WATCH THEREFORE,AND PRAY

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” Watch therefore ,and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the son of Man”.
The verse reminds me of Lot’s latter life.Lot is called a righteous man in the New Testament.

  2 Peter  2:7
"and delivered righteous Lot,who was oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked "It further says Lot tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds".

Lot chose Sodom as his permanent place of living which was the wrong choice made by him and was at the gate of the city with other prominent men– this was the place for a Judge or village chief to spend his time.Lot lost his family to the sin of Sodom because he failed to recognize the nature of holiness of sanctification.

Lot seeing the fertile lands of Sodom made a wrong choice to settle in Sodom which is full of sin and lost his family because he was not watchful
He lost his devotion to the Divine.Thus he lost his family and peace. Here Jesus calls us to keep praying always,no matter what our surrounding culture is.

If We Are In Contact With Jesus He Will Guide And Lead Us And Help Us In Making Right Choices So

P R A Y ALWAYS ,

rather than be busy in our day today life. In the garden of Gethesemane Jesus asked His disciples to ” stay here and watch with Me”, but when He returned, He found them asleep and cautioned them “watch and pray”, lest you enter into temptation.

THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK..MATHEW 26:41.

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Our confidence in Christ, faith, watching and praying is counted as righteousness.
The weapon that Jesus used to overcome was prayer and Gods word.
Jesus’s’ disciples today must also watch and pray. We are easily distracted by this world, our fleshy needs and desires and the schemes of the enemy. 2 Corinthians 2:11

When we take our eyes from Jesus our attention wanders and soon we are living like the world and bearing little fruit for Gods Kingdom. 1Timothy6:18-19 says,”Let them do good,that they be rich in good works,ready to give, willing to share. Storing up for themselves…………..may hold on eternal life”.
When we live with the eager expectation of the Lord’s return , we are more likely to keep our lives pure and our hearts ready to meet HIM. As a believer we need to obey His command as He said to His disciples,”watch and pray”. Be alert of any temptation which can bring calamity and find strength through prayer to get the victory.

TESTIMONY

By the grace of the Lord we are saved.God gave us a good son-in-law. My daughter and my son -in- law are working together for the Lord’s ministry.All glory to God.

PRAYER

Beloved Father give us the grace to watch and pray always . A M E N

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SOL.SELVI

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“Consider the Lilies  how they grow, they neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these”.

Luke 12:27

Jesus here points out the beauty of the Lily or Lotus and, compare it with Solomon, the wisest man to ever live and one of the richest, with outward splendor, grandeur   pomp,elegance,magnificance and eminence. But he is nothing in comparison  to the lovely Lily. When God clothes,it will be perfect.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies,  kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long suffering”.

Colossians 3:12

 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing...clothed me with gladness”.

Psalms 30:11

     “For as many  of you as were  baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.

Galatians 3:27

          Every promise for the child of God is for claiming,praying them back to God and stand firm in it.This makes God happy. He enjoyed His children claiming the truth. 

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,  my soul shall be joyful in my God  for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness…….”

Isaiah 61:10

            When I stand on God,s promises I cannot  fall. When we consider God’s abundant provision for a simple little flower how foolish to be concerned about our own necessities  and needs .If a Lily flower grow and attired in simple beauty without care,planning,management and  worries how much more will our Heavenly Father care for us, who are His children bought by His blood.

             Let us be like the Lotus growing in serene beauty while rooted in the miry clay and surrounded  by murky  waters.Let us draw strength and power from surrounding  negativity   by transforming it by our presence, thought and feelings into powerful positivity.

      Like the Lotus we need to grow upward and outward towards the sun. We need to grow where we are placed and grow in the miry  clay, sending deep roots into the soil and sub soil of our souls. We should bloom  not to draw attention  to ourselves  but to point upwards to the invisible glory of the creator.

       Our purpose  is not in ourselves but in glorifying  God. When people see or hear us they should also praise the Lord for His goodness and greatness.

“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Zechariah 8:23

Prayer

             Heavenly Father, thank you for turning my mourning into dancing and clothed me with gladness.

Amen

Sol.Gigi Jacob

His mother said to the servants, “whatever He says to you, do it.” The Gospel of John is the fourth of gospels   which recounts the ministry of Jesus with seven signs and the seven “I am “ discourses. This verse is from the famous wedding at Cana where the first miracle of Jesus was performed to reveal His glory when He walked on this  earth. His mother, that is Mary, who herself is an epitome of obedience is asking us to do whatever Jesus says.

John 1: 5

So, what has Jesus asked us to do?

1. John 4:24   God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” God is invisible ( Col 1:15) and not confined to time and space, not human, not finite. ”Must” means no option. We must meet God on His terms. Truth refers to real relationship with God. Worship involves the heart. God has not called us for religion but a relationship with the Father, with the one who made heaven and earth, the one who made us in His image.
2. John 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ Jesus says unless we are born again we will not enter the Kingdom of God. Those who wish to be born again must believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and was resurrected. They must confess their sin and accept the free gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

What’s the benefit of obedience?

1. Eternal Life  –John 10:27–28 God’s blanket protection- Psalm 91.
2.  All the blessings that you need here on earth .

 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God

Deuteronomy 28:1

Testimony

              I was born and brought up in a Hindu family ,am a living witness of having obeyed the voice of God, on encounter with Jesus Christ in my home in 2001 .It changed the trajectory of my life. I have peace that surpasseth all understanding, I know my God loves me, He has given me victory in my every challenge, I am safe in His hands and well protected.

Prayer

Father, I thank you that you sent your only son Jesus Christ to save us from eternal damnation and give us life and life in abundance here on earth and in heaven. I pray that let the power of Christ impact the lives of those who read this,

In Jesus mighty name.

 Amen!!

Sol. Lalitha

O Foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched  you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Christ has been evidently  set forth, crucified among you?”.

Galatians 3:1

               St. Paul is telling the Galatians that you have been deceived  by the lies that questioned  your beliefs and contradicts  the  scripture. He asks, “Are you so foolish that after beginning  with the spirit you are trying to attain salvation by law(work). Galatians  3:3)This is the outcome  of strongholds  in the mind.

              People are neither possessed nor demonized but it is a stronghold .Satan brings some accusations or guilt of the past and he accuses us and he disuades us very subtly. He seeks to destroy our faith and people are comfortable with their old rituals and oblations.

“sacrifice and offering that wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me” “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure”.” I have come to do your will”.(kjv)

Hebrew 10:5,6,7

                      We are waiting for the blessed hope. The glorious appearing of our great God  and saviour Jesus  Christ because He gave himself for our sins and purify for Himself a people  that are His very own.

                Let no man be deceived in establishing his/her  holiness  by works, because scripture  declares that” our good works are like dirty rags”.

He is our High Priest and advocate in Heaven. We are washed by the blood of Jesus.

Isaiah64:6

“That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”.

Ephesians5:26

           We got converted but were nominal believers, our grand Father was a priest. They would go out in the scorching heat to evangelize people in the villages. We gave our life to Jesus and took water baptism. Thus, became born again Christians

Prayer

                     Thank you, Jesus, for your precious blood and choosing us to be the partakers of eternal life.

Amen

Sol .Noreen

 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

1 Peter 2:2

Fasting involves  lot of  patience as the flesh is subject to hunger when deprived of food The purpose of physical fasting is killing the desires of the flesh and bringing  it  in to subjection. To prepare for ministry, Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting and praying before He began God’s work on this earth.  (Matthew 4:1-17). Many other Biblical characters fasted like Daniel,Moses,Esther,David ,Ezra etc..   

               There is  another type of fasting which is very harmful for a spiritual person. That can be termed as ‘spiritual fasting’. While teaching His disciples to pray, Lord Jesus said, in the Lord’s prayer.

He was referring to our spiritual food besides our physical  food. In the old testament, God fed the people with manna from heaven. Even today He is feeding us with manna in the form of Word of God

     our body comprises three things—body, soul and spirit. Just as our body needs food, our spirit also needs to be fed with the statutes and commandments from the Bible. A spiritual man delights in the Word of God just as a person of this world would relish a tasty delicacy.

        “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man  that trusted in Him”.

Psalms 34:8

The true man of God hungers for his spirit to be fed by the Word of God by  reading the Bible, prayers, meditation and worship. He has to struggle to escape from the people of the world .That is why Lord Jesus also prayed for his true followers

John 17:9-11

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given me  ^……..

 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You.”

        Psalms34:15 says,” The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous ……….Their cry”.

That is why in the Beatitudes  Lord Jesus clearly  said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”.

Testimony

I am a house wife and inspite of all my household works I always have the hunger and thirst to spent time with  God, reading the word, writing  revelations from God, praying and doing Lord’s ministry. Now I have a desire to be trained by holy Spirit to take me to a higher level of glory.

Prayer

         Heavenly Father, help us to focus on our eternal  life and be filled with  your presence while accomplishing our  earthly duties. Lord help us to obey your commandments. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen

Sol.  Neelam

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life”

Mathew 6:25.

Here in this verse Jesus said Take no thought  for your life, don’t be anxious  about anything  in this world.

“These things I have spoken unto you , that in me ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

John 16: 33

                        Fear, worry and anxiety are all weapons of Satan to keep us from  experiencing the full  light that God  has for us. Those emotions keep us paralyzed.. Learn  how to live free from worry and and  casting your cares upon Jesus.

                Jesus say to those with fearful heart”….be strong , fear not,: behold, your God will come with vengeance, and even  God with see recompense, He will come and save you“

Isaiah35:4

Why we should not worry

1. Life is more precious  than worldly things
2. Men is more than materials
3. Men better than plants and animals  that don’t worry about  dressing
4. Worry is a sin and it produces  fear
5. It cause severe  depression
6. Creating  troubles
7. Made us to live like an orphan  even though  we have our Heavenly Father who cares for us
8. Torment  over something  that will  likely  a blessing  if it comes

Jesus paid for all the riches, blessings on the cross.

Have to believe,  accept and utilise  the things Jesus  paid for us.

I used to worry  about my children  studies and future  always but when I attended  FRP class “Tearing down  Strongholds” Jesus taught me how to become  happy.  So when we submit  our thoughts  in tod HIS mighty  Hands, He will lead us.

“Be still and know that I am God: I will  be exalted  among  the heathen,  I will  be exalted  in the earth”

Psalm 46: 10

  “Fear thou not, for I am with thee:be not dismayed: for I am thy God:I will strengthen thee, yes, I will help thee,yes,  I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness “.

Isaiah 41:10

Prayer

Heavenly  Father we come before you, thank you for your presence Lord. Thank you for teaching us how not to worry.  Teach us how to hold your  verse and meditate. We ask in Jesus name .

Amen

Sol.G. Kamalin Viji

No one can serve two masters. …. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Matthew 6:24

Everything in life demands undivided attention. Be it your job, studies, business or anything you do in life. Even while cooking, if attention is somewhere else, food may get spoiled. Jesus here is saying the same.

One cannot serve God and money together. Putting your trust and faith in money and not on God is what he is referring here. Its not wrong to possess materialistic wealth but its about placing your priority on your wealth & riches and on God at the same time. The key word here is “SERVING”

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

1 Timothy 6: 17

And in the very next verse, Paul is saying be generous and willing to share.

Jesus says,” Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, ….”

Matthew 6:25

Anxiety, tension of the future makes us more vulnerable to money and we tend to forget the promises of God that He will provide us everything.

Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6: 21

So when it comes to serve the Lord by mentoring people, sharing the gospel or even meditating the scriptures, the thought of money, wealth and riches should not come in mind and focus should be on God’s work only. We see so many leaders, missionaries, pastors today claim to do Lord’s work but sadly their focus has turned from God’s work to fulfilling of their materialistic needs. God said in Exodus 20:3,” You shall have no other gods beside me.” We are making money our God while serving the only God our creator. Satan who is so subtle in his ways, turning God’s people to rely on generating wealth and materialistic possessions and not on God, Jehovah Jireh.

Testimony

When I came to the Lord, I started going to Hyderabad every month to attend the Church and be in the presence of the Lord. Everyone used to say in the Church how come I manage to come every month and I used to be very much surprised how come their focus was not on God but on why I come and how much I spend. Gradually I lost interest in work and instead of waiting on the Lord, I left working and lost all the work. Realizing my mistake, I asked forgiveness and put my complete trust in His provision. After almost 6 months, God again opened a door for me and taught me that He doesn’t want His children to leave the world and be at the mercy of the people of this world but how being in this world, one should serve the Lord with all that one has got. I praise God for teaching me the life’s most valuable lesson practically.

Prayer

May God guide us all not to become slave to money but have the mind to only serve Him with all that we possess!

In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Sol.Neha

” ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world”.

1John 4:4

It was Christ’s triumph at the cross that enabled John to proclaim to all who believe, you are from God, little children, and have overcome them the strength of the enemy may be great, but greater is the power of God Almighty. Greater   in might, majesty, dominion and power., is the omnipotent God, who can come and reside in His people.so we can overcome the evil spirits and their power,” because, greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world”

  God  showed me this verse when I was not confident about myself, my work and my family. He took me under His wings to protect me. He encouraged me to keep working hard. I had my belief in Him that He will give the desires of my heart. (psalms 37:4-5) in His own time. I waited patiently for a long time. But my Father remembered and gave me that perfect job at the perfect time. I am grateful for what I have today. I was the horse and was ready for a very long time, but God gave me victory at the perfect time.

” The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is of the Lord”.

 Proverbs 21:31

“I wait quietly before God for my victory comes from Him”.

Psalms 62:1

“Be still and know that I am God”.

Psalms46:10

             To be still and rested we need to trust God as our refuge.  Our primary source of confidence in our lives must be the Lord and not money, position, power, talents, fame etc. No storm can rock our boat when Jesus is in it with us. Trusting God in every aspect of our life is stillness. We are freed from the chains of fear, anxiety, hopelessness, pride and guilt. As we increase in the knowledge of God, our trust will grow, our joy, peace and hope will grow. We will humble ourselves before Him and exalt Him.

Prayer

          Dear God, in the name of Jesus I pray you keep me going with your grace, love and strength. Please keep all your children who believe in you and love you, under your wings.

Amen

Sol.  Aparajita

 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:16

We all know prayer is something that comes from the heart, which goes beyond are mind and works deep in our soul. It’s something that changes us from within, as it is an encounter with living God. It involves a complete surrender of our entire self to God.

Bible teachers us throughout, the importance of this communication with God. Gospel of Luke emphasizes the most on prayer than any other books. And the role model is none other than Christ himself. Jesus not only teaches us to pray but withdraws himself for prayer. Few things that Jesus taught us are as follows:

• Jesus had a disciplined habit of prayer. Luke 22:39

It was habit of Jesus to go away from the multitude and pray.Here Jesus teaches to be like him, to have not just a habit of prayer, but disciplined habit of prayer

• Jesus had a designated place of prayer. Luke 5:16

Jesus just didn’t start to pray where he is, but we see in all the references that he separated from others, went to mountains or wilderness to pray. What he teaches us, is to get separated from everything around us and then be in God’s presence.

• In midst of growing popularity and busy life Jesus took time to pray. Luke 5:16

How busy you maybe, how popular you be, how great and wide ministry you may have, if you don’t spent time in prayer, nothing is fruitful, this is what Jesus thought us.

• Jesus prayed for long hours before taking important decisions. Luke 6:12

Jesus spent one whole night in prayer to select the 12 apostles. Similarly before every important event he did the same. He teaches us to do the same.

• Jesus prayed in public and in private. Luke 8:18

Prayer can be done in public and also in private. When you are praying in public, it should be inspiring the others to pray. Just as we see in Luke 11:1 that after Jesus praying, the apostles asked him to teach them to pray.

Therefore when we follow Jesus let us follow him completely even the prayer life He led. A prayerful life in which, voice of heaven is heard, temptation and plans of the devil are overcome, guidance is received, transformation happens and its strength us to stand all situations in our life.

Prayer

Lord help us to follow you in all aspects of our life. Help us to renew our prayer life and spend time in front of you, so that we can be fruitful to the fullest in our life.

In Jesus name .

Amen

Sol.Shebe

Pray for your land and people

1. First of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks be made for all men.

2. For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and reverence.

3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior.

1Timothy 2:1-3

TESTIMONY

  I live in Manapakkam, Chennai. Recently we shifted to this area. The ground opposite to our home was filled with garbage up to 5 feet height. It was in that condition for several years. I lifted my hands towards the ground and started to pray in the name of Jesus, the garbage should be cleared, the land should become clean and nobody should throw garbage there. Within a month, the local corporation cleared the entire place. I was filled with joy that the Lord answered my prayer. To my surprise within the next 2 months, it turned into a Kabaddi playground. Now youth in our area practice Kabaddi every day. I thank Jesus for listening to my prayers and making the place useful for many.

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

 2 Chronicles 7:14

When we earnestly seek his face, the Lord will heal the land we are living, pour grace upon the people and bring peace to the place that we are living.

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

God calls us as royal priesthood.

The work of a priest is to stand and to intercede for his people. God has called us as royal priesthood to pray, intercede for our people and place and for our nation and the world.

Currently, all the nations are suffering from economic crisis, we hear of war everywhere, sickness and suffering.

Is it not our duty to pray and intercede for all?

Prayer

Our loving heavenly father, we pray for all the people to be filled with grace and peace. We pray for all the ruling authorities to be filled with your wisdom. May God’s mercy and compassion be poured on everyone.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Sol. Camilia Theodore, Chennai.