This article has been long overdue! Ever since i returned from Sri Lanka, I've been up to my eyeballs in work! I guess those are the blessings that I'm enjoying as a result of sowing into 'good works'.
Exactly three years ago Dilrukshi (Sister Dilu) had expressed a desire to have an orphanage of her own in Sri Lanka. She belongs to our prayer group in Dubai and has been instrumental in taking Bro. Johnson to Colombo. It has been three years now since JCILM was established there and today, hundreds have offered their lives to Jesus!
Ever since God instilled the desire in Dilu's heart, land for the orphanage has been gifted to her free of cost. She is already looking after about 30 children from the slums, providing them free meals every day. She continues to work in Dubai but supports her friends who have dedicated their lives to this service in Sri Lanka.
Just a couple of months ago, i recommitted my services to designing the orphanage. At that time, Dilu told us by faith to get ready to go there around the 10th of Jan 2013. Of course i said yes not knowing what was in store for me regarding my job!Even though i lost my job, I offered this trip up to the Lord and before i left for Sri Lanka on the 14th, i had the license of our firm DIASQUARE JLT in my hand! By this time, my brother Antonio had also consented to come along with me to Sri Lanka.
Ever since we landed at Bandarinaike International Airport in Colombo to now, the blessings have never stopped pouring into our lives! Before we left Dubai, the Lord had given me the following message through Psalm 3: 5,6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Just a few things worth mentioning:
- When we visited the various government authorities in Sri Lanka to get the project going, we saw the mighty hand of the Lord as we were accorded a rare welcome, with government servants actually rising from their seats and running around doing all the paperwork for us. They even helped fill our application forms! (Believe me ... if it was in Goa, what we achieved in 2 days would have taken us a month!)
- Antonio and i wanted to visit the survey department but for some strange reason, the 'Trishaw ( Rickshaw, in India :-) took us to Child Protection Authority! Nevertheless, trusting in God that it was not a mistake, we decided to go in and meet the Chairperson. We had no appointment with her but we sat in the waiting hall and prayed. I told the others to get ready to go in any moment and it actually happened! The Chairperson saw us and asked several questions regarding the orphanage. I was silently praying in the spirit. Dilu was heartbroken to hear that the government had stopped giving licenses to orphanages due to the abuses happening there! But God turned her despair into great joy the very next moment when the Chairperson suggested that the building be called a SAFE HOME for abused children. She even said that it would be the first of many such homes in the country and that she had absolutely no issues with the home being run on Christian principles! She even agreed to keep young pregnant girls until their delivery, in the same home and said that Dilu could raise those children as a foster parent! All assistance to get the plans approved would be granted by the ministry. They even volunteered to provide operational assistance for the home!
- Fr. Sanjeeva Vas, a professor in the seminary (Ampitiya) teaching 'Christology' said mass in Dilu's house. People from the ward were also invited and the service turned out to be an amazing one. The sermon was absolutely soul stirring and the young priest's passion to unite the people of his parish through weekly masses celebrated in people's houses was a great way of building the 'body of Christ'. It also happened to be the feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz (Missionary from Goa to Ceylon) who the Sri Lankans revere to this day!
- We visited Pastor Roshan's church and were touched to hear the story of a growing church. His prayers were also answered through our visit to Sri Lanka as he needed Architects to advise how he could extend the hall and other facilities.
-During a dinner invitation from Bro. Paul, who leads worship at Bro. Johnson's meetings, we came to know that he too was praying for Christian architects to help him in realising a long standing dream to own his own apartment block in an opulent zone in Colombo. We were introduced to several such buildings just to have an idea of the type of apartments which were on offer so that we could design accordingly. It appears that God has great plans for us in Sri Lanka!
- The tour of Pollonnarwa, Dambulla, Kandy, Srigiriya, Kelany Temple, Colombo and Negombo broadened our thinking as we were transported 2000 years back into history into the very lives of the early Kings and Monks who lived there. We couldn't stop marvelling at their art, engineering and Architectural genius!
- We were also blessed to hear Bro. Trewin's testimony of how the Lord had delivered him from Cancer! It is a long story and i will leave it for another time!
Friends, if you ever wanted to go someplace real nice for a vacation, consider Sri Lanka. And please do not book a hotel in one place but rather do a 'point-to-point' stay along the entire site seeing circuit of Anuradhapura (Ancient City and first capital), Pollonarua (2nd Capital), Dambulla and Kandy etc. It is an affordable place (1 Indian Rupee = 2.3 Sri Lankan Rupees). The people are friendly and the food is excellent!
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Sunday, 6 January 2013
YOU ARE A MIRACLE WORKING PEOPLE!
My family (All four of us!) has been down with some viral cold/fever for the past few days and has been battling it with a lot of prayer and believing. We all want our healing to come instantaneously but most times it comes and some even lose their hope in that waiting period!
Last night, the HS explained it all through Pastor 'D' ...
Choosing Jesus as our model for the study, Pastor made the following observations:
Jesus very clearly states in Luke 4:18, the purpose of His ministry :
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,[a]
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Again in Matthew 4:23,24
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
And in Mark 1:14,15...
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom[a] of God,
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel!
It is clear from the above scripture verses that Jesus was fulfilling the will of His father to establish HIS KINGDOM here on earth. Interestingly, the way He was doing it was with POWER and GLORY and the Apostles, disciples and the early church
When Jesus healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law (See Luke 4:38-41), he 'REBUKED' the fever and it left her body! It is clear from the word 'rebuked' that Jesus was treating all sickness as being caused by the evil one! His ministry had a lot of 'Deliverance Cases'! He 'laid hands' on each sick person and He healed them!
Did Jesus say the following words in John 14:12 or not?
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Again, in Mat 10:1...
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
So, friends, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you are a MIRACLE WORKING PEOPLE! YOU ARE CARRYING GOD"S GLORY! PREACH THE GOSPEL AND SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL SURELY FOLLOW YOU!
.............................................................................................................................................................
NOTE:
For those of you who are trying to 'walk the path' but are not 'getting the same results' as Jesus and the early Church did, here's some encouragement for you!
There are 4 possible answers to your 'healing prayer' requests:
YES! - You will see an instant miracle right after you have prayed over someone!
YES, BUT NOT NOW!- The person may need a proper 'deliverance' before the healing can come.
YES, WHEN YOU MEET GOD"S CONDITIONS - The person will need to release forgiveness, change sinful attitudes etc.
NO! - You will not see an immediate manifestation of what you prayed for. (Remember Paul in 2 Cor 12:7-9? He prayed to God to remove a particular 'affliction' from his body but he had to be content with 'My grace is sufficient for you' as an answer!))
If you have any questions, i will forward them to Pastor 'D' for you and he will surely respond!
Thursday, 3 January 2013
HOW TO RECEIVE A 'DOUBLE PORTION' in 2013!
Pastor 'D' (Grace Covenant church) has announced that the year 2013 would be a year when one can avail of a 'double portion' from the Lord. Here's how!
It is common knowledge that most Christians find the Book of JOB very depressing! However, to the ones who reflect on it will find it very interesting! Let's learn how to get a 'double portion' from JOB's testimony:
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. - JOB 1:1-3
His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. - JOB 1:4-5
JOB was a blameless and upright man yet he lived in fear of losing all that he had! His children were sinners and he offered sacrifices to atone for their sins lest God punished them! He was in love with the Lord but he had FEAR inside of him! We all know that FEAR and FAITH cannot coexist in our spirit. Fear CANCELS Faith!
When God allows Satan to test JOB's faithfulness, Satan uses the very weakness of JOB against him - The fear of losing his children and all that he had!
But Romans 14:23 reminds us that whatever is not of faith is SIN!
Thus JOB stops being 'blameless and upright' the moment he is in fear! He has sinned!
When JOB still remains faithful to the Lord, Satan attacks his body and covers his body with sickness and pain! Yet JOB does not curse God!
What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me. - JOB 3:25
A very interesting turn of events happens here when his own three friends (who have been envious of him all along!) appear on the scene. Instead of encouraging him with words of comfort, they condemn JOB as a sinner!
In JOB 19:25, he at last reaches his 'zero point' and depends completely on God:
I know that my redeemer[c] lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[d]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[e] in[f] my flesh I will see God;
It is common knowledge that most Christians find the Book of JOB very depressing! However, to the ones who reflect on it will find it very interesting! Let's learn how to get a 'double portion' from JOB's testimony:
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. - JOB 1:1-3
His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. - JOB 1:4-5
JOB was a blameless and upright man yet he lived in fear of losing all that he had! His children were sinners and he offered sacrifices to atone for their sins lest God punished them! He was in love with the Lord but he had FEAR inside of him! We all know that FEAR and FAITH cannot coexist in our spirit. Fear CANCELS Faith!
When God allows Satan to test JOB's faithfulness, Satan uses the very weakness of JOB against him - The fear of losing his children and all that he had!
But Romans 14:23 reminds us that whatever is not of faith is SIN!
Thus JOB stops being 'blameless and upright' the moment he is in fear! He has sinned!
When JOB still remains faithful to the Lord, Satan attacks his body and covers his body with sickness and pain! Yet JOB does not curse God!
What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me. - JOB 3:25
A very interesting turn of events happens here when his own three friends (who have been envious of him all along!) appear on the scene. Instead of encouraging him with words of comfort, they condemn JOB as a sinner!
In JOB 19:25, he at last reaches his 'zero point' and depends completely on God:
I know that my redeemer[c] lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[d]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[e] in[f] my flesh I will see God;
As soon as JOB completely and truly begins to depend on God and surrenders to God completely, believing and trusting ONLY in His ability to save him, does God intervene! JOB realises and is convicted of his unworthiness!
After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. JOB 42:10
God restores him ONLY WHEN HE FORGIVES HIS 'FRIENDS'!
..............................................................................................................................................................
A SIDE NOTE:
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—John 1:12
Here's where we make the mistake in our lives and fall short of tasting the glory of God - If we are the 'Children of God', HE is our PERFECT FATHER. If we trust God to be our father, there should be no fear and therefore perfect peace should be our lot! The words DO NOT FEAR have been repeated 365 times in the Bible!
ALAS! IF ONLY WE COULD BELIEVE THIS!
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
AARON'S BLESSING
During Mass today, one of the readings was taken from the Book of Numbers. The following extract is what jumped out at me!
The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;26 the Lord lift up his countenance[a] upon you and give you peace - Num. 6:24-26
The above is an instruction to Aaron through Moses as to how he was to bless His people. Since through Christ, we are the 'seed' of Abraham, we can boldly say that Aaron's blessings hold good for all those in Christ even to this day! What better way to start the New Year than to know of our inheritance through Abraham!
The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;26 the Lord lift up his countenance[a] upon you and give you peace - Num. 6:24-26
The above is an instruction to Aaron through Moses as to how he was to bless His people. Since through Christ, we are the 'seed' of Abraham, we can boldly say that Aaron's blessings hold good for all those in Christ even to this day! What better way to start the New Year than to know of our inheritance through Abraham!
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. - Heb 6:13-16
The blessing given to Abraham continues to affect his 'seed' to this day. It is only through FAITH that we can access the blessing! Tell yourself again and again, 'I AM BLESSED. I AM A CHILD OF GOD. WITH GOD ON MY SIDE WHO CAN BE AGAINST ME?'
Whatever blunders you may have done in the past, that door is shut now and that 'moment in time' cannot be revisited and put right! But a new door has opened in 2013 which affords the opportunity to 'repair' whatever 'damage' we may have caused in relationships with man or God.
Let us resolve to evolve into a New Creation in Christ this year! Let the 'pursuit of Holiness' continue throughout this year!
Monday, 31 December 2012
'STANDING IN THE GAP' IN 2013
I
attended the Grace Covenant Church's Intercessory Meeting last night. We started off with Pastor
Sam opening the meeting with a prayer calling on the Holy Spirit to give us
fresh revelation for the New Year. There were many who prayed for the normal
intentions but bang in the middle of the supplications the Holy Spirit spoke
up through Pastor 'D' and boy-oh-boy, was it a powerful message!
He
began expounding on the following scripture:
12 And from the days of
John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the
violent take it by force. – Matt.11:12
The
church was meant to be powerful on earth, warding off every attack from satan's
kingdom. We were meant to be God's military on earth with mighty weapons such
as The WORD OF GOD, WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY (Power in JESUS' NAME) and THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
The church has instead backslidden and has been rendered powerless
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power –
1 Cor 4:20
NO POWER, NO KINGDOM!
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven – Matt. 6:10
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven – Matt. 6:10
We were to establish the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth but are far
from it. We've allowed God's church on earth to be steamrolled by the powers of
darkness!
We may be humans but we're called to declare 'a spiritual war'!
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
according to the flesh – 2 Cor 10:3, 4
The Bible prophesies that Elijah will come again before the second
coming of Christ. It has been revealed to Men of God that the return of
Elijah will be a 'special manifestation' of the Holy Spirit when the 'end-time
church' will be involved in spiritual warfare just as Elijah had stood against
Jezebel, the high priestess of satan in the Old Testament.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and
by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death –
Rev 12:11
It is clear from the above scripture that eventually, the 'end time
church' will prevail against evil even if they have to lay down their lives
doing it! But this realisation must come upon the people of God now so that they start moving in the right dimension! Our prayers must 'BIND' and 'LOSE' as per the need, by the power invested by Jesus in us!
By the time the meeting ended, it was clear that the Holy Spirit
wanted a 'praying church' in 2013, not afraid to use all the spiritual weapons against satan's kingdom. THERE IS MIGHTY POWER IN INTERCESSORY PRAYERS!
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places – Eph. 6:12
(Please do pass on this message to other churches so that we can stand united in this 'spiritual war'!)
Saturday, 29 December 2012
THE THIEF
John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
For those of you who have understood what the 'thief' has done to the real meaning of Christmas will understand how subtle and destructive he is! Santa has replaced Jesus in popularity through the gifts he brings whilst the bible clearly tells us in James 1:17 that EVERY good and perfect gift comes from God! The Christmas tree brings great joy when it is put up and so did the 'tree decked with silver and gold that the heathen put up'- Jer 10:2-5! The festival is good but the focus is not!
Now that Christmas has come and gone, along with the merriment that accompanied it, let us settle down and contemplate on all that happened in the old year and resolve to set a theme for the new year that will keep us thoroughly focused on 'higher things'.
I suggest we decide to keep our eyes on our Lord at ALL TIMES and choose to follow Him and Him alone. Let us not look over his head, or sideways to try and look ahead at the path! Remember Peter? As long as he was looking at Jesus, he WALKED ON WATER! The moment he looked away, he was overwhelmed by the storm, wind and waves and began to sink! The 'thief' will employ every trick to distract you from your focus but be vigilant always!
If Jesus has come to us as the WORD made FLESH (Jn 1:1-5), and he came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:42 to 45), let us follow our great and humble 'king' and also SERVE in the coming year. The world badly needs to accept the saviour. WE KNOW WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES ... WE BADLY NEED A SAVIOUR! The sad thing is that many still need to know this truth and our CHRISTIAN LOVE seen through our life example is the only Gospel that others will be drawn to!
In serving others as Jesus did, we will be able to save other souls from eternal damnation. Are you ready to take on the great commission in 2013?
For those of you who have understood what the 'thief' has done to the real meaning of Christmas will understand how subtle and destructive he is! Santa has replaced Jesus in popularity through the gifts he brings whilst the bible clearly tells us in James 1:17 that EVERY good and perfect gift comes from God! The Christmas tree brings great joy when it is put up and so did the 'tree decked with silver and gold that the heathen put up'- Jer 10:2-5! The festival is good but the focus is not!
Now that Christmas has come and gone, along with the merriment that accompanied it, let us settle down and contemplate on all that happened in the old year and resolve to set a theme for the new year that will keep us thoroughly focused on 'higher things'.
I suggest we decide to keep our eyes on our Lord at ALL TIMES and choose to follow Him and Him alone. Let us not look over his head, or sideways to try and look ahead at the path! Remember Peter? As long as he was looking at Jesus, he WALKED ON WATER! The moment he looked away, he was overwhelmed by the storm, wind and waves and began to sink! The 'thief' will employ every trick to distract you from your focus but be vigilant always!
If Jesus has come to us as the WORD made FLESH (Jn 1:1-5), and he came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:42 to 45), let us follow our great and humble 'king' and also SERVE in the coming year. The world badly needs to accept the saviour. WE KNOW WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES ... WE BADLY NEED A SAVIOUR! The sad thing is that many still need to know this truth and our CHRISTIAN LOVE seen through our life example is the only Gospel that others will be drawn to!
In serving others as Jesus did, we will be able to save other souls from eternal damnation. Are you ready to take on the great commission in 2013?
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
'SEASON'
Dear friends, Whilst wishing each other compliments of the season, let us contemplate on the following commentary by JFBBC: Ec 3:1-22.
Earthly pursuits are no doubt lawful in their proper time and order (Ec
3:1-8), but unprofitable when out of time and place; as for instance, when
pursued as the solid and chief good (Ec 3:9, 10); whereas God makes everything
beautiful in its season, which man obscurely comprehends (Ec 3:11). God allows
man to enjoy moderately and virtuously His earthly gifts (Ec 3:12, 13). What
consoles us amidst the instability of earthly blessings is, God's counsels are
immutable (Ec 3:14).
1. Man has his appointed cycle of seasons and vicissitudes, as the sun, wind,
and water (Ec 1:5-7).
purpose-as there is a fixed "season" in God's "purposes" (for example, He has
fixed the "time" when man is "to be born," and "to die," Ec 3:2), so there is a
lawful "time" for man to carry out his "purposes" and inclinations. God does not
condemn, but approves of, the use of earthly blessings (Ec 3:12); it is the
abuse that He condemns, the making them the chief end (1Co 7:31). The earth,
without human desires, love, taste, joy, sorrow, would be a dreary waste,
without water; but, on the other hand, the misplacing and excess of them, as of
a flood, need control. Reason and revelation are given to control them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Remember, if you're going through a tough time right now, IT WILL LAST BUT FOR A SEASON! Meditate on the WORD OF GOD all the time and He will make your way prosperous (Whether in season or out of season!).
God bless you all!
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Remember, if you're going through a tough time right now, IT WILL LAST BUT FOR A SEASON! Meditate on the WORD OF GOD all the time and He will make your way prosperous (Whether in season or out of season!).
God bless you all!
Friday, 21 December 2012
MY CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO ALL
'The six men who raped a Delhi student on a bus had decided to "punish" her .... police sources said.'
Keeping the above 'news extract' of the heinous gang rape of the 23 year old medical student in Delhi as our backdrop, let us go to the following extract from the Holy Bible:
JOHN 8: 2-11 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the centre of the court, 4 they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the centre of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, [a]Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”
It is very easy for everyone to feel 'self-righteous' and at once get blinded by a false kind of zeal to 'punish' others for the 'wrongs' others do. In the case of the gang-rape victim, the perpetrators of the heinous crime tried to justify their loathful act by saying she deserved such a punishment!
The passage from the bible about the adulterous woman very clearly demonstrates that THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS AND ALL FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD! from the two that remain amongst the collection of stones left by the accusers, THERE IS ONE THAT IS FREE FROM SIN and by Jewish law, only he could have proceeded with the execution of the woman! Instead, He chooses to show mercy!
The core relevance of Christmas celebrations has been lost due to 'empty traditions'. It is the BIRTH OF OUR MESSIAH that we're celebrating and not His birthday! The power of the message of Christmas has been watered down by our vane traditions which have been used lucratively by traders and businessmen to make millions over this joyous season! Instead of enjoying the TRUE JOY that only our Lord Jesus can give, we chase after temporal vanities!
Isaiah 9:6 prophecies:
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will [a]rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
The above scripture was read/heard by me many times but it never made the impact like it did today!
When God created the heavens and the earth HE LOOKED AT HIS CREATION AND SAID 'IT WAS GOOD'. It was man's disobedience to God that severed the wonderful fellowship that man enjoyed with god. We now blame God for all the wrong that happens in the world. We forget that if we do not chose Jesus as our personal saviour, we will never reach that destination that unites us with God in heaven!
An easy illustration of the above truth: If you've boarded a train to take you from 'A' to 'B', the train will eventually take you to 'B' however, if you decide to get off at any other station along the way, the train will reach the destination WITHOUT YOU!
God is not the author of religions! God wanted to restore the relationship between man and Himself but man has instead invented religions. He sent his only begotten son Jesus to earth so that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
True joy will be experienced only when we allow the PRINCE OF PEACE to be born inside our hearts. Let us invite Him this Christmas to come into our lives and change us to the image and likeness of HIM!
Keeping the above 'news extract' of the heinous gang rape of the 23 year old medical student in Delhi as our backdrop, let us go to the following extract from the Holy Bible:
JOHN 8: 2-11 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the centre of the court, 4 they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the centre of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, [a]Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”
It is very easy for everyone to feel 'self-righteous' and at once get blinded by a false kind of zeal to 'punish' others for the 'wrongs' others do. In the case of the gang-rape victim, the perpetrators of the heinous crime tried to justify their loathful act by saying she deserved such a punishment!
The passage from the bible about the adulterous woman very clearly demonstrates that THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS AND ALL FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD! from the two that remain amongst the collection of stones left by the accusers, THERE IS ONE THAT IS FREE FROM SIN and by Jewish law, only he could have proceeded with the execution of the woman! Instead, He chooses to show mercy!
The core relevance of Christmas celebrations has been lost due to 'empty traditions'. It is the BIRTH OF OUR MESSIAH that we're celebrating and not His birthday! The power of the message of Christmas has been watered down by our vane traditions which have been used lucratively by traders and businessmen to make millions over this joyous season! Instead of enjoying the TRUE JOY that only our Lord Jesus can give, we chase after temporal vanities!
Isaiah 9:6 prophecies:
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will [a]rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
The above scripture was read/heard by me many times but it never made the impact like it did today!
When God created the heavens and the earth HE LOOKED AT HIS CREATION AND SAID 'IT WAS GOOD'. It was man's disobedience to God that severed the wonderful fellowship that man enjoyed with god. We now blame God for all the wrong that happens in the world. We forget that if we do not chose Jesus as our personal saviour, we will never reach that destination that unites us with God in heaven!
An easy illustration of the above truth: If you've boarded a train to take you from 'A' to 'B', the train will eventually take you to 'B' however, if you decide to get off at any other station along the way, the train will reach the destination WITHOUT YOU!
God is not the author of religions! God wanted to restore the relationship between man and Himself but man has instead invented religions. He sent his only begotten son Jesus to earth so that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
True joy will be experienced only when we allow the PRINCE OF PEACE to be born inside our hearts. Let us invite Him this Christmas to come into our lives and change us to the image and likeness of HIM!
Monday, 26 November 2012
CHRISTIAN 'BROTHER/SISTER'
I was speaking to my Christian 'brother' Denzyl today and i thought i'd look into the Bible to see the real reason for calling each other 'brother X' or 'sister Y' ... I came across the following scriptures and i though i'd share them with you. Of course there are many more scriptures in the Bible that speak about 'brother' but the following will suffice for now:
Mark 3:35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Therefore Jesus is our brother also.
If you are angry with your brother (a Christian), Jesus says:
Matthew 5:24 - "Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift".
Matthew 18:15 - "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over,"
Luke 17:3 - "So watch yourself. If your brother sins, rebuke him".
1John 2:9 - Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing, in him to make him stumble.
1 John 4:21 - And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Hmmmm ... i learnt something new today! DID YOU TOO? Please do share your thoughts with me brother/sister!
Mark 3:35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Therefore Jesus is our brother also.
If you are angry with your brother (a Christian), Jesus says:
Matthew 5:24 - "Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift".
Matthew 18:15 - "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over,"
Luke 17:3 - "So watch yourself. If your brother sins, rebuke him".
1John 2:9 - Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing, in him to make him stumble.
1 John 4:21 - And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Hmmmm ... i learnt something new today! DID YOU TOO? Please do share your thoughts with me brother/sister!
Thursday, 22 November 2012
STATUS OF MY RELATIONSHIP
Whenever we sing the song, "I AM A FRIEND OF GOD", i think back over the years and i recollect the times when i have not been in that particular 'status' of my relationship with Him. Honestly, the years when i was an atheist (1987-1989) were the darkest years of my life!
Yesterday, at Grace Covenant Church, Sister Ruth was given a chance to preach the Word of God. As she shyly (must have been her first time!) went about explaining her notes on the above subject, i suddenly found myself listening intently to the message that was unfolding in my mind. When challenged to rate my relationship with Jesus on a scale of 1-10, i was disappointed to mark myself a measly 4! (And this was not out of modesty but in truth!).
"Are you in an intimate relationship with Christ so much so you share all your secrets with Him?"
"Are you really a friend of God?"
"Do you trust Him enough to do what He said He would do for you?" (e.g. Hebrews 13:5, Is. 41:13, Ps. 55:22)
The questions came one after another and it was no longer Ruth who was speaking to me but the Holy Spirit convicting me of not making God my priority!
"How much time do you spend reading your newspaper?"
"How much time do you spend watching movies?"
"How much time do you spend in front of the mirror?"
I soon realised that i was spending very little time in His Presence, listening to His voice.
Psalm 5:3 - My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
By the time Ruth had completed her sharing with a 'How to rate' instruction, i had already made a decision to make the necessary corrections in my life.
She had said -
-Continue to strive to know Him more
-Those who are followers but don't yet have a relationship with Him, establish it and taste a victorious life!
-Those who are born Christians but do not follow even the Word, bring them to the understanding of what a relationship with Him will bring them!
Pastor David's built on Ruth's message since her message ended earlier than the scheduled time period. He brought us to the understanding that 'Mankind was to be the 'bride' of Christ. One can be blessed only after you get into that intimate love relationship with Christ. Christianity is all about love!
Your anointing is directly proportional to the intimacy of your relationship with God. In the Bible, we see Apostle John having such an intimate relationship with Jesus! He was the only one who came to the cross and Jesus even places His mother in his charge. Mary Magdalene was another. Her despair at not finding Jesus' body in the tomb and then His appearance to her in His glorified body speaks volumes about her relationship with Jesus.
Much is being said about 'the rapture' but how passionate are we in seeking that relationship with him so that we can one day be united with Him?
Let us do an audit of how much we spend time reading his Word. Reading the Bible is 'listening' to Him speak! You are taken into His presence ... and in His presence there is the fullness of joy!
James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Yesterday, at Grace Covenant Church, Sister Ruth was given a chance to preach the Word of God. As she shyly (must have been her first time!) went about explaining her notes on the above subject, i suddenly found myself listening intently to the message that was unfolding in my mind. When challenged to rate my relationship with Jesus on a scale of 1-10, i was disappointed to mark myself a measly 4! (And this was not out of modesty but in truth!).
"Are you in an intimate relationship with Christ so much so you share all your secrets with Him?"
"Are you really a friend of God?"
"Do you trust Him enough to do what He said He would do for you?" (e.g. Hebrews 13:5, Is. 41:13, Ps. 55:22)
The questions came one after another and it was no longer Ruth who was speaking to me but the Holy Spirit convicting me of not making God my priority!
"How much time do you spend reading your newspaper?"
"How much time do you spend watching movies?"
"How much time do you spend in front of the mirror?"
I soon realised that i was spending very little time in His Presence, listening to His voice.
Psalm 5:3 - My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
By the time Ruth had completed her sharing with a 'How to rate' instruction, i had already made a decision to make the necessary corrections in my life.
She had said -
-Continue to strive to know Him more
-Those who are followers but don't yet have a relationship with Him, establish it and taste a victorious life!
-Those who are born Christians but do not follow even the Word, bring them to the understanding of what a relationship with Him will bring them!
Pastor David's built on Ruth's message since her message ended earlier than the scheduled time period. He brought us to the understanding that 'Mankind was to be the 'bride' of Christ. One can be blessed only after you get into that intimate love relationship with Christ. Christianity is all about love!
Your anointing is directly proportional to the intimacy of your relationship with God. In the Bible, we see Apostle John having such an intimate relationship with Jesus! He was the only one who came to the cross and Jesus even places His mother in his charge. Mary Magdalene was another. Her despair at not finding Jesus' body in the tomb and then His appearance to her in His glorified body speaks volumes about her relationship with Jesus.
Much is being said about 'the rapture' but how passionate are we in seeking that relationship with him so that we can one day be united with Him?
Let us do an audit of how much we spend time reading his Word. Reading the Bible is 'listening' to Him speak! You are taken into His presence ... and in His presence there is the fullness of joy!
James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
