And nothing was lacking to them, from the small to the great, even to sons and daughters, and from the spoil, even to all that they had taken to themselves. David recovered all. 

1Sa 30:19 

While David went to live in one of the towns of Gath, in his desperate venture, to save himself from Saul who was hunting his life, the enemy took advantage and looted everything he had. David was not allowed to stay in their army. When he came back he saw his wives, children and all belongings stolen by the Amalekites. David and his people wept until they had no more power to weep. But David encouraged himself in Jehovah his God. (1 Sam 30:6).

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“And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered him, 
Go! For you shall surely overtake and will without fail recover all.” 1Sa 30:8 

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After getting an answer from the Lord, David pursued his enemies and went to fight with the enemy. He recovered everything. From small to great, sons and daughters, all that the enemy had taken to themselves. He recovered all.
Never go outside the boundary of protection. Especially during war time. The eyes of the enemy will be on you. If you are careless, not alert, the enemy may loot anything from you.

Positioned in the battlefield, you have to take care of your family, children, workplace and all the belongings from the attack of the enemy.

David in his great distress, without consulting the Lord, went to Gath, out of the protected boundary. The enemy took advantage.
You, as a child of God, has protection on every side. When you and your family is inside the protected area, nothing to fear.

2Ti 2:4  No one who wars tangles with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who chose him to be a soldier. 

Has the enemy stolen anything from you?
The freedom in the Lord to serve Him, to fight for Him?
The God given authority to cast out demons and to heal sicknesses?
Your children, their studies, their future?
Their married life?
The joy, peace and salvation of your family members?
Our fundamental freedom to preach and teach the Gospel?
The hopes you had?
Your faith in Jesus Christ?
Are you sitting depressed, crying over the stolen things!

No. Get up! The Lord is showing a green signal. You can pursue the enemy now.
Even the enemy who is looting and plundering our nation has to be chased and driven away forever.
Let’s get strengthened in the Lord. Let us fight with the enemy and recover everything he has plundered.

Sr. Anitta AOJ

Psa 34 : 22 

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Those who trust in Jehovah and serve Him, will not be found guilty. Even when they sin, the Lord forgives them and write it off.
In the book of Genesis we read an incident like this.

“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech the king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you are about to die, for the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife. But Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, will You also kill a righteous nation? Did he not say to me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the sincerity of my heart and innocency of my hands I have done this.  And God said to him in a dream, Yes, I know that you did this in the sincerity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me. Therefore I did not allow you to touch her. Now therefore, restore his wife to the man. For he is a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live. And if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours. And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears. And the men were greatly afraid.” 

Gen 20:2-8 

The Lord did not allow Abimelech the Philistine king, to touch the wife of Abraham because Abimelech was a man who feared God.

The Lord appeared in a dream to Abimelech and told him, “Restore his wife to the man. If you do not restore her, …..you shall surely die, you and all that are yours. (20:7)

For taking another man’s wife, the punishment given is death. Death of not only one man, but all that belonged to him.

If he happens to be a leader, when he sins, all that he has under him, i.e. his people, servants, business, workplace, contacts, his party, growth, reputation, progress he made in any field, properties, trees, crops, rivers, plants, everything undergo death.

When the sin is acknowledged and confessed before Jehovah, He forgives and restores everything back to life. He regains all that is lost.

“And Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his slave women, and they gave birth. For the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.” Gen 20:17,18 

Abimelech confessed his sin not only to God but even to his servants. They all were greatly afraid because all of them were going to die. We see Abimelech as a sincere king, even though he did not know the Lord Jehovah.

In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord accused His own people, the Israelites, like this:

“And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination. The priests did not say, Where is Jehovah? And they who handle the Law did not know Me; the shepherds also rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things not profitable. Therefore I will contend with you, says Jehovah, and with your son’s sons I will enter into judgment.” Jer 2:7-9 

Not only those who sinned, but even their grandchildren were accused and found guilty because they never acknowledged their sins nor repent.

Find some time today to acknowledge and confess the sins of adultery of our people, especially of the people of your Constituency. Can you take a count of all that are dying away in your family, house, workplace, street, the Government, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Judiciary, Schools, Colleges and other educational institutions, the MN Companies, in the religious centres, Churches, tourist centres, forests, etc? We can restore all of them by acknowledging and Confessing.

While I was claiming the BFF students back to their zeal, the same day I received a phone call from one of them. He called me and said,
“I was going through the monthly magazine Ezuchikural of January and was excited to know all that the Lord did in the year 2021 through His Army. I felt sad for not associating with AOJ for the past few years. Kindly add me.” He came forward to take up the responsibility of SMLA. Next week 4 more persons were brought through him. One was quite new . He wanted to attend BFF. Glory be to God for restoring them.

Lord, Abba Father, help all the AOJ soldiers to restore everything they have lost with satan in the past years because of negligence, sluggishness, spiritual lethargy and spiritual sleep. We beg your pardon. Amen.

Sr. Roger AOJ

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Luke 21: 6

Jesus was prophesying the forthcoming destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem which did occur in 70 AD. 

But why it was destroyed to the extent Jesus mentioned in Mathew 24:2.

The wonder and delights of this world will pass away.

When Apostles praised the beauty of Jerusalem temple, Jesus told them this verses.

When He comes to judge the world, He will redeem all that are His from their troubles. So the divine judgement came upon Jews, that their city was set as an example before us, to show
that sins would not pass unpunished.

The wrath of the Lord and His warning against sinners, would all come to pass.Just as His anger came upon Jerusalem.

The most beautiful human body soon would be food for worms and the most magnificent building a ruinous heap. See you not all these things?

It will do us good to see through, and the end of them. Titus the Roman Emperor taking
Jerusalem for about 40 Years. He commanded his soldiers to spare the temple when they enter the city. But they in their rage blow of it and a general of his army went and drew a plough over it as God had said in

Micah 3:12. ‘Zion shall be ploughed like a field’.

Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, and the temple mount a wooden ridge.
We are weary to be taken with glistering prosperity of the sinners, but we ought to
remember what happened to the majestic temple of Jerusalem. There are no places in the world so strong.

But the Almighty God is in control of everything on this earth and HE is
powerful enough to blow up anything.

We may also observe how little God values splendid houses of prayer when they are made of dens of thieves.

A major fire engulfed the medieval Cathedral of Notre-dame de Paris. The cathedral that was one of France’s famous 850 year old landmark and a pride of the of the idolatrous Roman Catholic Church was completely destroyed on April 15th 2019.

This is a confirmation that God’s will be done on earth. He knows everything and will act as per His timings.

Father God, give us grace not to depend on worldly things, positions, rewards and money
and power. Abba Father we want to depend you only not on the worldly things we need
Your grace to walk in light. Help us to have a close relationship with You . We pray in Jesus name.

Sol. Usha Sonny Aoj

And He also said to His disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward. And he was accused to him, that he had wasted his goods. 

Luk 16:1 

Rich Man – God who is the source of all riches in the world

Steward you and me.

You are the steward of a particular Constituency with whom the ‘Rich Man’ has entrusted a portion of the properties.

What is the portion entrusted to you.

Human Resources: You have to take a survey of the territory of your Constituency.

The people (Gender wise, religion wise, age wise, language wise, literacy wise, etc.) You can divide them into as many groups as possible.

Natural resources: The land, water, sunlight, vegetation, minerals, hills, mountains, forests, birds, animals, flora & fauna etc.

Cultural Resources: The cultural heritage. How old is your Constituency. Take a list of all that you have inherited from the ancestors (The temples, Churches, whether the name itself, what the name of the Constituency means, the Festivals people celebrate, the superstitions they believe, any speciality or reputation this Constituency has, etc. Write down all this.

Infra structure: Road, water resources, railways, ports, Electricity connection, network connections, Industrial development, Educational Institutions, Employment facilities etc

Spiritual condition: Are you the only believer, Are there other followers of Jesus Christ in the Constituency, if yes, are they open to the movements of the Holy Spirit, Are they willing to cooperate or do they resist the operations of the Holy Spirit.

Like this let’s take a survey. All this resources are entrusted with you the day when you took charge of the Constituency.
Jesus who through His death and Resurrection triumphantly took over the whole planet earth into His custody, defeating the power of satan on the earth. He entrusted it with His trustworthy servants and went to His Father.

The whole earth has been divided into

• Continents
• Nations
• States/Provinces
• Taluks/Blocks
• Villages
• Wards
• Streets etc.

Mar 13:34-36 As a man going away, leaving his house, and giving authority to his servants, and each man’s work to him, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Then you watch, for you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, at evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or early; lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping. 

The ‘RICH MAN’ in Lk 16:1 and the “MAN” here in Mk 13:34 is one and the same, Jesus Christ. He has given “AUTHORITY” to His servants. Steward and servant in the corresponding verses are also the same, you and me who have received authority from the Master.
How do we manage them?
Are you accused by the angels of wasting His resources in the court of Heaven? Are you utilizing them fully for building the Kingdom of God.?

Sr. Leema Rose AOJ

That You May Say To The Prisoners, Go Out! To Those Who Are In Darkness, Show Yourselves! They Shall Feed In The Ways, And Their Pastures Shall Be In All High Places. They Shall Not Hunger Nor Thirst; Nor Shall The Heat Nor Sun Strike Them; For He Who Has Mercy On Them Shall Lead Them; Even By The Springs Of Water.

Isa 49:9,10 

Even after my salvation, for a long time, I was under the false impression that I have to work out my salvation by doing exercises of penance, mortification etc. In other words, by my activities, I have to please God and qualify myself. The Lord showed me the folly in it.
Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection, completed our salvation. Nothing has to be added to it.

The only thing we have to do is “Look to Him and believe in Him”

“They looked to Him, and were filled with light; and their faces were not ashamed”.

 Psa 34:5 

“But even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh 3:14,15 

Jesus Christ was lifted up to such heights by God the Father, above everything and every name on this earth, so that everybody can see Him.
Anybody who looks to His face, will radiate with the light on His face.

He will be delivered from all kinds of imprisonments.

We, all Adam’s descendants are born prisoners to death and eternal destruction.
Heb 2:15  ‘…..and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage’. 
Many believers, even after their salvation, are sitting in prisons (of despair, depression, sickness, discouragement, loss of hope, etc).
Why don’t you come out? You can just show identity card “Believer of Jesus Christ” to the watchman (satan) at the door and walk out.
Your duty is just to inform your people that
Your punishment period is over.
Heavenly Father, the Judge, quashed your case
You need not be in prison anymore.
Come out and show yourself to others.
The prison cells of satan in India are full today. Even those whose punishment periods are over, are still held up in prison because nobody informed them of their deliverance. How sad!

We have to go and tell them,
‘……Go out! To those who are in darkness, Show yourselves!’Isa 49:9,10 
Inside the prison they are dying hungry; there is no proper food (Word of God)
No water to drink (Holy Spirit)
No shade for sun; The heat affects them and
There is no proper shepherd to take care of them.
After coming out,
“They shall feed in the ways,
Their pastures shall be in all high places where there is sufficient grass
They shall not hunger nor thirst;
Nor shall the heat nor sun strike them;
He (Jesus) who has mercy on them shall lead them; even by the springs of water.
What a joy!
All our homes should experience this joy! Let us make all the homes in India fill with this joy!

Sol. Gracy, AOJ

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner”

Luke 18.13

Beat chest’, this action shows deep mourning and repentance. In Luke 18: 14 Jesus concluded that only this tax collector was justified and that caused panic to the other men.. They thought only Pharisees are righteous and tax collectors are wicked.

Those who exalt themselves will be humbled"
Luke 10:15.

God required child like faith and dependence of God for our entrance to the Kingdom. This tax collector’s attitude is the right one for approaching God. The tax collectors were despised because they worked for the hated Roman authorities and were notorious for their corruption . In their self righteousness and hard heartedness the Pharisees and teachers of religious did not care about the lost people.

Jesus embodied the heart of God, who longs for His wayward children to return.

We must humbly confess ourselves as sinners, plead with the Lord for grace, ask forgiveness for our sins, and surrender to the Lord so that we may have mercy on ourselves and lead the way so that we may receive the grace of redemption through faith.
In Romans chapter 10 verse 3, it is said that they are disobedient to God because they do no

Jas 4:6  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. 

Proverbs 22: 4 The fruit of the fear of the LORD is riches, and the glory.

Psalm 103: 8, For the LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and his mercy shall be greater than the fear of the heavens and the earth.
So dear brothers and sisters, the Lord is the one who knows the weak and gives by grace, our God. Only God, who knew Jacob, knew us and gave us wisdom, and He is our righteousness, and He is our salvation, and He who sanctifies us.
We all know our mind by obeying one another, God gives grace to those who are humble
The Lord has forgiven my sin and saved me. Behold, the Lord has blessed me this time and is leading my family, relatives, friends and neighbours with blessings.

Lord, Heavenly Father, forgive us our sins and bless us to be with you, children of God who have humbly feared you and humbly praised you for ever seeing the place of glory.

Sol. Daniel , AOJ

HE who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of JESUS CHRIST-

Phillippians 1:6.

I’m so Blessed and filled with so much joy to share my testimony.

In my 8 years journey with the LORD one common verse had always be in my mind i.e. Hebrew 13:5 “Never will I leave you nor forsake you” and I have really experienced the faithfulness of the word, it makes me realise that GOD was always there even from the time that I was formed in my mother’s womb and also all those years before encountering GOD’S LOVE..

Second thing is that GOD Never gave up on me, and that strengthen me to keep Rising and Pushing forward, even when weaknesses or faults and guilt try to overcome me, Holy Spirit always reminds me of JESUS and HIS way to cross (JESUS when walking with that heavy Cross many times it felt from HIS shoulder but HE Rose, Picked and Carried the Cross enduring it )

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto JESUS, the faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”, it really shows that HE will never give up on me till the point of death.

Hebrew 12:1-3

I love how FATHER GOD showed HIS LOVE by sending HIS only begotten SON and how HIS SON JESUS gave HIS live for Us and it did not stop there but FATHER GOD gave HOLY SPIRIT unto us.

And now having HIS SPIRIT within me the Spirit leads me, guides me, teaches me and make JESUS more and more real to me each and everyday my life, it’s just amazing.
The enemy brings doubt and tries to discourage me through situations and things around me or with lies but one verse I really love and strengthen me is-

Roman-10:11 “Whoever believes on HIM will not be put to shame.”
Having Faith and Trust in HIM and believing and having confident of this very thing, that HE who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of JESUS CHRIST-Phil 1:6.

Sol. DaiahunTalang, AOJ

FAITH AND REWARD

And he said to him, Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in a least thing, have authority over ten cities. 

Luke 19:17 

There are two important revelations in this verse
Our reward is directly proportionate to the labour we do in obedience.

The youngest of four siblings, I felt God called me to ministry at a very early age. When I started, I just wanted to be faithful, and I still want to be faithful. Through all the years the Lord has not only sustained me but has also given me the joy of seeing Him work in my life and through my life. Today when I look at His blessing, I can truly say, “It is only because of His faithfulness that I am still alive and blessed with all that I need for a life.”

When Jesus returns, His first order of business will be to call to account what has been done with the mina. In Luke 16:10,

Jesus said, whoever, can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Our task as his servants is to faithfully surrender to His Lordship and put the mina given to us to work.

Faithful obedience is the only lifestyle for a follower of Jesus.

It is obedience in small matters that leads to commendation and greater blessings.

The apostle Paul talked about becoming like Christ in His suffering and death so that he (Paul) could also attain to resurrection from the dead. He alludes to the prize of the upward call of God for which he was straining ahead. (Phil. 3: 10-14)

As we strive in our daily lives to live for Jesus, we must remember that that prize set up for us is greater than the suffering of the labour in the present. It is eternal life.

Finally we are challenged by the question Jesus asked in Luke 18:8, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?

Remember the reward we will have is directly proportionate to the faithful obedience we have displayed in putting to work the gifts and talents and resources God has entrusted to us.

Heavenly Father, I pray in Jesus Name that you will help me to be faithful to you in the work you have entrusted me with so that I will be able to labour in obedience. I pray that I will be faithful to the end and that Jesus will find me faithful when He returns. Holy Spirit come and increase in me and teach me the belong and be Loyal and work for Kingdom of God as is His desire. Help me to live for the glory of God. IN Jesus Name. Amen.

Sol. Pradeep Samuel Singh, Aoj

“ And he ran in front, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see JESUS.”

Luke 19:4

Zecchaeus was very desirous for the LORD.
JESUS said “those who seek me  will find me”.We can picture the scene through our mind’s eye, eager, wistful, supplicating, faith, looking down from the green foliage and meeting the gaze of JESUS CHRIST.

Our Jesus Christ invited himself to Zecchaeus house where HE opens the heart and inclines it to receive him. “He who has a mind to know CHRIST shall be known of HIM”.
Those whom CHRIST calls must humble themselves and come down. Zecchaeus demonstrated this publicly. He became a true convert and he accepted JESUS. He did not look to be justified by his works as the Pharisees, but by his good works and through the grace of GOD. This shows the sincerity of his faith and repentance. Now he is happy and he turned from his sins to GOD. CHRIST came to his house and brought salvation with him. The story of Zecchaeus teaches us that when we make a solid effort to experience JESUS you are rewarded. The change happened in Zecchaeus life because of his eagerness for the good news that is the Gospel. He was ready for a new life through his repentance. Many things in our own life tries to pull us down i.e. our attitude, pride, anger, depression, jealousy, worries and many more. That stops us to come closer to LORD but here in the bible in verse Luke 19: 4 it tells us how Zecchaeus made haste and he saw JESUS.

We know that we are not perfect

but when we come closer to JESUS HE comes more closer to us.

My life was messed up in worldly tuhings. Just like Zecchaeus,

I was not able to get out of the chains and sackers of the bondages but when JESUS came in my life, I was touched me by His presence and I denied all that was hindering me to reach out to HIM. HIS presence made me confess my sins and I got delivered. 

It needs a little effort and that is to obey HIM and deny ourselves. Even in verse 19:20 of Exodus people made haste and consecrated themselves by taking bath and GOD came down in mount Sainai to meet his people. So also my life changed completely when I encountered JESUS

FATHER I thank you for sending YOUR SON to die for my sin on the cross  which has opened the gate of salvation for a sinner like me, because I was once lost but now I can see. I pray that just like Zecchaerus who welcomed JESUS and his life changed and the salvation came in his house so also JESUS be welcome in our hearts. Amen !
 
SOL.CLARA BENEDICT AOJ

Therefore, Know That Jehovah Your God, He Is God, The Faithful God Who Keeps Covenant And Mercy With Them That Love Him And Keep His Commandments, To A Thousand Generations. And He Repays Those Who Hate Him To Their Face, To Destroy Them. He Will Not Be Slow To Repay Him Who Hates Him. He Will Repay Him To His Face.

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Deu 7:9,10 

Two characteristics of God are mentioned here.
Jehovah is faithful to a thousand generations of those who keeps His covenant and mercy

He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them.

Second characteristic of Jehovah, is emphasized, three times in verse no. 10.
Why should a person hate Jehovah?
Any child would naturally love his father and mother. He observes his parents doing everything for him, feeding him, clothing him, giving him bath, loving him, holding him in his hands, playing with him, wanting him to grow and always seek his welfare.

There is no chance of a child hating his father or mother until it grows and finds some serious faults with his parents.

Every human beings receive the gift of ‘life’ from God. Only God Jehovah has the power to give ‘life’ and take ‘life’ from a person. He has handed over this authority to Jesus Christ too.

No one takes it (life) from Me, but I lay it down from Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I have received this commandment from My Father. 

Joh 10:18 

How can a man hate the ‘giver of his life’? Of course he can not. But through a deception, he is not able to see his real father. His mind and heart is blindfolded. Just like a kidnapped child can’t recognize his father or mother, any human beings when they are born in this world, are in a kidnapped position.

2 Co 4:4 ‘……. the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.” 

His blind eyes should be opened if he has to see his Creator and real Father. This can be done only through knowing the truth i.e. Word of God.

Those who come to know God Jehovah as their real Father, will start loving Him, obeying Him, and obey His commandments. God will show mercy to them for a thousand generations.

2.He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them.

He will repay him to his face. 
All the destruction we see on the earth and in humanity can be traced out to this reason;

Hating God Jehovah’.

How can somebody hate God or express their hatred towards Jehovah?
By not believing in Jesus.

The Father loves the Son (Jesus) and has given all things into His hand.  He who believes on the Son (Jesus) has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him. 

Joh 3:35,36 

Not believing in Jesus is nothing but hating God Jehovah. God’s wrath will come upon those who do not believe in Jesus.
And today’s verse says, God repays those who hate Him, to their face, to destroy them.
The ultimatum of destruction for an earthly man, is killing and taking away life; But in Bible, it is more than that. They undergo a second death too. Second death is
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. 

Second death is casting a person after his death, into eternal hell.
Hell is a place explained by Jesus as a lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10,15) where there is tormenting by fire (Rev 14:10-11) everlasting burning, darkness, worms, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 8:12, 22:13, 25:30, Lk 13:28, Mk 9:44,46,48, Is 33:14

Luk 12:5  But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him. 

While I was writing this, a kind of fear, no, terror came to me.
Can we take a count of the people in our Constituency, those who are doomed to hell without knowing Jesus? Don’t you think they should at least be given a chance to make a choice?

Sol. Ann Rose AOJ