Month: May 2022

Even though a large crowd of people from as far away as Ephraim, ……. had not completed consecrating themselves, they still ate the Passover in a manner not proscribed by the Law, because Hezekiah had prayed like this for them: “May the good LORD extend a pardon on behalf of everyone who prepares his own heart to seek God, the LORD God of his ancestors, even though he does so inconsistent with the laws of consecration.” The LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
In his reign King Hezekiah cleansed the temple of the Lord which was forsaken for a long period. He restored the service of the Lord’s Temple.
He told the priests,

2Ch 30:18-20

Please don’t be careless, you descendants of Aaron, because the LORD has chosen you to minister in his presence, to serve him, to be his ministers, and to burn incense.”

2Ch 29:11

But still there were so many in the assembly that had not consecrated themselves.
King Hezekiah sent word to all of Israel and Judah, and wrote letters that they should come to the LORD’s Temple in Jerusalem to observe the Passover to the LORD.

The king, his princes, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem had mutually decided to observe the Passover in the second month, but they had been unable to celebrate it then because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not yet been gathered together in Jerusalem.
So the King sent a message like to the people again.

“If you return to the LORD, your relatives and children will receive compassion from those who took them away captive, and they’ll return to this land, because the LORD is both gracious and compassionate—he will not turn away from you if you return to him.”
Couriers crossed from city to city throughout the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but those people just mocked them and laughed at them.

Hezekiah was not discouraged. He prayed for those who had not consecrated themselves that the Lord may forgive them. The Lord heard him and healed the people.

2Ch 30:10

How patient King Hezekiah would have been to unite the two kingdoms, Judah and Israel and bring them together to the presence of the Lord.
It is colossal effort to bring all the Churches together in India to the Lord and cleanse them. You will have to suffer betrayal, mockery, insults etc. But perseverance is needed to bring results.

God also poured out his grace throughout Judah, giving them a dedicated heart to do what the king and princes had decreed according to the message from the LORD.

2Ch 30:12

God’s grace is with the Church in India now. We have to work with a united heart. Let us pray for even those who have not yielded to the will of God. When we pray God will heal our people and land.

What we all need is HEALING.
Healing from the painful memories of the past
Healing from the long cherished wounds
Healing of body, soul and spirit
Healing of physical, emotional, spiritual wounds
Healing of the damaged emotions
Healing of rejection, guilt and shame.
Our land also needs healing. It is fallen sick.

Our economy is sick.

Our industries are sick.

Our people are sick.

Our youth, children, elderly suffer with sicknesses in soul, body and spirit.

All the more our Churches are sick.

Testimony

When we decided in the meeting in Mumbai on 23rd April to work for the Churches, by giving training to them, the same day the Lord did miracles. We received phone calls from two Church Heads that they want to send their believers for training.
Let’s pronounce & utter healing and complete health to our land and people. Let your tongue go on uttering this 24 hours today. We will see immediate results, today itself.

-Sr. Angelica AOJ

“Ask ,and it shall be given you;seek,and you shall find;knock,and it shall be opened unto you.”

–Mathew 7:7

This verse teaches us the persistence  in prayer. God’s people are to seek daily provision and spiritual  blessing. We ask not as a master but as one asks a father. Father on earth has limitations  in answering  fully. Father in heaven has no such limitations. He is able to answer more than we ask, think or imagine.

But we need to ask boldly, faithfully, and thankfully without doubting. We ask for our need   seek for His wisdom and knock for opportunities.. We need to ask with gratitude and according to His will and His word.

We have to ask in the name of Jesus. When we seek His glory, it pleases the Father’s heart. We have to ask ,seek and knock persistently and diligently.

              Lord is willing  and  able to give that which is perfect and good to those who love Him. He is able to show us what eye has not seen or  ear heard or entered our thoughts.

    Ask, seek and knock is not an option but a command.. God’s  answer is certain for the word “shall” is used not “can ” or “may”. The time of receiving the answer is a decision. Or choice of the Lord. Lords priority  is our transformation of our souls and lives.

1 Corinthians 2:9

             If we ask our earthly father, he will give us only what is good for us.If we know how to give good gifts to our children,how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.

Mathew  7:11

        We do not have because we fail to ask.our heavenly Father is the alpha and omega, the beginning  and the end,so He knows everything, what is good  for us.only thing is that we need to ask Him.

James4:2-3

Testimony

               I joined Morning 0Worship,Rose, in August 2021.Everyday I look forward  eagerly to join the morning  worship. It brings great delight to my heart as I am interacting  with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Listening to the beautiful worship songs, the message and the prayers.

Prayer

        Dear  Heavenly Father give us the grace to ask, seek and knock boldly, faithfully  and thankfully  without doubting for our needs and seek you always above all things.

Amen

Sol.Anju

“And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant .I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever”. “I will make my home among them. I will be their God and they will be my people”.

–Ezekiel 37: 26-27

Ezekiel 34:1-37:28,God is speaking about the restoration of all that is lost due to the sin of Adam. He will be their leader and will restore the fruitfulness of their land. A revival will happen and it will result in restoration. The good kings in the old Testament represent the shepherds. They led them wisely and strongly.

The same shepherds are seen in New Testament as

apostles, prophets, teachers, healers, helping others, and those speak in tongues.

1 Corinthians 12 :28.

But Jesus is the “great Shepherd “of the sheep, His beloved children.

Hebrew 13:20

Restoration of mountains of Israel is seen in chapter 36.when God’s people return Israel will experience an increase in population and fruitfulness. God made Israelites clean while the gentile nations remained unclean. Israelites become unclean later due to their idolatry and bloodshed. Ezek 36:18.

By Christ’s death He redeemed His people and redraw the line between clean and unclean. So the Gentiles who received Christ also become clean. Ezekiel 36:25-27. Now they can come boldly to God’s presence and experience His grace. Hebrew 12:18-19

Restoration takes place in different stages.Ezek.37:7,10 “….suddenly I spoke there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons……..a great army”.

History told us that during the time of Martin Luther King ,who brought a revival fought for justification(noise),John Wesley ‘s time he tried to sanctify the people(rattling),Charles Finny’s effort with God bring a revival of religion and people received Holy Spirit. And 1904 Evan Roberts revival brought gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus an army is formed.

        Jesus restored the understanding  of the Lordship of Christ. He insists "no more idols in our life such as materialism or any thing in this world more than Christ".Ezekiel.37:23-24,1Corinthians:12:2-3

He restores the true worship’
” I will put my Temple among them forever…………and My home among them”.

Ezek37:26-27

He restored fellowship among believers37:15-22,Ephesians5:18-21 and restored the word in their heart.

“Then they shall know that I am the Lord”.

Ezekiel 36:27.

A new love for Bible is born and biblical illiteracy leaves the church.
He restores the zeal to withstand hardship for the gospel.

When the prophecy spoke to them breath came into their bodies they all come to life and form an army. Army to win new territories, many nations.Ezek.38:23,
Missions are born in revival

Prayer

      Thank you Jesus for the revival and restoration. Thank you for your promise that "you will see greater things than these". Amen

Sol. Runice AOJ

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.”

–Matthew 25:19

We all know this parable. Here, we see Jesus teaching His disciples that the Master took account from his servants, whom he had given 5, 2, and 1 talents. One who was given 5, gave back 5 more. One who was given 2, gave back 2. But one who was given 1, has done nothing with it. In the same way Lord has adored and entrusted us with different gifts, for which we are accountable. In verse 19, we see that Master settled accounts with the servants. Like those servants, one day we all have to give account to our Master. Today, we see that there are lots of gifted believers, who are not using their gifts either due to unawareness or due to not getting chance to use it.

Testimony

I was saved in 2007 and baptized in 2009, and enjoyed being in a church. Since then, I never used all the God given gifts. I was active, but not aware of the gifts. After attending BFF in 2018 followed by gift schools, God revealed many of my gifts. I thereby started using them. I thank God for AOJ who helps believers to develop their gifts and preparing them to serve Lord through these gifts.

When gifts get wasted, it hurts God. We see Lord’s anger in verse 26, “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! “ In verse 30 he says, “throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

Many gifted and talented believers are zealous for God and want to do many things for Lord, but as their gifts are not identified and they are not given chance to use their gifts, their gifts are getting wasted.

It is the duty of church leader to identify the gift of every believer and allow them to develop in their gifts. In Matthew 20:7, we see “They said unto him, ‘Because no man hath hired us.” We see here that these servants are not given work. But Master does not want them to waste their time and talents.

So, Lord is very serious about using each and every talents he has entrusted to every believer. It’s our duty that we find out talents of our fellow believers and allow them to develop in their God given gifts to glorify God.

Sol.Grishma Patel AOJ

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth. I came not to bring peace but a sword.”

–Matthew 10:34

Believers in Jesus always have peace that passeth understanding. But they are always persecuted and tormented from the ancient to the present day. Even though they have peace in their hearts, all around they face strife and trouble. They are not violent, but are always accused. Even persons belonging to the same house turn against them and try to harm them. Those who are against Jesus will persecute those who are for Him.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”

John 15:18

“I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”

John 15:19

Your parents or in-laws may not like Jesus, so they hate you who loves the Lord. The answer to this we get in Matthew 10:37-39. Here Jesus says, “If you love your father or mother, son or daughter, more than me, you are not worthy of mine.” It does not mean that you have to hate them, but love Christ more than those people. If you refuse to take up the cross and follow me, you are not mine; if you cling to your life, you will lose it; if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Testimony:

All believers are called to acknowledge the lordship of Christ and show Him preference over all earthly ties. Though born in a Christian family, I did not know the Lord for 45 years till God came in search of me 15 years back in 2007. Now I have been associated with AOJ by God’s grace for more than 3 years now. In 2020 May 17th when I was worshiping the Lord, God showed me a sword, and I was looking for a reason and God showed these verses (Matthew 10:34-36). Meditating further I got the answer in Matthew 10:37-39. 

The words of Jesus are like a sword of truth that penetrates human hearts. Those who love and obey God will trust His words. Others hate and distrust Him. His word is a double-edged sword, which penetrates the speaker and the listener. In Revelation, the Lord is depicted as a rider of a horse, with a fury sword coming out of His mouth. It implies that the words of Jesus in our mouth, mind and heart is a purifying, cleansing and sanctifying fire as well as a weapon of defense, a source of power in our lives to emerge victorious.

God taught me (Exodus 4:12, Ezekiel 3:27, Matthew 10:19,20, Isaiah 49:2) how to give direction to the sword of the spirit through my mouth in absolute faith, whose edge has been sharpened and polished to slaughter and kill (Ezekiel 21:10, 14,16) and to do surgery and remove all idols, stone hearts, ego, pride, position etc.

Prayer

Father God, give me the grace to love you more than anything or any relation in this world. All glory, honour and praise to the Lord Jesus.

Amen

Sol. Jasmine James AOJ

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.

Mathew 7:1

Matthew 7:1-2 ASV

In these verses Jesus talks about passing judgment and criticizing others. Does it really mean that we shouldn’t talk about others and evaluate their actions and talks? Should we adopt an attitude of being silent and inactive. Is it right that we shouldn’t react to whatever is happening?  Then why does the Lord say about being warned against false prophets. If you don’t use your discretion and judgmental powers, how can we recognize false people and false teachings?

Surely, we should discriminate between what is right and what is wrong. with wisdom and understanding granted by the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus warns us of harsh and hasty opinion and comments against those whom we don’t like. Our harsh words may character assassinate and tarnish someone’s reputation. In Numbers 12:1 we see Aaron and Miriam were jealous against Moses and they talked ill of Moses and his wife Sippora. God didn’t like it. He called both of them and Miriam was punished for her bad words of judgment against Sippora. Same was with Korah and his followers who were judgmental against Moses.

We should surely be impartial with an aim of edification and improvement rather than expressing our disagreement and intolerance of people and events.

We find Paul finding fault with Peter as Peter insisted on circumcision in order to please his Jewish following (Gal 2-12-16). Can you call Paul as judgmental about Peter as Paul openly spoke against Peter’s favoritism and partiality to his own people? Paul stood for principles, His intention was not to humiliate Peter, but to go the right way. When Christ died for our sins and all believers’ sins are borne and washed away by the Lord’s sacrifice at Calvary. The age of grace grants forgiveness to all who believe in the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the works of law of the Old Testament and circumcision are not for the believers. Apostle Paul wanted to establish this fact and he was totally against Peter’s professing circumcision.

So, whatever we do or say should be to the honour of the teachings of the Lord.

Let us avoid merciless and hard words that spoil others’ reputation. At the same time let us be honest and no conniving. Let’s be bold enough to call a spade a spade and let’s do it in an appropriate manner. We should get rid of the habit of finding fault and being biased. 

Study the Word of God, meditate the Word which is essential for correction and edification; necessary for righteous living.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

II Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV

Praise God.

-Sol.Salomi Kurian

  No one who has been drinking old wine wants new wine, because he says, ‘The old wine is good enough!’“ 

–Luke 5:39

In Jesus time, the Jewish religion  was saturated with the Old Testament Bible teaching. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth’. But Jesus brought a new code of teaching. It brought a paradigm shift  in the latter of the two main commandments. ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself’.

But the Jewish leaders could not digest this. The old teaching seemed to be good enough for them  because the new teaching required  an upside down change in their customs and systems.

In the Jewish class there were two categories; The oppressor and the oppressed.

The religious leaders were the oppressing class and the ordinary Jews were the oppressed. The Jewish religions was following the hierarchical system which was introduced into human history  by Nimrod. All the religions, institutions  in this world follow this system which divides the society into two categories. Jesus brought a revolutionary change in the  by breaking  this system.

He asked water from a low caste woman and when she refused Jesus made her understand who He was. The Samaritans of a whole village believed in Jesus and He stayed with them for two  days. Through preaching the Good Samaritan parable, Jesus presented God having a soft corner for Samaritans, the less privileged class.

He favoured the tax collector Levi and went to his house for a dinner. In the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, the latter was heard and went back righteous.

All those provoked the Pharisees. They preferred the “old wine” i.e. their system to continue. The less privileged heard the preaching of Jesus and valued it. But the oppressive class, with their political and religious power  made them silent.

This Jesus is still alive and is still continuing the same work through generations.

Dearly beloved, you are called to bring Jesus’ Kingdom into this world.  The political, religious, cultural system which exists in your surroundings, in your Constituency should be brought in direct alignment with the principles of Jesus Kingdom.

Identify  the oppressed class of the society in your Constituency. Caste, Religion, Color, Education, tradition, money, muscle strength, anything can be the discriminating factor. Join the oppressed class. God is always with the poor and oppressed. When you make visits, enter  into any house of the poor and needy, pray with them, seal them in the name of Jesus. They will taste the “New Wine” i.e. And say, ‘this is good’. 

  Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the person who trusts in him! 

–Psalm 34:8

Once they taste, they will come to like the new wine! Make them taste it! That’s your challenge!

–Sr. Angelica AOJ

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23

     We have to keep guard over the entrance of our heart and allow only that which builds us up. What corrupts our heart is to stay out.If we let in ungodly things, We become ungodly. So be careful in letting in godly things.If your heart is full of God’s word, you are storing good things

As a follower of Christ all we need to do is set our hearts right with God. As we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we know that Holy Spirit will live inside of us. So, all we need to do is to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. When we obey the Holy Spirit that very right moment, we are leading a Holy life.

When your heart is right and pure you can obey God’s word and apply it in your life. Constantly monitor what is in your heart and eliminate what is not godly. That is why psalmist  prays in Psalms 139:23,24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting..

“Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

As the Scripture says in John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

1John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 

Here scripture says that His commandments are not burdensome.  The best way to guard our hearts is to fill our hearts with the Word of God.

For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  1 sam 16:7

Be careful of what you see and be careful of what you receive. Turn to God with all your heart. God is asking you to return to Him. Are you will to go to the Lord?

If you are willing surely God will change your heart and He is willing to give us a new heart and renew right Spirit within us.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  Luke 6:45

Let us Pray

Father, I come to you today and I ask for the forgiveness for all the sins that I have committed willingly. But right from this moment I want to return to you with all my heart and I want to set my heart right with you Lord. Thank you, Lord, for giving me a new heart.

In Jesus name

Amen.

Sol. Mercy, AOJ.

               BE LOYAL

…them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

–1 Samuel 2:30

God honours those who honour Him. He’ll never forget the seeds of loyalty you sow. He’ll multiply them and give them back to you in a harvest of blessing.

when He makes up His jewels, you’ll be forever among them.

–Malachi 3:17

Forever. Think about that for a moment. By honouring God with your life and your lips, you’re stepping into a realm of blessing that will literally take an eternity to explore.

Once you begin to get that kind of eternal perspective on things, you’ll see that it’s grossly immature to get mad at God when temporary things don’t work out exactly how and when you want them to.

You’ll see that your loyalty must be first of all to God, that you must seek first His kingdom, even when things seem to be going wrong. The Bible says that if you’ll do that, all these other things will be added unto you.

God never forgets. He’ll never forget that in the heat of the battle, when others were giving up and saying, “Hey, this faith stuff doesn’t work!” you were still honoring Him by standing firm and speaking His promises.

So determine in your heart today to be loyal toward God in every word you speak. Make up your mind once and for all that nothing in your life is as vital as honoring Him. Keep honoring Him and speaking words of faith.

Prayer

Father, strengthen our faith, teach us to walk according to faith and wait patiently to unlock our miracles through patience and by Faith in Jesus name .

Amen.

–Sol. Blessy AOJ

 “But thou, when you prayest,enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is on secret; and thy Father which seethe in secret shall reward thee openly”.

–Mathew6:6

              Jesus tells His disciples to have an intimate relationship with  God. Father and son relationship  with the Lord is the most effective source of comfort and safety. If we pray to our heavenly Father in a secret place, it gives us full concentration. Jesus set us an example when He went away from His disciples and prayed to His Father. This is the usual practice for Him.

Mark1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed”.

Before selecting the 12 disciples Jesus spent the whole night with the Father 

Luke6:12-13″And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God”.

         In Old Testament we find prophet  Elisha in a similar situation.

2 Kings 4:33″He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord”.

Èlisha prayed secretly to God in a closed room with the dead  boy of the Shunammite  woman.

Again king Hezekiel turned his face to the wall and cried out to God to restore his life.He was sick and near death. God warned him through  prophet Isaiah.He prayed in the secrecy of his relationship  with the Lord..Lord heard and granted an addition of 15 years to his  life.

          Jesus set certain conditions  for the prayer to be heard.

Mark 11: 25 – 26  ” And when years stand praying forgive, if you have ought against any that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses “.  “But if you do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven  forgive your trespasses”.

Prophet Isaiah says

“And when you spread forth your hands,I will  hide mine eyes from you.yea,when you make many prayers,I will not  hear: Your hands are full of blood.”

–Isaiah 1:15

The prerequisite  for prayer  is forgive and reconcile  with your adversary, and keep away from all evil.That is why the psalmist  says  in

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” “But verily God hath heard me: he hath attended to the voice of my prayer”.

–Psalms 66:18-19

Praise the Lord. Amen

–Sol.Salomi