Day: January 9, 2023

Revelation 1:3 ,”Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,for the time is near.”

From the above verse we understand five things which are helpful in the growth of one’s spiritual life and ‘Blessed people are worded people ‘

1. One must have firm faith.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:7,”For we walk by faith not by sight. ” Here the verse tells us that the people who trust God they do all their activities by faith. Worldly people react to what they see around them. Anywhere faith is lacking Christianity becomes a mockery. It is critical to know that the subject of faith cannot be over- emphasized because the journey of Christianity is called, ‘The walk of faith.’ Ephesians 2:8 also tells us, “For by grace we have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. “So we can live fearlessly trusting only God for everything and no Christian can brag about their “goodness”.

2) Faith increases by His grace and knowledge.

2 Peter 3:14-15 tells us, ” therefore, beloved ,since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish ,and at peace .And count the patience of our lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him.” Peter is talking to believers here, which helps us understand what kind of peace Peter is describing. Peter is not describing the peace that comes from salvation, but the peace which grows in sanctification.

3) To live with purity and holiness.

-John 17:17-“Sanctify them in the truth;your word is truth.” The word of God shows us where we are lacking or doing wrong. It corrects us and encourages us to live a holy life. The Word of God is a Preserver of life and destiny.

4)It gives power to serve our God. -Ephesians 2:10-“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The passion and zeal in you for good works are the result of His work in your life because the greater One is at work in you.

5)It prepares to serve.-

Colossians 3:16-“that according to the riches of His glory He may be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being. ” The word of God gives us ability to teach others with proven knowledge. It also prepares us and gives us willingness to praise and worship Him. Your intake determines your welfare in life.

Prayer:

Father , we thank You for Your word which gives us life. Your words unite us with Your spirit. Your words prepares us to come and stay in Your holy presence. Amen.

Sol.Babu Sebastian

From Mt. Zion, the spiritual Zerubbabel shall deliverance flow

O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan, O majestic mountain, Mountain of Bashan! Why do you look with hatred, O many peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for His abode, yes where the LORD will dwell forever? Ps.68:15,16

These, then, are the historical circumstances on which I hope, with God’s blessing, this day to build up a spiritual interpretation; and to show spiritually, if God enables me, how all the mountains (& many there are) which stand in the way of  completion of the work of grace in the soul, and the building of the inward temple where the Holy Spirit takes up his abode, (for “your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit”) all disappear before the spiritual Zerubbabel, the Lord of life and glory.

1. For instance. There is the mountain of *God’s inflexible JUSTICE.* Who knows anything of God’s justice, righteousness, purity, holiness, and indignation against sin while in a state of nature?

But “before Zerubbabel,” this lofty mountain of God’s inflexible justice becomes a plain. He has fulfilled it; therefore He has removed it out of the way. As the apostle speaks, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” (Col. 2:14.)

2. *But there is also an UNBELIEVING heart,* which stands up as a great mountain between salvation and the soul.

When this truth is revealed by the Spirit in the conscience, that “without faith it is impossible to please God,” we are brought to see, that to live and die in unbelief, is to live and die in our sins.

The spiritual Zerubbabel, with one glance of His eye, with one touch of His finger, with one word of His lips, in one moment, can cause faith to spring up in the soul to receive Him in all His covenant fullness. And thus, the great mountain of unbelief, which seemed completely irremovable and utterly impassable, sinks down into a plain; and we can no more refuse to believe when the spiritual Zerubbabel gives us faith, than we could believe before he gave it. When faith is given, of all things it is most easy to believe; the mountain before Zerubbabel sinks into a plain.

3. *But there is also the burden of SIN,* that lies hard and heavy on a tender conscience. The iniquities and transgressions of his past life; the base, backsliding of which he has been and is perpetually guilty; the slips, falls, and inconsistent words and actions; and the horrible workings of a depraved nature—all these at times lie with great weight and power on the conscience of an awakened sinner, and, like a mountain, press down his soul to the earth.

But, the spiritual Zerubbabel, has shed atoning blood to wash away all this guilt, has brought in everlasting righteousness to justify the ungodly, and has a heart full of love which he can and does shed abroad in the soul of his beloved ones. Thus, then, this burden of guilt and shame, this great mountain, before Zerubbabel,  becomes a plain.

4. *A HARD heart.* And O, what a burden a hard heart is to one whose conscience has been made tender in God’s fear!

O mountain  but He makes it dissolve, flow down, and melt into a plain. He softens the heart, (as Job says, “God makes my heart soft,” 23:16) & makes it tender and contrite before Him.

5. *But a thousand DIFFICULTIES, a thousand PERPLEXITIES* stand in the way of a soul that fears God.

“Who are you, O great mountain?” the Lord still says by His prophet. “Who are you?” What! Is this mountain too great to be removed? Are these peaks too lofty to flow down at the Lord’s presence? “Who are you?” “Before Zerubbabel,” let Him but speak, let Him but appear, let Him but smile, let Him but drop one soft word into the conscience, “before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain.”

6. *But whatever good thing we try to do—whatever spiritual thing we are engaged in,* we are sure to find some mountain or other in the way.

Who are you?” What! too great to be removed? too hard and rocky to be knocked down! “Before Zerubbabel!” one touch of His finger, one glance from His eye, one word from His lips; let it be the highest mountain, although it be a second Andes, it shall at once “become a plain.”

Sometimes your hard thoughts of God are removed; your doubts and fears take wing and fly away; your carnality & earthliness are for a time dispersed; heavenly affections, spiritual desires, holy breathings & ardent longings come into your heart; & you feel some embracement of Jesus in the arms of faith, because “before Zerubbabel” this mountain has become a plain. You will have a mountain in your way well near every step that you take in the divine life.

Shall not Grace finish what Grace began? The promise is express. “Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6.) The mountain of doubt, fear, unbelief, questionings, perplexities, shall “before Zerubbabel,” in it’s own time&way “become a plain;” & He will bring forth the head-stone thereof with such sweet revelations of His blood and love that the soul will shout “Grace, Grace unto it.” Zech 4:7-10

Sol.Joan