SERAH Blog

HOW TO SAVE THE LIFE

2012-02-13T21:04:00.003+05:30

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it (Mark 8:35).

While living in this world everyone of us expect a kind of security for the life we live. We seek a security from all the harm that commonly comes to us. But can anyone got success in saving their life on this earth? The answer can be “NO”, because our life on this earth is filled with troubles. Even Bible says this that in our life troubles come (John 16:33), but who will overcome this trouble filled life? Again Bible says, those who are in Christ will overcome this (1 John 5:5). At the end it is the one who believes in Christ will overcome this world. This victory only comes from Jesus for He had already overcome this world. When we are in Him we will share the victory of Jesus Christ over this life. The important thing in this is that how close we are to God.

Jesus Christ when in this world He said to his disciples that those whoever give up their life for Him and for the sake of gospel, they will save their life. Though we call ourselves the followers of Christ, but we should understand what exactly the meaning following Christ is. The moment we come to Him, we will not be living in us, but Christ should be living in us. Apostle Paul says, I am crucified with Christ, no longer I live, but Christ (Galatians 2:20). Let this be our confession. The very reason that Jesus was crucified is to show His love towards the world. Likewise we will not be living in us, but Jesus should live in us. To save our life we must be ready to lose ourselves first from us. It is hard for us to lose ourselves, but it is possible with God (Matthew 19:26). Jesus says we cannot be happy, unless we are giving our life away to work for God. We were made something greater than ourselves for an assignment. We always want a significant role in the world, but significance will not come by what we do, but by the service that we offer for God.

The world recognizes us what we are working on, but God recognizes us how we are working on. Bible says, God is different from the world, for the world looks at the outer appearance, but God sees the inward, that is our heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Two years ago on this day, I have started this ministry Jehovah Rapha Ministries; there were many questions about the formation of this ministry. How this is formed? Who will work in this? The answers for all the questions about this ministry are from the Word of God. Through God’s mercy we have this ministry (2 Corinthians 4:1). People suggested me that I will waste my time and I may lose many things, but my confidence is outwardly I may waste away, but inwardly I am renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). The things that I may lose because of this work, they have come to me after I am existed on this earth, means they all are secondary when compared to my life that is given by God. If I really want to save my life, I should get ready to give up forsake of my Savior who saved me from the death. Apostle Paul said, it will be a gain if I die for Christ (Philippians 1:21). If I suffer for doing good, I endure it (1 Peter 2:20). The God who has started a good work in my life with this ministry, will He not carry it till the completion, Yes, He will do this for He is able. If I try to please the people of this world and expect their praises what is difference in me and others, I should wait for His appraisal, when God will say, “WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”.

GOD BLESS YOU

FROM UNKNOWN TO KNOWN

2012-02-11T20:56:00.003+05:30

As I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about (Acts 17:23) (NLT).

As we are living in this world we come across many people who worship their own gods. It is not new that people had their own gods. They make an idol in the shape of something that is already existed and they start worshipping it. But we as the followers of Christ have only one God. The God who is present in three, one is GOD the Father, Second it is Son, and third the Holy Spirit which dwelling among us (Matthew 28:19). But what shall we say about our God? Our God is the God who has created the heavens and the earth and all this is in them. God is the wise God, immortal God, and an unapproachable God. God is like a consuming fire. We should know and believe in our life that we have only one God and He is known to us, but not an unknown God.

When we see in the Bible, Jesus went to a place where the Samaritan people are living. These people worship a god, whom they do not know (John 4:22). But Jesus assuredly said that, there will be a time when these people will come to worship God the Father of Heavens. That is true, and it is happening now in our life that we are free to approach the throne of Grace through Jesus Christ. The assignment for us as the followers of Christ is to show the true God to the people who worship the unknown god. This is what Apostle Paul has done when he was in Athens, the greater thing about the city is that the city is full of idols (Acts 17:16). And they built altars to their gods and worship them, among all the idols Paul has seen an altar which has no name and they also worship there (Acts 17:23). Paul started preaching about the unknown god to the men of Athens, and when he preached them about this God, some of them wanted to know more about the God Paul is preaching about (Acts 17:32-34).

We believe that there is only God for our forefathers had told us about this. But what Bible says, about trusting one god? Bible says we believe that there is only one God, but the demons believe that as well (James 2:19). What makes us difference in believing in one God is to know God personally and taste His love. Psalmist says, we should taste and know God and His goodness (Psalm 34:8). The greatest achievement of Prophet Elijah in his life on this earth is that he has shown the LORD to all the people of Israel and made them to turn back to The LORD (1 Kings 18:21, 39). Let us all come to the true God and experience His presence in our life and show Him to the other people who worship the unknown god. This is what our assignment in this world we are called for

GOD BLESS YOU

RECEIVE THE WORD THAT IS PLANTED IN YOU

2012-02-10T19:50:00.002+05:30

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls (James 1:21) (NLT).

When we are living in this world we do not have knowledge of the Word of God, but when we come to Christ to get transformation in Him, we will then understand the Word that is in us. We cannot say that we do not have the Word in us, it is there, because Bible says the whole creation is the outcome of the Word of God (Genesis 1), so when we believe that we are the creation of God then we have the Word of God planted in us. But the thing that is considerable is how we receive the Word of God into our life. Are we in the group of listeners only or the practitioners of the Word of God? James says God has planted the Word in our hearts and the Word that is planted by God in us has the power to save our life from destruction.

Listening to the Word and receiving it is different from each other. They are two actions needs to be mixed up to live. When we open our heart to the Word while hearing the word then only we can receive it. If we open only our ears to the word we cannot receive it. When Jesus was in the world, He was teaching the disciples a parable of the sower, He compares it with the Word. Jesus compares our heart with the land that is sown, and the Word as the seed. The four attitudes of our life that Jesus was talking about are – a closed mind (hard soil), a superficial mind (shallow soil), a distracted mind (soil with weeds) and the open mind (good soil) (Luke 8:5-8). Jesus warned His disciples to consider carefully what they have heard (Luke 8:18). We should consider what we are listening to and receive it with our heart. James says the way how to accept the Word of God, it is humbly accepting the Word (James 1:21). Yes, we need to be humble when we are listening to the Word of God. The most important factor that works in us which distract us from the one who is teaching the Word of God is “PRIDE” within us, we need to win over it and humble ourselves to listen to the Word of God.

Apostle Paul says, when we hear the Word of Truth we are included in Christ (Ephesians 1:13). To see ourselves with Christ we need the Word of God in our life. James understands the importance of two things about the Word of God. First is listening to the Word and secondly applying it to life. If we failed in any one of the above two things we are deceiving ourselves. It is written in the following scriptures. If we just listen to the word and not receive it into our life we are deceiving ourselves (James 1:22). Today let us all come to God who will give us the humbling spirit to listen the Word of God and accept it and see the seed growing in us and become fruitful for God. Bible warns us every tree that is not bearing fruits will be cut off and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:19).

GOD BLESS YOU

HE PAID THE PRICE FOR US

2012-02-08T21:16:00.000+05:30

Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified) (Galatians 3:13) (AMP).

Bible speaks about the love of God. It says God Himself is love (1 John 4:8, 16). To show this love to the world, God has sent His only Son into the world to die for us and redeem us from the law and give us the eternal life (John 3:16). So that means Jesus came into the world to redeem us from the law. In the Old Testament, when God was passing the law to Moses, God spoke about an offering to be made for the sin of all the Israelites. And the condition is that this sin offering could not be made within the compound but it should be outside the camp. Jesus also was crucified outside the city (John 19:16-20). This is how He offered Himself as an offering to God on behalf of all the people of this world. Jesus suffered outside the city to make the people holy through his own blood as God wanted the people to be holy (Hebrews 13:12; Leviticus 11:44-45).

From the above verses we can know that Jesus paid the price to redeem us. Why Jesus has redeemed us? Bible says, to make us the sons of God and help us to receive the full rights of sons (Galatians 4:5). Apostle Paul understands the importance of the redemption price and he suggests us not to take it as an easy thing. Psalmist says, No one can pay a ransom for the life of another person, for it is too costly for them (Psalm 49:7-8), so Jesus paid the price by giving His life by becoming a curse for us. When we believe that Jesus died for us, we cannot live as we want to live, for we are bought at a price and we cannot be slaves to anyone or anything (1 Corinthians 6:20 & 7:23). When we are bought by someone we should be living with them and follow what they tell us to do. Christ bought us and gave a new life, and we are supposed to live as He wants us to live in this new life.

Apostle Peter says, we should know that we were not redeemed with silver or gold that perishes, but with the precious blood of Christ which never perishes (1 Peter 1:18-19). This blood of Jesus speaks to God on behalf of us (Hebrews 12:24). In the Old Testament when one buys another with gold or silver, there is an option that the agreement can be cancelled after some time, but here we are redeemed by the blood, so this agreement cannot be cancelled. This is an everlasting covenant of God which declares we are His people. The Holy Spirit always testifies about this that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16). Let us all understand the redemption price that Jesus has paid for us and honor God for redeeming us. Let us all live according to what God tells us the way to live. May our good God helps us in this and make us to live for Him and for His Glory.

GOD BLESS YOU

GOD WORKS LITTLE BY LITTLE

2012-02-05T22:53:00.002+05:30

The LORD your God will drive those nations out ahead of you little by little (Deuteronomy 7:22).

We all know that God works in our life in everything. Jesus said to the people what God is doing? Jesus said, God is always at the work (John 5:17). But sometimes when we see few of the things are not working properly in our life as we have expected. When we see the things delaying in our life we get frustrated, but if we really know the word of God, we can understand that the word of God never fails, and it never returns to God without fulfilling the purpose that God sent the word (Isaiah 55:11). But Bible says God works things little by little. Bible says God do the things swiftly (Isaiah 60:22), it tells about the ability of God, but God said I will do things little by little.

Though God is able to transform us instantly, but God do this step by step. As we know that the transformation is the process, it takes time to see the full transformation. Jesus when in this world, he was deliberate in the development of the disciples. He didn’t do anything swiftly. The training process was step by step. Jesus came to the world to grant us the eternal life, as GOD brought Israelites to the Promised Land step by step, the tents were moving step by step. Why this is happening? We are slow learners, this is the main reason God works things in our life slowly, and they are in a process and step by step. When God works slowly in our life step by step, we become very strong in our life. God said what happens, if He drive the enemies of Israelites at a time, the land will become desolate (Exodus 23:29).

Sometimes we see the things get repeated in our life. Because when we are in school we might read some chapters of book again and again, so that we could score high marks from those chapters, likewise, God teaches us few things which makes us strong in those things. Our present life style, habits have not come fortnightly. They cannot be removed fortnightly, but it takes time. But when we obey God and accept His training, then we will surely move forward in spiritual life. Bible says, No discipline is pleasant when we are going through, but after having some pain it produces harvest of righteousness and peace to our life (Hebrews 12:11), that is why Bible says when God is speaking to us, we should not harden our hearts (Hebrews 4:7), this is nothing but a command where God is speaking to us.

GOD BLESS YOU

WHEN THE FAITH IS TESTED

2012-02-04T22:18:00.002+05:30

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:3) (NLT).

We all know that God tests us for the faith that we have in God. Job said about the testing of God that when He tests us He helps us to come out as pure gold (Job 23:10). God tests our faith to make us pure. At another place God said, I have tested you in the fire of affliction (Isaiah 48:10). If we are not tested for our faith in God, there will be no progress for our Spiritual life. God is considered as the refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2), so when we are tested in the fire of affliction we are going through God to develop our faith. How great it is that God gives us faith and helps us to grow in faith.

The life in this world is full of difficulties, for Jesus has already said what is going to be happened when we trust in God and start living according the word of God (John 16:33). We may have many people gathered against us, but trust in Him, He will make them to turn in favor of us (Isaiah 54:15). There may be people who stands against your work for God, but God will turn them to join us to work for same God (Acts 9:15-16). Whatever we see that happening when we start living for God it is not to destroy us, but to make us strong in God. James says these trials as the golden opportunity to grow in faith, for the test of faith develops perseverance in us and this perseverance leads us to have hope in God (James 1:3; Romans 5:4).

Apostle Peter says that the trials come to our life to see whether our faith is proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:7). When we are tested in faith it leads us to praise and honor, for God has promised us that He will give us (Zephaniah 3:19). Let us all trust in The LORD that when we are tested in the fire of affliction by God, surely we will come out as pure gold without any dross. Living the faithful life is though it seems difficult, but as we are tested it becomes easy with the help of the Spirit of the God.

GOD BLESS YOU

Feelings of a daughter of an alcoholic

2012-02-03T00:46:00.000+05:30

I am a daughter of an alcoholic . He is no longer alive, on this earth. He is still alive, in my mind, though. You who choose to be dependant on alcohol and or drugs, please consider what it does not only to you, but to those around you, even some who you claim to love. Alcohol and drugs will destroy you, your family and everyone you come in contact with. You are thinking right now: “Well, I cannot stop!” You may feel powerless, defeated, or you might like what you are doing. Can you actually say that you like feeling out of control? Do you think that numbing your pain and sadness will ever fix one single problem in your life because friend, when you sober up, the problem is still there. You’ve just delayed finding a solution for one more binge, one more drug induced or drunken night of ridiculousness. You can continue to justify what you are doing or you can look up and cry out to God!! You’ve tried that before, you say? Well, what is your part in the process? Your part is loving your life more than the substance you’ve sold yourself to. Realize that God wants to do a work in you but understand that you’d rather sit in self pity and anguish than to take responsibility for your own actions and decisions. First, look at yourself. Learn to forgive others and yourself. Stop blaming everyone for your abuse problems! Take responsibility and then accept what God wants to do in your life! If you fail, get back up and try again! God is full of mercy and He sees the entire picture.

This is a short version of my story. Hopefully, you will be able to identify with a part or all of what I am about to share. My parents had to get married, because of me. They both had a stressful home situation and they planned me so they would be allowed to get married. My father was raised in a drinking home. My mother was raised in a very strict home, where she was beaten by her father, on a regular basis. He later asked the children to forgive him and the truth is that he was beaten unmercifully by his mother. My father’s father was a violent alcoholic and a womanizer. He also beat my grandmother and would kick her down the steps. He did change in his later years, thank The Lord. My dear paternal grandmother was the first person who told me that Jesus loved me, but I did not become a born again believer until many years later. My paternal grandmother had rheumatoid arthritis and believed she would be healed until the day she died and she loved The Lord, so much! She received her ultimate healing when she left this earth. My father started cheating on my mother, probably before my younger sister was born. My mother loved him so much and always took him back, yet he kept drinking and running around on her. He was very violent and would punch holes in walls and tell me he hated me and to get away from him! He always said that he wanted boys and not girls. One of his early girlfriends had sons and he would take them to events, such as the circus and treated them well. We sometimes, did not have enough to eat as he would come home while we were not there and take all of the food out of the freezer and give it to his mistress and her family. He was in and out of my life so many times I lost count. We were evicted out of many residences, and had furniture and cars repossessed and all the while, my father was out having a grand time, partying with his girlfriends and drinking. My father constantly yelled very loudly and it was not until my early twenties that those screaming voices left my mind. I always tried to have a relationship with my father, and he never wanted it. He rejected me. He would tell me he loved me and then if I tried to talk to him I was screamed at and belittled. All the while he drank and included illegal drugs and also prescription drugs. The current prescription drug problem is also destroying many lives. People justify taking them because some doctor wrote a prescription for it. I have family members right now that are doing this! They are slowly killing themselves and staying numb so they do not have to deal with their problems. It wrenches my heart! I try to talk to them, but they are in the justifying stage and do not wish to hear it. I need to add that because of mankind’s fall, there may be times because of chemical imbalances of the brain one might have to be on medication for a while, but the ultimate goal should be to get well so a person does not have to be medicated for life. People that are raised in such a dangerous, insecure environment never know where they stand in life and that is what happened to me. Fathers!!!!!!!! Listen up, now. If this is what you are doing, please get help. You are destroying your children. They ARE being affected whether you think so or not. Mothers!!!! How can you stay numb! Your children need you now. If this is you, please get help! You do not need a pill for every headache or every issue in life. Cannot you see how that negates your trust in The Living God? The rejection and substance abuse from my father sent me on a quest to “find someone to love me.” You, who abuse substances are emotionally abandoning your wife, husband and children. So, I spent many, many years feeling worthless and unlovable. God truly is a Father to the fatherless because in all of my searching He has not ever left me. I was not a substance abuser, but had ridiculous relationships that should have cost me my life! Think about this, fathers and mothers. I am not telling you these things so you will pity me or feel sorry for me, only so that you will be able to hear first hand what it does to the people you are destroying. Many years into my search, after a horrible divorce and still trying to find love and never believing that God loved me, and I was a Believer that was SO messed up, I started reading God’s Word, again. Every horrible thing in His Holy Word pointed at me and accused me. I was dying inside and thought I had no more chances. The internal war was so intense. The person I wanted to marry took me at my request, to a hospital program called “Rapha” which I believe means “God Heals.” To make a long story short I screamed out to The Lord “Why haven’t I ever had any peace!!!!” One night, while I was there, He restored and forgave me. This was in 1995. Can I say that things have been perfect? No, but He has kept me and He longs to do the same to and for you! He also gave me Job, chapter 33, and this passage answered every question I had asked Him. Alcoholic, He longs to heal and forgive you if you will let Him. Drug abuser, He is standing with you, searching your heart to see if you will turn to Him and give yourself to Him. He longs to heal the addict, too. You have to turn towards Him and release your heart to Him. I used to tell my Father that he could be forgiven if he would ask. He told me before he died that he did ask for forgiveness. I hope he did. He wants to heal you for you and your family, so you can stand and be the man or woman of God that you were always meant to be. I hope that you can see that my struggle with feelings of worthlessness came about because there was never any security in my life. Let’s face it, life is difficult enough for children and adults without have alcoholic/drug induced parenting going on. Will you turn to Him today? He is waiting. He will not cast out those who cry out to Him! If His Spirit is searching your heart right now, turn it over to Him!

Received over mail.

Don’t Jump to Conclusions

2012-02-03T00:26:00.001+05:30

God qualifies whom He calls

Wife comes home late at night and quietly opens the door to her bedroom.

From under the blanket she sees four legs instead of two! She reaches for a baseball bat and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can.

Once she’s done, she goes to the kitchen to have a drink. As she enters, she sees her husband there, reading a magazine. :

“Hi Darling”, he says,

“Your parents have come to visit us, so I let them stay in our bedroom. Hope you have said hello to them”.

Jacob was a cheater,

Peter had a temper,

David had an affair,

Noah got drunk,

Jonah ran away from God ,

Paul was a murderer,

Gideon was insecure,

Miriam was gossiper,

Martha was a nerve wreck,

Thomas was a doubter,

Sarah was impatient,

Elijah was depressed,

Moses stuttered,

Zacchaeus was short,

Abraham was old and

Lazarus was dead.
God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

PROSPERING IN THE WORD OF GOD

2012-02-02T09:46:00.004+05:30

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do (Joshua 1:8) (NLT).

While we are living in this world we seek wisdom and knowledge. We always intended to know about new things. For this wisdom and knowledge we move from here to there. It is written in the Bible that people will go here and there to increase knowledge (Daniel 12:4). Do we really know that we have an ancient book which was given by God centuries ago, the best resource of wisdom and knowledge and the secret behind our prosperity. This book is named “The Bible”. Many people know this book from cover to cover, but they have not known what this covered with, how sad it is. From the beginning God wants us to know what God is speaking and meditate upon it. Not only meditating but we should teach others about these things that they should walk in the way God is teaching us (Deuteronomy 4:9).

God spoke to Joshua after his election as the leader of Israelites and told him, that he should meditate upon the Law of God day and night (Joshua 1:8). Then he will be successful in everything that he does. When we see the above verse, it is speaking about the studying this book continually. When God was speaking to Moses about the kings, He said what the king should do. The king should keep the law with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn and follow all the words of God (Deuteronomy 17:19). This is the secret behind a king to be a successful king. Yes, we should also keep the Word of God with us and we should read it every day all the days of our life, then we will be successful in whatever we do. We will see success in our jobs, we will be successful in our ministries, and families as well.

There was a time where the law of God should be read by the priests and all should be the audience, but now many of us have the Bible with us and can read the Word. In these busiest days of our life we are ready to do many things for many hours other than reading the Word of God. We have time to read the news papers for hours, watch television for hours, but we do not have time to read the Word of God for ten minutes in a day. We have time to update our statuses on Face Book and Twitter, but we do not have time to know what our status in God is? I have experienced the importance of meditating upon the Word of God. I have received a great comfort from God through His word in my personal life (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), I have received healings from God through His word (Psalm 107:20). One can introduce us something new which they have seen good and experienced good form that. God made me to stand as a living testimony for the miracles that He has performed in my life. Today is the day that we have to make a decision to walk in Word of God, for there is no guarantee for tomorrow. May our good God give all of us zeal to know about Him and be prospering in our life.

GOD BLESS YOU

Confessions of a alcoholic

2012-02-01T22:06:00.001+05:30

who wouldn’t accept the truth until The Lord interfered.

I have been in the habit of drinking since 1983 and had been a regular/ daily drinker since 1987, presumably on a moderate basis (moderate is my personal definition, anything from 3-4 pegs to a bottle and sometimes even more). Ofcourse, after my marriage the quantity and frequencies did reduce to some extent. I have had a lot of so called fun and friends, owing to my drinking habits and ofcourse a lot of wrongs have been done by me, under the influence of alcohol.

Over the last 23 odd years there would hardly be, no more than a 7-8 days in a year where I missed my drinks and I drank merrily on every Good Friday as well.

I did try to abstain many times and have been successful even upto a year, but I frankly did not have any conviction to actually leave it, as;

1. I enjoyed and liked it

2. I always had my own justifications

3. All my friends were also of the same kind

I do know that, some of my medical problems are due to my excessive alcohol consumption. I had been advised by many a Doctor to leave it or atleast restrict the quantities/ frequencies and atleast restrict it to social drinking, as I had started enjoying my drinks alone.

It is only since last 2 years that I was gradually drawn to God and until then was an atheist, since 1978/79. Though I was born in a very religious/ orthodox family and had attended Church regularly till my 14 years of age was also the Choir leader, subsequent to 1978/79 I almost never attended Church, till about probably 4/5 months back.

I started praying to Jesus in April/May 2010, prompted/ helped by my wife who got me a prayer book (as I did not remember any of the prayers) and who actually is a Hindu. I was introduced to the Bible by Joshua and started reading the Bible in 2010 around Sept. Though I had atleast one copy at home since 1995, I had never even opened it till then. During the last year and a half, I was regularly reading the bible and could finally understand that my so called knowledge or principles of righteousness were not right in the eyes of our Lord. I really felt like a fool. I did change some of my sinful habits and transgressions, but was never convinced that, I should leave the habit of drinking.

Though I had marked/ highlighted many verses in the Bible, which prohibits or advises against the habit of drunkenness, which struck me and on which I did meditate, like, Ephesians 5; 18, Romans 13; 13, etc, I was never convinced. I always used to say that Jesus used to drink wine, he turned water to wine, he even offers wine during the last supper to his disciples, Paul tells Timothy to have some wine sometimes, etc.

In the past I had once abstained from drinking alcohol continuously for a year, but subsequently restarted it. In 2010 and 2011 I abstained on Good Friday and prior to the Christmas of 2011, I abstained from it for 24 days.

On 13^th Jan 2012, I was meditating on 1 Peter 4; 1 to 4, when my entire attention stuck to the verse 3 and the word drunkenness, once again. I started thinking on this one habit, which I still hold on to, and which I know for sure, had led me astray many times.

Many thoughts flashed through my mind like;

- If you crave for anything then you are indeed a slave to it.

- You cannot serve two masters faithfully, rather only the Lord should be your master

- Anyone who has greed or too much of a liking to any worldly thing, is an idolater.

- Even if you have broken one rule and have kept all the others, you are still a sinner

- Can one continue to sin even after being dead to sin and now living through Christ?

- The God who started the good work in you will continue to do it till it is fully done,

- Faith without deeds is useless and dead.

- One should live a model/pure life, lest others, who love or admire you, are led astray while trying to imitate you.

- Whatever be the reasons, circumstances, environment for doing anything good or bad, we do have choices and ultimately it your own choice which makes you to do or not to do. One can never really make anyone else responsible for the choice, other than oneself.

Suddenly I felt an urge to stop this habit, once for all. Then something started happening to me and went into a trance like state and became like a third party in an argument, for and against leaving drinking.

On one side it was being argued that this should stop once for all, on the other side it was being argued that one can or should drink;

· only occasionally,

· only when in company of friends,

· only in parties,

· only for client entertainment,

· only wine,

· only beer,

· only on weekends,

· only in private and not when you are in the public, etc…..

This went on for quite some time and it seemed as if I was watching a drama and wondered what was happening and who these people arguing/ voices are.

Finally, I entered into the scene and said, “Can’t I take a simple decision like this on my own?” I then decided to leave alcohol once for all, unconditionally and immediately.

Here I stand today a happy and confident man.

I am sure that, I am a very lucky man as this decision of mine to leave alcohol could be taken before I had any major debilitating medical conditions, or before a major disaster happened, though I am not sure of the extent of damage already done. I am also happy and convinced that the Lord loves me very intensely and that, his spirit is in me doing wonders to my life and leading me to the path of righteousness.

Glory and praise be to our Lord forever and ever, in the name of Jesus Christ our savior, amen,

13^th January 2012.

A Christian by faith

Madku Mela 2012 Schedule

2012-02-01T20:30:00.000+05:30

6th Feb 2012 to 12th Feb 2012

6th to 8th feb pastor's retreat

8th feb to 12th feb For all

For tent and stall bookings

Call Mela Manager

Rev Sunil John at 09406297731

source www.madkumela.com

Andaman Trip Jan 2012

2012-02-01T12:56:00.000+05:30

Pastor B.S.Paul arranged a 3 days meeting in Port Blair,Andaman and Nicobar Islands.We started on 27th morning from Chennai along with Sis Prema and Pastor Jubal.
Reached port blair at 6.40 a.m. We were well received by Pr.Paul.Reached Hotel room at 7.15 a.m.Had little rest and the first meeting started at 5.00 p.m.in the evening.The lord took control and the meeting was a blessing.Nearly the whole audience gave a commitment to serve the lord without bothering about recognition.
On 28th morning I shared the word among a group of 40 pastors and they testified how the spirit of God moved during the session.I shared about the need of literature ministry and they accepted the challenge.The lord opened a new door for literature ministry.
Evening meeting was a blessing.
On 29th morning shared the word in FAPM Church Many were refreshed in the spirit.
Evening meeting was a blessing at Andhra hall.
On 30th went to a branch church in another island.
Returned back to chennai on 31st Jan 2012.

OVERCOME THE FEAR BY TRUSTING THE LORD

2012-01-31T21:30:00.002+05:30

And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and he will continue to rescue us (2 Corinthians 1:10) (NLT).

While living in this world, many times we may have fear of few things. We may have fear of death, fear of the people who plot evil against us, fear of the situations that are attacking us all of sudden. Amongst all these fears, we can have a hope that we can be saved. How this is possible? This is possible only through trusting in God. When I have experienced these things in my personal life, a Word from my Bible made me to think of God. It was the point where I have started trusting in God. God says, so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God (Isaiah 41:10). When we read this above verse with trusting in God, we need not to be worried of anything. Whatever we are going through now, it is the result of the fear we have about that. Job said, what I feared has come upon me (Job 3:25). Bible warns us not to be feared, but overcome the fear by trusting in God.

We know that our God is watching over us all the times. Hagar said, “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13, Psalm 121:3-4). Yes, When we believe that God is watching over us we should not worry about the fear that is coming to us, we should not listen to what fear is speaking to us. What happens to the fear at the end is it will be punished (1 John 4:18). Many times we find the choice from God from the beginning. (Deuteronomy 28:1), If we do something we get other things, but it is up to us what we should do, whether to do what God is telling us or not. Likewise, this is a choice for us whether to trust God or have fear about the things. When God promised that whatever is happening in our life, they are for our good (Romans 8:28), He means it. He doesn't mean all things whatever happening is good; God means they all are working together for our good. When we see the functioning of Computer, we see just it is working, but if we see how it is manufactured, it is a collection of small chips. When one of the chips function is failed the computer will stop working, In the same way all the things are working together for our good, if any one of them we miss, the good result may get delayed.

Sometimes the fears that we have will make us to trust in the Lord. Apostle Paul in his letter to Corinthians said that God has delivered them from troubles and they believe that He will do the same again. Bible says, Jesus Christ is same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The hope that they have in God is that, the One who has saved them will save them again. Let this be our confidence that He will save us. Apostle Paul says, that they have put their hope in God, the savior of all men, and especially He is the savior of one who believes in Him (1 Timothy 4:10). Today let us all come to God and ask God for help to overcome the fears and replace the fear with Trust. When we ask God with faith it will be done for us.

GOD BLESS YOU

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD OF GOD - SANCTIFICATION

2012-01-30T21:47:00.001+05:30

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth (John 17:17).

Bible speaks about the sanctification. This sanctification means purification in general terms. Purification is a process where the unwanted things from us will be removed and make as a new creation. This is what happens when we come to Christ. The Biblical term Sanctification means purification from the sin. When it is called a process, there should be more than one steps. This sanctification starts with GOD. God told Israelites to be sanctified and be holy (Leviticus 20:7). In the New Testament, God said be separated from them and do not touch unclean things (2 Corinthians 6:17). God always wants us to be consecrated and to be holy. But how this could be done? There are two things from God which sanctify us; they are namely, The Word of God and the Spirit of God. Jesus prayed to God to sanctify the disciples with the Word (John 17:17), secondly through belief in the truth, the Spirit of God will do this (2 Thessalonians 3:13). But these two are from one God (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

This Word enables us to be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). The Spirit which works in our life uses the Word of God to make us perfect and changes us into a new creation. We need to be filled with the Word of God to live a Christian life. The Word of God is not like any other word, it is living word (Hebrews 4:12). Bible says the word that is with God came and dwell among us (John 1:14) and Jesus said, that bread of God who comes down from heaven gives life to the world, it is He (John 6:33, 35). When God spoke there was creation, there were healings and there were miracles. Jesus said He gave us the authority because it was given to Him (Matthew 28:18-19). When we use this authority that is from God we can do the things with the Word of God.

Job said, he has treasured the Words of God in the mouth more than daily bread (Job 23:12). Yes, we need to treasure the Word of God for our life. This word will do many things in our life. It heals the hurts (Psalm 107:20), it comforts in sufferings (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). The Word of God trains us, rebukes us, corrects us and teaches us (2 Timothy 3:16). Let us all come to God and ask Him to know the Word of God more and more, and it sets us free from every trouble. It sets us free for it is the only truth (John 8:32). Jesus called the Word of God “THE TRUTH”.

GOD BLESS YOU

THE TRUE DISCIPLES

2012-01-29T20:53:00.000+05:30

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings (John 8:31).

When we read about Jesus there is something that makes us to think of His disciples. We know how they came to Jesus, how they were transformed to be the disciples, how they were trained in this as they move and walk with Jesus for everything. Bible says out of these twelve disciples, Jesus loved a disciple so much (John 13:23, 21:20). But the question here is what makes them into the true disciple of Jesus? Jesus said, the one whoever remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus will be the true disciple of Jesus. We can see there were many other disciples besides these twelve who were there with Jesus, but when Jesus was teaching about the living bread, all of them has departed Jesus by thinking that the teachings of Jesus will not be accepted, and they are hard teachings (John 6: 60-66). Were they not taught by Jesus? Were they not hearing the message about God from Jesus? They are doing as we are doing now, but they did not remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus.

The most important thing to be a follower of Christ is remaining faithful to the Word of God. If you want to receive what we need we must abide in Him (John 15:7). To build a life on the basis of Jesus teachings, we need to submit our life to the Word of God. The Word of God should be our guide to direct our ways (Isaiah 30:21). There are four things that lead us into wrong way. They are namely, Culture, Tradition, Reason and Emotion. These four things will lead us into the wrong direction in our life. We must be strengthened to overcome these things for these four are the source of the troubles in our life.

If we really want a perfect standard that will never lead us into the wrong direction, that is the Word of God. Bible says, the Word of God is flawless (Proverbs 30:5). Yes, this Word of God makes us the true disciples. When the time comes to us to make a decision in the life we should take the right decision by considering what Bible says about the situation. Sometimes we may feel pain when we hear the message of God, but the pain is to make us strong. Let us all come to God and hear the teachings of God and abide in them and then we will become the true disciple of Jesus Christ.

GOD BLESS YOU

BREAK THE JAR AND POUR OUT

2012-01-28T22:31:00.003+05:30

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jarof expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance (John 12:3) (NLT).

While living in this world, we will have many preferences, we will have many desires, and we may have many troubles. We can say our life on this earth is a mixture of the situations. We cannot know what may come to us in the very next moment. It is not uncommon that one should be going through all the above phases. But the one who walks with the Word of God only knows the remedy of the situations that are coming to them. We see Jesus was calling all the people who are weary and heavily burdened, for He has got the rest to give us when we to come to Him in weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28). To listen to this call and to come to Jesus what we should have as basic element is humbling ourselves. Coming to Jesus is not just an action, but it is an action with an expectation that we will be saved. When we pour out our heart to God then we will be heard (1 Samuel 1:15, 17).

The biggest enemy of our life is none other than our selves. It may sound hard teaching, but it is true. Bible always gives an instruction for all of us to humble ourselves (James 4:10). Jesus said, the people who humbles will be exalted to high places(Matthew 23:12). Humbling ourselves, it means pouring out ourselves at the feet of Jesus and get ourselves empty. For we consider ourselves as precious for us than anything else. When we read about an incident where Jesus was anointed at Bethany, we see this incident in four of the gospels. Book of Luke says, the woman was living a sinful life and known as a sinner (Luke 7:37, 39) and she came to Jesus and she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. Bible says, this perfume that she has brought is an expensive perfume (John 12:3). Matthew and Mark says, she poured it on the head of Jesus (Matthew 26:7 & Mark 14:3), but Luke and John says she has poured it on his feet and started wiping off His feet with her hair (Luke 7:38 & John 12:3).

We can see here, the actions of woman step by step, First it was ‘Breaking’, she broke the jar, second “Pouring”, then she poured out the perfume on His feet and then third, “Wiping”, she is wiping off the feet of Jesus. This is what we should be doing when we are coming to Jesus. If we apply this to our life, our heart is the alabaster jar in which we are like expensive perfume. When we come to Jesus and pour out ourselves at his feet and empty the jar, then we will be among the one of the people whom Jesus’ loved so much. What the woman got in return of this action, her sins were forgiven (Luke 7:48), and got an additional privilege wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, it will be told about the woman and about this incident(Matthew 26:13, Mark 14:9). And more over her whole family was loved by Jesus (John 11:5). When we do the same at the feet of Jesus, our sins will be forgiven and we will be the living testimony of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:14). Let us all come to God and pour out our heart to Him and empty ourselves and be filled with Spirit of God, and move forward in the way of faith.

GOD BLESS YOU

THE RIGHT COUNSELLOR

2012-01-27T20:52:00.002+05:30

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you (Psalm 32:8).

In these days the importance of counseling for life is growing more and more. A lawyer counsels when any couple come to him seeking divorce, a doctor counsels the patient when he/she wants to get rid of bad habits. A Pastor counsels young people when they are ready to get united in marriage. Everywhere in the world people are going to one or other for counseling. Bible says as the followers of Christ, we also need to get counsel from God. Whatever we plan we need the counsel of God, otherwise the plans may get failed (Proverbs 15:22). When Jesus was introducing the Holy Spirit to His disciples, He called it by the name Counselor (John 14:16). We need to take the right counsel, there may be counselors who are not from God, we should be aware of these counselors as well. The Spirit that makes our plans successful is the Right Counselor. This is God’s promise that He will instruct us and teach us the ways that we should go, He counsels us and He will watch over us when we follow the Counsel of God.

There are few situations in the Bible where we see the enemy also sending some people to destroy the work that we are doing for God, Bible warns us about these people. When we read the book of Ezra, we see these things. When the people of Judah were rebuilding the temple of the LORD, the enemies of Judah came to them saying they will also help the people in building the temple, and then Zerubbabel and Jerusha rejected their help in building the temple for they have no part in the work of God. They went out and hired counselors to work against the people of Judah and frustrate their plans in building the temple of the LORD (Ezra 4: 1-5). Here we see this is the plan of enemy to destroy the work of building the temple. Likewise we may see this kind of people in our life who come like counselors, but in fact they are not. We should not go by looks, but we should move with the help of the Spirit of God.

Bible warns us even the Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light, and the servants of Satan as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). We must be careful while seeking the counsel from someone for doing anything. When the king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah to join him in the battle, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel “First seek the counsel of the LORD” (1 Kings 22:5). However the king gathered hundreds of men for counsel, Jehoshaphat was looking for the Prophet of the LORD for counsel (1 Kings 22:7). Let us all come to God by seeking His counsel to do anything in our life. Whatever our position is, let us not to be hesitated from seeking the counsel of God. King Solomon asked God for the wisdom that counsels him to rule the people of God. When we seek His counsel, surely He will lead us towards the destiny He has prepared for us.

GOD BLESS YOU

Christian Internet Code of Ethics

2012-01-25T20:40:00.000+05:30

The impact of the Internet is nothing less than earthshaking.

Communications are instantaneous and information is abundant. Christians are coming to the internet by the thousands each week.

In some ways, the Internet is a world of its own. Things are not always what they appear. Because of this there are some dangers that are not readily apparent, especially to the novice user.

The Christian Internet Code of Ethics is an effort by some Christians to declare boundaries they set for themselves on the Internet. It is not a set of rules, but a statement of values. In it we find believers saying,

"We have found some dangers that may be hidden at first look and we want to point them out to those who join us on the Internet."

Christian Internet Code of Ethics

As a Christian who is active on the internet, I hold myself to certain standards of conduct. They are:

I guard my online relationships.

I recognize that attachments develop as easily on the internet as anywhere else, and sometimes more easily because of the anonymity involved in initial exchanges. I particularly guard against relationships that encroach upon the level of trust and faithfulness that is to exist only within a husband/wife relationship.

I am careful to visit websites that do not compromise my life in Christ.

I am aware that there are sites on the internet that Christians must avoid, including those that contain pornography. I do not visit such sites, even out of curiosity. When, by accident (and it happens to everyone), I find such a page loading, I leave it immediately.

I take care that my written communications reflect Christ in my life.

Even on issues about which I feel passionate, I avoid saying things that I feel might be displeasing to the Lord. I represent myself, and my intentions in a truthful and upright manner in all my exchanges.

I guard my time to assure that my time online is kept in proper balance with the rest of my life
I realize that the internet can consume time that should be invested elsewhere: family, church, work responsibilities, and other activities that make for a well rounded life. I especially guard against spending time on the internet that should be spent with the Lord.

Received via e mail.

USE THE GIFT FOR THE COMMON GOOD

2012-01-25T20:25:00.000+05:30

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other (1 Corinthians 12:7) (NLT).

We all know that there should be the anointing of the Holy Spirit in our life. Because this Holy Spirit will give us gifts and it works in us for the Kingdom of God. After resurrection of Jesus from the death, He appeared to His disciples, He breathed unto them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). For Jesus knows the importance of the Holy Spirit in our life. Before ascending into the heaven, Jesus said we will be filled with the power when we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). This power filled servant will do many things for God in His name (Mark 16:17). This is what Jesus called "The Power of the Holy Spirit". After Jesus ascended into the heaven all the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit when they are in the upper room conference (Acts 2:4). And they started doing all the above things with the power of the Spirit. Apostle Paul says, when we are filled with this Holy Spirit, it is for common good, but not for our selfish activities.

Apostle Paul gives right information about the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts by the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-10), there is a fruit that we bear when we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). But we should remember that we should use all these gifts for the edification of the Church that means for the common good of all. When we see, John, the Baptist testified about Jesus that the Spirit came and remained on Jesus (John 1:33). But Jesus in all the days of His life on this earth, He never used the gifts of the Holy Spirit for His personal use. When the enemy tempted Him and said to change the rocks into the bread (Matthew 4:3-4), He didn’t do it, it is not that He couldn't do it, He could do it for He is Supernatural, but He didn’t use the power of Holy Spirit for His personal use. Though He is the Son of God, He could have call the army from the heavens to save Himself from the army of the worldly kings that has come to seize Him, but he didn’t do it, for He wants the will of God should get completed in His life (Matthew 26:53). But He didn’t use the power of the Holy Spirit for His personal use even at the time of His death. He could draw the water from the well by the power, but He did not do it, and asked the woman for the water so that she could trust in Him (John 4:10-14).

Jesus was a right example for our life, when we are anointed we should not use these gifts of the Holy Spirit for our personal use. They are for common good of the Church. Apostle Paul says we should desire the greater gift eagerly (1 Corinthians 12:31), at another place Paul says we should seek Prophesying (1 Corinthians 14:39), for it edifies the Church (1 Corinthians 14:4). Let us all come to God with trust that He will anoint us when we ask Him to anoint us with the Holy Spirit, but it is good for us to know that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the edification of the Church, but not for our personal use. Seeking the gifts of the Holy Spirit with selfish motives is nothing but a sin (Acts 8:18-23).

GOD BLESS YOU

#533 How To Make Sure Your Church Is Boring!

2012-01-25T20:05:00.001+05:30

I know some people do not agree with me…but I firmly believe that church should not be a boring place…because…

The Bible is NOT boring–the teachings of God’s Word are more relevant and exciting that anything on the planet.

Jesus was NOT boring – to see His life lived out in the Scriptures and to see WHO HE ISshould inspire AWE, not apathy!

Our message is NOT boring – Jesus was DEAD, came BACK TO LIFE and offers us the same opportunity, to cross over from death to life and be reconciled to God

– That’s Freakin Awesome!!!

The Book of Acts is NOT boring – there is NOWHERE in the book of Acts that ritual replaced relationship!

If the tomb is empty, Jesus is alive and HOPE is possible then HIS church should reflect that.

BUT…if you want to make sure your church is boring, here are Eight Simple Steps…

#1 – There has GOT to be apathetic leadership –

Seriously, the leaders in the church MUST be obsessed with not rocking the boat and pursuing personal comfort!

#2 – There CANNOT be a desire to reach people far from God!

Seriously, new birth can bring excitement to a church, which is NOT what people in pursuit of boredom desire.

SO…don’t focus on the Gospel…instead teach lots of history lessons and talk about things that very few people actually care about. This will keep people far from God away from your group of people, thus not messing up the chemistry in your holy huddle.

Whatever you do…DO NOT talk about the Gospel…it changes people!!!

#3 – DO NOT call for ANY type of Commitment fromANYONE–EVER!

People MUST be allowed to come and go as they please…and must NEVER be made to feel uncomfortable under any type of circumstances.

If people begin responding to God it will increase the excitement level, which cannot happen in a boring place.

#4 – Always be Predictable.

Do the same songs at the same times, pray the same prayers and make SURE that people can look at their watch at any point in the service and know exactly what’s coming next.

#5 – Make Excuses when things are done poorly!

Whatever you do…do NOT address the obvious issues that are right under your nose.

In fact, if you will simply criticize any church or ministry that IS seeing success it will take the attention off of your dysfunction and allow you to maintain the current state of your church.

#6 – PLEASE make sure not to make ANY type of references to Culture in your Church services.

If you want to have a boring church then you’ve GOT to make people believe that the lives they live Monday through Saturday and then the life they live on Sunday are two separate things.

You cannot teach that Scripture speaks to culture…because if people begin making that connection then they will begin to experience what Jesus promised in John 10:10!

#7 – You’ve GOT to allow people to Pretend that their lives are Perfect!

Seriously, if someone has a problem then you must either put them out of your church OR tell them to act as if they are perfect. If people begin to bring their junk to your church and Jesus begins to help them work through it and they get delivered from it…your church cannot maintain its boring status.

#8 – You MUST focus on the external and NOT the internal.

Make the way people dress the MOST important issue…and the way they LIVE a non-issue!!!

It’s Time To Rise Up Church

#53210 Questions To See where We Stand as aChild of God...

2012-01-25T11:09:00.000+05:30

By Martha Mac

1 - Do Cares & Worries of This Life Dominate Most of Your Thoughts & Conversations?

2 - Do You Practice Sin on a Regular Basis?

3 - Do You "Love" The Things of This World More Than God's Word?

4 - Are You Too Busy for Jesus? What are Your Priorities?

5 - Do You Use God's Name In Vain? ('Oh My G-d?')

6 - Do You Fail to Pray Earnestly & Pray for the Lost Who Will Spend Eternity in Hell?

7 - Do You Fail to Preach the Gospel on a Regular Basis? OR Do You Hinder Others?

8 - Are You Indifferent About Your Sin? What is Your Attitude?

9 - Do You Seek After Worldly Wealth & Fame vs. Seeking First The Kingdom of God?

10-Do You Fail to Obey Jesus, and God's Word Consistently?

#531 "Afraid of What?" - John W. Vinson

2012-01-24T22:49:00.001+05:30

"The country districts of North Jiangsu China were wild and dangerous in the fall of 1931, but the missionaries kept on itinerating--trusting their lives to God's keeping. At Haizhou near the coast the Reverend John W. Vinson, otherwise known as Uncle Jack as he was affectionately called by the younger missionaries, insisted on going into the country.

'But Uncle Jack,' they said, 'you're not strong enough to itinerate so soon after your operation.'

"'I must go,' he replied. And then added, 'I must witness for the Lord while I can.'

Was he thinking of the words of our Lord, 'I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh, when no man can work.'" May I put in my own little parenthesis here. Are you working the works of Him who sent you? Remember the night is coming when no man can work.

Let's do faithfully each day what God gives us.

"Well, Mr. Vinson went to a little market town called Yan-Chia-Chi about 30 miles to the southeast. And there he was warmly greeted by a little group of Chinese Christians, many of whom he himself had through the years baptized.

After talking with them a while about the services to be held the next morning, he went to sleep there in the little chapel.

"That very night a wild army of bandits, more than 600 in all, swooped down upon the little town looting, burning, killing and wounding the people all that night and the next day.

When they finally departed they took with them about 150 Chinese men, women and children to hold for ransom. And their prize captive was the American missionary, Mr. Vinson.

"An army of government soldiers pursued the bandits and overtook them at a little village called Lianyungang, where the robbers barricaded themselves behind the village wall. The government troops immediately besieged the village.

"'Do you want to go free?' the bandit chief asked Vinson.

"'Certainly,' he replied.

"'All right, you write a letter to the commanding officer of these soldiers to withdraw his troops and we will let you go.'

"'Will you also free all these Chinese prisoners?' the missionary asked.

"'Certainly not,' replied the bandit chief.

"'Then I, too, refuse to go free,' said Vinson--and he was adamant even in the face of vehement threats.

"That night the bandits tried to break out in the darkness. Many of them were killed, and 125 of the 150 captives escaped. The bandits fled taking Vinson with them, but he could not run because of his recent operation. The daughter of a Chinese pastor was one of the prisoners who escaped from the bandits. She later told of having seen a bandit threatening Mr. Vinson with a pistol and trying to frighten him.

"'I'm going to kill you,' he said as he pointed the gun at the missionary's head, 'aren't you afraid?'

"'No, I am not afraid,' came the calm reply, 'if you kill me I will go right to God.'

"He was killed, shot and beheaded. At the time of his death the writer, also, was itinerating in bandit territory between Zhejiang and Haizhou. When he reached a little railroad station to return home he heard the sad news. And when he arrived home he read the full glorious account written by our Hijo missionaries of Jack Vinson's fearless witness for Christ.

"This writer went to his study and sat silently for a few minutes. Then, picking up his pen, he began to write as though it were some hymn he was recalling from memory. Within 15 minutes the five verses all were written and never have been changed. If ever a poem was given of God, this one was."

I would call it a poem of passion.

The writer calls it "Afraid of What?" Here's the poem:

Afraid of what?To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace?
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid of that?

Afraid of what?Afraid to see the Saviour’s face?
To hear His welcome and to trace the glory,
Glean from wounds of grace?
Afraid of that?

Afraid of what?A flash, a crash, a pierced heart?
Darkness, light, O heaven's art?
A wound of His a counterpart?
Afraid of that?

Afraid of what?To enter into heaven's rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid of that?

Afraid of what?To do by death what life could not?
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid of that?

"Later on at Mr. Vinson's funeral, Chinese officials who knew not Christ marvelled that here was man who refused to save himself. The missionaries then told them of John Vinson's Master, who saved others--himself he could not save. And some of the little churches in Mr. Vinson's country field, which had been cold now, took on new life. And many of the church members became hot-hearted for Christ. And many more received Christ as Savior after Jack Vinson's martyrdom."

And that's the end of Mr. Vinson's story, but I have no doubt that it had an impact on John and Betty Stam.

Betty Stam was a young woman when I met her; I was probably four or five years old. She was one of the guests in our home, but she was on her way to China to marry her fiancé, John Stam. And he had been waiting for her for more than a year.

She went to China; she married John. The Lord gave them a baby, and very shortly thereafter they were captured by Chinese communists, striped half-naked, chained together and marched through the streets of that little Chinese village. And Betty was forced to watch as John's head was chopped off. Then she was forced to put her neck on the chopping block--and she too was beheaded.

Their little baby had been left behind in their home.

The home had been ransacked but miraculously--and surely providentially--the baby was not noticed. And a Chinese pastor found the little child and was able to rescue her. When I was about 12-years old I copied into my Bible a prayer that Betty Scott Stam had written:

"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes and accept Thy will for my life.

I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt. Send me where Thou wilt.

And work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost now and forever."

GOD CALLS US BLESSED

2012-01-23T21:31:00.002+05:30

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about youand say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers (Matthew 5:11) (NLT).

Bible speaks about the Blessed people, but what are this blessed people exactly? Who falls under this category? Every one of us wants to be a part of this blessed people. But how can we get these blessings? When God created the living creatures, and the birds, God blessed them (Genesis 1:22). Here is the starting point of the blessings. Blessings always start with God. Bible speaks about the qualities of the blessed people. Psalmist says, the one who do not walk in the ways of the wicked, and delights in the law of the Lord is blessed (Psalm 1:1-2), at another place Psalmist says whose sins God forgives is the blessed one (Psalm 32:1-2). Jesus gave the qualities of the people who is considered as the blessed (Matthew 5:3-12). We should do few things that God is telling us to do, so that we can claim as the Blessed People of God, for God calling us we are blessed.

We may go through many situations in our life where the people of this world say many things to us. They may call us failures, they may call us unlucky, they may call us useless, but we should remember that God is calling us “BLESSED”. Bible says we are the children of Abraham to whom God promised the base point of the blessings (Genesis 22:18). Christ came for this purpose and redeemed us (Galatians 3:14). There is a prayer in the Bible which says how we could receive the blessings of God in our life. When we read 1 Chronicles, we read about a man, named Jabez, which means SORROW, PAIN, DISTRESS and GRIEF. However he was more honored among his brothers, he wanted blessings from God. This is very common in our life that we see a man may have honor among the people who lives around, but lack the blessings of God. Bible speaks about this man, for not that he is a hero or a warrior, but he is a man who prays to God for the blessings (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

Jabez put his request to God in four parts and we read at the end God granted his request. Firstly, he wants God to bless him, means he wants God to crown him (Proverbs 10:6), Secondly, He wants enlargement of his territory, means the works that he is doing to be enlarged so that he will be a renown person in the areas of his work, Thirdly, he wants God’s presence in everything that he do, and Fourthly, He wants a divine protection from any harm, and deliverance from the pain which his name carries. We see all these requests have been granted to Jabez. Means, God has blessed him, enlarged the territories, granted his presence be with him and delivered from the pain. This is what the Biblical meaning of blessings. Whenever we think of prosperity in God, it is not exactly the things of the world, but of the heavens. We may be rich and honored more than anyone else, but the word prosperity stands for the blessings of the heaven. Let us make a practice to request God as Jabez has requested and have received them. We should remember whatever may be the name with the world calls us, God is now declaring to the world that “YOU ARE BLESSED”.

GOD BLESS YOU

#529 John Wesley - A Reformer

2012-01-23T20:03:00.000+05:30

“Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.”

“Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing!”

“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.”

“What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.”

“Vice does not lose its character by becoming fashionable.”

“It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading. A reading people will always be a knowing people. ”

“Earn all you can, give all you can, save all you can”

“When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.”

“I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfil God's creational intentions.”

“When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn."

"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn."

“In using all means, seek God alone. In and through every outward thing, look only to the power of His Spirit, and the merits of His Son. Beware you do not get stuck in the work itself; if you do, it is all lost labour. Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul. Therefore, fix on Him in all, through all, and above all...Remember also to use all means as means-as ordained, not for their own sake...”

“God grant that I may never live to be useless!”

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.”

“Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it.

One who always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity. He blesses God for all things, looks on them as coming from Him, and receives them for His sake- not choosing nor refusing, liking or disliking, anything, but only as it is agreeable or disagreeable to His perfect will.”

"I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out."

“By salvation I mean not barely according to the vulgar notion deliverance from hell or going to heaven but a present deliverance from sin a restoration of the soul to its primitive health its original purity a recovery of the divine nature the renewal of our souls after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness in justice mercy and truth.”

“Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.”

"When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me"

“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God!”

“with all prayer (Eph. 6:18)" All sorts of prayer- public, private, mental, vocal. Do not be diligent in one kind of prayer and negligent in others... let us use all.”

“Holy solitaries' is a phrase no more consistent with the Gospel than holy adulterers. The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social; no holiness, but social holiness.”

Eric Liddell - Flying Scot Refuses To Run OnSunday

2012-01-22T14:00:00.000+05:30

Most of us only think about Eric Liddell as ‘The man who wouldn’t run on Sunday’, about whom about the Oscar winning movie ‘Chariots of Fire’ was made.

He was known as the ‘Flying Scotsman’ and was the first of his country to win Gold during the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Committed Christian Eric Liddell refused to race on Sunday and was forced to withdraw from the 100 metres, his best event. Instead, Liddell raced in the 400 metres and little was expected of him. As Liddell went to the starting blocks for the race, an American slipped a piece of paper in his hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30,

"Those who honour me I will honour."

Liddell ran with that piece of paper in his hand and not only won the race but broke the existing world record with a time of 47.6 seconds.

Liddell achieved a greater prize than Olympic Gold later on in his life.

After the Olympics, Liddell returned to China to work as a missionary. His family, originally from Scotland, worked in China during the time of the Boxer Rebellion. Liddell worked as a teacher at a school for Chinese boys at which he taught chemistry and organized sports. He married in 1934 and in 1936 China prepared for war as Communist and Nationalist tensions increased.

Liddell was asked by the London Missionary Society to give up his work in Tientsin, and work as a village evangelist in Siao Chang.

This was a dangerous area. Liddell could not take his wife and two daughters with him and he was forced to leave them behind when he went to work there. He was able to visit on occasion, but it was a long journey. Visits were not frequent.

Evangelist

The villages Liddell worked in suffered many hardships as a result of the warring between Communists and Nationalists.

One day, the Communists would pillage and destroy a village and then leave. Later, on another day, the Nationalists would come and do the same thing. His job in the area was evangelism and to encourage the Christians already there. The work was dangerous. Travelling in the countryside with Communist and Nationalist forces equally hostile to missionary work put Liddell in harm’s way on a regular basis.

The Japanese invaded China and in 1940 Liddell told his wife to take their children to Canada where she could live with her parents.

He stayed behind in Tientsin to continue his work.

Liddell was sent by the Japanese to an Internment Camp where 1800 other internees were confined.

He was not dissuaded by his circumstances. He worked tirelessly in the camp, doing just about anything that needed to be done, whether it was bible study, teaching children who were trying to keep up their studies, or organizing sports.

In a prisoner exchange bargain, his freedom was arranged by Winston Churchill, but he gave it up and let a pregnant woman leave instead.

I have Finished the Race

In 1944, Liddell was not well.

The doctors did not have the resources to diagnose the real nature of the problem. On February 21, 1945, he began coughing uncontrollably, and as friends came to his aid, he lay back and uttered the words

“It is surrender”.

An autopsy later revealed that Liddell had a large tumour on the left side of his brain. He died never having seen his third child, Maureen Liddell.

This man was truly committed to the cause of Christ. He had the opportunity to leave China but he chose to stay. He poured his life into the work of reaching the lost in China.

He worked for a prize far greater than gold, even Olympic gold.