Month: September 2023

                       OUR SOURCE

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  (Genesis 1:26)

God made man in His own image and likeness and gave him the power and authority to  rule.  God wanted man to remain in Him and  have a close relationship with Him.

God created Fish and other living creatures of the Sea and every living thing with which the water teens and that moves about in it according to their kinds.

So, water is the source of Fish and it has to remain in water in order to be alive.

Likewise, God said,  Let the land produce vegetables, seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit.  Hence, plants and trees should remain and be rooted deep in the earth so as to bear fruit and be alive as earth/soil is the source for the trees and plants. If the tree is uprooted and separated from the earth it will die.

God created man in his own image so he has to remain with the Source i.e.GOD.  As fish remains in water and trees rooted in the earth their source, man also should remain in God, his source to be alive otherwise he will be dead spiritually.

When Adam had a close relationship with God his source, he was happy and full of life.  When he ate the fruit of knowledge of good and evil  he was disconnected from the source and was driven out of Eden.

Even today, man wants to depend on his own wisdom and knowledge rather than submit himself to his Creator, his Source.

In John 15 Jesus says, I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

^{Let us remain in HIM our SOURCE so that we have Life, Life in abundance!!!}

                                      PRAYER

Abba Father, You have created us in your own image and likeness and gave authority to rule over everything.  On the contrary we have miserably failed due to our greed and selfishness and got disconnected from You our Source of Life. Forgive us Father. We come to you and surrender ourselves to You and want to remain in You so that we have Life, Life in abundance. In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.

Sol. Amalraj

God as Vineyard Owner

There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh grapes. They are sweet, juicy, and refreshing. I don’t have first-hand experience of growing grapes, but I’ve been told it can be a fickle crop that needs constant attention.

Grapes were—and still are—one of the most common agricultural products in Israel. In Isaiah 5:1-7 envisions God as the owner of a vineyard. Planting a new vineyard was an especially arduous task. Vineyards were typically planted on a hillside (v. 1). They needed to be cleared of stones (v. 2). In an age before tractors or other mechanical help, this was backbreaking work. The stones would then be used to build a fence around the vineyard and a watchtower for protection (v. 2). Planting a vineyard was also a long-term investment. It takes a few years before a vine will grow eatable grapes.

In Isaiah’s song, God has done this work skillfully and carefully. He has tended His vineyard with the utmost care and patiently waited for grapes to grow. Instead of good grapes, His vineyard only produced rotten ones (v. 2). In this metaphor, Israel is the vineyard. God had planted them in the land of Canaan and provided for them. Yet, they consistently rebelled against Him (v. 7). The leaders did not uphold justice but oppressed the weak and vulnerable (v. 7). This parable makes clear that their failure was not because of neglect on God’s part. Because of their rebellion, they would be judged (vv. 5–6).

Thankfully, this is not the end of the story. God promised: “I will again plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them” (Amos 9:15). God does not give up on His people.

Jesus taught that the way to live in right relationship with God was to stay connected to Him as the true vine (John 15:1–8). How are you cultivating and nourishing your connection to the Lord and His people?

Let’s pray

Lord, we ask You to grant us perseverance and selflessness. Draw us near to You and near to Your people. Teach us to love Your people.
In Jesus name Amen

Sol. Pritha Debnath

HEARING GOD’S STILL, SMALL VOICE

1 Kings 19:12

The Bible tell us that Elijah needed to hear from God, and thankfully he had a hearing ear toward God even though his circumstances had frightened him. He had experienced tremendous victory but afterward he ran for his life, hid in a cave, and prayed to God to die. Knowing Elijah’s need, God taught Elijah a wonderful lesson about what his voice sounds like. As Elijah waited on God, He demonstrated his power through wind, earthquake, and fire. But God was not in those things; instead, he spoke to Elijah in a “still, small voice” and gave instructions for Elijah’s next mission. Later in this chapter we still see that Elijah obeyed the still, small voice of the Lord.

Elijah’s story help us understand how to hear God when we need direction. God did not reassure Elijah with a showy, flashy manifestation power, although he had already proven that He was capable of doing so. Instead, God spoke to his prophet through a still, small voice—– he still chooses to communicate directly to his children through a whisper deep within their spirits.

The Bible tells us that God is a spiritual being, and those who worship him must worship Him in spirit and truth. Jesus explained that some people do not hear that voice of God because they do not believe him and this do not have His word living in their hearts He taught us that we must be born again in order to hear God’s voice: “You must all be born again. The wind blows where it wills; and though we hear it’s sound, yet we neither know where it comes from North where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit”. When we born again, we are made alive in our spirits to be sensitive to the voice of God,. We hear his whisper even though we cannot tell where it comes from. Our ear become ” turned in” to hear our Master’s voice. He whispers to convict, correct, and direct us by still, small voice deep within our hearts.

• A HEARING HEART

1 Kings 3:9

Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you”. The Bible tells you that in the last days deception will become so rampant that even God’s select people could be deceived. There will be people who says they are the Christ, the Messiah, and false prophets who will deceive and lead many people astray. They will even show great signs and wonders. It will be pretty confusing to tell who is who and what is what.

You need a great deal of discernment, and the Bible says you can have it if you seek it. God wants you to ask him for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He wants to give you discretion and discernment. Seek God and ask him for these things. He will surely bless you with a heart that hears clearly and discerns what is right.

• Speak the word

God, I pray that you would give us an understanding mind and heart that hears your voice so that we can discern between good and evil.

Sol Pia

Give God Your Fears

Where do you turn in times of difficulty? Who do you reach out to when something happens? All of us need other people in our life who can help us through tough times. We cannot make it through life alone, we should always have people who can help us.

However, when something happens in our life, our first reaction should be to come to God first. While other people can help meet our physical needs, God is the only one who can meet our deepest needs.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Psalm 34:4-5

Just as God answered the writer of Psalm 34, God is also ready and available to us through prayer. God is not hidden or far away. He is present, and waiting for us to spend time with Him. Because He is the one who created us, He knows everything about us. He knows how we feel and exactly what we need.

The psalmist says that God delivered him from all of his fears. God desires to deliver you from your fears as well. In Philippians 4:6-7, God’s Word says to not be anxious or fearful about anything, but rather, go to God in prayer, and He will give us peace. God is the source of all peace and security, but we need to go to Him with our fears.

^{Psalm 34:5 says that those who spend time with God will be free of shame. As we are freed from the mistakes of our past, we will begin to walk in the newness of life. When we walk with God through life, we walk in the light that He provides, rather than the darkness of the world around us. He protects us from harm and keeps us from shame.}

God is waiting to spend time with you and give you His peace. Spend some time today in prayer, asking God to remove your fears and replace them with His strength.

Sol.Mariamma Alex

Enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:12-19

This incident in the Bible talks about the importance of thanksgiving. Jesus healed all the ten lepers, but only one returned to Him to glorify Him and thank Him. God is good and His mercy endures for ever. God is willing to heal us and bless us abundantly. In this world there are problems and difficulties. But we believe in the One who said: “

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

We have to trust Him for that and thank Him for what He has given us and what He is capable of. Knowing Him is more important in receiving this abundance of blessings.

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

If you know His boundless bounty you keep thanking Him always. A grateful heart will sing His glory even in the most adverse conditions. He is a compassionate God and He can change these situations into  blessings. For that you have to trust Him and thank Him for his goodness and mercy which endures for ever. The three youths in the book of Daniel refused  to obey the king who wanted them to worship his statue. They said that the God of Israel was there to save them. Even if He is not willing to save them they were not ready to worship anyone else. They were so grateful and loyal to their God. And God saved them and the gentile king declared that their God was the true God.

Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I Thessalonians 5:17-18

^{The first step before any prayer should be thanksgiving. That’s the reason the psalmist advocating to enter His presence with thanksgiving. Our loyalty to God, our faithfulness and our unflinching trust in Him are all expressed through thanksgiving.}

Prayer

Loving Father, thank you for giving us your Son Jesus to save us from our sins and for granting us the hope of eternity. Thank you Jesus for all that you have given us through your death and resurrection. Thank you Holyspirit for your presence and guidance. Thank you God Almighty.

Sol. Salomi Kurian

The importance of teaching

 2  Tim 2: 2. And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able  to teach others also.

Matthew 18:19,20 go ye therefore ,and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.Amen

Teaching is a means by which disciples of Jesus are continually transformed in order to become more like Christ

God’s word is a treasure which unfolds itself every time you read it. As we dwell on God’s Word, it comes to life and speaks to us in various ways. As we discuss the same with our friends new revelations are unfurled. Hence it is a necessary step to study the word of God with our fellow believers. As we teach the Word of God [teaching in gift schools ] we tend to learn more.  

First and foremost we will not be able to teach anything if we do not practice it. If we do not sit in worship then we are not able to encourage others do it. When we experience  joy in worshipping and reading the Word of God only then will be able to tell it to others

Let us see some of the benefits of teaching

• Teaching follows Jesus example

Jesus preached to the people in large crowds but he spent special time teaching the disciples to empower and to prepare them to follow his footsteps. The early disciples continued the work of Jesus by devoting themselves to teaching and having fellowships in small numbers in houses. This is today’s gift school teaching and troop church 

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

• Teaching directs us in wisdom

When we teach others we tend to dwell deeply in God’s word, we discuss God’s word with others and get new revelations. As we teach, we get new insights as interpretation of Gods Word, as it varies with each individual

2 Peter 1: 3 According as his divine power hathgiven unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:

• Teaching creates meaningful connection.

We as humans do not thrive alone in this world.  We have to depend on God first and then on our fellow humans. Hence as we sit in groups and study the Bible we will be able to develop a close relationship with others and will be able to help each other in times of need.

• Teaching provides necessary encouragement

As we develop a close relation with others we are able to witness the faith and the ability of each member to overcome the hurdles in their path. This gives us an encouragement to stand firm in faith when we have to go through trials and tribulations

Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

 2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where with we ourselves are comforted of God.

• It keeps us accountable

As the saying  “Practice before you preach”, when we have to teach God’s word we have to find time to study the word deeply so that we will be able to get revelations. We have to be accountable for our time with God’s word. This will help us to become mature and grow in faith which will help us to rely on God’s word at all times.

• It transforms our families, workplaces and communities

As we read the word of God; He speaks to us and we are transformed. This helps us to love him an obey His commands. When we change and become more like Jesus, our family, our workplaces and communities will be eternally impacted and we will reap the benefits of a good harvest.

 Hence let us  spend more time in teaching others and helping them to teach others. Let us strive to maintain this chain of teaching

Prayer:

Lord Jesus as we come into your holy throne room of Grace, we ask you to fill us with wisdom knowledge and understanding in learning your Word . Be with us at all times and especially when we teach others about you. Help us to draw more soldiers into your army to fight the battle for you. We love you we thank you and glorify your holy name. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Sol. Patsy Joseph

“The Real Christian “

There are two types of Christians, Doubters and Believers ,Negative  and positive. They believe that if they go and preach then doors Will be shut in their faces. This is a negative attitude of very Positive opportunity. We are soul winners and we have proven that people want Christ but are little interested. In other religions. They long for God, for His Salvation They are never content until they find Jesus Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life. There are sixty million People being added to our generation every year who are unreached. People seek for light and life. Our priority is to be witness and preach the Gospel. The Bible says that we can know that we have passed from death into Life.lf you read this with faith it will help you to know.

1 .BORN FROM ABOVE

 To be saved means to be born again to become a child of God.John.3 :7. Jesus said,” you must be born from above. “That means heavenly or spiritual birth.lt is accepting Christ. From this you receive a person Jesus Christ not a religion.

The Bible says, in John 1: 12.” As many as received him,to them gave he power to become the child of God.”

2. SINS ARE FORGIVEN

The angel said, ” You shall call His name JESUS for he shall save his people from their sins .Mathew 1: 21. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions  Psalm103:12   

  3 . Received New Life

2 Cor 5: 17 Paul says, “lf anyone be in Christ he is a new creation.Old things are passed away, behold all things are  new. “This is what happens when Christ saves you. You receive a new life, a new nature, new desires, new ambitions. You receive peace. Jesus said,” l have spoken unto you that in me you may have peace John 16:33.There is no peace says God to the wicked.”

PRAYER

I believe with all my heart Lord that you rose from the dead. I confess you as my Saviour.I receive you into my heart by faith. Amen.

              Sol NOREEN

Take this child away and nurse it for me and I will give thee thy wages. Exodus 2:9.

This verse is an order from Pharo’s daughter. Let us consider this as an order from our Lord to every parent. The Lord has blessed us with earnings, wealth, and facilities as Moses’s mother was given wages, so that we can bring up the children given by God for Him and for His glory. God created man and woman to fill this earth with God fearing generation. Are we one among such parents who do the will of God?

There are Christian parents who devote their lives for the sake of making money; some prioritise expanding business and friends circle . They give the secondary place to family and children.

^{Nurturing children is not easy ; it is an important responsibility that fills a great part of one’s own life. But it is pleasing to God who has trusted the parents with children. The Lord helps the parents who seek His help in raising them .We are called to be God’s servants who are truthful and honest in raising a pious generation.}

It is not enough if we give them education, training which may make them fit to live in this world. Parents have to take care of the spiritual life of the children so that they learn to meditate on the word of God, pray and listen to Him. This will make them worthy citizens of Heaven.

Prayer

Dear God,
Help us to raise our children for your glory. If there are lapses, help us to rectify them and do your will.
Amen.

Sol.Angelin

From Depraved Mind to Renewed Mind

In the beginning, God created man and woman in His own image (Genesis 1:27), endowing them with the remarkable ability to think and act like their Creator. However, with Adam’s tragic descent into sin, he distanced himself from God and engaged in actions that were contrary to the divine nature. They became tainted by corruption, losing their original nature. This corruption of mind was a legacy passed down to all subsequent generations. This deterioration of the human condition is vividly portrayed in

Romans 1:28-31: Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;  they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.

The roots of our sinful nature, therefore, dwell deep into this depraved state of mind, where we often discern what is right yet falter in implementing it. We continually choose the wrong path, transgress against God’s commandments and will, resulting in unrighteous life. However, God did not abandon us in this fallen state. His desire was to renew our minds so that we could once again think and act in alignment with His divine attributes. This profound purpose led to the advent of Jesus, the only Son of God, who descended to Earth as a man and willingly sacrificed Himself as the perfect atonement for all our sins. Through our faith in and acceptance of Jesus as our Savior, we are endowed with the power and strength to consistently make righteous choices and adhere to God’s commandments.

Romans 3:21-22  But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. 

Yet, despite our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior, we often find ourselves falling short in various aspects of life. To better understand and follow God’s will in every part of our life, we must cultivate a vital practice as believers: the act of submitting our bodies as living sacrifices to God.

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

As we place our bodies on the altar of God as a living sacrifice, He sanctifies us, extinguishing our sinful nature and endowing us with His own divine nature. This renewal of our formerly depraved minds liberates us from conformity to the world’s standards, allowing us to discern and embrace God’s perfect will in every aspect of our lives.

Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.

God, characterized by unwavering righteousness, expects us to consistently make right choices. As we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, God renews our minds, enabling us to reflect His divine image and transforming us into beings of righteousness like Him. Let us conclude with a prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for instilling faith in Jesus, our Savior. As we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, cleanse us with Your holy blood and renew our minds. Amplify our righteousness, guiding us to become more like You. Lead us in Your divine will and empower us to consistently choose what is right. Amen.

Sol.Edvitta

You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it – James 4:2

^{Prayer is our conversation with God and when we read the Bible the Word of God, He speaks to us through His Word. When we pray and read His Word daily, we are strengthening our relationship with God and if we are not praying, we are lacking seriously in our spiritual life.}

When we are not praying to God, we are telling God that we do not need Him in our life, we can do everything by our own strength, we are self-reliant, independent. Maybe due to life situations from a young age a person may have to be responsible for others which causes them to be self-reliant and independent or we live in a culture which asks us to be self-sufficient. But we need to be aware of what God asks us to do “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest “- Matthew 11:28 also ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. – Zechariah 4:6.

God clearly states in these promise verses that He will help us when we turn to Him.

If we lack prayer in our lives this is a serious issue because then we are not leading a life according to God’s will. God wants to spend time with us and teach and instruct and show us great and unsearchable things we do not know. But we are so busy in our own lives, work, family, social demands that we try to do everything by ourselves and then suffer burn out, depression, chaos. This is the way of the enemy to make us so busy that we will not have time to spend time with God because there is always going to be something important to do, send that work email, pick up the kids, attend that phone call, cook and feed the family, catch up on the latest episode of that favorite show the list is endless. But let us listen to what God wants us to do “Be still and know that I am God” – Psalm 46:10.

We need to take a step back and breathe, move away from the chaos into silence, remove the electronic devices, quieten the mind, and seek the Lord with our heart.

Testimony

As a young mother I was constantly overwhelmed with responsibilities and workload. Once confiding to my sister about this, I received the most wonderful advice. She told me, I can sympathize with your situation but being geographically far away from you I cannot really help you. ‘But there is Someone to whom if you turn and confide in, will be able to help you and give you the strength and peace which you are lacking’. Such a wonderful advice which I cling to everyday.
I understand that life can be busy and hectic, but instead of trying to do everything by own strength and intellect let us rely on God and ask His help, for He promises us in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. And I will guide you with my own two eyes. “. Such a beautiful promise the Lord God Almighty gives us let us trust in God with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding and in all our ways let us acknowledge him and he will make all our paths straight.”

Prayer

Abba Father, we thank you, for you are Lord God Almighty and you have promised us that you will never leave us nor forsake us. We thank you Lord for your presence in our lives, thank you Lord for your mercy, thank you Lord for your blessings. We thank you Lord for you are good and your love endures forever. Help us Lord to remember your promises and to rely on you, to trust in you and to ask you for help. Lord, we come to you because we are weary and burdened, give us rest and take control of all our needs. Strengthen us and help us and uphold us with your righteous right hand.
In Jesus mighty name I ask.
Amen and Amen

Sol. Rumna