joins in: `Spare the gray hairs of thy father,' says he, `have' pity on this little infant. Sacrifice for the prosperity of the Emperors!'

`I will not do it,' I reply.

`Art thou then a Christian ?' asks Hilarian.

`Yes, I am a Christian,' I answer.

The boldness with which I made this confession, seemed to embarrass the magistrate Meanwhile, my father did not cease by words and looks to urge me to comply with the command of the judge. But Hilarian, recovering himself, and seeing that all endeavors of persuading me would end in disappointment, ordered one of the officers to send away my father. This officer, in order to enforce compliance with his command, was so bold as to strike my father with his stick. This blow afflicted me more than all I had hitherto endured. I knew how sensibly the disgracefulness of such an act would affect my aged parent, who had never failed to resent the least insult offered to any member of his family. Wherefore, I grieved much more for my father's sake than I would have done, had I myself been publicly beaten with rods.

After this, Hilarian pronounced our sentence, whereby we were all condemned to be exposed to the wild beasts. Our condemnation filled us with the greatest joy, and we returned cheerfully to our prison.

(from Acts of the Early Martyrs, vol. 1, by J.A.M. Fastre, 1873)

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF HOPE.

Brother Johnson is in town and his 'adventures of faith' have been in full swing over these past three days! He started preaching on the topic 'OUR GOD IS A GOD OF HOPE' and continued it over the three days with lots of breaks for 'live demonstrations' of how faith works through the Word of God, which in John 1:1 (onwards) we learn is Christ himself - 'The Word made flesh'.

Many were healed of their illnesses as per the measure of Bro. J's faith and the sufferer's response to the Word that was preached. My most beautiful moment came when in the middle of a prayer, my phone alerted me to an incoming message. Usually i put the phone off during prayer meetings but it was left on for a specific reason - God wanted to gift me with an 'answered prayer' - ' Mary had been discharged from hospital!'

You must be wondering who Mary is right?
Well it began with a call from Pakistan on the 5th of Mar 2012, pleading for Bro. Johnson's number and prayers for her sister who was involved in a serious accident in which she was badly hurt and rendered unconscious. She was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. I immediately sent a text message to Bro.J asking him to keep Mary in prayers.

A distraught relative (of Mary) from Abu Dhabi also called me and kept reporting Mary's progress through sms. I prayed and believed in Mary's complete recovery. Each passing day i was getting messages like, 'Mary has opened her eyes. She is responding to our voices', " She has started taking in some foods', 'She has started moving her limbs' etc. Deep down in my heart i knew that God had a purpose in saving Mary and my job was to interpret the Holy Spirit's prompting and send 'life giving scriptures' and 'instructions' through sms.

When i received today's message, i was overjoyed that the message that was being preached (Our God is a God of Hope), had indeed proved true!

JESUS IS A GOD OF HOPE!

PULL BACK ALL THE WAY!

Every archer knows that to make his arrow fly to the target, he needs to pull back on the bowstring all the way. Not only does he have to pull back, he also has to point the arrow in the right direction and release it such that the trajectory of the arrow is adjusted to take into consideration the influence of the wind as the arrow flies through the air towards the target. It not only takes good muscles but also a good practise regime to become a sharp shooter. If William Tell was not skilled at archery, his son would have died from his own arrow! That kind of confidence can only come through hours of practise!

We can apply this example and infer many valuable lessons from it. The commonest application of that example that springs to mind is of a businessman who, before launching his business studies the market well, researches products that are in demand and are sure to sell, draws up a business plan, arranges his funds and ONLY AFTER he has done all this amount of ‘PULLING BACK’ does he launch his business! (Which is bound to have a higher success rate than that which is set up by someone copying another successful business!).

A better application of this example would be in the case of SPIRITUAL WARFARE. I’ve seen cases when spiritual leaders have confronted people possessed by demons and have ended up being tormented by the same demons instead of casting them out once and for all. This is akin to pulling the arrow back just a little bit and releasing it … it would only pierce your own foot right?

 There is a case like this in the Bible in Acts 19:13-16: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognise, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

The above example also applies to all those who seek healing. IF you want God’s power to manifest in your life, soak yourself in the Word until you reach a point when you are totally trusting in God and His great plans for you.

IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO A SPIRITUAL BATTLE OF ANY SORT, REMEMBER TO ARM YOURSELF WITH THE WORD OF GOD!

RAISING TEENAGERS!

My son Leander is just over sixteen and has a mind of his own! He reads a lot and philosophy is his pet subject besides cinema. Of course, most parents who have teenage sons and daughters will agree that they're going through a hard time understanding their children. Gone are those days when we, in our generation would not dare question our parents (or else suffer the belting!).

Children of today demand to be 'heard' and their 'space' respected. Parents have to 'reason out' with them rather than 'bark orders' at them. If the reason is good most of today's children will listen and fall in line however, if the reason for expecting them to do anything is not 'good enough', you can threaten to do all you want and the only retort will be. " Ma/Da, you are being unreasonable".

Yesterday, we all (The Dias family) set out for church and 'The way of the Cross' service, after much pleading with the boys. It was only after several murmurs like ... "So boring'... " Why are you forcing us"... " I'm tired" .... "I'm not in the mood" etc. that we set out for church. We were taking a lift with our Bro/Sis-in-law since finding parking for two cars outside church would be senseless. When we had dropped the ladies off at the church gate, the men and the boys went to find parking. My bro-in-law, who was listening to Leander moan in the car, lashed out at me saying this is all my fault for not instilling in Leander and Leroy the love of the age-old traditions of the Catholic Church and those our fore-fathers have left behind. Later he went on to firmly explain to Leander how his (Leander's) mom's father would make it a point, come rain or sunshine, to participate in all the church functions, specially the 'Way of the Cross'. Leander and i were both silent after that outburst, more because we were not expecting it!

During the service, i was reflecting on all that was being 'rattled' from the 'small booklet' by people. I usually never read from the little booklet for i do my own reflection at each station but strangely, a lady standing in front of me turned around and handed me a booklet even though i politely declined. But she just wouldn't take it back! (Maybe the Holy spirit wanted me to have it!). I began to reflect on words like, "I embrace all the suffering You have destined for me until death" and "nail my heart to the cross" - written on it! .... Did i really mean these words? Did everyone who were present there also meaning these words (Who am i to judge anyways!). I then thought of my own family going faithfully to church every Saturday morning but coming out the same (sometimes even worse than before we entered the church) ... and then it dawned on me that the children were noticing all this and deep down in their consciousness, were making their own deductions about religion and its futile efforts to unite rather than divide humanity!

As i write this article, I'm reminded of my own Catholic upbringing. I was literally pushed out of bed at 5.30 in the morning, to go for mass with Gran from the early age of 6, EVERYDAY! I was an alter boy from the age of 6 and served mass until i remained in Goa (Age 22). I was a member of the 'Legion of Mary' and later 'The Grace Youth Association' for many years. During my late teens, i secretly believed there was no God. I went to church even when i was doing a lot of 'bad' things, only to impress my family and extended family. I came to Dubai, fell into bad company, drank like a fish, womanised ..... Finally i got married ....had kids ... but through all this ... still continued going to church just to 'show others that i was still PART OF THE FOLD'.

But until the 'CONVERSATION MOMENT' i had some three and a half years ago, i was really not going anywhere with my 'form of Christianity'. Until i received a 'personal' touch from my Lord, i was just another 'Sunday christian'. I would rather help my children come to their 'conversion moment' as soon as possible then to force them and make them revolt! There's a lot to be said about the CONVERSION MOMENT! Unless we come to the point where we truly KNOW Jesus, we will not be able to LOVE Him and therefore, we will not be able to SERVE Him!

(More on the 'CONVERSION MOMENT' next time!)

THE MAIN THING

Not too long ago I heard someone say, "The Main Thing is to keep the Main Thing the Main Thing!"

Of course the question is, "What is the Main thing"?

Yes, Evangelism is important - but why do we want to get people saved? Just so they can have a better life? No, so they can be brought into right relationship with God, so they can fulfil their eternal destiny, to worship God.

Yes, Education is important - but what are we going to teach? We need to teach people the revealed truth about God so that when they worship Him, they know who they are worshipping, and they are given right reasons to worship Him.

Yes, Fellowship and Caring are important - but what is it that binds us together and provides the necessary love to cause us to lay down our lives for our brethren? It is our common and collective experience of coming into the presence of God in worship. 

The Bible says that, "The hour has come and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him." (John 4:23).  If we will internalize the how important our worship is to God, we would honestly be more careful and intentional in the way we live.

Even David told himself that he would bless the Lord. Psalm 34:1 says, "I will bless the Lord at all times, his praises shall continually be in my mouth." In Psalm 42 David begins with a longing for the Lord because he felt alone. However as the psalm continues, he remembers what once was, he asks himself why he's so discouraged and then chooses to praise the name of the Lord. It didn't matter what was happening, or who was with him or against him. He could care less. Psalm 42: 11 says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." He remembered how God had delivered Him in the past and knew that God never changes. He willed to worship God.

Now we know that David did not live a perfect life and I am glad to know that even in his insufficiencies he was the man after God's own heart. But one thing I am sure of, he learned what God wanted from his life. He told us through scripture how we need to live a life of worship to God.

None of us are exempt from living a life of worship. Too many people think that worship is just for the time we spend in church. They call it a worship service. But in reality, we only begin to worship on that Sunday morning or Saturday nights for some.

Without a doubt, for the church of Jesus Christ, the "Main Thing" is "Worship".

GAYATRI

She sat in front of me totally oblivious of the fact that her mom had brought her to me for a caricature to be drawn. I gave her a hard, long look and tried to figure out how I was going to draw her. She was beautiful and I trembled as I began the pencil sketch.

There was no symmetry to her face. But she was beautiful.

Her eyes were rolling up into the sockets. But she was beautiful.

She just wouldn't hold her head straight and looked heavenward everytime. But she was beautiful.

Her hands and feet were disproportionate and askew. But she was beautiful.

Her tongue darted out from between her cute little lips and drooled. But she was beautiful.

My hands trembled and I fought back tears as I drew the picture of the sweet little Gayatri. I'm imagining her now and tears are rolling down my cheeks as I write this article (Because there's just me and my God … and I'm lamenting the fact that I couldn't muster up enough faith to hold the little hands of Gayatri and say to her like John did to the cripple in Acts 3: 1 – 26, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” (Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong).

If only I had the faith of Peter, I would have seen Gayatri jumping out of her wheelchair, walking and leaping and praising God!

It was not a fluke that the Holy Spirit made me accept the request of AL NOOR SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL to be the caricature artist for a whole eleven and a half hours yesterday, to raise funds. I saw many parents with their 'special' children walk past me and I said a prayer for each one but I never expected a parent would get a caricature done of her 'special' child.

Guess what I drew … Instead of highlighting the imperfections of her face I outlined her features to resemble GAYATRI but more like how God would look at her SPIRIT and her PURPOSE on this earth and not her outward appearance.

The sweet Gayatri was sent specially to me by the Holy Spirit and challenge me in my faith.

 My favorite verse in the Bible is Mark 9:24, which ends with the phrase, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" That pretty well sums up my spiritual journey.

THE NUMBER 40

I thought of writing a few of my notes from Aneel Aranha’s teaching yesterday (@HOLY SPIRIT INTERACTIVE). I made a little more study as regards the number 40 and noted down more bible references, to drive the point home.

There are a number of biblical references to Forty Days (and nights)

-Forty days Moses was in the mount, Exodus 24:18; and to receive the Law, Exodus 24:18.

-Forty days Moses was in the mount after the sin of the Golden Calf, Deuteronomy 9:18, 25.

-Forty days of the spies, issuing in the penal sentence of the 40 years, Numbers 13:26, 14:34.

-Forty days of Elijah in Horeb, 1 Kings 19:8.

-Forty days of Jonah and Nineveh, Jonah 3:4.

-Forty days Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah's transgression.

-Forty days Jesus was tempted of the Devil, Matthew 4:2.

-Forty days Jesus was seen of His disciples, speaking of things pertaining to God's kingdom, Acts 1:2.

-Throughout the Bible the number 40 is associated with a time of testing, as also is the case with Jesus fasting in the wilderness and the following tempting by the Devil. The Devil was testing Him, obviously in the hopes that He would fail the "test", which of course Jesus did not fail.

-According to Hebrew numerology, the number forty symbolizes trial. It suggests a long period of time in which a person, or people, face challenge. In the Old Testament: After Noah builds the ark, it rains for forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7). When Moses ascends the mountain to meet God, he stays forty days and forty nights before God bestows the law upon him in the form of two stone tablets. (Deuteronomy 9). After the Israelites a freed from slavery in Egypt, they wander in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 14). Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, takes his stand in front of the Israelite army for forty days before David faces him (1 Samuel 17). After Elijah kills the prophets of Baal, he eats and drinks and is able to travel for forty days and forty nights on the strength of that food (1 Kings 19). When Jonah prophesies to Nineveh, he declares the city's destruction in forty days (Jonah 3).

- In the New Testament, After Jesus is baptized in the river Jordan, he is driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, where he is tested for forty days Matthew 4; Luke 4; Mark 1). When the Apostle Paul recounts his suffering to the Corinthians, he says received the punishment of forty lashes minus 1 on five separate occasions (2 Corinthians 11).

What are we to learn from all this?

Whenever one goes through any ‘desert experience’ acknowledging God’s presence, that person will always have ‘manna’ (Supernatural provision) to survive the harsh reality of the ‘desert experience’.

During that testing, if one depends entirely on the WORD OF GOD, that person WILL come out of his/her ‘desert experience’ VICTORIOUS and BLESSED beyond measure.