Month: February 2023

Praise the Lord brothers and sisters. 

Today we are going to study about the Power of Persevering  Prayer from the Bible.  We are living  in the era of busy schedule, in the sense  everything to he done in a second  . That’s the mind set of this generation.  Waiting for the things to be wanted is of big question.

According  to Bible  we have to wait for the God’s time in everything.

Luke 18:1-8 , Romans 2:7, Galatians 6:9, says about persevering  prayers. We are going to  see what are the things  we have to be in perseverance. 

• PRAYER

 In Luke chapter 18 says about a widow who got judgment about her issues  with opponent  from a Unjust  Judge. Unjust Judge lived in a way he won’t respect  God and Human being. This widow   continuously  came before  this Judge with her petition. Initially  he was not in a position to look into it, because of her continuous  pestering Judge  wanted to do favour in her petition.  So at last  that Judge did justice for her petition.  A worldly  Judge because of continuous  perseverance , he did justice for that widow. We are serving a  Powerful  God and a Judge who never slide form truth. So He will hear our petition  which kept before him. What a wonderful God,  powerful God we are serving.

• GOOD WORKS

Romans 2:7  says “ To them  who by patient  continuance  in well doing  seek for glory and honour  and immortality,  eternal life “.

         Why we do Good works according to  Ephesians 2:10 “For we are HIS workmanship,  created in Christ  Jesus unto good works  which God hath before  ordained  that we should walk in them”.

We must be fruitful  in doing good works which is well before our God.

In Titus 3:14 says we must learn to maintain good works for necessary uses.  John 26:8-13 says about  a woman who poured precious ointment  on Jesus’s  head, so many confusion among the habitants of that house. But Jesus  who knows about their intention and said “ she hath wrought a good work upon me “. So Jesus  encouraging us to do good works until our  last breath 

• WELL DOING

Galatians 6:9 says “And let’s not be weary in well doing; for in due season  we shall reap, if we faint not”. We are not be weary in well doing  because he who does  it is created by God, molded by Jesus and Holy spirit.  Jesus also did that and gave us a mind to do that. We have to do Well doing for our enemies, it’s acceptable before our Father. That’s how we can save our enemies and disliked person to show the love of Jesus Christ.

Testimony

Three months I am praying for  the RC Book of our Car, at last we are fed up. We searched so many times  and we are about to apply for duplicate  RC book. So after this happenings  one day I prayed Lord this is the last time , if its not found definitely I will apply for duplicate one and start searching for that in the same places. What a surprise  I could see the original book in the same place,  tears were came from my eyes and I shouted with Joy and informed this to all my family members.  Then I said to Jesus  you are searching  for me  and  you are keen for the things to be done for me. So hereafter I won’t be weary for anything  in my life You are here to do everything for me. Glory to God almighty.

Prayer

^{Heavenly  Father we are in your presence to receive the  blessings   we are unworthy  but you made us worthy to receive  the Heavenly blessings.  Guide us not to weary  of the things to be done.  Keep everything  before you with praiseand worship.  You are here to receive our supplications. You are always with us and watching our life. We submit each and everything  before you.  Let your Will be done and Your name be Glorified.  Asking you in Jesus name. Amen.}

Sol. G. Kamalin Viji

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

-Matthew 22: 14

Who are called?

Does all called recruited?

Does all recruited prove to become chosen?

Does all chosen fulfil God’s will?

Who are called?

Matthew 22 : 9, 10

Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’

So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

It’s astounding! Many are called, both good and bad! Not only the good but also the bad!!

Who are recruited?

Is it by following commandments or

Is it by sincerely performing duties?

No, recruitment is not based on one’s own qualification but by the Lord’s calling and willingness to follow Him leaving the world’s!

Keeping the commandments from youth isn’t by itself the eligibility for recruitment.

And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” -Luke 18: 21

So 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

But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. -Luke 18: 23

Performing sincerely our physical duties don’t give any guarantee for our recruitment.

Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” -Matthew 8: 21

But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” -Matthew 8: 22

Good or bad doesn’t matter initially. But a heart to leave the world(’s) to follow Jesus is important for recruitment. When Jesus called His disciples, they weren’t actually good but willingly left the world (’s)!

Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” -Mark 1: 17

They immediately left their nets and followed Him. -Mark 1: 18

Leaving the holds of all that is world (‘s), for the sake of following Jesus, You are recruited!

(NB: Many Christians of today are deceived of their values and think that they are recruited. But it’s not so, they actually are not. Also all those who are bad but recruited cannot continue to be bad)

Now the question is whether all those who leave the world (‘s) to follow Jesus become chosen? Whether all those who are chosen fulfil the will of God?

Again it’s shocking, not all those who are recruited become chosen! Not all those who are chosen fulfil the will of God!

Abraham was called out to leave the word. Recruitment happened there. But he became chosen as and only he proved himself in the testing of sacrificing Issac. Still, testing never ended there but continued, in sending Ishmael out, in rightfully handing over all the inheritance to God chosen Issac…. Abraham’s obedience and faithfulness were tested at every point that he fulfilled God’s will.

All those who don’t yield to the testing, fail to become chosen.

All those who don’t yield to continuous testing fail in fulfilling the will of God.

Abraham, father of faith was tested for life time, children of Abraham too will be tested.

Paul who even climbed to third heaven never gave up in testing and never stopped pressing forward.

Philippians 3: 12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Many are called – Few are chosen!

Many are tested and only few are proved!

Even among proved – some fail to press forward and fail to fulfil God’s calling!

Jesus recruited many but 12 are chosen, 11 progressed, one failed terribly!

Let’s be aware

We are recruited for the army. It isn’t over here. We will be tested throughout. All those who look back or oscillate or don’t progress fail in God’s will.

We are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracle doers, Healers, Administrators.

^{Let’s not rely on our qualification for recruitment but be vigilant in following Jesus leaving the worlds. Let’s not harden our hearts in the time of testing. Let’s not count ourselves apprehended but press forward till life time!}_Amen.

Sol.Dr.sujatha

Prayerlessness

_{Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:}

1 Samuel 12:23.

Sin keeps us from prayer and prayer keeps us from sin.

Hence it has been established that the attitude of one’s prayer life is a proof of one’s dedication to God.

Prophet Samuel was given to prayer and sacrifice in the Scriptures. By the power of his prayer and sacrifice, God sent thunder from heaven against the enemies of Israel (1 Samuel 7:7-10). On another occasion, he prayed and brought down both thunder and rain from heaven (1 Samuel 12:18).

Samuel was a man of prayer and from his life and practice of consistent prayer, he made us to understand that prayerlessness is a sin. Samuel told the children of Israel that God forbids that he should sin against Him in ceasing to pray for them. This means, dedicated people see the act of prayerlessness as sin. We should know that to be prayerless is to sin according to Prophet Samuel. People who neglect prayer are not far from sin.

Prayerlessness, especially failure to pray for those who are your spiritual responsibilities, is a sin of omission. We sin against God when we refuse or neglect the practice of prayer. To be prayerful is be easily sin-free. Sin keeps us from prayer and prayer keeps us from sin. That is to say, to be prayerful is to be easily sin-free, and to be prayerless is to be sin-prone.

Prayer keeps us from sin because the Presence of God is a sanctifier, and prayer attracts God’s Presence. When we live with God at the place of prayer, His nature of holiness rubs on us.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ we should make up our mind like Samuel not to sin against God by refusing to pray. We should maintain a life of purity by maintaining a consistency in our prayer life.

We should all remember this: Sin keeps us from prayer and prayer keeps us from sin. We should make up our mind to hang around God in prayer always in order to absorb His holy nature. Decide not to fall into the temptation of prayerlessness.

Prayer

O Lord, I ask that You deliver me from the sin of prayerlessness. I ask for forgiveness Lord in any area I have sinned against You by being prayer less in the past. Set your fire on my prayer altar, Lord in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Sol.Fiona

BAPTISM IN HOLY SPIRIT AND BAPTISM IN FIRE.

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:16

This verse clearly tells about two baptisms done by Lord Jesus. We have to read the next verse together with this and the meaning is clear.  It reads:  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Luke 3:17

The analogy is of the wheat and the chaff. Wheat portrays those who believe in Jesus and allow themselves to be baptised in the Holy Spirit.and chaff are those who do not believe in Him. With the winnowing fan He will separate the wheat and chaff and burn the chaff. This is judgment on those who don’t believe in Jesus. This talks about the two dispensations, the Day of Jesus and the Day of the Lord. Jesus read to the people in the temple that He came to proclaim the Acceptable year of the Lord. He stopped reading before mentioning about the Day of vengeance. The acceptable year was about the plan of redeeming people through faith in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The believers will lead a life guided by The Spirit of God. Those who do not accept Him as God would be gathered together at the end of the age and put in the burning fire of hell. As is given in The book of Isaiah :“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God” the baptism in Spirit and baptism in fire are of two different dispensations.

Isaiah 61:2

And these two baptisms are misunderstood by many believers and they pray for baptism in fire. They think that there is anointing in fire as on the Pentecost day the Holy Spirit came on those who waited for the outpouring of the Spirit on them as Jesus had promised.

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:3-4

Here they found tongues ” as of fire”.This was not fire, this was like fire. After baptism the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, like a dove,. But Holy Spirit was not dove. Holy Spirit is not dove or fire.

Baptism in fire is judgment which will come on those who refuse to accept Christ the saviour.

Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:40-42

“For Israel has forgotten his Maker, And has built temples; Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire upon his cities, And it shall devour his palaces.”

Hosea 8:14 

There are many more verses to prove that fire is judgment.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:6

Only by abiding  in the vine , the branches can bear fruit. If we abide in Christ Jesus , we can bear fruit. “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.

Malachi 4:1

We are so blessed to have received the Holy Spirit through faith. At the end of this Age of Grace we will be caught up in heaven. Rapture is the blessed hope of a Christian Believer. When we received Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we are baptised in Spirit and the infilling of the Spirit is an ongoing process. The baptism in fire is judgment, it is not for us, the church. So don’t misunderstand it for the Spirit and don’t pray for it.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

God bless.

SOL.Salomi Kurian.

Jesus never Fails

He performs miracles and wonders even today.

Isaiah 8:18

Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Whenever we seek Jesus diligently he is our present help in times of trouble.
Isaiah 41:10 says Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

He is a living God and always answers prayers.
John 14:12 says  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit help us perform miracles.
Whenever we pray according to Philippians 4:4,6,7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Testimony

Few years back it was the rainy season and I returned from office and was tired.
I washed clothes and hung them on the terrace and prayed to Jesus that it should not rain and clothes should be dried before I leave for office. After some time it started raining and I went up to the terrace and was surprised to see that it was raining around by house but on my terrace it was completely dry. 
I called my husband and showed the miracle Jesus Christ had performed.

Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father, please bless all the people who read this article and increase their faith in you. In Jesus Christ powerful and mighty name I pray.
Hallelujah Amen.

SOL.Suchismita Raha

NATURE OF GOD

2 Corinthians 3:18 ,

“And, we all ,with unveiled face ,beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. “

“Rise and shine ” We ask this with the authority we have been given by the Lord to us so that it should be fulfilled. God ‘s greatest planning for those who believe Him is that they should become like His son Jesus.

Whatever happens in the life of believers happens for their good. (Romans 8:28-29).Pain,agony,sufferings etc.It is only through all these experiences our God shows His goodness in our lives and we are transformed bit by bit growing to the full measure of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).

To grow in the image of Christ, to grow to spiritual perfection, to grow in the fullness of Christ and God is the work of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit does this work everyday. The resplendent form of Jesus emerges piece by piece .We are already hewn from the rock (Isaiah 5:1).The work of shaping up has begun.It is many times slow and painful but God is a craftsman.He never commits any mistake. Our job is to only surrender ourselves in His mighty hands. We should never lose patience. May be our beginning is slow ,may be rocky but the end will be glorious. “The God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ “.(Phil 1:6).

Prayer:
My Father in heaven, it's my humble request that you transform me into the image of Christ from one degree of glory to another. May Your name be glorified through me in Jesus name I ask. Amen.

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Sol. Malkeet, AOJ

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

What is anxiety means ?
According to dictionary the word anxiety is a noun that means- a feeling of worry or fear, especially about the future.

According to Medical Science anxiety disorders are a type of mental health condition .Anxiety makes it difficult to get through your day.
Symptoms include feeling of nervousness, panic and fear as well as sweating and rapid heartbeat. Treatments include medications and cognitive behavioral therapy.

So ,what Bible says about anxiety.
Well, the Bible has a lot to say about anxiety, but the word itself may not be found all that often. In the English standard version, it is used 8 times. In the New international
version, It is found 7 times. The King James version does not use the word at all. Synonyms, like trouble, heaviness, distress, and cares are used in its place.
The specific causes of anxiety or probably more than can be enumerated but a few examples from the Bible to point some general causes are as follows.

In Genesis 32, Jacob’s anxiety is caused by a broken relationship and a guilty conscience.
In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah is distressed because of her unfulfilled desires and the harassment of a rival.
In Esther 4, Queen Esther is anxious because she was planning to risk her life on behalf of her people.Fear of death and the unknown is a key element of anxiety.
Not all anxiety sinful in 1 Corinthians 7:32 Paul states that an unmarried man is “anxious”about pleasing the Lord,while a married man is anxious about pleasing his wife. In this case, anxiety is not a sinful fear but a deep proper concern.

Most of the time, we all struggle with anxiety in different phases of our life

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE NOT ALONE.

We have a beautiful Counselor Holy Spirit residing inside of all believers.

In the times when we feel anxious and there are things that are troubling us ,many Worries in our heart then the best thing to do is go into a time of prayer and pray until that anxiety goes.

There is something about the presence of God that brings peace, let your requests be made known to God… speak to God…
Explain what is wrong…
What is making you feel this way… Explain what you are feeling inside.. If you don’t know what to say….
Start to worship but get into the presence of God…
Get into a place where you touch the Hem of his garment and that blanket of anxiety will left .
God will remove it and he will replace it with peace .
Thank God,count your blessings name them one by one and thank God for them and it will help you. It will uplift you.

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Sol. Neelima Singh, AOJ

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(Psalm 139: 1-4 & 15-16)
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skilfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written.”

Every time I read and meditate on this Psalm, the sovereignty of God overwhelms me and I have never been able to read through without tears. It breaks my heart as to how thankless we are and take things for granted despite our breath coming for free.

While writing this I am reminded of one small incident when we (myself & hubby) were trying to video call our one-year old twin grand kids in Bangalore. My husband had stayed back with the kids since his retirement and at the Bangalore airport he just came away without letting them see him leave.

First little Jonathan came on the screen and the moment he saw their grandfather on the screen he reached out with both his hands in sheer delight and excitement as if he got a treasure with his mouth opened wide. Suddenly when he tried to reach out in futility quite a few times, the delight gave way to disappointment and he just looked the other way.

Same was the case with little Luke also. Many times, we tried to call them back but they were expressing anger in their own small way towards their grandfather in having left them.

A sense of deep loss.
This incident left a deep pain in any heart and remained etched in my memory reminding me time and again of the scripture in (Luke 18:15-17)

“Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Jesus asks children to be brought to him to bless them for the Kingdom of God belongs to such innocent hearts. Our memory is so short lived that we tend to conveniently forget God’s abundant Grace in our life.

We hardly have time to thank the Lord for the countless blessings showered on us during our journey of life. How much grief we cause to the Holy spirit in violation of (Ephesians 4:30) quite oblivious of the Grace upon Grace extended to us by the Spirit of the Lord pleading mercy in groans. (Romans 8:26)

^{_{Dear Heavenly Father, With a humble and thankful heart we come before your throne of Grace and ask your special favor to enable us to have a grateful heart. Lord bring our rebellious spirits to subjection to your will in every situation in life. Thank you God for speaking to us through a one-year old infant. Thank you Lord for convicting our heart to pause and think.Lord help us to remember to feed the spiritual nourishment of your Word (Matthew 4:4 ”Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”) with every meal to the next generation enabling them to build their house on the rock slowly but steadily in Jesus name we pray.}}

Amen. Hallelujah!
Glory to God.

Sol Jasmine James