Month: February 2022

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

Luke 19:10

This verse is spoken by Jesus at the house of Zaccheus. The background story as we know is Jesus visiting Zaccheus’ house as his guest. He was eager to see Jesus and received Jesus joyfully.

In his confrontation with Jesus there occurs a sudden change in this man and he confesses before the Lord that he is ready to return whatever he had forcefully and unlawfully extracted from people.

He committed before Jesus that the amounts will be returned fourfold.

His repentance of sin and readiness to make amends was proof of his accepting Jesus As His Lord And Saviour.

He was ready to leave his old ways just as Abraham was ready to leave his father’s house hold and relatives trusting God fully. Jesus declared that Zaccheus had become the son of Abraham as he trusted God to follow Him. That would be a blessing for his entire household. The very purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth is fulfilled in that man as

He came to earth to seek and save that which was lost. That was His mission.

Jesus tells about how He goes looking for the one lost sheep leaving the 99 sheep with the co- shepherds and how he rejoices when he finds the lost one.

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:7

The woman searching for the lost coin look for it and finds it. When she finds it she rejoices with her friends. The father who kept waiting for his lost son celebrates his son’s return with a grand feast. All these parables illustrate the purpose of the Lord’s coming to earth.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He tells that He did not come to earth to be served but to serve and to lay His life for them. What a wonderful saviour we have ! Let His Name be glorified !
John 3:17
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:32

Apostle Paul says:
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Jesus is our saviour who left the glory of heaven and came down to earth for our redemption. Believe how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly. He will come back for us, the church, those who wait for Him earnestly. Today is the Age of Grace. Come to Him and become a part of His family. I Timothy 1:15

When a person is born again in the Word of God and the Holy Spirit there’s is a great change in him. His perspective of life changes and that starts it’s manifestation in his behaviour and talk. Matters which were considered valuable in his old self are no longer of preference in the new life. This is the testimony of anybody who has accepted the saving grace of Jesus.It’s the same with me too. I started studying and meditating the Word of God with greater passion and enthusiasm. God is using me speak His Word to many. I thank the Lord for that. Let His Name be glorified.

Acts 10:36‭, ‬38‭, ‬40

And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Acts 10:42‭-‬43

Let us get ready to be caught up in the Rapture which may happen anytime now.

Sol. Salomi Kurian

So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Luke, 19:13

We are all in this world for a purpose and we are not an accident, in our family, in our nation, we need to serve a purpose, till our LORD JESUS, returns. 

Luke: 19:13;

“Do business till I come, is the Command of the Nobleman It’s an order to be followed by the Servants.

we are the servants of Our LORD Jesus Christ, we are given the command to follow by His servants. This is for those who are responsible for the business, till His coming on clouds. Our job is to be busy doing the assignment. But we are else were doing something that is not our assignment and we are caught up in our own business and unnecessary problems.

We are the stewards of our talent, one day we all will be giving the accounts of our assignments, talents, our assignment is to share Gospel, make disciples if we are faithful in doing this, we will hear ‘Well done my faithful servant.’ At the same time we are given talents to complete our assignment, but the question is how we use them, what we do with them, are we wise servants, are we faithful servants?

I would like to share the testimony.
Recently I met a Muslim woman married for 27years, but her husband left her 18 years back, then I was moved with the power of the Holy Spirit, and started praying from 18th of Dec. And on 2nd February he called his wife saying I’m coming back to you all. The best part is, they all say only one thing, that JESUS CHRIST has done this, All glory to JESUS CHRIST.

Today the question is for you and me are we into the father’s business whole heartedly or half-heartedly or nothing at all?
If at all we feel that something is lacking in us then we need to repent, we cannot be in the bad books of our Master.

Prayer:
ABBA FATHER, I want to serve you once again please rejuvenate fire within me, LORD JESUS please give me your grace, and I’ll never be the same, sweet HOLY SPIRIT take complete control of me and use us for your GLORY, in YESHUA HAMASHIACH NAME I PRAY.

AMEN.

Sol.Theresa Cabral.(AOJ)

And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba ….

2 Ch 19:4 

King Jehoshaphat dwelt in the capital. 

The place you stay is the headquarters from where the Lord  wants to operate in the Nation.  

From there you have to go round in your Constituency to see its present status. 
Prophet  Ezekiel wrote about his experience,

 Eze 37:1,2 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley  which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 

When you walk around your Constituency physically, or in prayer daily, village by village, towns, cities, families, the demographics, you will come to know the hidden sins committed there.

 Witchcraft, human sacrifice, religious superstitions, atrocities committed  in the name of tradition,  culture etc. and the people affected by them. 
What are the lifeless dry bones?
People living in desperate conditions, who are suffocated due to various reasons.
 
Can we have a look at them? Farmers? Children? Students? Mothers? Fathers? Teachers?
Youngsters? Govt Officers? Industrial labourers? Media workers? Journalists? Politicians? Veterans? Businessmen? Policemen? 

King Jehoshaphat went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.

You are to travel to & fro many times  in order to bring the people of  your Constituency  to Jesus Christ, to turn their hearts to Jesus Christ. 

Ezekiel says, ‘The Lord  caused me to pass by them (the dry bones) round about’ for bringing the dry bones back to its original position (soldiers of an Army) 

He prophesied the Words which  the Lord put in His mouth. 

” Dry bones! hear the Word of the LORD.  So says the Lord Jehovah to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live. And you shall now that I [am] the LORD.” Eze 37:4 -6

We know that Ezekiel did it literally.  

So  I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 

As you prophecy over the dry bones, an  Army will rise up from your Constituency, an exceedingly great Army.
They will stand for the Lord and fight for Him. Amen.

Sol. Benovin Samuel AOJ

What is the thing which is keeping you away from eternal life

When Jesus heard these things, He said to him, ”You still lack one thing, sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven and come, follow me”

Luke 18:22

The man here is very wealthy. He followed God and throughout his life was obeying all the commandments of God religiously as he understood. The rich man is all about following the rules and making up points and not about firmly connecting to people and God.
Jesus showed him how imperfect his life was. He could show him how selfish and earthly were his thoughts.

Mt 19:21 Jesus said to him, if you want to be perfect, “go sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me .
Sell all that you love so dearly and give all to the poor and take up the cross .
He thought the wealth is the sign of approval from God. But he was not satisfied, something made him to seek more. His focus was on wealth and may be on society, how society would look at him. That’s why Jesus said ‘sell all that you have’.
Many a times we follow Jesus and do all the good things, prayers, giving, ministry, etc. and God blesses us with wealth, we think we have God’s approval and our focus is on Prosperity.
We are caught up with so much in our work, business, family, etc .but we are not happy from inside, no joy, no satisfaction, contentment.
What is the one thing that is pulling me down?
Mt 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

Today as we see people so busy accumulating wealth, busy trying to be someone, so much competition around.
Pro 23:4 Do not over work to be rich because of your own understanding cease.
I remember many years back, out of some people known to me, some went on the wrong path and accumulated lots of money.

One person was rich. Last year he died at a young age without keeping anything for his family.
In life we have to be joyful, helpful, satisfied, content with life.
Last year towards the end of the year, I was not very happy and I realized I had to give up something. Immediately I found that peace, which earlier I didn’t have. there was joy and I was dancing, dancing without music, it was like I was flying in the air.

Sacrificial giving towards others assures us of treasures that can never be lost.

Sol. Arvind Dias AOJ

One Gospel – different methods

“ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all.

Gal 6,7

I recently heard a story which inspired me about this verse. There was a time when Thomas Alwa Edison was travelling and he was accompanied by another scientist who was an atheist. During the travel when Edison was reading Bible, the other scientist without knowing he was Edison asked him, “You look like a studied young man and in this age of science how do you believe God, religion and all that?. ‘If young people like you search for God, who is going to create a better world?” He asked.
Edison quietly introduced himself and the other scientist was shocked at it. They went on a brief talk and the other scientist wanted to visit Edison’s house to know more about him. Edison invited him to his house and when the scientist saw a new invention by Edison he asked how he did invent it.
Edison replied, “I didn’t do anything; It was just there like that you see when I woke up one day”.

The other scientist said, “How would it come just like that without you creating I”
Edison gave the same reply again and again several times and the other scientist wouldn’t believe it as usual. Edison finally told him, “If you don’t believe it came just like that, how would you believe the Earth, Galaxy and Cosmos all formed one day by itself. If there is a creation, there is a creator and the truth is written in the Bible”

This was the knowledge of The Holy Spirit in Edison to lead the other scientist who was an atheist to believe in God.

Act 17:24  The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, …..
I went to a xerox shop one day in Chennai, It was run by a Christian family and I saw a board of Swamy Vivekananda testifying about Jesus with the following line “If you need deliverance come to Jesus, He is The High God compared to anyone you know and he will deliver you”. The Holy Spirit gave this knowledge to the shop owner to place this visible board in the Shop so that every unbeliever who came to the shop would read it. Swami Vivekananda whom this society believes to be a respectable person has testified it. It would raise curiosity in the readers to know about our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Bible inActs 17 we see The Holy Spirit guiding Apostle Paul to share the Gospel in a unique way when he was in Athens, a City full of Idols. There he saw a Altar named “ To an Unknown God” and said ‘I am going to proclaim that God who is Jesus Christ whom you worship unknowingly’.

Isa 45:18  For so says Jehovah the Creator of the heavens, He is God, forming the earth and making it; He makes it stand, not creating it empty, but forming it to be inhabited. I am Jehovah, and there is no other. 

There may be circumstances in your life where you may wonder how to share the Gospel and testify Jesus. But always have Faith and pray for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide you to proclaim the Gospel and testify Jesus in the most convincing way which no human mind can understand.
There is one Gospel, Salvation only through our Lord Jesus Christ but many methods to proclaim it.

Sol. Leo

When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.?

Lk.18 :36.

We see a blind beggar here whose name is Bartimaeus (Lk.18:36), sitting by the roadside of Jericho, knowing there would be a mass of people preparing their final journey to Jerusalem to celebrate their annual Passover.

He could not see, but he could hear. On hearing the commotion, he asked what was happening and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Immediately, like the ten lepers (Lk.17:13), he called out for mercy saying ‘Son of David., have mercy on me ‘, addressing Him by His Messianic title.

This is a profession of faith. He has heard enough about Jesus and knew He was more than a mere man from Nazareth. The people rebuked him, but he was unstoppable, shouting all the more to be noticed amidst the thousands of people moving there. Jesus heard his desperate cry and granted him sight.

When one of my friends told me that she wanted to meet some Catholic nuns (AOJ) who had come out of their Religious Congregation, myself being a Catholic, I grabbed the opportunity to meet them to clarify my doubts about the Catholic Church and that was a ‘day of eye opening’ for me. This reminds us of the persistent man in Lk. 19:3. What may seem like my need to others, may not be really what I want. It seems that he was begging for alms, but what he really wanted was his eyesight.

As a Christian, we should be aware of what is happening around us, especially, these last days, whatever is happening is all written in “The Bible” and we should know this. In Lk.24:18, one of the two disciples returning to Emmaus is asking the Lord, “Are you “only a visitor” to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” referring to the crucifixion of Jesus which was the topic of discussion for everybody at that time.

Our Lord also says, ‘ keep watch‘ as you do not know when the Lord will come (24:42). Lord is looking for Barthimaeuses today who can be watchful and act with faith. There are great many things and decisions which have to be done and taken ‘ at the moment’ or it will never be done.

Let us pray that we are released from a deaf and dumb spirit so that we can hear and speak at right moment.

Sol. Amala Arunachalam (AOJ)

There was a man named Zaccheus, who was a chief tax-collector. And he was rich. 

Luke 19:2

Innocence and Purity

The above verse reminds me of my life when I was new for the university. During my graduation I was in the 1st year. I had a desire to see and to experience God in my life. Then God led me into a fellowship through my sister where I could know Christ more deeply. There I got to know Jesus more and experienced His Goodness and His love for me. Then I decided to take water baptism through which I would get salvation by His Grace. At that time I did not know that I would be placed in SHUATS. God had already planned for me to take me to SHUATS. There everything went well with me. I was very much satisfied with my life of SHUATA. One day my sister took me to a fellowship where I saw people went into deeper levels of worship and the Word of God which was shared there always ended with a powerful, wonderful revelations. This made me know God more and more. Now I am filled with hunger and thirst for God and God alone can quench my thirst.
We see Zaccheus, was a tax collector and he was rich, but when he came to know that Jesus was coming that way, he wanted to see Jesus and he climbed the tree. But Jesus knew the desire that Zaccheus had in his heart, i.e.. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He desired for Christ.

Luke 19:8-10 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false , I restore fourfold.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Today I want to encourage you all to have a desire for Jesus, to know Him more.
John 14:8  Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. 

If God Is All You Have, You Have All You Need.

No matter what you are going through, whether it is sickness or financial crisis or relationship problems etc. Don’t seek the Lord for miracles but instead seek for the Lord in order to know Him and serve Him more and more. Invite God into your heart and know that God is for us and He is not against us.

Psalm 37: 4
Delight Yourself in the Lord, and He Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart.

Without God we are nothing.
Let us pray. Father, we love you and we want you more than anything else, without you we are nothing. Help us to know you more. In Jesus name Amen.

Sol. Mercy AOJ,

A True Desire

“And he sought to see who JESUS was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.”

– Luke 19:3

---

Sometimes our various physical, mental, social, professional, and financial limitations act as the hindrances to rightly seek The LORD. However, when we truly desire to be led by The HOLY SPIRIT (Rom 8:14), our flesh and all the senses begin to follow our Spirit Man under the divine impression imparted by GOD’s SPIRIT.

According to Luke 19:3, although Zacchaeus struggled hard to see JESUS due to his short height, his true desire for The LORD brought a Favour in his life that JESUS not only called him by his name but also visited his house personally.

I still remember, how I used to be so hungry for The LORD during my initial days in Faith way back in 1996. In the year 2004, during my student life, I used to save money to buy Spiritual literature and participate in Bible teaching seminars. My financial height was quite short since I belonged to a middle class family, but the height of my desire to seek JESUS was relatively taller and that’s what made me sacrifice my comfort in many areas.

According to Mat 13:44 “the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field”. Somehow, I found myself like this man, who was ready to sell all to buy that precious field. Today, I am financially stable and successful in so many areas since JESUS said in Mat 6 “But seek first the kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.

Hence, I would like to encourage all the readers of this mediation to seek The LORD irrespective of your present limitations. The LORD shall surely honour your desire and save you including your household, as HE did with Zacchaeus, in JESUS Name. Amen!

In CHRIST,
Sol. Rahul Davis AOJ

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 18:38

In this biblical incident” a blind man is Calling someone “Son of David” Because he came to know that the Messiah was passing by him and he did not want to lose this chance, then he started shouting “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

I remember a testimony from my life that I can never forget. It is a matter of time for us when I was out of my city for my office work, and my wife (Babita) was pregnant three months. One day I got a call from uncle that I had to come immediately because Babita’s health was not well, I traveled and I reached my city after sometime.When I reached there I came to know that the baby was aborted and my wife was crying a lot and she was very much broken. Then we immediately went to the hospital and I did not have the answers to her questions. She asked, “What have I done wrong that this happened to me”?. I had no answers because I was broken too. After two days we returned to Uncle’s house. Then I immediately went to the prayer room and started crying. Then the Holy Spirit gave me a new song in my heart and I started praising the Lord with that song. Immediately I was filled with heavenly peace.

After some days, few servants of the Lord came to my city for a ministry purpose. Fortunately they came to my house for morning breakfast and before leaving my house they prayed for us and the Lord gave a prophetic message. One of them told us that we would have a baby in our arms before he arrived next year. We both were filled with joy after hearing this. And really, the next year, even before completion of the year, the Lord performed a miracle and the Almighty Lord blessed us with a baby boy. Glory to God.

This is absolutely true! When we call on him in trouble, he listens to us. My heart was filled with joy! I thanked the Lord greatly. We named him Joseph, led by the Holy Spirit.

Book of Proverbs 8:34 says that Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors”.

Waiting at the door has always been associated and referred to the act of prayer with meditating on the Word of God. Keep calm and watch the lord and wait patiently

Ps 37:7.

Let’s see what happened after that. While he was shouting the name of the Lord, “Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you? ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied.” (18:40-42) Here I think Jesus is trying to get him to vocalize his faith, since Jesus responded to him, “Your faith has healed you”.

Prayer– Heavenly Father, sometimes I give up too easily. The mountain has become very steep and I am very disappointed. I just made excuses for myself. I am sorry for my distrust. Renew my faith in an unwavering manner. Let me be quick to praise You and follow you closely. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Shalom!!!

Sol. Binesh AOJ

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him…….

Luke 18:40

---

Finally, I got Admission at B.Sc (Hons) Food technology SHUATS, Allahabad. But, what I desired for was B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture and hence I was disappointed. Seeing me in hopelessness my parents were much worried about me. But, one thing I knew if I pray the LORD Hears. Every night I used to weep bitterly. One day I received a verse Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. After, reading this I started to pray knowing that LORD hears me. Though there was no chances of Hope, I was still crying out to the LORD, trusting JESUS. Finally, the LORD heard my Cry and HE answered and blessed me with BSc.(Hons) Agriculture which I desired for. On that day I have tasted the Goodness of The LORD. I still long to taste HIS Goodness more since then.

Today, I would like to encourage you to cry out to the LORD; HE will hear you. No man, not even the circumstances can stop you when you decide to cry out to JESUS.

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

What stops you to come to Jesus. Is it your unrighteousness or your sins. Look at the verse given above. It says The LORD is Merciful.

James 4:8 Draw near to GOD and HE will draw near to you.

Rise up. Shake off the dust and shine. For the Glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Today, The LORD asks you to come near to HIM. Cast all your cares upon HIM.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,And delivered me from all my fears.

The LORD hears you and delivers you. Amen.

Prayer:

LORD give us the Grace to cry out loud to you irrespective of any hard circumstances. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and heart to obey you. Let your peace rule in our hearts!

In JESUS name AMEN.

Sol. Blessy AOJ