Hear the Servant

 

We are living in the world where people acts like God, consider themselves as Gods and show themselves as God to others. At the same time, we see some believers going after people and compel to take a dip in the water to be free from all the problems. Some visits houses and pray to get money.

What does Jesus tell about His servants? In Luke 10, Jesus calls 72 people and asked them to go and witness. He told them to preach peace, heal the sick (pray) and if they provide you food, take it. Servants of God should have a main objective to proclaim peace to the place they visit. So the first quality you can find in a genuine servant of God will be that he is a man of peace. He won’t visit you to divide your family, or relatives, or church. You can listen to him and his next quality will be to pray for your health and safety. That’s why Jesus is commanding His servants to go and heal the sick.

In 2 Kings 5, we see an army commander called Naaman, listening to a servant girl, went to see Elisha. Naaman had leprosy and he was expecting Elisha to do some great miracle for healing. But Elisha sent a messenger and told him to wash in Jordan seven times. He felt embarrassed to do so. But then he listened to his servants and went. The seventh time he went to the river, he got healed.

 A servant of God will be glorifying the cross and the sacrifice of Christ instead of his personal achievements. Listen to the ones who boast about Christ, not about himself. (Galatians 6).

Now days it is difficult to find a perfect servant of God. Lots of fake people are around for fulfilling their own personal needs. In the midst of these, we can recognize servants of God by the way they glorify Jesus and the peace and peaceful solutions they give after much prayer. May The Lord enable you to find these servants and get motivated to be one among them. May God bless you!

Just a love toward God can change your life

 

As today is the start of a new month, it is a good thing to have a decision to love God. Why we need to love Him? We need to love Him because He loved us first. (1 John 4: 19). Yes God loved us first and gave His son as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus could have stayed in heaven and enjoy His Heavenly Kingdom. But He choose to die for the sins we have done against Him. According to the law He suffered and died for our sins and through that His love towards us was shown.

How can we love Him? Of course for the above reason we can love Him. But to know Him and His sacrifice better, you need to study the law and The 10 commandments (Exodus 20). If you feel that you are a perfect person, try reading the commandments and the gospels in New Testaments. Christ has given wonderful and meaningful explanations of the commandments for us to understand that we are sinners. Once you find out you are a sinner and understand that Christ died and suffered for all your sins, you will start loving Him.

Is that enough? In John 14: 15, Jesus told if you love Him, you not only will accept Him as your savior, but also keep Him commandments. Yes, that is the way to show your genuine love and faith towards God. Keep His commandments. Holy Spirit will help you when you take a step and decide to live according to the commands of God (John 14).

Every time and in every situation, you will have a choice. God gave us intelligence to take decision. So in every situation it is up to you to take the right decision whether to go according to the word or according to the world. For that you need to know the word of God. So the first step is to read and meditate the word of God. Then you will understand which way to move forward or The Holy Spirit will guide you in your walk.

By showing your love towards God, you are going to be blessed because you will be taking the right decisions and even if you go the wrong way, you will confess the mistake and return to the way God wants you to move. Just a love toward God can change your life. May God bless you!

Self Control

Self-control is one of the important character or fruit a believer in Christ should have. You might always compare yourself with others or you may get excited or get depressed very often. You need self-control to know that you are a child of God and you are dealing with the Job God gave you very carefully.

“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control” – Proverbs 25:28.

               When you lose your thought that you are under the control of Christ, or you are guided by the Holy Spirit, devil will enter into your soul and take control. So scripture warns about the destruction which might not only occur to you, but to others through your lack of control.

               When evil people comes against you, to provoke you, just understand that you are in this world not to entertain them, but to lead a life which bring glory only to Christ, even though they talks bad on you. The toughest thing is when you live for Christ, and when people provoke you that you are the cause of every problem, don’t lose hope. Even though no one may know you, even though no one will see how you are fighting with the flesh, the God who created you and died for you knows your heart. Just think about that and be in control. There is no point in any argument with any one regarding scriptures or the belief in God. When you lead a holy life, even though you may not see the mighty victory, you will get a mighty peace inside your heart that is being given by the Holy Spirit.

               As you know self-control is a fruit of Holy Spirit and to achieve it perfectly, ask father to fill you with his Spirit in Christ’s name. When the anointing comes into your life, you will be a new person, separated from the evil world, guided by the self-control given by the Holy Spirit.

               There are high things to be done by a believer than to argue or quarrel with worldly people. You need to meditate on the scriptures, go to the needy and preach the good news, pray for the needy and be a witness for Christ. May the Almighty enable you to have the fruit of self-control and be a witness for Jesus Christ.

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life; You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.” – 1 Thessalonians 4: 11.

                                                                                                                                 Blogged on June 2013 

Carry The Cross

 

There is a misconception in the world that when a person submits his life to Christ, his problems in life ends. After that no problem will come to his life, he will prosper in all way of life. Because of this misconception, lots of people are questioning when there are asked to follow God. Well, I don’t find anywhere in Bible telling the person who follows Christ will have a luxuries or a problem free life. Instead I know the scripture that tells, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” – Mathew 16: 24

We can find Job a faithful servant of God being tested by Satan. He was tortured to the most that even his wife told him to leave God and die. These scriptures will tell us that you will be constantly tested in your life. But Job, the faithful servant did not go away from God, but had patience to see Gods way opened to him.

You can find the Disciples of Christ, how they were tortured when they preached the Gospel to the world. As a person who gets converted to Christ, might feel very good when their prayers will be answered instantly. But as you grow up in Christ, you will be tested; your faith will be tested to see whether you are loyal to God.

When you are tested, if you are in Christ, you will find a peace in your heart in the midst of all struggles. You will know that in all the problems God will make a way for you. Yes, with that promise, I urge you to be faithful, strong and ask Holy Spirit to lead you in the correct direction.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” – John 16: 33

Blogged on 2013

Grow your Hair

 In the Bible, Old Testament Judges, we study about Samson. From Judges 13 onwards we can see the life history of this Jewish person who was called by God to be the leader and Judge. When he was a boy itself, God blessed him with the Spirit. Judges 13: 24, 25. But in the next chapter we see his weakness exposed even though he was a man of God. Even though God commanded them not to marry outside Jews, he wanted to marry a Philistine woman. Satan found an opportunity to get into this person and he cashed it in.  

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” – Mathew 26: 41.

Satan will have different ways to conquer you. He might make you to take decision suddenly and destroy you (suicide). But most of the times, he will slowly take one by one step to destroy you. God gave strength to Samson to protect Jews, but he used it for his own pleasure. He went and fought against the Philistines for getting his weak desire. These were the steps devil took to put him under. 

When devil understood Samson can be tamed, it sent Delilah to him for temptation and finally Samson failed in it. The way Satan did it; you can read it in Judges 16. Delilah did not leave Samson without letting him tell his strength. His strength was his hair and once the enemy understood it, they shaved it fully. 

Same thing happens to many one of us. When we walk with God, he gives us his Spirit and guides us to do supernatural things. But even then Satan will try to get into us. Once we open a window for the devil, he will search for our weakness to know our strength. If we give room for him he will find our strength and destroy it to finish us.

Carefully read Judges 16: 21, 22 – “The Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. But his hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.” 

Yes, Samson’s strength was his hair and once the hair started to grow, Samson understood his strength has come back. Devil can take away our strength and make us weak. But God will give us a second chance to show our strength. The question is how you are going to use the new strength. Here in the life of Samson, he used the strength to kill all the Philistines who came to see his death and in the process he himself got died. 

Our strength may not be physical. But when it is gone, go to your basics. Ask God to change your situation and surrender unto him. Once he gives you the strength back, instead of trying to take revenge on the enemy, use the strength to do things which you are supposed to do. Use it to glorify the Lord. If your strength is music, sing and help someone to sing for the glory of God. If your strength is in doing a specific work, do it and help others to do, and make efforts to bring them to Christ.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” – Colossians 3: 23, 24

Blogged on July 2015

Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart

 In the Holy Bible, when you read the book of Exodus, God’s chosen children Israel lived in Egypt along with the Egyptians in peace and joy. But then came a new king in Egypt who made Israel slaves and tortured them, even killed their male child by throwing them into Nile (Exodus 1).

God heard the cry of Israel and He appointed Moses to be their leader to rescue them. Moses went to Pharaoh and pleaded him to let Israelites go to their promised land and worship God. But not only Pharaoh listened to him but also gave the Israelites more work and tortured them more. Then God brought plagues against the nation of Egypt, but the children of Israel were not affected. Pharaoh understood the power of God, but was not willing to obey Him. Every time a plague came, he called Moses and told he will let them go, but once the plague stopped, he will change his mind.

Finally God decided to show his mighty hand against the people of Egypt. So God hardened the heart of Pharaoh. Pharaoh tortured Israelites the most until God send an Angel to kill all the first born male Egyptians, including the house of the king. Pharaoh had a time when he got a chance to let Israel go. But instead of seeing the power of God, he hardened his heart. Finally the time came God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to put him under great destruction, because he rose against God’s children.

Today, we see how the nations are gathered against the country of Israel and have taken decision to wipe Israel from the world map. But still God is fighting for his chosen ones and made a small nation, a powerful one. Still knowing God is with Israel; the nations are hardening their heart and are trying to attack Israel daily. We see the number of rockets which are fired from Gaza to Israel. This is the same thing what happened to Pharaoh, “The Lord hardened their heart”, so to destroy them completely.

God is still guarding his people, the Old Israel, to show the New Israel, the ones who accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour, how He will keep them safe from their enemies. When you follow Christ and live for Him, persecution and opposition will come against you in different ways. You will see God helping you to come out of the troubled situation. But sometimes, persecution comes and your life will get harder. The same God who hardened the heart of Pharaoh is hardening the heart of the ones against you, to clear them up from your path towards your heavenly crown.

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put come of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” Revelation 2: 10.

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

Persecution and testing come against the children of God, who confess their sins and accept Christ as their saviour, who died as the punishment for your sins. “

As you confess your sins, accept Christ as your saviour and live a righteous life, May the Lord be with you, whatever opposition may be against you, God is going to destroy them in Jesus name. 

Blogged on 2019 November

The BOOK – The Commission

When you read the Gospel of Mathew 12, we see much controversy among the leaders concerning Jesus. Then we see a Life’s most important question in Mathew 16:13. “What do you think of Christ?” This is the question we need to ask ourselves. Peter replied to this question, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God”. It grasps Christ as the Messiah, the fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Hebrew prophets. This confession is great because it exalts Christ as the son of God and lifts him above humanity and crowns him with deity.

Mathew 21 to 28, we see the Triumph of the King. On the morning of Palm Sunday it was understood that Jesus was to enter the city. Jesus for the first time permitted a public recognition and celebration of his rights as Messiah-King. The end was approaching with awful swiftness and he must offer himself as Messiah, even if only to be rejected.

Christ’s authority was brought into question as he went into the temple and ordered the merchants out, overturning their tables and telling them they had made the house of God a den of thieves. A bitter controversy followed. “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words” (Mathew 22:15). He bade farewell to Jerusalem until he would come again to sit on David’s throne.

Much of Jesus discourse in Mathew 24 and 25 is devoted to Christ’s second coming. He exhorts us to be ready in the parables of the faithful servant (Mathew 24: 45-51), the ten virgins (Mathew 25:1-13) and of the talents (Mathew 25:14-30).

Although a large number of disciples believed in Jesus and followed him, the opposition of the religious leaders was bitter and they determined to put him to death. On the grounds of blasphemy, and of claiming to be King of the Jews, thus making himself the enemy of the Roman emperor, Jesus was delivered up by Pilate to be crucified. After hanging on that cross, the saviour died, not from physical suffering alone but of a broken heart, for he bore the sins of the whole world. We hear his triumphant cry, “It is finished”. He paid the debt of sin and became the world’s redeemer.

The mode of Messiah’s death had been foreshadowed by various types and symbols in the Old Testament. The brazen serpent in the wilderness signified that he was to be lifted up; the lamb upon the temple alter that his blood must be shed.

Jesus was put in Joseph’s tomb, and on the third day he arose, as he had said. People thought he was dead and his kingdom had failed. By his resurrection, Christ assured his disciples that the king still lived and that one day he will come back to establish his kingdom on earth.

The climax of the book is found in his great commission. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mathew 28:18-20).

Christian faith is no national or racial religion. It knows no bounds of mountain or sea, but it envelops the globe. We are called not to run the world with armies and make people submit under the sword, nor are we called to bribe people and make them submit to get the numbers. A follower of Christ is called to be an example to the people around him and teach them and show them how to live a Christ centred life and pray for their needs so that the Spirit of God will turn them in the path of living water. May God bless you to be a faithful servant of the most high.

Blogged on 2017

Temple of Holy Ghost

 

When you say a temple of God, we might think about an architectural building. But see what our Lord is saying through his word – “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Our God is considering us into another level from the rest of the world. If you are a child of the most Holy one, you are his temple and he lives in you. Of course, to be his child you need to confess your sins and ask him for the forgiveness from your sin and ask him to wash you by the blood of Christ Jesus who died for sinners.

This is the difference that God wants us to have from rest of the world. But most of the people who claim themselves as Christians are almost equal to those who are not. Now, how you become equal with them is that you are not keeping your body the temple of the Holy Spirit. See, you might think, ok I believe in Christ and I go to church regularly and take part in all the spiritual activities. But then analyze yourself, whether your body is a temple of God?

Analyzing yourself means, not only the outer body, but the inner soul. No one knows the inner soul except God. You can cheat the world, but not God. He is very particular about his word as you see – “you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20). God know what you think, your desires, your dreams and all you have in you secret mind. Now you can be a holy person before others. But just analyze how big sin you are doing. Scripture will show you that.

God has told our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Just see what he is telling about the Holy Spirit. “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever says a word against the son of man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Mathew 12:31). Any sin can be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Spirit. There’s no doubt that Jesus said it as it is mentioned in Mathew, Mark and Luke. You can be a godly person outside, but your sin may not be forgiven in this age or in the age to come. So Beware.

As it refers to as temple, when we look at a Church, everyone wants to have their church very perfect. That means inward and outward. Yes our God also means by that. When he means honor your body, it means outside and inside. Inside soul can be seen by God and it reflects to the world. Outside appearance of  temple can be seen by humans. I am telling about your physical appearance. God has given us a body to be his temple, not only to maintain our heart pure, but also to keep and maintain your physical body fit for his service. To a church which is about to fall, people will find it difficult to go. Same way you need to keep yourself fit for your journey towards eternity.

How to build your body a temple of Holy Spirit? You need to have a close walk with God. We see people you walked with God. (Genesis 5:24 – Enoch, Genesis 6:9 – Noah). Have a passion to read and study his word and have a one on one communication with him. Never boast about your worldly pleasures as God has sent us to preach his word and his cross, not our riches. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to world” (Galatians 6:14).

Be close with God through fasting and praying to keep your body clean from trials and temptations. “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” (Joel 2:12). Keep yourself clean from the demonic world. Do regular exercises to keep your physical body fit. God has given us a physical body and it is our duty to keep it and maintain it. Exercise regularly. Never spoil your body. Spoil it in the hands of Lord. But as you are in this world keep it fit to be a warrior of the one who is above all. May God bless you.

Blogged on March 2011

Feast of The Presentation of our Lord

Today we think and meditate upon the Feast of Presentation of Our Lord in Jerusalem. According to the Law of Moses, every first male Israelite should be designated as holy to the Lord. So when Jesus was a child itself, His parents brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Luke 2: 22-40). According to the law, they need to offer a sacrifice and so they did the sacrifice, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. At that time a righteous and a devout man of God Simeon, filled with the Spirit of God took child Jesus and praised God.

Throughout his whole life, he was looking forward to the consolation of Israel and a deliverer and at the right moment Spirit of God showed him Jesus. He praised God for showing him the deliverer of this world. He told Joseph and Mary about the plans of God regarding Jesus. He told them that Jesus is the savior of this world and He is going to deliver the world from sin by offering himself as a sacrifice. Soon after that a servant of God Anna, who also was fasting and praying for the savior praised God for the deliverer.

Yes, Jesus came to deliver everyone. Israelites think he come to deliver them from their enemies. But Jesus came to deliver everyone from their sins. He had the same flesh and blood as everyone. He knew how it is to be rejected, humiliated, bullied, and even getting cheated. But in all, He remained sinless because He was called to be a sacrifice for our sins.

Finally He became a sacrifice for our sins. He died on the cross for the sins we did against God for us to be free from the punishment.

Salvation or deliverance is free and it’s a grace of God. But you need to do only one thing. Repent your sins and accept Jesus Christ’s salvation in your heart. There is no need to climb any hill or carry the cross in shoulders or light a candle. Just be where you are and confess your sins before God in your heart and accept Christ’s salvation. You are free. Once you accept Christ, He tells us not to sin anymore. Yes, try not sinning anymore.

May The Lord reveal you Jesus through His word as He revealed Jesus to Simeon and Anna, and may you freely give the salvation message to the needy, in Jesus name  

Being Called – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

 

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them authority to choose. Devil took advantage over it and made them to choose sin. Every human have the right to choose between right and wrong. Even most of the countries in the world give their citizens the right to choose. But if they choose something against the law, they need to face punishment.

Same way, even if you are called by God, He gave you the right to choose your path. Lord will provide you with His word and wisdom, but it is your authority to choose. We are living in an evil world. A man of God may get persecuted in this world. Even it happened to Jesus Christ.

Before starting His earthly ministry, Jesus was tested and tempted by Satan (Mathew 4). Jesus overcame it by the word of God. It shows us that we need to be thorough with the word of God. Children use to study and byheart the word for competition. Word of God should be kept in heart and when you face problems and temptations, it should be spoken against the problems to overcome it. If you are called by God, like Jesus, you will be tested continuously and you need to have the word of God in your heart.

When you walk with God and when God calls you, the people who comes against will be from your own family and neighborhood. Jesus went to Nazareth where he was brought up, and the people rejected him. They considered him as a son of carpenter. They were not able to digest the anointing of God upon His life. People consider you according to their plan. If God’s favor comes upon you the people wont be able to comprehend it and they will be the first one to hate you and be against you. When Jesus told about their attitude they got angry and even tried to kill him. But since God’s anointing was upon Him, he walked in the midst of them and went away (Luke 4: 21-30).

Jesus never stood there and challenged them. But He showed the maturity and walked away from them. As the follower of Christ, we are not here to challenge anyone or to debate with anyone. We are here to spread love of Christ to others. We need to show the same maturity Jesus showed where ever He got rejected and persecuted. For that you need to have a compassionate heart of love. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul asks if you have all the gifts of the Spirit and don’t have love, you gain nothing.

If you don’t have the love of Christ in your life, the call of God is not going to do anything in you or around you. Luke 4 shows you how Jesus reacted to the ones who came against Him. Same way, flee from the temptations and be full of love and peace to be a role model and be a blessing to everyone. May The Lord’s grace be with you this week as you go ahead and face it with maturely and with love.

The World Hates You

 

If you are a man or woman of God, the people who are around you (Some may be Christians or not), they will make fun of you. The World around you hates you if you are a person of God. People may call you as Spiritual and all.

            Almighty God himself says in Psalms 22: 6-8 about him and his people “But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see me ridicule me, they shoot out the lip, and they shake the head saying. He trusted in Lord, let him rescue him, let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” In Isaiah 53:3 it clearly says about Jesus Christ, how people will behave at him... “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not”.

            When Jesus Christ came to Earth we can see people making fun of him many times. For example in Mathew 9:24 “He said Make room for the girl is not dead, but sleeping, and they ridiculed him”. Before when Christ was crucified we can see in Mathew 27:29 “When they had twisted a crown of throne, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying Hail, King of the Jews”.

            Bible also tells about the people of God who suffered in Hebrew 11:36 “Others had trial of mocking and scouring, yes and of chains and imprisonment”

            So when these kinds of insults comes in our lives there is no need of being sad, because we are the people of God and what ever happens to the people of God, God will take care of them. At the day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the sprit of God people said in Acts 2:13 “They are full of new wine”.

            Still now if we haven’t faced these kinds of problems in the future we will face these problems. Since the people of God will face problems, with the help of God they will overcome all the problems.

            A young man had many friends. When he was studying in the school, he was addicted to all kinds of worldly pleasures. But when he came to degree, he stopped and turned to godly ways. But other friends who were with him couldn’t believe that this man changed. When ever they see him they will make fun of him. What happened was that he didn’t care of what happened.

            If we take the example of Jesus calls ministry, many people don’t like this ministry. But they don’t care about that people instead they will pray for that people. So what happens … God is blessing that ministry.

            God speaks about the people who hate Gods people in John 15: 18-27

“ If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you”  So if someone says something against you he says against God. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you”

“If they kept my words they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know him who sent me”. “He who hates me hates my father also”. The person who hates you hates GOD. So we should pray for that people. Because that is our duty to make the kingdom of God comes, So that people should be free from their sins. But still God says “But when the helper comes whom I shall send to you from the father, the spirit of truth who proceeds from the father, he will testify of me” and God says we will witness there testimony because we are with him.

            When we face these kinds of situations we must pray for the people who did that so that one day they will also testify God. There is no need for any quarrel with them. Just pray for them and God will take care of the rest.

            May The Lord provide you His Spirit and strength to face these situations boldly and be focused in your vision in Jesus name

Conversion of St. Paul

 From the time of the birth, the Church had gone through persecutions. Even right now in many parts of world the followers of Christ are persecuted. But still believers are taking the gospel to the world. Even now if you are reading this message, it is written in the midst of persecution. Why is it like that? Even in the midst of persecution why the church of God is increasing in numbers?

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His disciples a command. In Acts 1: 8 is says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. Jesus told them to proclaim the good news to all the ends of the earth.

When Christ was doing His earthly ministry, He gave a warning to His disciples, mentioned in Mathew 10: 17. “Be on guard, you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witness to them and to the Gentiles.”. Jesus already knew how his disciples are going to be persecuted by the world when they witness Him. So He is strengthening them. But at the same time He is promising them that Holy Spirit will come upon them and once that happens, they will boldly proclaim in front of people without the fear of persecution.

Same happened after Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in Acts 2. They started witnessing Jesus in Jerusalem. But they were staying only in Jerusalem and proclaiming good news. And then, a persecution happened which was led by a man called Saul. In Acts 6 we see a man called Stephen emerging as a leader and witnessing Christ. His preaching in the synagogue brought great persecution. In Acts 8: 1 we learn that those who killed Stephen laid their clothes at Saul’s feet. At the time of death you can see Stephan’s eyes were on to heaven. His face mirrored what he saw. Since persecution was high, believers fled to Judea and Samaria, same way Jesus commanded, and now to the ends of the world.

Saul thought he was victorious in persecuting Christians. So he took more responsibilities to destroy the Church of God. So he took authority from Chief Priest and was moving towards Damascus, when he saw a bright light from heaven. He fell on the ground and heard a voice telling, “Saul, why are you persecution me”. When he asked who you are, Lord told back it is me Jesus whom you are persecuting.

Yes, many people who want in search of God won’t like Church. So they persecute the church. Once they find Jesus is God, they become the carriers to take the gospel to the next level. Same story and history can be taken throughout the last generations. A man named Sadhu Sunder Singh, who persecuted Christians and burned the Bible, got touched by Jesus and then he took the gospel throughout India.

Saul became Paul and went to missionary journey and planted churches and encouraged them with letters which read in Bible as Epistles. After his conversion, he had to go through persecutions, being jailed, got almost killed, but still stood for the gospel and because of him, we are encouraged to take the gospel to our neighbours and friends around.

As we remember the conversion of Paul, let the Holy Spirit anoint you with His Spirit to walk in word and be a witness boldly preaching the gospel in the midst of your trials and temptations. May God bless you all.

Do your Role - Third Sunday after the Epiphany

 

When we look around, the world is so competitive that some people don’t know what they are supposed to do. If a person does something, there will be people around him who try to imitate, just to compete with the other person. If a person starts running / jogging, there will be somebody who tries to do the same thing and to prove himself better that the first person. Same is the case of studying, selecting a job, selecting a branch for higher studies etc.

It happens to the believers who does the will of God. They do things according to the will of God and the ones around them who don’t have an anointing, questions the believers and tries to demotivate them. Same thing happened when Nehemiah came to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, people opposed him. Why people opposed him? They did because according to them, they cant do it, so they don’t want him also to do it. 

The same happens in every believers life. They does things others don’t do. But they will get demotivation and embarrassment from around them. At this time they need to do what Nehemiah did. He told the priest Ezra to bring the book of Law and read it before the people to keep them connected with God. You need to be connected with the word of God every time you need to do something difficult, even  other times. When the world comes against you, the word of God will provide you the faith, hope and belief to stay calm and go ahead (Nehemiah 8)

At the same time, if you are a believer in Christ, you need to accept the fact that everyone are members of a single body. So everyone has their own jobs to do. Your hands take the food and give it to your mouth and the mouth will accept the food. The food gives strength to your body. Same way you need to know that you have a role to play in the body of Christ. You don’t need to Xerox another member’s ministry. You stay close with God and He will provide you the role. As in 1 Corinthians 12, every one is being given the gifts and you need to use if accordingly for the benefit of the body of Christ. 

Stay simple to the calling of God and do it to your best

May The Lord help you to stay close with His word, get motivate from it in the midst of troubles from around, and do the ministry of caring the needy to salvation in the way God speaks to you.

Living for Jesus

 

“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

     When problems surround our life, we believe our God has given up. We may even think of leaving every thing and end our precious life. Most of the people even me have been in these situations. I am taking about the people who suffer from pain from their relatives or from some diseases or some loss in Job or wealth or sudden death etc.

    Sadhu Sunder Singh, a great man of God once told – “Leaving a life for Christ is very easy, but to live a life for Christ is very difficult”. Yes if you want to die for Christ, it is very easy job as terrorists are there to help you out. But in this sinful world where trials and temptations are there, living a life for Christ is very difficult. But in that also, our faithful God leaves us his word – “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them” – (Psalm 34:7)

Once a great man told, if you didn’t face any issue the whole day, that means you must be going in a wrong direction. Yes there are problems all around. But as people who trust in God, our comfort is not behind the worldly pleasures, but behind thy word.

Some people when faces with tough situation will go for other options, like seeing an astrologer to see whether their time is going good or not. You see, Astrologers are calculating every thing according to the rotation of Earth and Planets and Moon around the Sun. Their main reason for the calculation depends on the Sun. For them Sun is the center of everything. But my dear brother and sister, the God whom I serve is the creator of this Sun, Moon and all the planets, even the time. In his word, when Joshua prayed to stop the sun and moon for sometimes, God answered his prayer. (Joshua 10:13-14) (2Kings 20: 9-11). NASA computers performing the astronomical calculations have also found that a day is missing (http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-a001.html). So I don’t need to go to an astrologer to see whether my time is bad or where the Sun is, but I will go to my God who made time and the universe. He takes care of me and makes a way for me from no way.

Even in this world when Jesus was there, he had to go through lost of trials, temptations and persecutions. But he was not moved by anything; instead he fasted and prayed to God for everything. When you see his disciples, every body had gone through tough pain and trials in their lives. But they stood faith in the highest one, even to their death. When we have any problems we go and see the men of God, servants of God. They will comfort and console us and council us. Have we ever thought of how their life is? To your information, ask any servant of God personally, and they will tell how much problems they are going through in this world.

Devil is the toughest hard worker in this world. So it will try to defeat a man of God through various situations. They might get problems in family, Job or from any one. But the true servants of God, still in the midst they will keep their faith in God and they will continue their glorifying God with more strength from the Holy Ghost whom they ask.

Yes dear friends, problems will come to our life, but their will be a way to come out of it. Just be in the presence of God alone and pray to God in Christ Jesus name who took all our problems in the cross. Cry to God and he will comfort you with his powerful spirit. Just wait and think how you can with his help overcome the situation. Just think what things you are doing against his will. Stop all and pray to him for the help. Surely he is a merciful God and you will get his mighty help from above. As the psalmist says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

Now don’t ever think of ending your life because of problems as that is not a solution as you are sinning against your God. Your body and soul belongs to him and you are the temple of his spirit. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17). When you are God’s temple, remember to keep your self clean even in midst of all your problems.

Let his presence fill you and read thy word and lead a life which pleases God instead of a worldly one. Just trust in him and believe that he will make a way from no where. That is our God. Praise be to him only.

Blogged on March 2010

Confession of St. Peter

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” – Matthew 16: 16

The confession of Jesus’ disciple Peter help you to understand how Peter considered Jesus in his life. If someone tells Christ as his Messiah, it means they considered Him as the deliverer. The Jews at that time was looking for a deliverer to fight for them against the nations and free them. But Peter’s confession is on our spiritual deliverer. He understood Jesus is the Son of God who came to deliver him from the sins.

Jesus replies to him that it is the Holy Spirit who helped Peter to say so. In human understanding it is not possible to digest the supernatural things God does. Human understanding cannot comprehend a virgin giving birth to a baby through the Spirit of God. Same way Human mind cannot accept Christ as the savior of this world. It is revealed only through the Spirit of God.

It doesn’t mean that when you are filled with the Spirit of God, you will say right things and select perfect decisions. The same Peter got casted out by Jesus in Matthew 16 as “Get behind me Satan”. Peter denied Jesus 3 times before His death also. That is life. When a person is filled with the Spirit, it is the Spirit who does everything in that person. Other times, it will be a human effect.

In Acts 2 we see the Holy Spirit anointing upon the Apostles. After that Peter and other apostles got the special power and boldness to preach the gospel to the world, which was not possible before the anointing. So when the Spirit starts working in you, the boldness to go ahead comes in your character and you will walk along the path that Spirit guides.

In Acts 4 we can see Peter and John been jailed. As a result of arrest, Peter was able to preach a Spirit-inspired sermon before the Sanhedrin. The religious rulers could not escape the truth that these men showed a power and understanding far beyond their own strength and ability.

When you are in Christ and when the Spirit guides you, everything you do will be towards the glory of Jesus Christ. You will be guided to preach the salvation to others through your work, daily life and the way you mingle with others. Same way in Acts 4 Peter got the courage to proclaim the Salvation to the religious leaders. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” – Acts 4: 12.

All this starts with a small confession. The confession that you have sinned and Christ came to the world as a Messiah to save your sins and your belief in this Christ. Peter did the same in Matthew 16: 16 and the Spirit of God worked in his life, anointed him and made him a bold person in Jesus.

You may be prosperous, healthy and in good position. But according to the creator you are not valuable because of your sins. You have a choice. You can live like this, or can confess your sins and accept the Messiah who died for your sins. If you confess Jesus as your savior, your name will be written in Heaven and you will be in Christ. You don’t need to let loose all your belongings. You can do much more, but this time by the guidance of Holy Spirit through love and compassion.

May The Lord help you to confess Jesus as Savior and be guided by the Spirit to do Supernatural things in Jesus name 

GIFTS - Second Sunday after the Epiphany

 

In the book of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul mentions about some spiritual gifts that is been given to the body of Christ. It is been given to the members of the body of Christ. If you are a member of a church, you may not receive it. Only way to receive the gifts is that you should be a person who has repented your sins before Jesus and accepted Him as your personal Savior. He died for your sins, and as you have repented and accepted Him, you are a new creation.

When you join a club or a new company, they give welcome gifts to welcome you. Same way, once you are in the family of the body of Christ, God has special spiritual gifts for you. Keep in mind the gifts are not any money of anything to eat. The gift is not between you and another person. No other people are involved in the gift God is going to give you. It’s all between you and Almighty.

Before receiving the gifts, you need to understand that Christ is the head of the body of Christ. We cannot live without head. Our head directs our body into meaningful activity. Christ guides us into all activity (1 Colossians 1: 15-18; Ephesians 1: 22-23; 4: 15-16; 5: 23).

If Christ is the head of the body, believers of Christ are the body. As a believer you are part of the body (Romans 12: 5). Believers from every race, color, land and nations are all part of the same body.

In our human body, if one part or member is not working/ paralysed, it affects the entire body. Similarly every member in Christ’s body is very important to Him. Every member in Christ’s body is a share of that body (1 Corinthians 12: 27). As in our human body each member has a particular function. All members do not have the same use. Every member has his own function.

Each part of our body is different from each other. Same way God made each of us different from anyone else. God made us who we are and placed us where we are for the good of the whole body for His own glory. So being unhappy because our gifts are not the same as another person’s make us judges of God. Our gifts may not seem as important as another’s gifts. Always understand the gifts God has for you are just right for you. Each of us should benefit from the other’s gifts (Romans 12: 5). Our feet carry us to our food. Our hands carry the food to our mouth and our mouth eats it. But the whole body profits.

Gifts received are to be used for the purpose for which they are given (Mathew 10: 8). The purpose is not fulfilled when the believers fail to use the gifts and if they use them selfishly and without love. Faithful use of spiritual gifts brings glory to the giver and blessing to the body (1 Corinthians 4: 2).

May The Spirit of God provide you with the gifts as you live a life with love and peace in Jesus name

Feeling Anger

 Every body is bound with Anger. Every one of us has the courage to tell to others that we have one more personality in us – that is Anger. By telling this to others we think that we have done something very great. By giving this type of statements to others just think… What will we get? Many may say that we will get respect from others. Is this the way to get respect from others?

            Sometimes we get angry because of others. Sometimes our friends or may be our enemies does something against us. We get angry. We even react with that anger. When anger comes into us we think that we can destroy our enemies. How can we destroy our enemies? Is it through anger? We can’t destroy a person with anger. The only way to take revenge to a person is by forgiveness. What ever he does just forgive him or her. At first he won’t change. But gradually he will change.

            There once lived a boy. He was weak in his studies. But he believed in God. Some of his relatives didn’t like him. As he believed in God even though he was weak in his studies, God gave him blessings. The relatives told bad things about him to the people. So people didn’t talk to him. Any way he came to know about the situation. At first he got very angry. But then he went to God and prayed to him, asked him what to do? Suddenly his anger went down and he didn’t react. His relatives didn’t stop. So everyday he will come in the presence of God and what ever he wants to say he will say to God. After being with God he will forgive every thing his relatives had done to him.

            We may ask one thing. What will we get if we forgive others? Let me tell you, this boy who went to God and forgave, he was blessed. People understood that whatever they heard about him was totally wrong. So they liked him and loved him more than in the past. What happened to his relatives? God stopped blessing them. They couldn’t get any thing in life. But what the boy did was that when all bad things were affecting his relatives he went to God and cried for them. God heard his prayer. God blessed his relatives. What happened to him? He was blessed with double measure.

            Friends, this is a true life story. You can also be blessed like the boy. In the Holy Bible God said these words – “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12: 19-21)

            Even God wants us to be a nice person. He doesn’t want us like a man or woman of anger. He wants us to forgive one other and be helpful. In Scriptures God says – “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4: 31, 32)

            Many people make New Year resolutions. Let us make this year’s resolution as to forgive others, doesn’t matter what ever they do. Let us put Jesus Christ in our heart and do what he did – Forgiving others. As God says in the Holy Bible – “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” (Hebrew 10: 30)

Blogged in January 2003

Fire Baptism - First Sunday after the Epiphany

 “He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” – Luke 3: 16

In the book of Acts 2, we see the birth of Church. When Apostles started the church, they never thought or planned about a ministry in Samaria, even though Jesus told them to do so before ascension. In Luke 9: 51-56 we see Samaritans refusing to welcome Jesus to their village because He was going to Jerusalem to the Temple.

But still why John and Peter went to a follow up in Samaria? Follow-up means someone would have already have a ministry of Jesus in that place. How it happened?

After the filling of Holy Spirit and the birth of Christ, the believers and Apostles stayed in Jerusalem. They never went anywhere else to preach the gospel. In Acts 6, we find some confusion and conflict happening in the church. Here we see Stephen emerging as a leader. When you read Acts 6, we find how good things can come from difficulties. But then what happened, to human was worse. Stephen got killed and what followed was a heavy persecution by a man called Saul. At that time, believers and Apostles fled from Jerusalem. That sent Philip to Samaria and to the Ethiopian official. 

When we see hard things, you might think how tough life is, but God does good things from tough situations. In Acts 1: 8, we see Jesus commanding to His disciples to be His witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth. But after receiving the Holy Spirit, the believers were staying in Jerusalem. God took this persecution to expand the ministry to widen it to Samaria and Judea. Believers feared the persecution and fled to Samaria. Where ever they went, they witnessed Jesus.

That is the power of the Holy Spirit. When a believer is filled with the anointing of God’s Spirit, even if He goes through the toughest time in his life, He will make sure to witness Jesus. He will have the strength and heart to glorify Christ Jesus.

In Luke 3: 16, we see John the Baptist introduction Jesus to people saying, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us a task to do, to witness Him everywhere. The task is too big. So without the power of God’s Spirit, it is difficult to do. So Jesus gave us the helper, Holy Spirit. If you need the anointing of Spirit, you need Jesus In your life.

It doesn't mean that you know Jesus, but you need to have Jesus in your life. Satan knows Jesus and theology much more than any man. If you need the Spirit’s guidance in your life, Jesus should be in your life.

To have Jesus in your life, first you need to believe in faith that Jesus is the son of God and He came to the earth from heaven to take your punishment for sins. All your sins punishment have been put into His life and He was sacrificed for your sins, to cleanse you from that sin so that you can be sin free. It has already been done before 2000 years. Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

There is one thing you need to do in your life to claim that salvation. You need to repent your sins before Christ Jesus, accept the truth that He took all your punishment and accept Him as your Savior with all your Heart and soul. Its so simple. There is no need to change your religion, or change your government records etc. You are a child of God once you accept Jesus

Once you accept Jesus, try living a life knowing that God is near you and He is seeing everything you do and hearing whatever you speak. Since now, you are a believer, He cares for you more. Live a life pleasing to Him. How will you know what is pleasing to Him? Read and study His Book, the Bible. Get into a place where you can study it, ask someone to help, if needed. Moreover Pray in the name of Jesus. There is no procedure to receive the Holy Spirit, even though some people may tell there is. Continuously pray to be filled, and definitely you will be filled.

May the Sprit of God guide you and help you to receive His anointing and be a powerful witness for Him in Jesus name, Amen.

Mystery - The Epiphany

Mystery means something is hidden until the appropriate time comes for God to reveal it.

God created Adam and Eve, and their generations spread throughout the Earth. But these people became sinners and wicked (Genesis 6:5; Mathew 24:38). God choses Noah as he did everything according to the will of God. His generation multiplied and they also became wicked people who worshipped pagan gods.

So God choses a person called Abraham. He was old and was not having children. But God called him and told him that he is going to have a child and his offspring’s will be like stars in the sky. Abraham believed in God and God counted him as righteous because of his faith (Romans 4:3; Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6). Through his wife Sarah, Abraham got a child Isaac and Isaac had two sons through Rebekah – Esau and Jacob. Even though Jacob was a deceiver, at one point of time God called him and changed his name to Israel (Genesis 32:28). So God started blessing the offspring of Israel (Genesis 22:18; Genesis 35). Even though the people of Israel were not obedient to God, He did not leave them.

Through prophets God blessed Israel. In Isaiah 60:1-6, God is prophesying about future glory of Israel. He tells people will come to you with gold. Israel is blessed even today.

In New Testament, Paul tells in Ephesians 3:1-12, the great privileges in the gospel not only belong to Jews, but to the believing gentiles, even though they are not circumcised. He tells it as a Mystery of God. The mystery is that the gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ, by the gospel.

Paul tells in Ephesians 3:9, his business was to make all men see what is the fellowship of mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus. It is a mystery of Christ because it was revealed by him (Acts 26:16-18; Galatians 1:12).

In Old Testament we see Jews as the chosen people. When Jesus Christ came into this world as a child, gentiles came to him as wise men (Mathew 2:1-12). The respect paid to Christ by these gentiles was a happy specimen of what would follow when those who are afar off should be made high by Christ.

Christianity does not begin with “once upon a time”, but starts with Bethlehem in Judea. Jesus is not just another man, but that he was descended from a royal family, and there was a King’s blood in his veins (Mathew 2:6). Wise men, the gentile came to worship and honour a King. They did not come to see a saviour, but a King (Mathew 2:2).

In Psalms 72:1-11, we see certain characteristics of a King. In this Psalm, even though Solomon’s name is mentioned, Christ’s Kingdom is being prophesied. He has the authority which is being given by father and he is a righteous King. All the verse in this Psalm depends on the first verse – “Give righteousness to the King’s son”. In verse 3 we see prosperity as a by-product of righteousness. In verse 8 we see Solomon wants to extend the kingdom whole on Earth, which only Christ can when he comes a second time. In verse 10 and 11, all kings came and bow before him. Even though Solomon failed to go to gentiles, in the new kingdom gentiles will come, through this Mystery of God. Till verse 17 we see how kingdom will be of Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament God held back from the gentiles the secret that they should be heirs and shareholders of the gospel and have admission into the church (his body) on the same terms as the Jewish people (Ephesians 1:10).

Difference here is that gentiles are being chosen by faith in Christ Jesus. We as gentiles don’t want to do any physical method to be the chosen ones like the Jews. We need to do is accept Christ as our King and saviour and believe that he died for our sins ad we are made righteous through his blood. When you believe this in your heart and soul, you are saved and is a new creation in Christ Jesus, and are heirs and shareholders of his body.

All gentiles are being chosen by faith (Romans 15:9,10; Galatians 3:8,9). Once you are chosen, you enjoy the life in the temple of God and are yielded into obedience to him.

We are saved by faith, not of good works. We are saved to do good works.

 

Short Sermon blogged - January 2018

God's Grace

 (1 Peter 5:10) “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.”

            What is Grace? What do you mean by God’s Grace?

If you read (Psalm 84:11) “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly”. This verse says all about God’s Grace. He will give something to make us glory. And that gift which he gives is Grace. We all know that we are sinners. So as sinners we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. So in order to make us enter into his Kingdom God is showing Grace upon us.

            If you look about the life of Jesus Christ in the book of (Luke 2:40) “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him”. We should be like Jesus Christ. Grace of God should also come upon us. So if you want the Grace of God, where can you get it? If you read (1 Corinthian 1:4) “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ”. So only through Jesus Christ we can get our God’s Grace.

            What are the characteristics of God’s Grace?

1. If you serve God you will get great grace.             (Acts 4:33) “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all”.

2. It should reign us. When Jesus Christ reign in us, grace will reign us. If Jesus Christ wants to reign us we should serve him. (Romans 5:21) “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”.

3. It is by the grace of Jesus Christ that he gave his blood for our sins that we are living now. So if you allow Jesus Christ to enter, your sins will be forgiven. (Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”.

This verse talks all about it. God wants us to be out of sins. So he gave his grace to us. God’s grace is Jesus Christ. So when you accept this God’s grace you will be out of your sins.

            Many people say like after getting examination results – Because of God’s grace I got good percentage. So everyone accepts God’s grace. We can say – “Because of God’s Grace I will go to the Kingdom of God”.

            After getting the results we say “It is because of God’s grace’. After saying this we will do the same thing that we did earlier. When God gives His grace to us to get out of our sins, he forgives our sins. He gives his grace not to make us sin again. Bible says (Romans 6:1) “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”. God gave himself as a punishment for our sins. So we can do one thing. From today if you accept Jesus Christ, try not to sin. When you accept Jesus Christ try not to do sins. When you accept Jesus Christ your sins will be forgiven.

 

(Hebrew 4:16) “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”.

 

First Sermon blogged by this ministry - January 2003.