Always Behind

 

We are living in a world that is full of sin and evil. It is because the world is under the dominion of the devil. Just before Jesus started His ministry on the earth, He was tempted by devil. Satan told Jesus if Jesus wants the world, He should bow down and worship the devil.

Evil people live in this world almost like an agent of satan. Like satan, they will be working hard on trying to destroy the ones who live a righteous life. When Jesus was preparing His disciples for ministry, He warned them that the world will reject them since they rejected Jesus.

Even in His birth, Jesus had to face a tough time. As soon as He was born, an Angel of God told Joseph to take his family and run to Egypt as Herod was looking to kill baby Jesus. Herod was afraid that Jesus will defeat him and take up the throne. Same way evil people in the world are always afraid of the one who follows Christ. So they try to persecute the believers.

From Judea, Joseph went to Egypt and then they were not able to come back to Judea. Instead they went to Nazareth. As all this were happing, God was fulfilling the prophetical words spoken by the Old Testament prophets. It shows that God was always in control.

Same way when you are walking with God, according to His will, you may have to face trials and temptations. People will plot evil against you. They will try to put you to shame and build stories against you. Just remember, they did the same against Jesus also.

Devils main agenda is to make you stand against God. So when you walk in God’s presence and face tough problems, there is a chance you question the power of God and His protection. Gospel shows how Christ lived. Even when he was a baby, opposition came against Him. Instead of questioning God, Joseph prayed and moved according to the plan of God.

When you read Mathew 2, you see Angel of God giving him guidance. If a person is able to see Angels, definitely he should be living according to the will of God. Joseph listened and God helped them safe, even though they struggled in moving to different places.

You may think about tough times from your childhood. Even there are children who have to face evil from their own mother or father. If you are among them, just think about Jesus. From childhood day, people were behind him to kill Him. But see how God used Him in the ministry and where He is now, at the right side of Father God.

Don’t lose faith and hope in God. He is your creator. He is your Father. Trust in Him and He will take care of you. You will face oppositions. Pray to the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and you will see God always near your side. May you live accordingly and may God use you to be a blessing, Amen

By Faith

There are people who does lot of physical activities to see God’s glory in their life. Some carry cross and walk certain distance, or some mountain, some light candles in front of cross, some donate to the poor and to the church, some gets involve in church activities. As the lent days are going by, some won’t eat non veg foods. Well, fasting is good for you physically, but not to see the glory of God in your life.

To see the glory of God, or the Kingdom of God, you need to be saved; you need to be born again. Now, this is confusing. Yes, you are in this world born of a father and mother. In the Bible Jesus teaches to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader to be born again to see the kingdom of God. Born again means you need to be born of water and the Spirit. (John 3)

I have seen people who got baptized, living a confused life. They just had a dip in water to give an addition to the preachers baptism count.

Judas is a person who was a disciple of Jesus. He walked with Jesus, talked with him, ate with him, but never had Jesus in his heart. Same way, after Jesus’s resurrection, there were people who saw him, heard his teaching, but never believed him. So being born again, or salvation does happen to a person spiritually, inside him.

Salvation is simple. The one who believes in faith that Jesus is their saviour is saved. Saviour means, the son of God who came to earth as human, obeyed the laws, did no sin, but took all your sins upon him and got the punishment for the sins you have done, to make you free from that sin and save you from the eternal punishment. So salvation happens in your faith, belief and the way you think about your life and Jesus, not by any other means.

In the Old Testament God gave law to his people through Moses. But in the New Testament God gave Jesus to us, so that even if you try to obey all the law, to see the Kingdom of God, you need to accept Jesus Christ as your saviour, who saved you from all the punishments. God’s faithful servant Abraham was called to be the father of God’s chosen children not by his obedience of law, but by his faith in God. (Romans 4)

When troubles and problems hit your life, this faith is needed to overcome the situation. For healing, this faith is needed. For any miracle, this faith is needed. The devils always try to test your faith. To overcome that, you need to constantly read and meditate upon the word of God. God provides you encouragement and motivate you to stay in faith and see His wonders.

Let The Lord who created you, be your first priority and build your faith and may you testify – My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Psalms 121)

Powerful Faith

The person who goes to gym to build a muscular body will never get it in a day or two. They have to work on the workouts given to them by the instructor and should have patience, by not stopping in between, but to work on it.

Same way an endurance runner is not made in one day. The runner has to practice and run small distance first and increase the distance patiently. It takes some time before the runner can become a full marathoner and then an ultra-runner.

Same way, to have a powerful faith, one should have patience and should go through trials and temptations in life.

If someone goes to a bible college or seminary, study full theology, read the bible 100 times, even by heart it, his faith is not going to become strong unless he goes through small tests in his life to the big ones.

In the Bible Abraham is called the Father of Faith. He was called by God in Genesis 11-12. He had to go through lots of tests. When God calls, it doesn’t mean you are free from any trials. But God provides you tests to make your faith strong. God was testing Abraham and was promising him blessing also. Finally God blessed him with a son, Isaac.

In Genesis 22, we see an ultimate test of faith in Abraham’s life. He was asked by God to sacrifice his own son. Even though he was sad and broken, he listened to God. God tested Abraham’s faith and Abraham passed it and God saved Isaac and also blessed Abraham more powerfully.

Strengthening faith is a day to day process. When the world comes against you and you are living according to the promise of God, your faith will be tested badly. As a spiritual child of Abraham, may The Lord be with you and provide you the same faith in you to listen to the Holy voice and live accordingly in the midst of severe trials, to strengthen your faith and be a testimony to the creator.

Faith in Christ

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith … There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” – (Galatians 3: 26-29).

A great example of faith is the life of Abraham. When he was living as a childless man, God came to Abram through a vision and promised blessings. He told Abram to look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed he can count them, so shall be his children. Even though Abram was very old, he believed the Lord. “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” – (Genesis 15: 1-6).

Since Abraham was faithful to God, his offspring were chosen by God as his own children, His chosen ones. When God blesses a nation, no one can come against that nation. Even now the chosen one Israel, the nation is powerful because The God of Abraham is with them (Psalms 33: 12-15).

Now, the followers of Christ are being chosen as New Israel, when the Lord is pleased with you, there is no need to be worried about your future, your wealth and food. The scripture tells us that you should be always careful and be watchful and be ready to receive Jesus if He comes now. Your main aim in life should be Jesus and then he will watch over you (Luke 12).

As Abraham’s faith in the Old Testament, the believers of Christ should believe Christ in faith that he is your rock. “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11: 1). By faith Abraham received inheritance and Promised Land (Hebrews 11: 8-16). Abraham’s powerful faith is seen when God asked him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Abraham knew God will make a way and believed that in faith and went with his child for the sacrifice (Hebrews 11: 17). Abraham believed in God so much that he knew God can raise the dead and if his son dies, God is able to bring him back from death (Hebrews 11: 19).

As new Israel we have a promised land and we need to believe in faith and receive it like Abraham. Who is New Israel? They are the people who believe in Christ Jesus and believe in faith that he died for your sins, and you are free from sin in His name that you won’t repeat that sins. “Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2: 17).

May the Lord enable you to understand more about faith in him and guide you to walk with Christ Jesus and receive the Promised Land in faith.

Wonderful Salvation - Romans

The book of Romans tells us of God’s method of making guilty people good. The key of this great thesis is found in Romans 1:16-17.

In the New Testament, 13 of the 21 books were written by Paul. Paul was eager to visit Rome church, and sent them this letter from Corinth, from the home of Gaius, a wealthy Corinthian Christian, while he was on his third missionary journey. It was written in the fourth year of Nero, then Emperor of Rome. In this Epistle, he sets forth his gospel (Romans 1:16-17). After Paul’s greeting to the church, he thanks God for their faith (Romans 1:8).

Read every word of Romans 3. You will believe then that the natural heart is desperately wicked. The general charge is stated – “all under sin” (Romans 3:9). Both the gentile (Romans 2:1-16) and Jew (Romans 2:17-3:8) are given the opportunity for a hearing. Against all this there is no defence. The Judge says, “Is there anyone to plead the cause of the prisoners?” and there is no answering voice. Every mouth is stopped (Romans 3:19). There is no room for excuse. The condemnation of the world is settled. The next step in order will be to reveal the plan of God to save a lost world.

Sin is universal – “All have sinned”. Hence we need a world’s savior. Because God is a God of love, He has provided just this one. Repeat John 3:16. The judge on the bench says, “Is there anyone to appear for the prisoners?” then the son of God says, “Yes I am here to represent these. It is true that they committed these sins. It is true that they are guilty, but I bore their guild on the cross. I died in their place that they might go free. I am their righteousness” and the judge sets them free.

Christ not only saves us from the penalty of sin, but He is also able to free us from the consciousness of guilt and the power of sin. Any president or governor or king can pardon a criminal, but not one has the power to remove the guilt. Proper punishment for the deed must be given. This is what Christ has done. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and because all of us “have sinned”, Christ came to die and bear the penalty for the sins committed against a holy God.

Paul gives us illustrations of justification by faith from the Old Testament. Especially does he tell us how Abraham’s faith was counted for righteousness (Romans 4). Abraham received three things by faith: righteousness, inheritance and prosperity (Romans 4:3, 13, 17). We, too, have great benefits when we are justified by His grace. Grace is unmerited favour. In this life, we find that faith is followed be peace, pardon and promise (Romans 5:1-5) and more than all, an assurance of salvation (Romans 5:6-11).

We are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:24-25). I am a person condemned to die because of my sin, “for the wages of sin is death”. But I can look on the cross and see that Christ has already died for me. I believe that He died for my sin. And so in exchange for my poor, sinful, condemned life, I can accept His righteousness and His life (1 Peter 2:24).

The person who put faith in Christ an hour ago is just as much justified as the oldest Christian living. We never become any more justified than the minute we received Christ. Justification depends upon something done outside of us, something done on the cross of Calvary.

When I was born in this body, I was born a descendant of Adam; I have his nature, which is sinful. When I am born into the family of God, by Christ Jesus, I have Christ’s nature, which is holy. In the words of scripture, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). I did not choose to be a descendant of Adam; I may choose to be a child of God.

Once in Christ, Christians soon find a new standard for life. They do not try to live up to the Law, for they are no longer under it. They strive to please the One who dwells within them. “For to me to live is Christ” and I “do all to the glory of God”.

The first part of Romans is what God did for us. The last part of Romans is what we may do for God. Until we have been saved by His grace and transformed by His love, we can do little for God. Read 1 Corinthians 13. But when we present ourselves to Christ and become filled with His love we can find much to be done. Christ wants a living sacrifice, not a dead one (Romans 12:1). Many will die for Christ. Few will live for him.

Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Because it reveals what the sinner needs and what he may have on the ground of simple faith. “A righteousness of God” – the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The gospel had dynamic power. It is the power of God unto salvation. I pray that you realize that nothing short of the power of God could make one Christian.

The Just Shall live by Faith - Habakkuk

Habakkuk was one of the Levitical choristers in the temple (Habakkuk 3:19). Habakkuk knew well that Judah must fall before the great power of Nebuchadnezzar. But one question arose in his mind and troubled him greatly – Why should any nation as wicked as Babylon conquer a nation like Judah, which was less evil? It seemed to him that it was just a matter of evil triumphing over evil. God had to show him his ultimate plan. Judah needed punishment. God was using Babylon to correct Judah, but Babylon’s turn would come. Babylon would be utterly blotted out. As for God’s people, there was yet to be glorious future and a kingdom where Jehovah himself would prevail.

In Habakkuk 1, we see Habakkuk knowing his own land, Judah, full of lawlessness. The righteous were oppressed (Habakkuk 1:4,13). The people were living in open sin. They were worshipping idols (Habakkuk 2:18-19). They were oppressing the poor. Habakkuk knew that the day was dark. He knew that this sin was leading to an invasion of Jerusalem by a strong enemy.

Habakkuk asked his question to God. He did not call a committee or form a society to solve the problem of the day. He went straight to Jehovah and stated his problem. Then God answered, “Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told” – Habakkuk 1:5. God wanted Habakkuk to look beyond the present. God was already working. God called the Chaldeans to the work of punishing Judah. They were a cruel scourge that swept over the land to destroy it (Habakkuk 1:5-11). God’s answer horrified Habakkuk. He could not understand how God would allow such awful means to bring about punishing his people. It is mentioned in Habakkuk 1:12, 13.

Habakkuk is a prophet who sang in the night (Habakkuk 3). Habakkuk prayed sincerely and God appeared to him (Habakkuk 3:1-16). God always responds to the cry for help from his people. Habakkuk realizes that God is in control of this universe and that he is working out his own purpose in his own time. Habakkuk learns that he can trust implicitly in God. He realizes that he can see only a small part of God’s plan at one time. One must wait for God to reveal his entire program. One must know God’s way is best. God does not promise that he will unravel every problem, but he does assure us that we can put our trust absolutely in him.

One of the texts in Habakkuk has great significance in history of the Reformation. A catholic priest called Martin Luther opposed the hypocrisy of the religious forced faith of Catholics by the words – “The just shall live by his faith” which can be seen in Habakkuk 2:4. The same is mentioned in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38. On this day when you read this, remember Christianity is not about doing works to reach God, but it is by faith and grace of God that a person can reach Almighty. May God help you to know Christ, understand him and accept him as your personal saviour to know God’s grace and live in salvation.

The BOOK – Farewell

When the Israelites walked into the Promised Land, Joshua had a friend Caleb, who along with him trusted God in taking Promised Land. These were the only 2 people in their generation who could enter the Promised Land because of their obedience. Now you see in Joshua 14:12, Caleb, who was 85 years old asks for high and walled cities, which Joshua gave him as granted. Caleb might be the happiest man in the camp because he had overcome so much and yet had fields to conquer. “Difficulties are things which show what men are”. In your life when you see the glory of God come and change your life in the midst of trials and tribulations, you will trust God all through your life, even in the hardest times. 

Lord never promised his children that they will have an easy time serving him. “In this world you will have trouble” – John 16:33. We see Paul encouraging Timothy, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” – 2 Timothy 2:3. Caleb knew since he is obedient to God, God had given him the land, as he had seen it before. Even when you face diseases, sickness, financial problems or any earthly problems where the whole world comes around to take you out, if you are faithful to God, you will see your saviour fighting the battle on your behalf and giving you the victory.

Like Moses, Joshua also gave the people some last words when he became very old. He called the leaders and then people and told them not to forget the power and faithfulness of God and told them to be faithful to God. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness” – Joshua 24:14. He also warned them about choosing whom to serve, whether to serve the gods of their forefathers or the true living God, and confessed he and his family will serve the Lord. “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” – Joshua 24:15

It is good to make open confessions and commit ourselves to a solemn purpose. People of Israel also said they will serve the Lord. When you confess your weakness and how you overcame it through the power of Jesus, your followers will also do the same and become a testimony. If you live a life of hypocrisy, your followers will also come as hypocrites, and even they will not be faithful to you.

At the age of 110, Joshua died. His greatest achievement Certificate is seen in Joshua 24:31 – “Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua”. A leader or a minister should be faithful to Lord and his people and be a testimony to each of his followers. 

You cannot run away from your sins. Be sure, your sin will find you out. In the midst of a sinful life, it is better to leave everything and confess it before God and ask for the forgiveness. Most of the people hate this step – confession. Yes everyone have a problem of confessing before men, but they take the same attitude before God also. We should understand the sins which happened through our mind, mouth and even physically, God was a witness. So confessing before God does not make you a small being, as we are already small and nothing before the Holy God. But for coming out of the sinful world, you need to confess the sins before God and believe in faith that for all the sins you have done, Christ came and took the punishment. Now as you take Christ in your heart, you are free, but you will sin no more. 

Joshua served the Lord and walked with him. He led a testimonial life so that the people who followed him did as he did. Today, without our knowledge our children or other people near to us, follows us and does what we do. It is a choice for every one of us how you want them to be as their life depends on your holiness and faithfulness. May Almighty empowers you to lead a holy life in Christ Jesus and be testimony for him as Joshua was. Amen

The BOOK – Forward March

In the book of Joshua, from the third chapter to fifth chapter, we see the forward march of Israel at the Promised Land. Encouraged by the report from the spies, they moved from Jordan. Then the appointed leaders (officers) passed through the camp and ordered all to watch the Ark and follow it. In Joshua 3:5, we see Joshua telling people to sanctify themselves to see the wonders God is going to provide them. They were following the cloud in wilderness and now they are following the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the presence of Jehovah.

At the beginning of the Exodus, from Egypt, there was a crossing of the Red Sea. At the close of Exodus, there is a crossing of the Jordan River. In these two memorable events, Joshua and Caleb were the only two who were there to experience it, because of their faith in God. Both the times, their way was closed in front of them and they were not able to move forward. God made a way for them. Yes, God has a way. Even if you think you don’t have a way ahead in your life or career, submit yourself in the hands of God, he always has a way for you. Martin Luther said, I know not the way Christ leads me, but well do I know my Guide.

In your life, you may lose Job or people may leave from your life and go, or your children may go along with the worldly pleasures, which may lead you towards depression. Just hold on a minute and listen – The God who created you and loves you is having a way for you in your life. 

In New Testament we see Jesus Christ telling a man with a withered arm to do what he could not do – to stretch it forth. The man made an attempt and he got healed. In earthly view, to get out of an addition or evil friendship, it is impossible. But Christ tells you to take a step forward, and he will do the rest in taking you to his side. 

Joshua told the priests to take the Ark and step into the Jordan, when the river was overflowing all its banks. When the soles of their feet touched the waters of Jordan, they stood on dry ground. God is expert in doing the impossible! Ark is the symbol of divine Presence and Christ is the reality of the divine presence. Christ goes before us and says – Follow me and he sends the Holy Spirit to whisper in our ear and say – This is the way, walk in it. If you surrender your life to Christ, he will guide you in the little as well as the great things in life. 

“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm” – Psalm 37:23.

We also see the stones were taken up and kept it on the other side as a memorial of their great deliverer. We see Israelites left Egypt at the time of Passover and after 40 years they entered the Promised Land at the time of Passover.

As you go through the book of Joshua 3 to 5, I encourage you in Christ Jesus to not get discouraged in the wall or a river in front of you. Have faith in Christ and live unto him and hear his voice telling you to go through the wall and river and you will see the wall moving and the river drying, for you to move forward. Amen.

The BOOK – Looking Out

In the end chapters of Deuteronomy we see Moses’s third address to Israel. Here we see Moses giving the people some solemn warnings. Initially he told them about the blessings if they are obedient and then he told them the results of disobedience. 

Before 3000 years ago, God warned about the results of disobedience. Yes, we can see in history how Israel were scattered from one end of the earth to the other. We see Jewish history is full of persecution and tragedies. God foretold all this through Moses in Deuteronomy. 

Joshua was one who started the journey from Egypt and kept his faith throughout. Now at eighty years he got the leadership from Moses. The one thing Moses gave to Joshua along with the leadership is the fact that – “The Lord is with you; be strong”. If God is present, fear is baseless. We see Moses singing songs to glorify God. We saw he singing song after the deliverance from Egypt and now towards the end of his life. As a Christian, we all should have songs in our lips. 

Then Moses went up to mount Nebo (Pisgah) and there God showed him the Promise Land. He died there and Lord buried him. No one knows where. Someone said God buried his burial. Once again we see Moses in the Bible. One day Jesus took Peter, James and John and climbed up Mount Hermon to the north of the sea of Galilee and then Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus about his coming death. (Mathew 17:1-3).

It is not important for us to know whether Moses wrote Deuteronomy 34 or whether Joshua added it later, the important fact is about the blessings and curses he gave depending upon our obedience. With respect to Deuteronomy 28, Derek Prince, a man of God has composed a list of seven problems indicating that a curse is at work in our life. 

1.       Mental / Emotional breakdown

2.       Repeated or Chronic sickness (especially if hereditary)

3.       Barrenness, a tendency to miscarry, or related female problems.

4.       Breakdown of marriage and family alienation

5.       Continuing financial insufficiency

6.       Being “Accident-prone”

7.       A history of suicides and unnatural or untimely deaths.

The presence of one or two of these problems would not necessarily be sufficient to establish working of a curse, but when several of the problems are present, the probability of a curse increases. However only Holy Spirit is the one who can provide an absolutely accurate diagnosis.

In our life, we better sit down and analyse that we are in the side of blessings or of curse. If you things you are in the side of curse, don’t be disappointed.

·         Confess your faith in Christ and n his sacrifice on your behalf (Romans 10:9-10)

·         Repent all your rebellion and your sins (Mathew 3:2)

·         Claim forgiveness of all sins (1 John 1:9)

·         Forgive all other people who have ever harmed you or wronged you. (Mark 11:25)

·         Renounce all contact with anything occult or Satanic (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

·         Pray for thee release from any curse (Mark 11:24)

·         Believe that you have received and go on in God’s blessings (Ephesians 3:20)

I pray that when you read through Deuteronomy, you understand your short comings, the sins, the words which comes from your mouth, the actions, everything you are, and repent before the King of glory and inherit the blessing he has instore for your life to be a testimony. Amen.