The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(Psalm 23:1)
Beloved! David was a shepherd boy who trusted in the Lord with all his heart. Psalm 23 in the Bible speaks of his trust and faith in the Lord. He says the Lord would lead him to green pastures and still waters.
In life, we are concerned over many things and we let them rob of our peace and joy. The Bible encourages us to cast our burdens and worries onto the Lord and trust in Him. When we trust in the Lord, He will lead us to green pastures and still waters. The Lord is a Rock, and a Refuge to all those who trust in Him (Psalm 18:2; 2 Samuel 22:3).
A married couple had no children for many years. The wife trusted in the Lord that He would never let her down and patiently waited for His blessings. She had to bear many insulting and humiliating words against her. But, she was firm in faith. She would often visit the Jesus Calls Prayer Tower with her husband and pray for the blessing of a child. God saw how the couple firmly trusted in Him and blessed them with a child. The Lord honoured them before the people who looked down upon them and filled them with joy (Isaiah 61:7).
Beloved! Are you facing dark times in life? Do not be discouraged. Cast all your burdens onto the Lord and trust in Him.
The Lord says, “I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
The Lord will do a miracle before everybody and make you happy. He will lead you to green pastures and still waters and bless you.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I am concerned with many things in life and anxious about what the future holds for me. Lord, help me to trust in You. Lead me to the green pastures and still waters. Bless and honour me before the world and let them see that those who trust in You will never be put to shame. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
You Shall Be Satisfied; Message by Dr. Paul Dhinakaran
He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat.
(Psalm 147:14)
Beloved! The Lord takes great delight in making peace within your borders and filling you with the finest wheat.
The Bible says, “He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat” (Psalm 147:14).
The Bible says the Lord blessed the five loaves of bread and two fish and fed five thousand people. As He took the loaves of bread in His hands and gave thanks to God, it increased and He blessed them. Further, it says that they all ate and were filled” (Matthew 14:15-21).
When the blessings of the Lord make you go through this experience of increase, you will surely be filled in your lives. When the Lord blesses you, the anointing of the Lord will descend on you! Then, the river of divine peace will overflow in your life! Along with it, you will also have the experience of increase in your lives.
Jesus Christ was not complacent with the miracle of feeding the five thousand people but told His disciples to gather the fragments that remained. The disciples gathered twelve baskets full of fragments. In addition to the great miracle, each disciple got a basket full of fragments for himself!
Beloved! When you enable people to receive blessings of the Lord, He shall cause your basket to be full of blessings. Your basket shall overflow with blessings. Further, the Lord says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river…like a flowing stream” (Isaiah 66:12).
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you abundantly and will fill you with peace. He will feed you with the finest wheat and every good thing. You will not lack any good thing but your basket shall overflow with the goodness of the Lord.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise You that You are an awesome miracle worker. Lord, I thank and praise You for the promise that You would bless me with peace in my borders and that You would fill me with the finest wheat. Bless my life abundantly. Help me to enable people to taste of Your love and goodness. Bless their lives too with abundance of Your goodness. Let Your unfailing love and mercy follow me all the days of my life. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
(Psalm 147:14)
Beloved! The Lord takes great delight in making peace within your borders and filling you with the finest wheat.
The Bible says, “He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat” (Psalm 147:14).
The Bible says the Lord blessed the five loaves of bread and two fish and fed five thousand people. As He took the loaves of bread in His hands and gave thanks to God, it increased and He blessed them. Further, it says that they all ate and were filled” (Matthew 14:15-21).
When the blessings of the Lord make you go through this experience of increase, you will surely be filled in your lives. When the Lord blesses you, the anointing of the Lord will descend on you! Then, the river of divine peace will overflow in your life! Along with it, you will also have the experience of increase in your lives.
Jesus Christ was not complacent with the miracle of feeding the five thousand people but told His disciples to gather the fragments that remained. The disciples gathered twelve baskets full of fragments. In addition to the great miracle, each disciple got a basket full of fragments for himself!
Beloved! When you enable people to receive blessings of the Lord, He shall cause your basket to be full of blessings. Your basket shall overflow with blessings. Further, the Lord says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river…like a flowing stream” (Isaiah 66:12).
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you abundantly and will fill you with peace. He will feed you with the finest wheat and every good thing. You will not lack any good thing but your basket shall overflow with the goodness of the Lord.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise You that You are an awesome miracle worker. Lord, I thank and praise You for the promise that You would bless me with peace in my borders and that You would fill me with the finest wheat. Bless my life abundantly. Help me to enable people to taste of Your love and goodness. Bless their lives too with abundance of Your goodness. Let Your unfailing love and mercy follow me all the days of my life. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The Power of a Mother's Touch
The Power of a Mother's Touch
It really does make a difference
by Elisa Morgan, M.Div.
I was in line at the grocery checkout. A few feet in front of me, a mother guided her toddler ahead, anchored her baby on her hip and elbowed her checkbook open to pay the clerk. In what seemed one single gesture, she retrieved her toddler's hand from the candy rack, tore the check from her book and offered it to the clerk while placing a comforting smooch atop her baby's head. The baby drooled down the mother's shoulder, the toddler clamp-gripped his mom's leg and the other wrapped her arms about both while waiting for her payment to be processed.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
As I wheeled my cart to my car, I noticed another woman with her kindergarten-age son, rushing into the store I was exiting. Suddenly she stopped and glanced down at her child, reached in her pocket and brought out a wadded Kleenex. Moistening it with her tongue, she swabbed it about his dirty face. He resisted, but only briefly. Satisfied with her work and his appearance, she stuffed the tissue back in her pocket, took up his waiting hand again and marched into the store.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
As I approached my car, I noticed a woman and her teenage daughter chat animatedly. Hands flew—it wasn't an argument exactly, more a debate. The daughter, almost six inches taller than the mother, inclined her head downward. The mother rolled her eyes and patted her daughter's back. As they reached their car, the mother tossed the daughter the car keys and watched her daughter's face break into shock.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
Writing to the Thessalonians about his commitment to lead them with both lessons and life, Paul describes his posture as being "like a mother caring for her little children." In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, he gave his followers an example that wove words with love, truth with touch.
I thought of his words as I drove home and schlepped groceries from trunk to table and finally to cupboards and refrigerator. In the midst of my shelving, Eva and Ethan burst through the door from swim practice. With water circles about their necks from wet hair, they dumped their bags and rummaged through what was yet unpacked. "Yuk—I hate olives!" "Yes! Fruit roll-ups!" "Can we have this pasta tonight?"
I smiled, reached my hand out and wiped away a streamlet of pool water from Eva's face. I turned and flicked Ethan's hair from its stiff matted mess into some sense of order. I pictured the touch of the mothers I'd witnessed in my grocery-store journey, and I knew then that I feed my children with more than groceries. My touch, laced through the routines and crises, too, is what makes a difference today for tomorrow.
Yes, I tell them to offer kindness to those around them and to avoid drugs and premarital sex and violence. I teach biblical truths of forgiveness when they mess up and of truthfulness when they'd rather lie. I outline the basics of how to get along in life by managing an allowance, making their beds and getting their homework done before they relax.
But there is more to mothering and more to discipling than telling and teaching and outlining. There is touch.
The nurture of appropriate touch reaches out and over words and wraps a child in a comforter of conviction that he or she is valued—no matter what.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
Elisa Morgan, M.Div., is president of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International. Her most recent book is A Mother's Touch: The Difference a Mom Makes (Zondervan). Elisa and her husband, Evan, and their two children live in Colorado. Call (800) 929-1287 or go to www.mops.org for information about a MOPS group in your area.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
"This article first appeared in (2005) issue of MOMSense. Used by permission of MOPS International, Denver, Colorado 80231."
It really does make a difference
by Elisa Morgan, M.Div.
I was in line at the grocery checkout. A few feet in front of me, a mother guided her toddler ahead, anchored her baby on her hip and elbowed her checkbook open to pay the clerk. In what seemed one single gesture, she retrieved her toddler's hand from the candy rack, tore the check from her book and offered it to the clerk while placing a comforting smooch atop her baby's head. The baby drooled down the mother's shoulder, the toddler clamp-gripped his mom's leg and the other wrapped her arms about both while waiting for her payment to be processed.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
As I wheeled my cart to my car, I noticed another woman with her kindergarten-age son, rushing into the store I was exiting. Suddenly she stopped and glanced down at her child, reached in her pocket and brought out a wadded Kleenex. Moistening it with her tongue, she swabbed it about his dirty face. He resisted, but only briefly. Satisfied with her work and his appearance, she stuffed the tissue back in her pocket, took up his waiting hand again and marched into the store.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
As I approached my car, I noticed a woman and her teenage daughter chat animatedly. Hands flew—it wasn't an argument exactly, more a debate. The daughter, almost six inches taller than the mother, inclined her head downward. The mother rolled her eyes and patted her daughter's back. As they reached their car, the mother tossed the daughter the car keys and watched her daughter's face break into shock.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
Writing to the Thessalonians about his commitment to lead them with both lessons and life, Paul describes his posture as being "like a mother caring for her little children." In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, he gave his followers an example that wove words with love, truth with touch.
I thought of his words as I drove home and schlepped groceries from trunk to table and finally to cupboards and refrigerator. In the midst of my shelving, Eva and Ethan burst through the door from swim practice. With water circles about their necks from wet hair, they dumped their bags and rummaged through what was yet unpacked. "Yuk—I hate olives!" "Yes! Fruit roll-ups!" "Can we have this pasta tonight?"
I smiled, reached my hand out and wiped away a streamlet of pool water from Eva's face. I turned and flicked Ethan's hair from its stiff matted mess into some sense of order. I pictured the touch of the mothers I'd witnessed in my grocery-store journey, and I knew then that I feed my children with more than groceries. My touch, laced through the routines and crises, too, is what makes a difference today for tomorrow.
Yes, I tell them to offer kindness to those around them and to avoid drugs and premarital sex and violence. I teach biblical truths of forgiveness when they mess up and of truthfulness when they'd rather lie. I outline the basics of how to get along in life by managing an allowance, making their beds and getting their homework done before they relax.
But there is more to mothering and more to discipling than telling and teaching and outlining. There is touch.
The nurture of appropriate touch reaches out and over words and wraps a child in a comforter of conviction that he or she is valued—no matter what.
A mother's touch … the difference a mom makes.
Elisa Morgan, M.Div., is president of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International. Her most recent book is A Mother's Touch: The Difference a Mom Makes (Zondervan). Elisa and her husband, Evan, and their two children live in Colorado. Call (800) 929-1287 or go to www.mops.org for information about a MOPS group in your area.
"This article first appeared in (2005) issue of MOMSense. Used by permission of MOPS International, Denver, Colorado 80231."
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Reinard Bonnke in Kochi India, April 08
Here is a Small Video Cliping of the Gospel Evening Meeting Held on 11 April 2008 at Irumpanam, Kochi. You can see all the clipings by me Here.
It was a great Blessing to all who attended the meetings. Thanks to Mr. Paul Varghese, who was the main Person behind these conference. Lord Bless him and his family.
Millions of people accepted Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, Many were Healed but above all Spiritual Healing was needed and Millions got, Salvation thru Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
It was a great Blessing to all who attended the meetings. Thanks to Mr. Paul Varghese, who was the main Person behind these conference. Lord Bless him and his family.
Millions of people accepted Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, Many were Healed but above all Spiritual Healing was needed and Millions got, Salvation thru Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Friday, April 4, 2008
A prayerless life can never be a God-guided life
PRAYERLESSNESS - Bible Insight
by empy
We have a prayer answering God and if we do not pray then He will not interfere in our lives. what happens if a believer does not commit his or her life to prayer.
a) Purpose of a believer’s life is not fulfilled.
Let us now turn to the Scripture and see why the Lord chose His disciples.
Jn.15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…that what ever you ask of the Father in my name, He may give to you.”
This is a very familiar verse from Scripture. The grammatical meaning of this verse is simple and straight forward. But very few believers have understood the meaning of this verse and fewer indeed have put this verse in to practice.
Our Lord was telling the disciples His purpose in choosing them. Fruit bearing clearly is the purpose expressed in this verse. Every disciple of Christ is expected to have consistency in fruit bearing. As all of us know fruit bearing is an automatic thing when it comes to a tree. Given sufficient water, manure and sun light, a tree bears fruits automatically. Likewise, a believer who feeds himself on the Word of God regularly and weeds his life of the works of the flesh (I Pt.2:1-2), fruit bearing for the Lord will become an automatic thing for the believer.
But according to this verse, fruit bearing is not an end in itself. It leads to some thing else. Let us look at the verse once again. The verse continues, “…that whatever you ask the father in my name, he may give to you.”
A fruit bearing believer has to be an asker. Fruit bearing person has to ask and receive fro the father. The fruit bearing believer is promised ‘what ever you ask in my name’.
The verse may be summarized in the following way:
Chosen and appointed (i) to bear fruit, (ii) to continue in fruit bearing, and (iii) to ask and to receive what ever asked for!
When this truth was brought home to me first, it really looked unbelievable. Can it be that God has chosen and appointed us that whatever we ask in the name of the Son of God be given to us? Yes, indeed, the Scripture says, we are chosen and appointed to ask and to receive.
It is true that conditions are to be met if prayers are to be answered. Life has to be fruit bearing, there should be consistency in fruit bearing and of course, asking has to be in the name of the Son of God. If these conditions are met, God does the answering part of it.
In other words we have to order our lives in such a way and ask in such a way that answers must come to us. This indeed is God’s purpose for every believer. So if we do not ask and receive answers, it is that God’s purpose for our lives is not achieved.
A car is bought for going around. If it does not run, it will become a real head-ache to the one who bought it. Like wise a believer, chosen and appointed to ask and receive, if asking and receiving are not done, such a believer becomes the greatest head-ache for heaven. May that not be true of you and me.
Let us arise and order our lives to produce fruits for the master consistently and let us pray in such a way that heaven will answer us. Then and only then will our life purpose will ever be achieved. May the Lord give us grace for His glory. Amen.
If we do not pray…
b) We sin against God
If we are chosen and appointed to ask and receive, prayerlessness means failing in our duty. And the Bible describes prayerlessness as sin.
Many think sin means breaking one of the ten commandments. Sure, breaking commandments is sin. But we usually do not find such sins in the lives of believers.
There may be some believer some where living in blatant sins. Every one knows that they are living away from God. They lose their God-given joy. They become guilty. We know punishment awaits them. We must remember that there is no provision for forgiveness for willful sins. For any willful sin the Bible only offers firey judgment
(Num. 15:30,31; Heb.l0:26,27). New Testament teaches that when a believer is judged, he is not condemned with the world (I Cor.ll:32). Whether a believer or non believer, if a person is found in willful sin he or she is liable for punishment.
I Cor.5:5 tells us that a believer who is found in the sins of the flesh is given over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. Any sin is a barrier between God and man (Is.58:2).
To day many a believer is found in another type of sin. Sin of prayerlessness (ISam.12:23). I Sam. 12 says that God will not forsake His people. That is God’s plan for His people. But God only carries out His plan in response to the prayer of God’s people. What ever God wants to do in this world He reveals them to His servants the prophets (Am.3:7; Gen.18:17). And the man of God who knows the will of God must pray that it will come true.
Scripture is full of examples of this truth. See how the plagues came in Egypt. God will tell Moses what He was planning to do. Then Moses will declare it to the people God’s will. Then Moses will ask God to bring it about. Again and again we see it in the Scripture.
Truth of the Scripture is very simple. If God’s promises must come true, God’s people must pray. God will not do any thing spiritual in the world except in answer to the prayers of God’s people. So, if people of God do not pray in the will of God, we are hindering or blocking the work of God. Is there a bigger sin than that?
Look into the scripture and see how many commands God has given to believers about prayer. 1 The. 5:17; Col.4:2; Lk.18:1 &c. They are all imperatives. They are not optional. May we learn that prayerlessness is disobedience and therefore punishable sin.
Let us now set apart time to spend time in the presence of the Lord. Let us pray and release the mighty hands of God which is waiting to do wonderful things in response to our prayers. May His Name be glorified. Amen.
If we do not pray…
c) God’s perfect will cannot be accomplished on earth
We have seen several reasons from the Scripture as to why we should pray. There is no room for prayerlessness in the lives of God’s people. A believer who does not have regular prayer habits is not merely useless for God’s kingdom, but the greatest hindrance to God’s work on earth.
I am not strong enough to write these words. My heart beats faster. I cannot bear my burden. “Lord, Jesus I am helpless, Help me I pray. Amen.”
God of the universe has a good and a perfect plan for this universe and for every individual born here. God wants every one to enjoy life in its fullness and be found in His perfect will. But the devil is against this perfect will of God to be accomplished in human lives.
Therefore Satan induces man to go against God and against His perfect plan. Man being fooled by the lies of the Evil One sins against God for temporary gains and pleasures.
Any man who commits sin has to bear the punishment for the same. This is God’s righteous law (Eze.18:14; Rom.6:23). But God has no delight in the death of the sinner (Eze.18:23,32). Death of a sinner is not the perfect will of God. It is the permitted will of God. God permits it with tears. God permits it because there is no other way around. But that surely is not his perfect will. He is not willing that any should perish (ITim.2:4).
If the perfect will of God is to be achieved, there is no other way than the prayers of God’s people. God is not willing that our neighbors and our country men go to eternal hell fire. But if they do not repent and call upon Him they will surely end up there without a doubt. If this should not take place we should be willing to stand in the gap and become intercessors for our nations. “Had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them” (Ps.106:23).
“And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none” (Eze.22:30). If you and I who are God’s people do not stand in the gap millions in our land will end up in Eternal hell fire and no one is responsible for this than those of us who know the Lord. God continues in His sorrow that His perfect will is not achieved. He punishes the unrepentant sinner in sorrow.
If God’s perfect will has to be accomplished on earth, God’s people have to pray. There is no other way. Look at Rom.15:31 where Paul says, “…strive with me in prayer…” that the will of God may be accomplished in my life.
God’s righteousness demands the death of a sinner. But God’s grace is flowing through the child of God to whom God has shown mercy through Christ. The same love of God and grace of God which began to flow through Calvary continues its course through us into the world. The grace of God in us is that which prompts us to pray for the world. To day if we are prompted to pray, we should set aside every work and we should sit at His feet. If we separate time and place and begin to pray regularly we will begin to see this grace flowing through us to others around us. If many a believer responds to the inner call of God and begin the ministry of intercession we will begin to see God’s perfect will accomplished in the lives of many around us. That is why our Lord taught His disciples to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt.6:10).
May we respond to the inner call of God and may we bring glory to His Holy name. Amen.
by empy
We have a prayer answering God and if we do not pray then He will not interfere in our lives. what happens if a believer does not commit his or her life to prayer.
a) Purpose of a believer’s life is not fulfilled.
Let us now turn to the Scripture and see why the Lord chose His disciples.
Jn.15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…that what ever you ask of the Father in my name, He may give to you.”
This is a very familiar verse from Scripture. The grammatical meaning of this verse is simple and straight forward. But very few believers have understood the meaning of this verse and fewer indeed have put this verse in to practice.
Our Lord was telling the disciples His purpose in choosing them. Fruit bearing clearly is the purpose expressed in this verse. Every disciple of Christ is expected to have consistency in fruit bearing. As all of us know fruit bearing is an automatic thing when it comes to a tree. Given sufficient water, manure and sun light, a tree bears fruits automatically. Likewise, a believer who feeds himself on the Word of God regularly and weeds his life of the works of the flesh (I Pt.2:1-2), fruit bearing for the Lord will become an automatic thing for the believer.
But according to this verse, fruit bearing is not an end in itself. It leads to some thing else. Let us look at the verse once again. The verse continues, “…that whatever you ask the father in my name, he may give to you.”
A fruit bearing believer has to be an asker. Fruit bearing person has to ask and receive fro the father. The fruit bearing believer is promised ‘what ever you ask in my name’.
The verse may be summarized in the following way:
Chosen and appointed (i) to bear fruit, (ii) to continue in fruit bearing, and (iii) to ask and to receive what ever asked for!
When this truth was brought home to me first, it really looked unbelievable. Can it be that God has chosen and appointed us that whatever we ask in the name of the Son of God be given to us? Yes, indeed, the Scripture says, we are chosen and appointed to ask and to receive.
It is true that conditions are to be met if prayers are to be answered. Life has to be fruit bearing, there should be consistency in fruit bearing and of course, asking has to be in the name of the Son of God. If these conditions are met, God does the answering part of it.
In other words we have to order our lives in such a way and ask in such a way that answers must come to us. This indeed is God’s purpose for every believer. So if we do not ask and receive answers, it is that God’s purpose for our lives is not achieved.
A car is bought for going around. If it does not run, it will become a real head-ache to the one who bought it. Like wise a believer, chosen and appointed to ask and receive, if asking and receiving are not done, such a believer becomes the greatest head-ache for heaven. May that not be true of you and me.
Let us arise and order our lives to produce fruits for the master consistently and let us pray in such a way that heaven will answer us. Then and only then will our life purpose will ever be achieved. May the Lord give us grace for His glory. Amen.
If we do not pray…
b) We sin against God
If we are chosen and appointed to ask and receive, prayerlessness means failing in our duty. And the Bible describes prayerlessness as sin.
Many think sin means breaking one of the ten commandments. Sure, breaking commandments is sin. But we usually do not find such sins in the lives of believers.
There may be some believer some where living in blatant sins. Every one knows that they are living away from God. They lose their God-given joy. They become guilty. We know punishment awaits them. We must remember that there is no provision for forgiveness for willful sins. For any willful sin the Bible only offers firey judgment
(Num. 15:30,31; Heb.l0:26,27). New Testament teaches that when a believer is judged, he is not condemned with the world (I Cor.ll:32). Whether a believer or non believer, if a person is found in willful sin he or she is liable for punishment.
I Cor.5:5 tells us that a believer who is found in the sins of the flesh is given over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. Any sin is a barrier between God and man (Is.58:2).
To day many a believer is found in another type of sin. Sin of prayerlessness (ISam.12:23). I Sam. 12 says that God will not forsake His people. That is God’s plan for His people. But God only carries out His plan in response to the prayer of God’s people. What ever God wants to do in this world He reveals them to His servants the prophets (Am.3:7; Gen.18:17). And the man of God who knows the will of God must pray that it will come true.
Scripture is full of examples of this truth. See how the plagues came in Egypt. God will tell Moses what He was planning to do. Then Moses will declare it to the people God’s will. Then Moses will ask God to bring it about. Again and again we see it in the Scripture.
Truth of the Scripture is very simple. If God’s promises must come true, God’s people must pray. God will not do any thing spiritual in the world except in answer to the prayers of God’s people. So, if people of God do not pray in the will of God, we are hindering or blocking the work of God. Is there a bigger sin than that?
Look into the scripture and see how many commands God has given to believers about prayer. 1 The. 5:17; Col.4:2; Lk.18:1 &c. They are all imperatives. They are not optional. May we learn that prayerlessness is disobedience and therefore punishable sin.
Let us now set apart time to spend time in the presence of the Lord. Let us pray and release the mighty hands of God which is waiting to do wonderful things in response to our prayers. May His Name be glorified. Amen.
If we do not pray…
c) God’s perfect will cannot be accomplished on earth
We have seen several reasons from the Scripture as to why we should pray. There is no room for prayerlessness in the lives of God’s people. A believer who does not have regular prayer habits is not merely useless for God’s kingdom, but the greatest hindrance to God’s work on earth.
I am not strong enough to write these words. My heart beats faster. I cannot bear my burden. “Lord, Jesus I am helpless, Help me I pray. Amen.”
God of the universe has a good and a perfect plan for this universe and for every individual born here. God wants every one to enjoy life in its fullness and be found in His perfect will. But the devil is against this perfect will of God to be accomplished in human lives.
Therefore Satan induces man to go against God and against His perfect plan. Man being fooled by the lies of the Evil One sins against God for temporary gains and pleasures.
Any man who commits sin has to bear the punishment for the same. This is God’s righteous law (Eze.18:14; Rom.6:23). But God has no delight in the death of the sinner (Eze.18:23,32). Death of a sinner is not the perfect will of God. It is the permitted will of God. God permits it with tears. God permits it because there is no other way around. But that surely is not his perfect will. He is not willing that any should perish (ITim.2:4).
If the perfect will of God is to be achieved, there is no other way than the prayers of God’s people. God is not willing that our neighbors and our country men go to eternal hell fire. But if they do not repent and call upon Him they will surely end up there without a doubt. If this should not take place we should be willing to stand in the gap and become intercessors for our nations. “Had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them” (Ps.106:23).
“And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none” (Eze.22:30). If you and I who are God’s people do not stand in the gap millions in our land will end up in Eternal hell fire and no one is responsible for this than those of us who know the Lord. God continues in His sorrow that His perfect will is not achieved. He punishes the unrepentant sinner in sorrow.
If God’s perfect will has to be accomplished on earth, God’s people have to pray. There is no other way. Look at Rom.15:31 where Paul says, “…strive with me in prayer…” that the will of God may be accomplished in my life.
God’s righteousness demands the death of a sinner. But God’s grace is flowing through the child of God to whom God has shown mercy through Christ. The same love of God and grace of God which began to flow through Calvary continues its course through us into the world. The grace of God in us is that which prompts us to pray for the world. To day if we are prompted to pray, we should set aside every work and we should sit at His feet. If we separate time and place and begin to pray regularly we will begin to see this grace flowing through us to others around us. If many a believer responds to the inner call of God and begin the ministry of intercession we will begin to see God’s perfect will accomplished in the lives of many around us. That is why our Lord taught His disciples to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt.6:10).
May we respond to the inner call of God and may we bring glory to His Holy name. Amen.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
You are His Beloved - By Sis Stella Dhinakaran
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
(Isaiah 49:16)
Beloved! In this fast and uncertain world even parents fail to show love and care for their begotten children. But the Lord loves you very much because you are precious to Him. The Loving Lord says, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah 49:15, 16).
The Bible speaks about Ruth, a Moabitess woman who lost her husband at a very young age. Her mother-in-law, Naomi who was also a widow urged her to return to her father’s house and start a new life. But Ruth refused to do so and determined to cleave to Naomi to the end. She said to Naomi, “For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Both the women returned to Bethlehem where Ruth gets to glean ears of corn that were left behind by the reapers in the field of Boaz. Boaz was a rich and close relative of Naomi’s husband who came to know of the good deeds of Ruth said, "The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge" (Ruth 2:12).
The Lord did repay the good deeds of Ruth by blessing her latter end. She married Boaz and the Lord blessed them with a son. Yes, the Lord turned the bitter life of Ruth into a sweet one filled with joy and happiness.
Beloved! Give the Lord your heart and He will cleanse you and make you His own. He shall turn your bitter life into a sweet one filled with joy and happiness.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the promise that You will never forget me and that I am always on Your mind. Father, draw me close to You and strengthen me. Teach and help me to do good to others at all times. Take away the bitterness in my life and fill me with joy and happiness. When there is no way for me in life, You are the One Who makes a way for me in life and let me see good days henceforth. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
(Isaiah 49:16)
Beloved! In this fast and uncertain world even parents fail to show love and care for their begotten children. But the Lord loves you very much because you are precious to Him. The Loving Lord says, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah 49:15, 16).
The Bible speaks about Ruth, a Moabitess woman who lost her husband at a very young age. Her mother-in-law, Naomi who was also a widow urged her to return to her father’s house and start a new life. But Ruth refused to do so and determined to cleave to Naomi to the end. She said to Naomi, “For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Both the women returned to Bethlehem where Ruth gets to glean ears of corn that were left behind by the reapers in the field of Boaz. Boaz was a rich and close relative of Naomi’s husband who came to know of the good deeds of Ruth said, "The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge" (Ruth 2:12).
The Lord did repay the good deeds of Ruth by blessing her latter end. She married Boaz and the Lord blessed them with a son. Yes, the Lord turned the bitter life of Ruth into a sweet one filled with joy and happiness.
Beloved! Give the Lord your heart and He will cleanse you and make you His own. He shall turn your bitter life into a sweet one filled with joy and happiness.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the promise that You will never forget me and that I am always on Your mind. Father, draw me close to You and strengthen me. Teach and help me to do good to others at all times. Take away the bitterness in my life and fill me with joy and happiness. When there is no way for me in life, You are the One Who makes a way for me in life and let me see good days henceforth. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
What we learn about God and Christian Living from the life of Moses
The life of Moses reveals much about the character and attributes of God, there are many valuable lessons we as Christians can learn. The Bible was not given just so we could have a history lesson, but to instruct us.
1Co 10:11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period). (Amplified Bible)
In Exodus we see many of the attributes of God as He deals with His elect people Israel and brings judgement on those that abuse them. We shall look at just at one.
The Omnipotent God.
omnipotent [om nípp?t?nt] adjective
all-powerful: possessing complete, unlimited, or universal power and authority
In the book of Exodus we see the power of Yahweh God. The opening of the Red Sea reveals His power over the elements. The plagues of frogs, and locust reveal His power over nature. The water from the rock reveals His creative power. The Egyptians had many gods that the trusted in and worshipped, but God showed that He was the all-powerful God. Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate some of the plagues but were able to reverse them. Once God had decreed that Israel would be free no power on earth could stop it happening.
Lessons from the life of Moses.
We see in the life of Moses that God was more important to Him than the riches of Egypt, and he would rather suffer in the desert, and know he was right with God than live a life of ease in Egypt.
Moses though a Jew was raised in Egypt as a prince, and unknown to pharaoh’s daughter the servant she took to raise Moses, after finding him as a baby in the river, was no other than his mother. From Pharaoh’s daughter he learned the ways and customs of the Egyptians, but it was from his mother he would learn his true roots. No doubt she told him about Yahweh God and how that he was an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham.
Moses could have decided to live in the comfort of Egypt. Some scholars say that Moses could have become pharaoh. However, he decided to worship the only true God and serve him.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
To be a Christian we must be willing to forsake the comfort and ungodliness of this world, and follow him. When Moses made is decision he went from being a friend of pharaoh to an enemy. He went from comfort to suffering.
Hebrews 11: 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Sufferings, persecution, trials, are the norm of the Christian life, sadly these truth are not being taught in the modern church. Today the Christians are being promised financial prosperity, life of comfort, and ease. Jesus taught the opposite.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
We do not see easy believism in the life of Moses; Jesus did not teach it, and it will not be the experience in the life of a true Christian today.
A life of humility
The greatest lesson we can learn from Moses life is his humility. The Bible says he was the most humble man on the earth.
Num 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek (gentle, kind, and humble) or above all the men on the face of the earth. (Amplified Bible)
The situation surrounding the above statement is quite interesting. There was a challenge to his leadership.
Numbers 12:1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Miriam an Aaron was angry with the woman that he had married. To make it worse the challenge came from his family. Miriam was his sister and Aaron was his brother. This must have been a painful time in Moses life. They criticised his choice of a wife and accused him of not being the spokesman of God.
Num 12:1 - And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses,.... Miriam is first mentioned, because she was first in the transgression, and so was only punished; Aaron was drawn into the sin by her, and he acknowledged his fault, and was forgiven: it must be a great trial to Moses, not only to be spoken against by the people, as he often was, but by his near relations, and these gracious persons, and concerned with him in leading and guiding the people through the wilderness, Mic_6:4,
Moses did not need to defend himself; he just left it to God. God did vindicate him and punished Miriam for her sin (Num 12:10), and Aaron repented (Num 12:11). Moses did not need to fight for Himself because he was in the will of God. Throughout this whole incident Moses showed true humility, even to extent of praying for Miriam (Num 12:13)
There is a valuable lesson that we can learn here. When we are criticised by others even a fellow Christians, instead of defending ourselves, leave it to God and continue to walk in obedience, and like Moses we should pray for those that Speak against us.
Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
1Co 10:11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period). (Amplified Bible)
In Exodus we see many of the attributes of God as He deals with His elect people Israel and brings judgement on those that abuse them. We shall look at just at one.
The Omnipotent God.
omnipotent [om nípp?t?nt] adjective
all-powerful: possessing complete, unlimited, or universal power and authority
In the book of Exodus we see the power of Yahweh God. The opening of the Red Sea reveals His power over the elements. The plagues of frogs, and locust reveal His power over nature. The water from the rock reveals His creative power. The Egyptians had many gods that the trusted in and worshipped, but God showed that He was the all-powerful God. Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate some of the plagues but were able to reverse them. Once God had decreed that Israel would be free no power on earth could stop it happening.
Lessons from the life of Moses.
We see in the life of Moses that God was more important to Him than the riches of Egypt, and he would rather suffer in the desert, and know he was right with God than live a life of ease in Egypt.
Moses though a Jew was raised in Egypt as a prince, and unknown to pharaoh’s daughter the servant she took to raise Moses, after finding him as a baby in the river, was no other than his mother. From Pharaoh’s daughter he learned the ways and customs of the Egyptians, but it was from his mother he would learn his true roots. No doubt she told him about Yahweh God and how that he was an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham.
Moses could have decided to live in the comfort of Egypt. Some scholars say that Moses could have become pharaoh. However, he decided to worship the only true God and serve him.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
To be a Christian we must be willing to forsake the comfort and ungodliness of this world, and follow him. When Moses made is decision he went from being a friend of pharaoh to an enemy. He went from comfort to suffering.
Hebrews 11: 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Sufferings, persecution, trials, are the norm of the Christian life, sadly these truth are not being taught in the modern church. Today the Christians are being promised financial prosperity, life of comfort, and ease. Jesus taught the opposite.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
We do not see easy believism in the life of Moses; Jesus did not teach it, and it will not be the experience in the life of a true Christian today.
A life of humility
The greatest lesson we can learn from Moses life is his humility. The Bible says he was the most humble man on the earth.
Num 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek (gentle, kind, and humble) or above all the men on the face of the earth. (Amplified Bible)
The situation surrounding the above statement is quite interesting. There was a challenge to his leadership.
Numbers 12:1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Miriam an Aaron was angry with the woman that he had married. To make it worse the challenge came from his family. Miriam was his sister and Aaron was his brother. This must have been a painful time in Moses life. They criticised his choice of a wife and accused him of not being the spokesman of God.
Num 12:1 - And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses,.... Miriam is first mentioned, because she was first in the transgression, and so was only punished; Aaron was drawn into the sin by her, and he acknowledged his fault, and was forgiven: it must be a great trial to Moses, not only to be spoken against by the people, as he often was, but by his near relations, and these gracious persons, and concerned with him in leading and guiding the people through the wilderness, Mic_6:4,
Moses did not need to defend himself; he just left it to God. God did vindicate him and punished Miriam for her sin (Num 12:10), and Aaron repented (Num 12:11). Moses did not need to fight for Himself because he was in the will of God. Throughout this whole incident Moses showed true humility, even to extent of praying for Miriam (Num 12:13)
There is a valuable lesson that we can learn here. When we are criticised by others even a fellow Christians, instead of defending ourselves, leave it to God and continue to walk in obedience, and like Moses we should pray for those that Speak against us.
Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
I Am He Who Lives
He is not here, but is risen!
(Luke 24:6)
Beloved! The Almighty God Who says, “I Am Who I Am”, Who is Immortal (1 Timothy 6:16) manifested Himself as Jesus Christ in this world to save mankind from sin. In His thirty three and half years of life on earth, He changed the history of mankind. He confirmed His word with signs and wonders. He delivered those who were bound by oppression and healed the sick. He is alive today and heals the sick and delivers those who are in oppression. He is alive today because He conquered death and is risen (Luke 24:6). He is seated in power and authority.
The Lord promises you saying, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age"(Matthew 28:20).
Many years ago, the wife of a servant of God was conceived with child. Soon she was admitted for delivery in a hospital. Doctors and nurses after attending on her left for home early as it was Easter the next day. But in the midnight she developed labour pains and called out for the staff. But unfortunately there was no one at hand! All of a sudden the head nurse entered in, opening the door! She helped her to deliver the baby without much difficulty. She then attended on the mother and baby and left. The next morning, when the hospital head nurse came to attend on her, she was surprised as how she delivered the baby. She was even more surprised to know from the mother that she (the head nurse) had helped her deliver the baby. The head nurse told her that she had gone home for Easter and was reporting for work that morning. They soon realised that it was the Lord Who had helped her deliver the child!
Beloved! Are you in tears or agony? Do not be disheartened! God Who resurrected Jesus Christ to life from the dead, will also resurrect your circumstances to joy and peace. Lord Jesus will be with you to the end and guide you in life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
My heart overwhelms with joy that You have conquered death and are alive forevermore! I praise and thank You for redeeming me from sin. Let Your resurrection power flow into everything that concerns me bringing to life which is dormant. Fill me with Your resurrection power and let everything I lay my hands on come to life. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
(Luke 24:6)
Beloved! The Almighty God Who says, “I Am Who I Am”, Who is Immortal (1 Timothy 6:16) manifested Himself as Jesus Christ in this world to save mankind from sin. In His thirty three and half years of life on earth, He changed the history of mankind. He confirmed His word with signs and wonders. He delivered those who were bound by oppression and healed the sick. He is alive today and heals the sick and delivers those who are in oppression. He is alive today because He conquered death and is risen (Luke 24:6). He is seated in power and authority.
The Lord promises you saying, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age"(Matthew 28:20).
Many years ago, the wife of a servant of God was conceived with child. Soon she was admitted for delivery in a hospital. Doctors and nurses after attending on her left for home early as it was Easter the next day. But in the midnight she developed labour pains and called out for the staff. But unfortunately there was no one at hand! All of a sudden the head nurse entered in, opening the door! She helped her to deliver the baby without much difficulty. She then attended on the mother and baby and left. The next morning, when the hospital head nurse came to attend on her, she was surprised as how she delivered the baby. She was even more surprised to know from the mother that she (the head nurse) had helped her deliver the baby. The head nurse told her that she had gone home for Easter and was reporting for work that morning. They soon realised that it was the Lord Who had helped her deliver the child!
Beloved! Are you in tears or agony? Do not be disheartened! God Who resurrected Jesus Christ to life from the dead, will also resurrect your circumstances to joy and peace. Lord Jesus will be with you to the end and guide you in life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
My heart overwhelms with joy that You have conquered death and are alive forevermore! I praise and thank You for redeeming me from sin. Let Your resurrection power flow into everything that concerns me bringing to life which is dormant. Fill me with Your resurrection power and let everything I lay my hands on come to life. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Last Supper - By Paul Dhinakaran
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
(1 Corinthians 11:26 )
Beloved! Have you ever gone through the bitter times with your close friends forsaking and betraying you? I wish you wouldn’t!
Jesus Christ celebrated Passover with His disciples on the night when He would be betrayed. He broke bread and gave it to them saying, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them saying, ‘Drink all of you this; for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you and for the remission of the sins.” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
He grew troubled in spirit and said in agony, “...one of you will betray me” (John 13:21). Time was soon passing by and He knew that within a couple of hours He would be betrayed by His disciple Judas. He secluded with three of His disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. There He told them to keep watch and pray.
He foreknew the pain, agony and humiliation that He would suffer for mankind and travailed in prayer saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." In His agony, His sweat became great drops of blood and fell to the ground.
He sought strength in prayer before the ordeal to the cross would begin. When He returned to His disciples, He found them weary with sleep. He sought His disciples to uphold Him in prayer but they failed to keep watch and pray with Him.
Many years ago, emperor Napoleon was captured by the English and put in solitary confinement in a small island. In course of time his body began to show signs of gradual swelling up. He complained of this to his supervisor saying, “Officer, I have an inkling that someone is trying to kill me by administering poison in my food! Please help me!” A doctor was asked to probe into the matter. After examination, the doctor recorded his medical opinion, “No one is mixing poison with his food.” But, there was indeed a person who was mixed small doses of poison with Napoleon’s food! Fully aware of the fact that he was being poisoned to death, Napoleon died, shedding tears, lamenting, ‘Alas! They are poisoning me to death! There is no one to save me!”
Beloved! Unlike Napoleon, Jesus Christ drew strength from prayer which enabled Him to endure the sufferings for mankind. Always submit to God and draw strength from prayer to victoriously overcome your problems in life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the Word. Lord, as You submitted to God and drew strength from prayer, help me to like You. I thank You that I am made righteous by grace. Help me to manifest Your love to others even when they let me down or fail me. Help me to glorify You in my word and deed. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
(1 Corinthians 11:26 )
Beloved! Have you ever gone through the bitter times with your close friends forsaking and betraying you? I wish you wouldn’t!
Jesus Christ celebrated Passover with His disciples on the night when He would be betrayed. He broke bread and gave it to them saying, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them saying, ‘Drink all of you this; for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you and for the remission of the sins.” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
He grew troubled in spirit and said in agony, “...one of you will betray me” (John 13:21). Time was soon passing by and He knew that within a couple of hours He would be betrayed by His disciple Judas. He secluded with three of His disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. There He told them to keep watch and pray.
He foreknew the pain, agony and humiliation that He would suffer for mankind and travailed in prayer saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." In His agony, His sweat became great drops of blood and fell to the ground.
He sought strength in prayer before the ordeal to the cross would begin. When He returned to His disciples, He found them weary with sleep. He sought His disciples to uphold Him in prayer but they failed to keep watch and pray with Him.
Many years ago, emperor Napoleon was captured by the English and put in solitary confinement in a small island. In course of time his body began to show signs of gradual swelling up. He complained of this to his supervisor saying, “Officer, I have an inkling that someone is trying to kill me by administering poison in my food! Please help me!” A doctor was asked to probe into the matter. After examination, the doctor recorded his medical opinion, “No one is mixing poison with his food.” But, there was indeed a person who was mixed small doses of poison with Napoleon’s food! Fully aware of the fact that he was being poisoned to death, Napoleon died, shedding tears, lamenting, ‘Alas! They are poisoning me to death! There is no one to save me!”
Beloved! Unlike Napoleon, Jesus Christ drew strength from prayer which enabled Him to endure the sufferings for mankind. Always submit to God and draw strength from prayer to victoriously overcome your problems in life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the Word. Lord, as You submitted to God and drew strength from prayer, help me to like You. I thank You that I am made righteous by grace. Help me to manifest Your love to others even when they let me down or fail me. Help me to glorify You in my word and deed. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Blessing of The Cross
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.(1 John 1:7)
Beloved! History says that during the Roman Rule, the prisoners were subject to all sorts of humiliation and brutal treatment prior to execution. Then they had to carry their cross to the place of execution where they were nailed to it, making a spectacle of them much to jeer and scorn of the on-lookers. The cross thus signified pain, torture, shame and disgrace.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God suffered in the same way and the Bible says that His face was marred beyond recognition. His body was torn apart by the whippings and other forms of torture. He suffered this for you and paid the price of death on the cross by shedding His blood to deliver you from sin. It is His blood alone that has the power to cleanse you and set you free from sins.
“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
The Bible says that Paul was a very religious man well versed in the scriptures. He was a well learned man and very knowledgeable person of his times. He was a man of authority and a man of great influence. But when he came into the saving knowledge of Christ, he considered all these as rags to the glorious power of the cross.
Apostle Paul says, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).
Once during a geography class, the teacher was explaining to the students that the Pacific Ocean was more than eight miles deep. All of a sudden, a little boy jumped to his feet and said, “Oh! I am so glad that my sins are thrown eight miles under the sea!” The teacher got puzzled and asked him what he meant by it. The boy then explained that according to Micah 7:19 in the Bible, God treaded our sins underfoot and hurled all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Beloved! Sin is powerful and deadly. But God broke the power of sin through Jesus Christ. There is forgiveness with Jesus Christ and when you seek His forgiveness, He will gladly forgive you and set you free from it and the guilt.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You for sacrificing Yourself on my behalf on the cross. Cleanse me with Your precious blood. I thank You that sin is rendered powerless in my life. Lord, help me to grow in You and walk with You. Help me to bring glory to Your name. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Beloved! History says that during the Roman Rule, the prisoners were subject to all sorts of humiliation and brutal treatment prior to execution. Then they had to carry their cross to the place of execution where they were nailed to it, making a spectacle of them much to jeer and scorn of the on-lookers. The cross thus signified pain, torture, shame and disgrace.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God suffered in the same way and the Bible says that His face was marred beyond recognition. His body was torn apart by the whippings and other forms of torture. He suffered this for you and paid the price of death on the cross by shedding His blood to deliver you from sin. It is His blood alone that has the power to cleanse you and set you free from sins.
“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
The Bible says that Paul was a very religious man well versed in the scriptures. He was a well learned man and very knowledgeable person of his times. He was a man of authority and a man of great influence. But when he came into the saving knowledge of Christ, he considered all these as rags to the glorious power of the cross.
Apostle Paul says, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).
Once during a geography class, the teacher was explaining to the students that the Pacific Ocean was more than eight miles deep. All of a sudden, a little boy jumped to his feet and said, “Oh! I am so glad that my sins are thrown eight miles under the sea!” The teacher got puzzled and asked him what he meant by it. The boy then explained that according to Micah 7:19 in the Bible, God treaded our sins underfoot and hurled all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Beloved! Sin is powerful and deadly. But God broke the power of sin through Jesus Christ. There is forgiveness with Jesus Christ and when you seek His forgiveness, He will gladly forgive you and set you free from it and the guilt.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You for sacrificing Yourself on my behalf on the cross. Cleanse me with Your precious blood. I thank You that sin is rendered powerless in my life. Lord, help me to grow in You and walk with You. Help me to bring glory to Your name. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Reconciliation - By Bro. Dr. Paul Dhinakaran
I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty
(2 Corinthians 6:18)
Beloved! Jesus Christ loves you and that is why He has given His life for you. His blood cleanses you from all sin and sets you free from the guilt.
There was once a woman who did not know Christ. Her religion taught her that God was a strict judge and that whenever a person sinned against him, he would immediately punish that person for his/her sins. Because of this, she was living in fear that he would punish her for her sins. As days went by, she had to face many problems and she had nowhere to run. She knew well that none but God could save her and was very scared to pray to him.
At this juncture, she met a God-fearing couple who offered to pray for her. This couple began their prayer saying, “Our loving Heavenly Father, we thank You for shedding Your precious blood and washing away our sins so that we can boldly stand before You with our petitions...” The minute this woman heard this statement that her sins have been forgiven and washed away, a great joy flooded her! That night, for the first time in her life, she knelt down and called on God as her Father. God’s love engulfed her and delivered her from all her problems. In the course of time her relationship with Christ grew strong and she wrote the book ‘I dare to call him Father!’
Sin creates a wall that separates you from God. God is Holy and cannot behold sin. The Lord says, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). But God in His love made a way for you by sacrificing Himself and shedding His sinless blood on the cross. His sinless blood has broken the wall and you are reconciled with God!
Are you worried that no one loves you or cares for you? Beloved! God loves you and longs for you! When you give Him your heart, you become His own and belong to His household. The Almighty will be a Father to you and you shall become His son /daughter (2 Corinthians 6:18). Forever.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
Cleanse me with Your blood and make me Your own. I thank You that You gave Yourself on the cross breaking down the wall caused by my sins and making a way for me to reconcile with You. Give me grace to be one with You in Spirit. Help me to live holy and pleasing to You. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
(2 Corinthians 6:18)
Beloved! Jesus Christ loves you and that is why He has given His life for you. His blood cleanses you from all sin and sets you free from the guilt.
There was once a woman who did not know Christ. Her religion taught her that God was a strict judge and that whenever a person sinned against him, he would immediately punish that person for his/her sins. Because of this, she was living in fear that he would punish her for her sins. As days went by, she had to face many problems and she had nowhere to run. She knew well that none but God could save her and was very scared to pray to him.
At this juncture, she met a God-fearing couple who offered to pray for her. This couple began their prayer saying, “Our loving Heavenly Father, we thank You for shedding Your precious blood and washing away our sins so that we can boldly stand before You with our petitions...” The minute this woman heard this statement that her sins have been forgiven and washed away, a great joy flooded her! That night, for the first time in her life, she knelt down and called on God as her Father. God’s love engulfed her and delivered her from all her problems. In the course of time her relationship with Christ grew strong and she wrote the book ‘I dare to call him Father!’
Sin creates a wall that separates you from God. God is Holy and cannot behold sin. The Lord says, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). But God in His love made a way for you by sacrificing Himself and shedding His sinless blood on the cross. His sinless blood has broken the wall and you are reconciled with God!
Are you worried that no one loves you or cares for you? Beloved! God loves you and longs for you! When you give Him your heart, you become His own and belong to His household. The Almighty will be a Father to you and you shall become His son /daughter (2 Corinthians 6:18). Forever.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
Cleanse me with Your blood and make me Your own. I thank You that You gave Yourself on the cross breaking down the wall caused by my sins and making a way for me to reconcile with You. Give me grace to be one with You in Spirit. Help me to live holy and pleasing to You. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Waiting on the Lord - By Bro. Paul Dhinakaran
Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, for they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.(Isaiah 49:23)
Beloved! Have you grown weary in waiting on the Lord? Do not be disheartened and give up waiting on Him. The Lord will surely answer you and reward you for waiting on Him. The longer you wait on the Lord, the greater will be the glory manifested in your miracle. The Lord promises, “For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me" (Isaiah 49:23).
In the Bible we see there was a Prophetess called Anna who was a widow and she was about eighty-four years old. She did not depart from the temple enclosure but worshipped the Lord with fasting and prayer. She was exceedingly joyful when she saw baby Jesus being brought into to the temple by His parents. She worshipped the Lord and gave thanks to Him for she and many people were looking for redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38). Because she sought and waited on the Lord with fasting and prayer, He gave her grace to behold Him when He was brought to the temple as a baby.
In the days of Jesus Christ on earth, there lived a man who was invalid for thirty eight years near the pool of water called Bethesda in Jerusalem. The pool had five porches and great number of people with various sicknesses lay in them. They waited for an angel to come down and stir the water and whoever stepped into the pool first was healed of his sickness. When Jesus Christ came to Jerusalem to attend a Jewish Festival, He saw the invalid man and had compassion on him. He asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” The man expressed his desire to be made well and explained that there was nobody to help him get into the water and even before he could get into the water, someone would step in it before him. Immediately, Jesus said, "Rise, take up your bed and walk" (John 5:1-9).
Beloved! Cheer up! You who wait on the Lord will certainly never be disappointed or be put to shame! He will reward you for your diligent waiting on Him by granting your miracle.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You for promising me that I will never be ashamed when I wait on You. Lord, as You are Holy, help me to be holy in this world. Help me to seek You with fasting and prayer as Prophetess Anna did and give me grace to behold You. Give me grace to overcome the problems in my life. Remove sickness from me and make me a living testimony for Your glory! Let the world know of You as the Healer. Make me as a channel of blessing to the world drawing many to Your awesome love. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Beloved! Have you grown weary in waiting on the Lord? Do not be disheartened and give up waiting on Him. The Lord will surely answer you and reward you for waiting on Him. The longer you wait on the Lord, the greater will be the glory manifested in your miracle. The Lord promises, “For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me" (Isaiah 49:23).
In the Bible we see there was a Prophetess called Anna who was a widow and she was about eighty-four years old. She did not depart from the temple enclosure but worshipped the Lord with fasting and prayer. She was exceedingly joyful when she saw baby Jesus being brought into to the temple by His parents. She worshipped the Lord and gave thanks to Him for she and many people were looking for redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38). Because she sought and waited on the Lord with fasting and prayer, He gave her grace to behold Him when He was brought to the temple as a baby.
In the days of Jesus Christ on earth, there lived a man who was invalid for thirty eight years near the pool of water called Bethesda in Jerusalem. The pool had five porches and great number of people with various sicknesses lay in them. They waited for an angel to come down and stir the water and whoever stepped into the pool first was healed of his sickness. When Jesus Christ came to Jerusalem to attend a Jewish Festival, He saw the invalid man and had compassion on him. He asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” The man expressed his desire to be made well and explained that there was nobody to help him get into the water and even before he could get into the water, someone would step in it before him. Immediately, Jesus said, "Rise, take up your bed and walk" (John 5:1-9).
Beloved! Cheer up! You who wait on the Lord will certainly never be disappointed or be put to shame! He will reward you for your diligent waiting on Him by granting your miracle.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You for promising me that I will never be ashamed when I wait on You. Lord, as You are Holy, help me to be holy in this world. Help me to seek You with fasting and prayer as Prophetess Anna did and give me grace to behold You. Give me grace to overcome the problems in my life. Remove sickness from me and make me a living testimony for Your glory! Let the world know of You as the Healer. Make me as a channel of blessing to the world drawing many to Your awesome love. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Victory At The Cross - By Dr. Paul Dhinakaran
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)
Beloved! Many times we trust in influential people and those in power to receive favours from them to be successful in life. We fail to realize that such favours usually end in bitterness and heartache. But when we seek Lord Jesus Christ, He shall elevate us and enable us to lead a victorious life. He promises us, “Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world…” (Matthew 28:20).
Apostle Paul who experienced the unchanging love of Jesus Christ in all his trials and tribulations says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
The American President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in the U.S.A. to the opposition of the white people. He wrought victory for the black people. Because of this, a man shot dead the President while he was watching a play. When his body was taken in procession to the cemetery, many people shouted insults at his body for abolishing slavery but a black woman who was set free from it, said to her child in her arms, “My daughter! See this righteous man who gave his life to set you free from slavery!”
Likewise, Jesus Christ in His love for us suffered on our behalf and gave His life. He defeated satan and his armies at the cross. When believe in Him and thank Him for suffering on our behalf and defeating satan at the cross, He will deliver us from our bondage and afflictions and will crown us with victory in life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I fall prostrate before You for Your awesome and unchanging love. I thank you that You have wrought victory for me by defeating satan and his hosts at the cross. Lord, help me to crucify my flesh and yield to You. Help me to grow and stay strong in You. Let everything I do prosper and help me live a victorious life on earth. Let Your peace and joy fill my life. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Beloved! Many times we trust in influential people and those in power to receive favours from them to be successful in life. We fail to realize that such favours usually end in bitterness and heartache. But when we seek Lord Jesus Christ, He shall elevate us and enable us to lead a victorious life. He promises us, “Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world…” (Matthew 28:20).
Apostle Paul who experienced the unchanging love of Jesus Christ in all his trials and tribulations says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
The American President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in the U.S.A. to the opposition of the white people. He wrought victory for the black people. Because of this, a man shot dead the President while he was watching a play. When his body was taken in procession to the cemetery, many people shouted insults at his body for abolishing slavery but a black woman who was set free from it, said to her child in her arms, “My daughter! See this righteous man who gave his life to set you free from slavery!”
Likewise, Jesus Christ in His love for us suffered on our behalf and gave His life. He defeated satan and his armies at the cross. When believe in Him and thank Him for suffering on our behalf and defeating satan at the cross, He will deliver us from our bondage and afflictions and will crown us with victory in life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I fall prostrate before You for Your awesome and unchanging love. I thank you that You have wrought victory for me by defeating satan and his hosts at the cross. Lord, help me to crucify my flesh and yield to You. Help me to grow and stay strong in You. Let everything I do prosper and help me live a victorious life on earth. Let Your peace and joy fill my life. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Your Will Be Done - By Dr. Paul Dhinakaran
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10)
The Lord is aware of the temptations that befall us. He has already passed through the sufferings that we are facing. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15 and 2:18 that, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."
Jesus Christ knowing that His children have to go through such temptations says, "Let me traverse the same path so that I may help those who backslide, offer them necessary strength to overcome and heal their wounds." He traversed that path to help us out in our temptations.
Many years ago, when my father was in prayer, the Lord showed him the happenings that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was a time just before Jesus would have to bear the cross. For three and a half years, He had been speaking to the people who surrounded Him words that were filled with divine love and spent time in healing the sick. He knew that only by giving His life on the cross mankind could have deliverance from sin, sickness, and curse.
But when that hour approached, he found it very difficult to pass through it. Jesus thought, "Not having known death and having full authority over death yet the time has come for Me to face the cross at last" and this thought troubled Him greatly. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death." As told in the Scriptures, Jesus Christ was greatly troubled and sorrowful. He looked at His disciples and said, "The hour of darkness is engulfing. My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. The will of My Father is that I should face the cross but My mind is unable to completely comply with His purpose. Please pray for Me."
When our Lord Jesus Christ was in such a frame of mind in the Garden of Gethsemane, satan stood beside Him. Satan who saw the sufferings that Jesus Christ went through would have thought, "Surely He will not obey the commandments and teachings of the Almighty but would backslide and say, 'I will not go to the cross.' Therefore He cannot destroy me and I will continue to have the authority that I now enjoy."
An angel descended and tried to comfort the Lord but could not offer any help because the sufferings, temptations and the sorrows that He would have to bear made Him tremble. He fell to the ground. Big drops of blood fell from His face and body. Fear and physical weakness took charge of Him.
In this world, just as our soul is crushed when we face trials, tribulations, go through physical agony, bear sorrows or struggle with temptations our loving Lord passed through a similar path. In order to know the path in which we travel, He gave Himself willingly after being thoroughly crushed to such an extent that big drops of blood came out of His body.
The Scripture says in Hebrews 9:14, that Holy Spirit descended and comforted Him. As it is told in Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" when the Holy Spirit comes upon us He grants us His consolation and our power increases. Holy Spirit consoled Jesus Christ saying, "Lord Jesus, if You humble Yourself and become obedient to the point of death and willingly accept the cross then God the Father will exalt and give You the name which is above every name, and at the mention of Your name every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10). Therefore please submit Yourself to His will."
On hearing these words of comfort, Lord Jesus said, "I came here not to fulfill My will but I came into this world just to do the will of My Father. I will follow His commandments and submit to His will." The glory of God descended and strengthened Him. At that time, satan fell to the ground saying, "I am finished. He has accepted to take up the cross and now He will destroy me." With the power that descended upon Him, He had no fear or trembling before people or leaders and boldly took up the cross. As a result, He was exalted and now all confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The Lord says "My dear children, you who are heavy laden come unto Me, I will heal all your wounds and enable you to lead a life which is according to My will. Therefore give your heart to me." The Lord has done this in our life and He is waiting and willing to do the same in your life also.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You because You swallowed death up in victory. Help me to look up to You always whenever I happen to backslide or if temptation approaches me. Give me the grace to know that I will not be tempted beyond the ability to withstand but also know that You have already paved the way for escape. Heal my wounds and make me whole. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
The Lord is aware of the temptations that befall us. He has already passed through the sufferings that we are facing. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15 and 2:18 that, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."
Jesus Christ knowing that His children have to go through such temptations says, "Let me traverse the same path so that I may help those who backslide, offer them necessary strength to overcome and heal their wounds." He traversed that path to help us out in our temptations.
Many years ago, when my father was in prayer, the Lord showed him the happenings that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was a time just before Jesus would have to bear the cross. For three and a half years, He had been speaking to the people who surrounded Him words that were filled with divine love and spent time in healing the sick. He knew that only by giving His life on the cross mankind could have deliverance from sin, sickness, and curse.
But when that hour approached, he found it very difficult to pass through it. Jesus thought, "Not having known death and having full authority over death yet the time has come for Me to face the cross at last" and this thought troubled Him greatly. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death." As told in the Scriptures, Jesus Christ was greatly troubled and sorrowful. He looked at His disciples and said, "The hour of darkness is engulfing. My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. The will of My Father is that I should face the cross but My mind is unable to completely comply with His purpose. Please pray for Me."
When our Lord Jesus Christ was in such a frame of mind in the Garden of Gethsemane, satan stood beside Him. Satan who saw the sufferings that Jesus Christ went through would have thought, "Surely He will not obey the commandments and teachings of the Almighty but would backslide and say, 'I will not go to the cross.' Therefore He cannot destroy me and I will continue to have the authority that I now enjoy."
An angel descended and tried to comfort the Lord but could not offer any help because the sufferings, temptations and the sorrows that He would have to bear made Him tremble. He fell to the ground. Big drops of blood fell from His face and body. Fear and physical weakness took charge of Him.
In this world, just as our soul is crushed when we face trials, tribulations, go through physical agony, bear sorrows or struggle with temptations our loving Lord passed through a similar path. In order to know the path in which we travel, He gave Himself willingly after being thoroughly crushed to such an extent that big drops of blood came out of His body.
The Scripture says in Hebrews 9:14, that Holy Spirit descended and comforted Him. As it is told in Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" when the Holy Spirit comes upon us He grants us His consolation and our power increases. Holy Spirit consoled Jesus Christ saying, "Lord Jesus, if You humble Yourself and become obedient to the point of death and willingly accept the cross then God the Father will exalt and give You the name which is above every name, and at the mention of Your name every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10). Therefore please submit Yourself to His will."
On hearing these words of comfort, Lord Jesus said, "I came here not to fulfill My will but I came into this world just to do the will of My Father. I will follow His commandments and submit to His will." The glory of God descended and strengthened Him. At that time, satan fell to the ground saying, "I am finished. He has accepted to take up the cross and now He will destroy me." With the power that descended upon Him, He had no fear or trembling before people or leaders and boldly took up the cross. As a result, He was exalted and now all confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The Lord says "My dear children, you who are heavy laden come unto Me, I will heal all your wounds and enable you to lead a life which is according to My will. Therefore give your heart to me." The Lord has done this in our life and He is waiting and willing to do the same in your life also.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You because You swallowed death up in victory. Help me to look up to You always whenever I happen to backslide or if temptation approaches me. Give me the grace to know that I will not be tempted beyond the ability to withstand but also know that You have already paved the way for escape. Heal my wounds and make me whole. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Make Your Money Count!
God is on your side!
The Word of God says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
He is our salvation. He is our strength. He is our Source.
My friend Dr. Kenneth Ulmer joins me this week on This Is Your Day! to remind us how God wants to bless each of us!
It’s a Matter of Choices
In a day of shifting economics, what Dr. Ulmer shares on the program is both timely and crucial.
Whether you have a little money or a lot, it is time that you move into a greater dimension of kingdom blessings, and Kenneth has been anointed especially for this day to show you how to make your money count!
It all comes down to choices.
Your choices are crucial, but God doesn’t make a secret about how He wants you to make those choices. He says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
God wants to pour out great blessings upon you, but just believing in prosperity and financial success is not enough. You must go through a process to achieve biblical prosperity.
What is often called “the gospel of prosperity” is faulty when it ignores the biblical process.
God is a God of order, not chaos. There is an order to achieving what He wants you to have, and it is time that each believer puts this process into financial success.
What is this process?
God Is Your Source
On This Is Your Day! Dr. Ulmer tells us that the words money and riches appear more than 215 times in the Bible. God obviously wants us to know about finances. He wants us to know how to handle money.
The process must start with the knowledge that God is your Source: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
“My God” requires a personal relationship with Him, an acknowledgement that He is Savior and Lord.
Then, and only then, will He supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.
Then you can begin following His process into all the blessings He has in store for you.
True Prosperity
The next step in the biblical process is understanding whether God wants believers to have wealth or not.
God says:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)
The happy, blessed, and prosperous person does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but he chooses to follow the law of the Lord.
What does God Himself have to say about prosperity?
· “He who trusts in the Lord will prosper” (Proverbs 28:25, NIV).
· “Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:7).
· “Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper” (Deuteronomy 5:33, NIV).
· “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do” (Deuteronomy 29:9).
· “The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive” (Deuteronomy 6:24, NIV).
· “A generous man will prosper” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV).
· “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18).
I love Dr. Ulmer’s definition of prosperity: “To prosper means to succeed to the point of excellence—to the highest level.”
All we have to do is put His process into play: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). Another version of this verse tells us that the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV).
True prosperity is simply success God’s way!
We see many examples of people living by this principle throughout the Bible—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, and so many more.
In fact, Jesus talked often about money and finances, offering the parable of the talents: “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back’” (Luke 19:13, NIV). The master gave the money to his servants with these clear instructions: “Do business until I return.”
This is not a suggestion. He gave money with a command.
The master in the parable was a businessman who earned some of his money by having others invest it on his behalf. He expected his servants to behave the same way with his money.
When the master returned, he rewarded the two who were faithful in business. The one who hid his money set himself up for strict judgment.
The master had commanded action. Nothing less was accepted. Fear of failure was not accepted as an excuse.
And today there is much to be done before our Lord returns. Our job is to conduct business with the resources He gives us until He returns.
More importantly, the goal is not just to work more to make more money. Instead, on This Is Your Day! Dr. Ulmer teaches to make your money work for you, as in the parable of the talents.
God’s Five Blessings of Money
God’s desire is to bless you. He wants to pour out wisdom and power that will allow you to make your money count.
God has a system, a process, to pour out His blessings upon you:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work… Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-12)
God has ordained five blessings of money:
1. As seed for the sower
2. To provide bread
3. To multiply the seed that is sown
4. To increase the fruits of our righteousness
5. To give
God’s Principle of Multiplication
The seed that God multiplies is the seed that has already been sown. He doesn’t multiply the seed that you keep. You have to sow it first, then it is multiplied.
You only reap what you sow!
You only reap after you sow!
You always reap more than you sow!
God’s kingdom operates through giving and receiving, as opposed to the world’s system which operates through buying and selling.
In the world you get addition from interest, but in God’s kingdom, interest isn’t just added. It is multiplied!
God gives us seed for our need, but He wants to move us into supernatural abundance that comes through the principle of multiplication.
The Purpose of Abundance
God is not concerned as much about the size of your bank account or the amount of seed that you plant, but He is mostly concerned about the size of your heart!
Doing kingdom business must always point to the spreading of God’s Word.
God does not need your money. He wants your heart, for that is the great indicator of what you treasure.
As you follow God’s process for sowing and reaping, He will pour out abundance. But the purpose of God’s multiplication must always be focused on expanding God’s kingdom and taking the Gospel to the nations.
It is not to be hoarded or hidden.
God’s heart is to bless you. If you will seek His heart and follow His ways, He already has great abundance stored up for you!
Get ready to receive from Him.
Plant into good soil.
Expect a return on the seed that you plant. In fact, plant it with a specific expectation!
God’s goal is not merely to meet your need. His goal for you is abundance so you can shower your overflow onto others.
This Amazing Season
God is moving mightily today. He is shaking the nations. We have a great work to do
At the same time, God wants you to be blessed in every area of your life!
He has promised to supply whatever we need to accomplish all that He has called us to do:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:12-14)
God wants to bless you richly in all that you do for Him in the days to come, for He says: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
This is an amazing season, and I want you to be a part of what God is going to do.
Send your most generous seed today. Be part of what God desires to do in your life.
Your seed-gift, no matter what size, is an act of faith that you place your offering on the altar!
Above all else, plant your seed in faith, acknowledging that God is your Source and that He wants to bless you supernaturally, for it is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6)…
Preaching the glorious Gospel,
teaching the unchanging Word,
and expecting the mighty and miraculous,
The Word of God says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
He is our salvation. He is our strength. He is our Source.
My friend Dr. Kenneth Ulmer joins me this week on This Is Your Day! to remind us how God wants to bless each of us!
It’s a Matter of Choices
In a day of shifting economics, what Dr. Ulmer shares on the program is both timely and crucial.
Whether you have a little money or a lot, it is time that you move into a greater dimension of kingdom blessings, and Kenneth has been anointed especially for this day to show you how to make your money count!
It all comes down to choices.
Your choices are crucial, but God doesn’t make a secret about how He wants you to make those choices. He says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
God wants to pour out great blessings upon you, but just believing in prosperity and financial success is not enough. You must go through a process to achieve biblical prosperity.
What is often called “the gospel of prosperity” is faulty when it ignores the biblical process.
God is a God of order, not chaos. There is an order to achieving what He wants you to have, and it is time that each believer puts this process into financial success.
What is this process?
God Is Your Source
On This Is Your Day! Dr. Ulmer tells us that the words money and riches appear more than 215 times in the Bible. God obviously wants us to know about finances. He wants us to know how to handle money.
The process must start with the knowledge that God is your Source: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
“My God” requires a personal relationship with Him, an acknowledgement that He is Savior and Lord.
Then, and only then, will He supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.
Then you can begin following His process into all the blessings He has in store for you.
True Prosperity
The next step in the biblical process is understanding whether God wants believers to have wealth or not.
God says:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)
The happy, blessed, and prosperous person does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but he chooses to follow the law of the Lord.
What does God Himself have to say about prosperity?
· “He who trusts in the Lord will prosper” (Proverbs 28:25, NIV).
· “Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:7).
· “Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper” (Deuteronomy 5:33, NIV).
· “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do” (Deuteronomy 29:9).
· “The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive” (Deuteronomy 6:24, NIV).
· “A generous man will prosper” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV).
· “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18).
I love Dr. Ulmer’s definition of prosperity: “To prosper means to succeed to the point of excellence—to the highest level.”
All we have to do is put His process into play: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). Another version of this verse tells us that the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV).
True prosperity is simply success God’s way!
We see many examples of people living by this principle throughout the Bible—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, and so many more.
In fact, Jesus talked often about money and finances, offering the parable of the talents: “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back’” (Luke 19:13, NIV). The master gave the money to his servants with these clear instructions: “Do business until I return.”
This is not a suggestion. He gave money with a command.
The master in the parable was a businessman who earned some of his money by having others invest it on his behalf. He expected his servants to behave the same way with his money.
When the master returned, he rewarded the two who were faithful in business. The one who hid his money set himself up for strict judgment.
The master had commanded action. Nothing less was accepted. Fear of failure was not accepted as an excuse.
And today there is much to be done before our Lord returns. Our job is to conduct business with the resources He gives us until He returns.
More importantly, the goal is not just to work more to make more money. Instead, on This Is Your Day! Dr. Ulmer teaches to make your money work for you, as in the parable of the talents.
God’s Five Blessings of Money
God’s desire is to bless you. He wants to pour out wisdom and power that will allow you to make your money count.
God has a system, a process, to pour out His blessings upon you:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work… Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-12)
God has ordained five blessings of money:
1. As seed for the sower
2. To provide bread
3. To multiply the seed that is sown
4. To increase the fruits of our righteousness
5. To give
God’s Principle of Multiplication
The seed that God multiplies is the seed that has already been sown. He doesn’t multiply the seed that you keep. You have to sow it first, then it is multiplied.
You only reap what you sow!
You only reap after you sow!
You always reap more than you sow!
God’s kingdom operates through giving and receiving, as opposed to the world’s system which operates through buying and selling.
In the world you get addition from interest, but in God’s kingdom, interest isn’t just added. It is multiplied!
God gives us seed for our need, but He wants to move us into supernatural abundance that comes through the principle of multiplication.
The Purpose of Abundance
God is not concerned as much about the size of your bank account or the amount of seed that you plant, but He is mostly concerned about the size of your heart!
Doing kingdom business must always point to the spreading of God’s Word.
God does not need your money. He wants your heart, for that is the great indicator of what you treasure.
As you follow God’s process for sowing and reaping, He will pour out abundance. But the purpose of God’s multiplication must always be focused on expanding God’s kingdom and taking the Gospel to the nations.
It is not to be hoarded or hidden.
God’s heart is to bless you. If you will seek His heart and follow His ways, He already has great abundance stored up for you!
Get ready to receive from Him.
Plant into good soil.
Expect a return on the seed that you plant. In fact, plant it with a specific expectation!
God’s goal is not merely to meet your need. His goal for you is abundance so you can shower your overflow onto others.
This Amazing Season
God is moving mightily today. He is shaking the nations. We have a great work to do
At the same time, God wants you to be blessed in every area of your life!
He has promised to supply whatever we need to accomplish all that He has called us to do:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:12-14)
God wants to bless you richly in all that you do for Him in the days to come, for He says: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
This is an amazing season, and I want you to be a part of what God is going to do.
Send your most generous seed today. Be part of what God desires to do in your life.
Your seed-gift, no matter what size, is an act of faith that you place your offering on the altar!
Above all else, plant your seed in faith, acknowledging that God is your Source and that He wants to bless you supernaturally, for it is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6)…
Preaching the glorious Gospel,
teaching the unchanging Word,
and expecting the mighty and miraculous,
These message by Pastor Benny Hinn, for more details you can logon to website - https://www.bennyhinn.org/donate/default.cfm
Friday, February 22, 2008
World renowned evangelist Dr.DGSDhinakaran has entered into glory, the Holy man is no more with us.
Admitted to a private hospital here following heart and kidney ailments, 74-year-old Dhinakaran died around 6.30 am. According to relatives, all his close family members were with him when he passed away.
Chief Minister M Karunandhi was among those who went to Dhinakaran’s house to pay last respects. Professing “deep shock” at the missionary’s death, he recalled how lakhs used to throng to his meetings to hear him speak.
“Today, he has departed leaving all those people in tears,” the Chief Minister said.
When Dhinakaran started the Jesus Calls Ministry, it was a one-man outfit. But it gradually grew and drew followers from across the world, “irrespective of their caste, creed, race or language”.
According to the website, Dhinakaran has “healed” people with illness and revealed the past, present and future of followers.
The mortal remains of the evangelist would be kept for public homage at the Royapettah YMCA grounds in the city and the funeral services would be held on the same premises at 10 am on February 22, said David Emmanuel Raj, press co-ordinator of the Jesus Calls Ministry.
LIFE HISTORY OF BROTHER DGS FOUNDER OF JESUS CALLS WORLDWIDE MINISTRY,PRAYER TOWER,KARUNYA UNIVERSITY,INDIA.
Bro.DGS( Duraisamy Geoffery Samuel Dhinakaran )was born on July 1, 1935, in a village called Surandai of Tirunelveli in South Tamil Nadu, India. He was an obedient son his parents, and his parents were very fond of him, being their only child.
His father Duraisamy was a school teacher. He loved to wear white at all times. Bro.Dhinakaran fondly remembers those unforgettable days when he would be playing in the soil as his dad returns back from the school after a tiresome day of teaching. He recollects the love with which his father would hug him unmindful of the dirt all over his body and unmindful of his clothes getting spoilt.
His mother Hepsibah was a housewife. She used to take great care of him, though she was an epileptic patient. Bro.Dhinakaran often remembers the agony that she used to undergo as she would be tormented by the fits which left her only at her old age when the Lord graciously touched and healed her with His miraculous hand.In the year 1955, Bro. Dhinakaran's life was heading on to a point of no return. The pressures that were upon him at that point of time was too much for him to handle. He had to provide for a sick mother, find ways through closed doors for an employment opportunity and above all, his studies were heading nowhere. He took a look at his life and decided that these problems have no solution and that there would be no light at the end of the tunnel. Suicide seemed to be the only solution.
On February 11, 1955, after taking a long last loving glimpse of his beloved mother, knowing that he would see her no more, he walked towards the railway track so that the oncoming express train should take away his life and crush him beyond identification.
En-route to the track, he ran into his uncle, a Police Officer, through whom the Lord spoke in a way that would change his very outlook on life. He explained the immeasurable love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ, of His supreme sacrifice on the cross, and he pointed out to that the Lord Jesus was the only solution there ever was and is, to any problem that a man would be having or would ever have to face in future.
Bro. Dhinakaran asked him three simple questions:
"Can God heal my mother?
Can He help me in my studies?
Can he help me find a job?"
His uncle gave a "Yes" to all of these questions.
Then he sincerely asked him, "what should I do?"
All he said was to kneel and cry out to the Lord Jesus.
He returned home, and quickly entered his room, shut the door, dropped on to his knees and cried out to the Lord. The Lord, in His mercy, descended and revealed to him, as in a movie, the life that he had led for the past 20 years.
Tears welled up in his eyes and he began to cry uncontrollably. Then he begged the Lord for forgiveness and pleaded with Him for a cleansing. He asked Jesus to take charge of his life.
From that moment, his life spun around. Every night, Lord Jesus would come down and sit beside him and help him with his lessons; The Lord Himself would write his exams and gain him success. He granted an employment opportunity with the State Bank of India, India's largest banking network.
Thus, that one encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ had turned his life that was heading on to suicide towards a greatly successful one. Ever since Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran surrendered his life to our gracious Lord Jesus on February 11, 1955, he begins each day reading several chapters from the Bible and meditating upon them. Whenever he reads the miracles recorded in the Bible, he prays that he should also be granted the divine power that was manifest in Jesus. He is encouraged in this by the following verse:
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)
On October 9, 1962, he tarried at the feet of the Lord Jesus in prayer till midnight. He pleaded persistently: "Lord! Hear my prayer and now grant me Your power! Or else, slay me! I don't want to live as a powerless and phony Christian!".
Next day dawned. October 10, 1962!
After exacting work in the bank, he returned home at 9.30 in the night. After supper, he joined the family prayer. There arose in him the usual longing for the blessed vision of Jesus. The very next moment, a divine Presence descended on him! He was thrown into an ecstasy of joy. As he wondered from where this flood of joy was overflowing into him, the Lord opened his spiritual eyes. He saw a divine form standing before him with a radiant face, addressing him with a smile.
"My beloved son, I am Christ! Because you have been seeking Me diligently, I have come seeking you, to bless you."
That day, his seven years of longing was rewarded. He received the anointing of the Holy Spirit by which he set forth to fulfill the divine commission that he received from Christ.
Having received the fire in him, he passes on the fire to all those who wish to do the Lord's work by conducting the Institute of Power Ministry, which was instituted according to the Lord's will for this purpose.
Chief Minister M Karunandhi was among those who went to Dhinakaran’s house to pay last respects. Professing “deep shock” at the missionary’s death, he recalled how lakhs used to throng to his meetings to hear him speak.
“Today, he has departed leaving all those people in tears,” the Chief Minister said.
When Dhinakaran started the Jesus Calls Ministry, it was a one-man outfit. But it gradually grew and drew followers from across the world, “irrespective of their caste, creed, race or language”.
According to the website, Dhinakaran has “healed” people with illness and revealed the past, present and future of followers.
The mortal remains of the evangelist would be kept for public homage at the Royapettah YMCA grounds in the city and the funeral services would be held on the same premises at 10 am on February 22, said David Emmanuel Raj, press co-ordinator of the Jesus Calls Ministry.
LIFE HISTORY OF BROTHER DGS FOUNDER OF JESUS CALLS WORLDWIDE MINISTRY,PRAYER TOWER,KARUNYA UNIVERSITY,INDIA.
Bro.DGS( Duraisamy Geoffery Samuel Dhinakaran )was born on July 1, 1935, in a village called Surandai of Tirunelveli in South Tamil Nadu, India. He was an obedient son his parents, and his parents were very fond of him, being their only child.
His father Duraisamy was a school teacher. He loved to wear white at all times. Bro.Dhinakaran fondly remembers those unforgettable days when he would be playing in the soil as his dad returns back from the school after a tiresome day of teaching. He recollects the love with which his father would hug him unmindful of the dirt all over his body and unmindful of his clothes getting spoilt.
His mother Hepsibah was a housewife. She used to take great care of him, though she was an epileptic patient. Bro.Dhinakaran often remembers the agony that she used to undergo as she would be tormented by the fits which left her only at her old age when the Lord graciously touched and healed her with His miraculous hand.In the year 1955, Bro. Dhinakaran's life was heading on to a point of no return. The pressures that were upon him at that point of time was too much for him to handle. He had to provide for a sick mother, find ways through closed doors for an employment opportunity and above all, his studies were heading nowhere. He took a look at his life and decided that these problems have no solution and that there would be no light at the end of the tunnel. Suicide seemed to be the only solution.
On February 11, 1955, after taking a long last loving glimpse of his beloved mother, knowing that he would see her no more, he walked towards the railway track so that the oncoming express train should take away his life and crush him beyond identification.
En-route to the track, he ran into his uncle, a Police Officer, through whom the Lord spoke in a way that would change his very outlook on life. He explained the immeasurable love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ, of His supreme sacrifice on the cross, and he pointed out to that the Lord Jesus was the only solution there ever was and is, to any problem that a man would be having or would ever have to face in future.
Bro. Dhinakaran asked him three simple questions:
"Can God heal my mother?
Can He help me in my studies?
Can he help me find a job?"
His uncle gave a "Yes" to all of these questions.
Then he sincerely asked him, "what should I do?"
All he said was to kneel and cry out to the Lord Jesus.
He returned home, and quickly entered his room, shut the door, dropped on to his knees and cried out to the Lord. The Lord, in His mercy, descended and revealed to him, as in a movie, the life that he had led for the past 20 years.
Tears welled up in his eyes and he began to cry uncontrollably. Then he begged the Lord for forgiveness and pleaded with Him for a cleansing. He asked Jesus to take charge of his life.
From that moment, his life spun around. Every night, Lord Jesus would come down and sit beside him and help him with his lessons; The Lord Himself would write his exams and gain him success. He granted an employment opportunity with the State Bank of India, India's largest banking network.
Thus, that one encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ had turned his life that was heading on to suicide towards a greatly successful one. Ever since Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran surrendered his life to our gracious Lord Jesus on February 11, 1955, he begins each day reading several chapters from the Bible and meditating upon them. Whenever he reads the miracles recorded in the Bible, he prays that he should also be granted the divine power that was manifest in Jesus. He is encouraged in this by the following verse:
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)
On October 9, 1962, he tarried at the feet of the Lord Jesus in prayer till midnight. He pleaded persistently: "Lord! Hear my prayer and now grant me Your power! Or else, slay me! I don't want to live as a powerless and phony Christian!".
Next day dawned. October 10, 1962!
After exacting work in the bank, he returned home at 9.30 in the night. After supper, he joined the family prayer. There arose in him the usual longing for the blessed vision of Jesus. The very next moment, a divine Presence descended on him! He was thrown into an ecstasy of joy. As he wondered from where this flood of joy was overflowing into him, the Lord opened his spiritual eyes. He saw a divine form standing before him with a radiant face, addressing him with a smile.
"My beloved son, I am Christ! Because you have been seeking Me diligently, I have come seeking you, to bless you."
That day, his seven years of longing was rewarded. He received the anointing of the Holy Spirit by which he set forth to fulfill the divine commission that he received from Christ.
Having received the fire in him, he passes on the fire to all those who wish to do the Lord's work by conducting the Institute of Power Ministry, which was instituted according to the Lord's will for this purpose.
Bro. Dhinakaran knows the importance of the anointing and is always filled with the Holy Spirit. That is the secret of the power in his ministry.
Now his JESUS CALLS ministry comforts the heart broken souls everyday,
and his KARUNYA UNIVERSITY plays a vital role in studies but THIS IS THE DAY THAT GOD PLANNED TO REST HIS SOUL WITH EVERLASTING JOY AND PEACE ON THE LAP OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
LETS PRAY THAT GOD COMFORTS HIS WIFE STELLA DHINAKARAN,AND HIS SON PAUL DHINAKARAN AND HIS GRAND CHILDRENS SAMUEL DHINAKARAN,SHARON AND SWEETY.
This is the short version of his life story published by SWEETIE_J in www.prayabout.com
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Who do you say I AM
500 years before Jesus Christ came, Isaiah said of Him,; Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. and also,;
Isa 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
500 Years later, ;Then Matthew concerning Jesus at His birth,; Mt 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."(NKJV)
IS JESUS GOD?
A. WHY DID JESUS NOT OPENLY REVEAL HIS FULL IDENTITY?
Why didn't Jesus ever say clearly, "I am God. Worship Me!"? (He did say it indirectly - John 6:41,42; 8:58; 17:4,5; etc.)
Why didn't He say publicly, "I am Messiah; Believe in Me!"? (Privately he did - John 4:28.) The Jews demanded that Jesus clearly declare whether or not He was the Messiah (Luke 22:67-70).
Why did He very seldom call Himself "the Son of God"? (See John 5:25; 10:36; 11:4) Although by calling God His "Father"He certainly implied it (Matt. 27:43). The Jews still demanded that He say so clearly (Luke 22:70). The term, "Son of God" is used synonymously by Jews to mean Messiah, so this is the same as b. above. (The SON of man?
DANIEL God's prophet said 470 years before the Son of man came,;Da 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.)
Instead, why did He almost always called Himself, "The Son of Man?"
Furthermore, why did He forbid those who knew His true identity to tell anyone?:
A. His disciples: - "'But what about you? Who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!' ... Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ." (Matthew 16:15,16,20; see also Mark 8:29,30)
B. the demons: - "... He also drove out many demons, but He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." (Mark 1:34 - see also verses 24,25); "Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him, and cried out, 'You are the Son of God.' But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was." (Mark 3:11,12); "Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, 'You are the Son of God!' But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ." (Luke 4:41)
C. those He healed: - "... and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was." (Matthew 12:15,16); "Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, 'See that you don't tell anyone ...'" (Matthew 8:3,4); Immediately the (dead) girl stood up and walked around. At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this." (Mark 5:42,43)
Why did He refuse to accept challenges to prove His identity?:
A. by Satan: - "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread ... If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down ..." (Matthew 4:3,6)
B. by the common people: - "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, '... Save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God.'" (Matt. 27:39,40)
by the chief priests, teachers and elders: - "He saved others, but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him ... for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" (Matthew 39:41-43)
Why did He always speak to the people in parables?:
"The disciples came to him and asked, 'Why do you speak to the people in parables?' He replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them ... This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving ..."' Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.'" (Matthew 13:10,11,13,14,34,35)
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." (Jn.1:10)
B. BECAUSE THIS IS A SPIRITUAL TRUTH; NOT A HUMAN ONE:
Because there are two things about Christ a person cannot understand by himself:
Who Jesus really is - "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." ... "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in Heaven." (Matthew 16:15-17)
The Atonement Jesus provided - "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing . . . The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14)
Because God's secret wisdom is known only by revelation:
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." (Deut. 29:29)
"... He brings hidden things to light." (Job 28:11)
"Truly you are a God who hides himself." (Isaiah 45:15)
"From now on, I will teach you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you." (Is.48:6)
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)
"He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." (Daniel 2:22)
"It is written in the prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'" (John 6:45)
"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence of superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified ... My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words . . . not the wisdom of this age . . . we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden . . . " (1 Corinthians 2:1-8)
"... that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ... the mystery of Christ ..." (Colossians 2:2,3; 4:3 - see also 1:26,27)
C. Because a person cannot believe in Jesus unless:
A. he/she is drawn to the Father - "All that the Father gives me will come to me . . . No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him ... This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (John 6:37,44,65)
B. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to him/her - "' . . . no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him' but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit . . . we have . . . received . . . the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:9-13)
C. He is revealed through the Scriptures - " . . . these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31) (see also John 5;39,40; Rom.16:25,26; Eph.3:4,5)
D. Because Satan has blinded the minds of people: "The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ . . . " (2 Corinthians 4:4)
General Observations
This brings to an end our brief survey of these seven crucial passages. Seen as a whole, they prompt some general observations. First, the ascription of the title God to Jesus is found in four New Testament writers - John (three uses), Paul (two), Peter (one), and the author of Hebrews (one). Second, this christologica] use of the title began immediately after the resurrection in 30 (John 20:28), continued during the 50s (Rom. 9:5) and 60s (Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1), and then into the 90s (John 1:1, 18). Third the use of "God" in reference to Jesus was not restricted to Christians who lived in one geographical region or who had a particular theological outlook. It occurs in literature that was written in Asia Minor (John, Titus), Greece (Romans), and possibly Judea (Hebrews), and Rome (2 Peter), and that was addressed to persons living in Asia Minor (John, 2 Peter), Rome (Romans, Hebrews), and Crete (Titus). Also, the use is found in a theological setting that is Jewish Christian (John, Hebrews, Peter) or Gentile Christian (Romans, Titus). Fourth, the three instances in John's Gospel are strategically placed. This Fourth Gospel begins (1:1) as it ends (20:28), and the Prologue to this Gospel begins (1:1) as it ends (1:18), with an unambiguous assertion of the deity of Christ: "The Word was God" (1:1); "the only Son, who is God" (1:18); "my Lord and my God!" (20:28).[18] In his preincarnate state (1:1), in his incarnate state (1:18), and in his postresurrection state (20:28), Jesus is God. For John, recognition of Christ's deity is the hallmark of the Christian.
But, you may ask, why are there so few examples of this usage in the New Testament? If Jesus really is God, why is he not called "God" more often? After all, there are over 1,300 uses of the Greek word theos in the New Testament. Several reasons may be given to explain this apparently strange usage.
First, in all strands of the New Testament the term theos usually refers to the Father. We often find the expression God the Father, which implies that God is the Father.[19] Also, in trinitarian formulas "God" always denotes the Father, never the Son or the Spirit. For example, 2 Corinthians 13:14 reads, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." What is more, in the salutations at the beginning of many New Testament letters, "God" is distinguished from the Lord Jesus Christ." So Paul's letters regularly begin, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." As a result of all this, in the New Testament the term theos in the singular has become virtually a proper name, referring to the trinitarian Father.[20] If Christ were everywhere called "God," so that in reference to him the term was not a title but a proper noun, like "Jesus," linguistic ambiguity would be everywhere present. What would we be able to make of a statement such as "God was in God, reconciling the world to himself," or "the Father was in God, reconciling the world to himself" (cf. 2 Cor. 5:19)?
Second, another reason why "God" regularly denotes the Father and rarely the Son is that such usage is suited to protect the personal distinction between Son and Father, which is preserved everywhere in the New Testament. Nowhere is this distinction more evident than where the Father is called "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:17) or "his God and Father" (Rev. 1:6), and where Jesus speaks of "my God."[21]
Closely related to this second reason is a third. The New Testament clearly indicates that Jesus is subordinate to God. Although they both possess the divine nature, there is an order in their operation. It is the role of the Father to direct, of the Son to obey. Theologians refer to a functional subordination alongside an essential equality. Consequently, Christ can be said to belong to God (1 Cor. 3:23) and to be subjected to God (1 Cor. 15:28). So, then , by customarily reserving the term theos for the Father, New Testament writers were highlighting the Son's subordination to the Father, but not the Father's subordination to the Son. We often find the expression Son of God where God is the Father, but never Father of God where God is the Son. Fourth, if Jesus had been regularly called "God" by the early Christians, problem would have been created for their evangelistic efforts. Their Jewish friends would have been convinced that Christians had given up monotheism, for there were now two "Gods": Yahweh and Jesus. On the other hand, their Gentile neighbors would have viewed Jesus as simply another deity to be added to their roster of gods.
Finally, the New Testament authors generally reserve the term theos for the Father in order to safeguard the real humanity of Jesus. If "God" had become a personal name for Christ, interchangeable with "Jesus," the humanity of Jesus would tend to be eclipsed; he would seem to be an unreal human being, a divine visitor merely masquerading as a man.
Conclusions
If, then, the word God does not become a personal name for Jesus anywhere in the New Testament, what is the actual significance of the seven uses? As used of Jesus, the term theos is a generic title, a description that indicates the class or category (genus) to which he belongs. Jesus is not only God in revelation, the revealer of God (an official title) - he is God in essence. Not only are the deeds and words of Jesus the deeds and words of God - the nature of Jesus is the nature of God. By nature, as well as by action, Jesus is God. Other New Testament titles of Jesus such as "Son of God" or "Lord" or "Alpha and Omega," imply the divinity of Jesus, but the title God explicitly affirms his deity.
It may help to illustrate the distinction I am making between a proper noun (in this case, a personal name), a generic title, and an official title. Consider these two sentences: Winston Chruchill was a Britisher and a prime minister of the United Kingdom. John Kennedy was an American and a president of the United Sates. In these sentences "Winston Churchill" and "John Kennedy" are proper nouns (personal names); "Britisher" and "American" are generic titles; "prime minister" and "president" are official titles. The parallel sentence relevant to our discussion would be "Jesus is God and the Revealer of God."
Can we, therefore, claim that the New Testament teaches that Jesus is "God"? Yes indeed, provided we constantly bear in mind several factors. First, to say that "Jesus is God" is true to New Testament thought, but it goes beyond actual New Testament diction. The nearest comparable statements are "the Word was God" (John 1:1), "the only Son, who is God" (John 1:18), and "the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever" (Rom. 9:5). So we must remember that the theological proposition "Jesus is God" is an inference from the New Testament evidence - a necessary and true inference, but nonetheless an inference.
Second, if we make the statement "Jesus is God" without qualification, we are in danger of failing to do justice to the whole truth about Jesus - that he was the incarnate Word, a human being, and that in his present existence in heaven he retains his humanity, although now it is in a glorified form. Jesus is not simply "man" nor only "God," but the God-man.
Third, given English usage of the word God, the simple affirmation "Jesus is God" may be easily misinterpreted. In common English usage God is a proper name, identifying a particular person, not a common noun designating a class.[2] For us God is the God of the Judeao-Chrisitan monotheistsic tradition, or God the Father of Jesus and of the Christan, or the trinitarian Godhead. So when we make the equation in English, "Jesus is God," we are in danger of suggesting that these two terms, "Jesus" and "God," are interchangable, that there is a numerical identity between the two. But while Jesus is God, it is not true that God is Jesus.[*] There are others - the Father and the Spirit - of whom the predicate God may be rightfully used. Jesus is all that God is, without being all there is of God. The person of Jesus does not exhaust the category of deity. So then, when we say, "Jesus is God," we must recognize that we are attaching a meaning to the term God - namely, "God in essence" or "God by nature" - that is not its predominant sense in English.
My analysis of the New Testament evidence for the deity of Christ is now complete. The three branches of evidence we have examined all point in the same direction. Whether we consider the status Jesus enjoys, the functions he performs, or the title he bears, there can be no doubt that the early Christians believed in his full divinity as an essential ingredient of their teaching. Consequently, any modern form of Christianity that has surrendered a wholehearted belief in Jesus' deity has drifted from its moorings and is at sea in a vessel that has forfeited its rating as "Christian." On the other hand, when we bow the knee before the risen Jesus and make the confession of Thomas our own, we are securely moored to uniform Christian tradition and, more importantly, to the divine Person who is at the center of that tradition. Can you - will you - address Jesus with the words "My Lord and my God"?
Thanks to my friend Linda Sheets to Provide these great Bible Study.
Isa 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
500 Years later, ;Then Matthew concerning Jesus at His birth,; Mt 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."(NKJV)
IS JESUS GOD?
A. WHY DID JESUS NOT OPENLY REVEAL HIS FULL IDENTITY?
Why didn't Jesus ever say clearly, "I am God. Worship Me!"? (He did say it indirectly - John 6:41,42; 8:58; 17:4,5; etc.)
Why didn't He say publicly, "I am Messiah; Believe in Me!"? (Privately he did - John 4:28.) The Jews demanded that Jesus clearly declare whether or not He was the Messiah (Luke 22:67-70).
Why did He very seldom call Himself "the Son of God"? (See John 5:25; 10:36; 11:4) Although by calling God His "Father"He certainly implied it (Matt. 27:43). The Jews still demanded that He say so clearly (Luke 22:70). The term, "Son of God" is used synonymously by Jews to mean Messiah, so this is the same as b. above. (The SON of man?
DANIEL God's prophet said 470 years before the Son of man came,;Da 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.)
Instead, why did He almost always called Himself, "The Son of Man?"
Furthermore, why did He forbid those who knew His true identity to tell anyone?:
A. His disciples: - "'But what about you? Who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!' ... Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ." (Matthew 16:15,16,20; see also Mark 8:29,30)
B. the demons: - "... He also drove out many demons, but He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." (Mark 1:34 - see also verses 24,25); "Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him, and cried out, 'You are the Son of God.' But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was." (Mark 3:11,12); "Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, 'You are the Son of God!' But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ." (Luke 4:41)
C. those He healed: - "... and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was." (Matthew 12:15,16); "Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, 'See that you don't tell anyone ...'" (Matthew 8:3,4); Immediately the (dead) girl stood up and walked around. At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this." (Mark 5:42,43)
Why did He refuse to accept challenges to prove His identity?:
A. by Satan: - "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread ... If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down ..." (Matthew 4:3,6)
B. by the common people: - "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, '... Save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God.'" (Matt. 27:39,40)
by the chief priests, teachers and elders: - "He saved others, but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him ... for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" (Matthew 39:41-43)
Why did He always speak to the people in parables?:
"The disciples came to him and asked, 'Why do you speak to the people in parables?' He replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them ... This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving ..."' Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.'" (Matthew 13:10,11,13,14,34,35)
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." (Jn.1:10)
B. BECAUSE THIS IS A SPIRITUAL TRUTH; NOT A HUMAN ONE:
Because there are two things about Christ a person cannot understand by himself:
Who Jesus really is - "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." ... "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in Heaven." (Matthew 16:15-17)
The Atonement Jesus provided - "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing . . . The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14)
Because God's secret wisdom is known only by revelation:
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." (Deut. 29:29)
"... He brings hidden things to light." (Job 28:11)
"Truly you are a God who hides himself." (Isaiah 45:15)
"From now on, I will teach you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you." (Is.48:6)
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)
"He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." (Daniel 2:22)
"It is written in the prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'" (John 6:45)
"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence of superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified ... My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words . . . not the wisdom of this age . . . we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden . . . " (1 Corinthians 2:1-8)
"... that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ... the mystery of Christ ..." (Colossians 2:2,3; 4:3 - see also 1:26,27)
C. Because a person cannot believe in Jesus unless:
A. he/she is drawn to the Father - "All that the Father gives me will come to me . . . No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him ... This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (John 6:37,44,65)
B. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to him/her - "' . . . no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him' but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit . . . we have . . . received . . . the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:9-13)
C. He is revealed through the Scriptures - " . . . these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31) (see also John 5;39,40; Rom.16:25,26; Eph.3:4,5)
D. Because Satan has blinded the minds of people: "The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ . . . " (2 Corinthians 4:4)
General Observations
This brings to an end our brief survey of these seven crucial passages. Seen as a whole, they prompt some general observations. First, the ascription of the title God to Jesus is found in four New Testament writers - John (three uses), Paul (two), Peter (one), and the author of Hebrews (one). Second, this christologica] use of the title began immediately after the resurrection in 30 (John 20:28), continued during the 50s (Rom. 9:5) and 60s (Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1), and then into the 90s (John 1:1, 18). Third the use of "God" in reference to Jesus was not restricted to Christians who lived in one geographical region or who had a particular theological outlook. It occurs in literature that was written in Asia Minor (John, Titus), Greece (Romans), and possibly Judea (Hebrews), and Rome (2 Peter), and that was addressed to persons living in Asia Minor (John, 2 Peter), Rome (Romans, Hebrews), and Crete (Titus). Also, the use is found in a theological setting that is Jewish Christian (John, Hebrews, Peter) or Gentile Christian (Romans, Titus). Fourth, the three instances in John's Gospel are strategically placed. This Fourth Gospel begins (1:1) as it ends (20:28), and the Prologue to this Gospel begins (1:1) as it ends (1:18), with an unambiguous assertion of the deity of Christ: "The Word was God" (1:1); "the only Son, who is God" (1:18); "my Lord and my God!" (20:28).[18] In his preincarnate state (1:1), in his incarnate state (1:18), and in his postresurrection state (20:28), Jesus is God. For John, recognition of Christ's deity is the hallmark of the Christian.
But, you may ask, why are there so few examples of this usage in the New Testament? If Jesus really is God, why is he not called "God" more often? After all, there are over 1,300 uses of the Greek word theos in the New Testament. Several reasons may be given to explain this apparently strange usage.
First, in all strands of the New Testament the term theos usually refers to the Father. We often find the expression God the Father, which implies that God is the Father.[19] Also, in trinitarian formulas "God" always denotes the Father, never the Son or the Spirit. For example, 2 Corinthians 13:14 reads, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." What is more, in the salutations at the beginning of many New Testament letters, "God" is distinguished from the Lord Jesus Christ." So Paul's letters regularly begin, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." As a result of all this, in the New Testament the term theos in the singular has become virtually a proper name, referring to the trinitarian Father.[20] If Christ were everywhere called "God," so that in reference to him the term was not a title but a proper noun, like "Jesus," linguistic ambiguity would be everywhere present. What would we be able to make of a statement such as "God was in God, reconciling the world to himself," or "the Father was in God, reconciling the world to himself" (cf. 2 Cor. 5:19)?
Second, another reason why "God" regularly denotes the Father and rarely the Son is that such usage is suited to protect the personal distinction between Son and Father, which is preserved everywhere in the New Testament. Nowhere is this distinction more evident than where the Father is called "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:17) or "his God and Father" (Rev. 1:6), and where Jesus speaks of "my God."[21]
Closely related to this second reason is a third. The New Testament clearly indicates that Jesus is subordinate to God. Although they both possess the divine nature, there is an order in their operation. It is the role of the Father to direct, of the Son to obey. Theologians refer to a functional subordination alongside an essential equality. Consequently, Christ can be said to belong to God (1 Cor. 3:23) and to be subjected to God (1 Cor. 15:28). So, then , by customarily reserving the term theos for the Father, New Testament writers were highlighting the Son's subordination to the Father, but not the Father's subordination to the Son. We often find the expression Son of God where God is the Father, but never Father of God where God is the Son. Fourth, if Jesus had been regularly called "God" by the early Christians, problem would have been created for their evangelistic efforts. Their Jewish friends would have been convinced that Christians had given up monotheism, for there were now two "Gods": Yahweh and Jesus. On the other hand, their Gentile neighbors would have viewed Jesus as simply another deity to be added to their roster of gods.
Finally, the New Testament authors generally reserve the term theos for the Father in order to safeguard the real humanity of Jesus. If "God" had become a personal name for Christ, interchangeable with "Jesus," the humanity of Jesus would tend to be eclipsed; he would seem to be an unreal human being, a divine visitor merely masquerading as a man.
Conclusions
If, then, the word God does not become a personal name for Jesus anywhere in the New Testament, what is the actual significance of the seven uses? As used of Jesus, the term theos is a generic title, a description that indicates the class or category (genus) to which he belongs. Jesus is not only God in revelation, the revealer of God (an official title) - he is God in essence. Not only are the deeds and words of Jesus the deeds and words of God - the nature of Jesus is the nature of God. By nature, as well as by action, Jesus is God. Other New Testament titles of Jesus such as "Son of God" or "Lord" or "Alpha and Omega," imply the divinity of Jesus, but the title God explicitly affirms his deity.
It may help to illustrate the distinction I am making between a proper noun (in this case, a personal name), a generic title, and an official title. Consider these two sentences: Winston Chruchill was a Britisher and a prime minister of the United Kingdom. John Kennedy was an American and a president of the United Sates. In these sentences "Winston Churchill" and "John Kennedy" are proper nouns (personal names); "Britisher" and "American" are generic titles; "prime minister" and "president" are official titles. The parallel sentence relevant to our discussion would be "Jesus is God and the Revealer of God."
Can we, therefore, claim that the New Testament teaches that Jesus is "God"? Yes indeed, provided we constantly bear in mind several factors. First, to say that "Jesus is God" is true to New Testament thought, but it goes beyond actual New Testament diction. The nearest comparable statements are "the Word was God" (John 1:1), "the only Son, who is God" (John 1:18), and "the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever" (Rom. 9:5). So we must remember that the theological proposition "Jesus is God" is an inference from the New Testament evidence - a necessary and true inference, but nonetheless an inference.
Second, if we make the statement "Jesus is God" without qualification, we are in danger of failing to do justice to the whole truth about Jesus - that he was the incarnate Word, a human being, and that in his present existence in heaven he retains his humanity, although now it is in a glorified form. Jesus is not simply "man" nor only "God," but the God-man.
Third, given English usage of the word God, the simple affirmation "Jesus is God" may be easily misinterpreted. In common English usage God is a proper name, identifying a particular person, not a common noun designating a class.[2] For us God is the God of the Judeao-Chrisitan monotheistsic tradition, or God the Father of Jesus and of the Christan, or the trinitarian Godhead. So when we make the equation in English, "Jesus is God," we are in danger of suggesting that these two terms, "Jesus" and "God," are interchangable, that there is a numerical identity between the two. But while Jesus is God, it is not true that God is Jesus.[*] There are others - the Father and the Spirit - of whom the predicate God may be rightfully used. Jesus is all that God is, without being all there is of God. The person of Jesus does not exhaust the category of deity. So then, when we say, "Jesus is God," we must recognize that we are attaching a meaning to the term God - namely, "God in essence" or "God by nature" - that is not its predominant sense in English.
My analysis of the New Testament evidence for the deity of Christ is now complete. The three branches of evidence we have examined all point in the same direction. Whether we consider the status Jesus enjoys, the functions he performs, or the title he bears, there can be no doubt that the early Christians believed in his full divinity as an essential ingredient of their teaching. Consequently, any modern form of Christianity that has surrendered a wholehearted belief in Jesus' deity has drifted from its moorings and is at sea in a vessel that has forfeited its rating as "Christian." On the other hand, when we bow the knee before the risen Jesus and make the confession of Thomas our own, we are securely moored to uniform Christian tradition and, more importantly, to the divine Person who is at the center of that tradition. Can you - will you - address Jesus with the words "My Lord and my God"?
Thanks to my friend Linda Sheets to Provide these great Bible Study.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Wonderful Lord
O Lord my God, Many are Your wonderful works Which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered(Psalm 40:5)
Dear friend, Jesus Christ was born in this world and manifested His great love for mankind by giving His life on the cross. One of the names given for Jesus Christ is Wonderful. The Almighty God came down to this earth as a baby boy called “Wonderful”. The Bible says Prophet Isaiah saw this divine Child that was to be born on this earth in a vision and prophesied, “His name will be called Wonderful!”
Prophet Ezekiel who saw visions of God described Him as, “…In appearance like a sapphire stone…the appearance of fire with brightness all around” (Ezekiel 1:26,27).
St. John too described Him as, “He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald” (Revelation 4:3).
The Almighty God so glorious in appearance was born in this world as a child to manifest His love for humanity. His birth brought great joy to the people. All the days of His life, He did good to the people and gave His life on the cross to redeem us from sin. Even today He is alive and does good to everybody.
Many years ago an old mother was living alone in a village. She suddenly took ill and had no one to look after her. Her health was getting weaker everyday and she was drifting to death. One day, suddenly the door of her room opened and a doctor walked in. He gave her the necessary treatment and saved her life. The lady asked him, “Doctor! How did you know I was struggling with death?” He replied that her son had come and asked him to treat her! The astonished mother said, “Sir, my son died a month ago and I fell ill because I was languishing in sorrow over his death.” But the doctor insisted it was her son who had brought him there pointing to his shirt. The old mother realized it was Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God Who had done the timely help. She praised the Wonderful Jesus for His love and care.
Dear friend, have you lost hope in life? Are you languishing in sorrow? Are you frustrated with life? Do not be disheartened! Jesus the Wonderful came down to earth to wipe away the tears caused by problems in life. He has the solution to your problems. The Lord Who came down to earth to manifest His love will surely do a miracle and wipe away your tears.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You that You came down to earth to manifest Your love for me. The Bible says Your name is wonderful and You are wonderful in counsel. Take away the problems in life and guide me in life. Fill me with Your wisdom and counsel. I praise You that You are there for me and love me. I give You all glory honour and praise.
Amen.
Dear friend, Jesus Christ was born in this world and manifested His great love for mankind by giving His life on the cross. One of the names given for Jesus Christ is Wonderful. The Almighty God came down to this earth as a baby boy called “Wonderful”. The Bible says Prophet Isaiah saw this divine Child that was to be born on this earth in a vision and prophesied, “His name will be called Wonderful!”
Prophet Ezekiel who saw visions of God described Him as, “…In appearance like a sapphire stone…the appearance of fire with brightness all around” (Ezekiel 1:26,27).
St. John too described Him as, “He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald” (Revelation 4:3).
The Almighty God so glorious in appearance was born in this world as a child to manifest His love for humanity. His birth brought great joy to the people. All the days of His life, He did good to the people and gave His life on the cross to redeem us from sin. Even today He is alive and does good to everybody.
Many years ago an old mother was living alone in a village. She suddenly took ill and had no one to look after her. Her health was getting weaker everyday and she was drifting to death. One day, suddenly the door of her room opened and a doctor walked in. He gave her the necessary treatment and saved her life. The lady asked him, “Doctor! How did you know I was struggling with death?” He replied that her son had come and asked him to treat her! The astonished mother said, “Sir, my son died a month ago and I fell ill because I was languishing in sorrow over his death.” But the doctor insisted it was her son who had brought him there pointing to his shirt. The old mother realized it was Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God Who had done the timely help. She praised the Wonderful Jesus for His love and care.
Dear friend, have you lost hope in life? Are you languishing in sorrow? Are you frustrated with life? Do not be disheartened! Jesus the Wonderful came down to earth to wipe away the tears caused by problems in life. He has the solution to your problems. The Lord Who came down to earth to manifest His love will surely do a miracle and wipe away your tears.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I praise and thank You that You came down to earth to manifest Your love for me. The Bible says Your name is wonderful and You are wonderful in counsel. Take away the problems in life and guide me in life. Fill me with Your wisdom and counsel. I praise You that You are there for me and love me. I give You all glory honour and praise.
Amen.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
G.R.A.C.E.
G.R.A.C.E. means God's Richest At Christ's Expense
Message from www.christianblog.com
In a devotion I received the other day I read something that has had me thinking all weekend about the Cross.
Can any of us truly understand what Jesus did that day?
He gave us GRACE through His death.
G - God's
R - Riches
A - At
C - Christ's
E - Expense
He chose His death. He chose the pain and suffering of His death. He chose the humiliation and torture of His death.So that we may have eternal life.
The Cross served His purposes for the most painful, humiliating and tortuous method of death available to Him.
Do you know that He chose the Cross?
Sin had to die the day He died.
He knew that the monster of sin would be defeated only with a weapon of destruction - only with the Cross.
Once again, what evil men would have for evil purposes, God used for good.
The Cross, the symbol of the most humiliating method death of Christ's time, stands victorious over death.
Praise the Father for the Son, and for the Comforter Who has come!
Message from www.christianblog.com
In a devotion I received the other day I read something that has had me thinking all weekend about the Cross.
Can any of us truly understand what Jesus did that day?
He gave us GRACE through His death.
G - God's
R - Riches
A - At
C - Christ's
E - Expense
He chose His death. He chose the pain and suffering of His death. He chose the humiliation and torture of His death.So that we may have eternal life.
The Cross served His purposes for the most painful, humiliating and tortuous method of death available to Him.
Do you know that He chose the Cross?
Sin had to die the day He died.
He knew that the monster of sin would be defeated only with a weapon of destruction - only with the Cross.
Once again, what evil men would have for evil purposes, God used for good.
The Cross, the symbol of the most humiliating method death of Christ's time, stands victorious over death.
Praise the Father for the Son, and for the Comforter Who has come!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Is the BIBLE Important ?
The Bible is probably the most maligned Book that ever has been written. It has been attacked as no other book has ever been attacked. Yet it has ministered and does minister to literally millions of people around the globe, and it has been doing this now for several thousand years. A Book of this nature and with this tremendous impact upon the human family certainly deserves the intelligent consideration of men and women.
Sir Walter Scott, on his deathbed, asked Lockhart to read to him. Puzzled, as he scanned the shelf of books that Walter Scott had written, he asked, “What book shall I read?” And Sir Walter replied, “Why do you ask that question? There is but one book; bring the Bible.” There is only one Book for any man who is dying, but it is also the Book for any man who is living. A great many folk do not get interested in the Bible until they get to the end of their lives or until they get into a great deal of difficulty. While it is wonderful to have a Book in which you can find comfort in a time like that, it is also a Book for you to live—in the full vigor of life. It is a Book to face life with today, and it’s the Book which furnishes the only sure route through this world and on into the next world. It is the only Book that can enable us to meet the emergencies and cushion the shocks that come to us in life. The Bible is different from any other book.
That this Book has influenced great men who, in turn, have influenced the world is evident. Let me share with you some quotations.
There was an African prince who came to England and was presented to Her Majesty Queen Victoria. This prince asked a very significant question, “What is the secret of England’s greatness?” The queen got a beautifully bound copy of the Bible and presented it to the prince with this statement, “This is the secret of England’s greatness.” I wonder, friend, if England’s decline to a second-rate and then third-rate nation may be tied up in the fact that England has gotten away from the Word of God.
Gladstone, statesman, prime minister, probably one of the greatest legal minds Britain ever produced, said, “Talk about the questions of the day! There is but one question, and that is the Gospel. That can and will correct everything. I am glad to say that about all the men at the top in Great Britain are Christians.” That was way back in the 1800s. Gladstone continued, “I have been in public position fifty-eight years, all but eleven of them in the Cabinet of the British Government, and during those forty-seven years have been associated with sixty of the master minds of the century, and all but five of the sixty were Christians.” I personally think that part of the problems we are having in the world today is that we have too few Christians at the top, too few who are acquainted with the Word of God.
Michael Faraday, perhaps the greatest scientific experimenter back in the 1800s, said, “But why will people go astray, when they have this blessed book of God to guide them?” Sir Isaac Newton, a scientist in the preceding century, said, “If the Bible is true, the time is coming when men shall travel at fifty miles an hour.” And Voltaire, the French skeptic, commented, “Poor Isaac. He was in his dotage when he made that prophecy. It only shows what Bible study will do to an otherwise scientific mind.”
It might be interesting to note what some of our early Presidents had to say about the Bible. John Adams, our second President, said, “I have examined all [that is, all of Scripture] as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life will allow me, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world. It contains more of my little philosophy than all the libraries I have seen, and such parts of it I cannot reconcile to my little philosophy I postpone for future investigation.” Then President John Quincy Adams said, “I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you: search the Scriptures. The Bible is the book above all other to be read at all ages and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice through and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions every day.” And the Presidents back in those days, who made our nation great, did not get us into foreign wars and were able to solve the problems of the streets. Someone may counter, “But the problems weren’t as complicated then as they are now.” They were for that day, friend. Not only England but also the United States has gotten away from the Word of God. And the farther we get, the more complicated our problems become. Right now there are men in positions of authority in this land who are saying that there is no solution to our problems. That is the reason I am teaching the Word of God in its entirety— I believe it is the only solution. And, frankly, friend, we had better get back to it.
Another President, Thomas Jefferson, said this about the Bible, “I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better husbands, and better fathers.” This is something to think over today when our citizens are burning down the cities in which they live and when divorce is running rife.
It was Daniel Webster who made this statement, “If there be anything in my style or thoughts to be commended, the credit is due to my kind parents for instilling into my mind an early love of the Scriptures.” What about you today, Christian parent? Are you making a Daniel Webster in your home or a little rebel? Webster also made this statement, “I have read it [the Bible] through many times. I now make a practice of going through it once a year. It is the Book of all others for lawyers as well as divines. I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought and rules for conduct.”
THE BOOK OF BOOKS
Born in the East and clothed in Oriental form and imagery, the Bible walks the ways of all the world with familiar feet, and enters land after land to find its own everywhere. It has learned to speak in hundreds of languages to the heart of man. It comes into the palace to tell the monarch that he is a servant of the Most High, and into the cottage to assure the peasant that he is a son of God. Children listen to its stories with wonder and delight, and wise men ponder them as parables of life. It has a word of peace for the time of peril, a word of comfort for the time of calamity, a word of light for the hour of darkness. Its oracles are repeated in the assembly of the people, and its counsels whispered in the ear of the lonely. The wicked and the proud tremble at its warnings, but to the wounded and the penitent it has a mother’s voice. The wilderness and the solitary place have been made glad by it, and the fire on the hearth has lit the reading of its well-worn pages. It has woven itself into our dearest dreams; so that love, friendship, sympathy and devotion, memory and hope put on the beautiful garments of its treasured speech, breathing of frankincense and myrrh. —Henry van Dyke
These message from Trans world Radio India site www.radio882.com
Sir Walter Scott, on his deathbed, asked Lockhart to read to him. Puzzled, as he scanned the shelf of books that Walter Scott had written, he asked, “What book shall I read?” And Sir Walter replied, “Why do you ask that question? There is but one book; bring the Bible.” There is only one Book for any man who is dying, but it is also the Book for any man who is living. A great many folk do not get interested in the Bible until they get to the end of their lives or until they get into a great deal of difficulty. While it is wonderful to have a Book in which you can find comfort in a time like that, it is also a Book for you to live—in the full vigor of life. It is a Book to face life with today, and it’s the Book which furnishes the only sure route through this world and on into the next world. It is the only Book that can enable us to meet the emergencies and cushion the shocks that come to us in life. The Bible is different from any other book.
That this Book has influenced great men who, in turn, have influenced the world is evident. Let me share with you some quotations.
There was an African prince who came to England and was presented to Her Majesty Queen Victoria. This prince asked a very significant question, “What is the secret of England’s greatness?” The queen got a beautifully bound copy of the Bible and presented it to the prince with this statement, “This is the secret of England’s greatness.” I wonder, friend, if England’s decline to a second-rate and then third-rate nation may be tied up in the fact that England has gotten away from the Word of God.
Gladstone, statesman, prime minister, probably one of the greatest legal minds Britain ever produced, said, “Talk about the questions of the day! There is but one question, and that is the Gospel. That can and will correct everything. I am glad to say that about all the men at the top in Great Britain are Christians.” That was way back in the 1800s. Gladstone continued, “I have been in public position fifty-eight years, all but eleven of them in the Cabinet of the British Government, and during those forty-seven years have been associated with sixty of the master minds of the century, and all but five of the sixty were Christians.” I personally think that part of the problems we are having in the world today is that we have too few Christians at the top, too few who are acquainted with the Word of God.
Michael Faraday, perhaps the greatest scientific experimenter back in the 1800s, said, “But why will people go astray, when they have this blessed book of God to guide them?” Sir Isaac Newton, a scientist in the preceding century, said, “If the Bible is true, the time is coming when men shall travel at fifty miles an hour.” And Voltaire, the French skeptic, commented, “Poor Isaac. He was in his dotage when he made that prophecy. It only shows what Bible study will do to an otherwise scientific mind.”
It might be interesting to note what some of our early Presidents had to say about the Bible. John Adams, our second President, said, “I have examined all [that is, all of Scripture] as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life will allow me, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world. It contains more of my little philosophy than all the libraries I have seen, and such parts of it I cannot reconcile to my little philosophy I postpone for future investigation.” Then President John Quincy Adams said, “I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you: search the Scriptures. The Bible is the book above all other to be read at all ages and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice through and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions every day.” And the Presidents back in those days, who made our nation great, did not get us into foreign wars and were able to solve the problems of the streets. Someone may counter, “But the problems weren’t as complicated then as they are now.” They were for that day, friend. Not only England but also the United States has gotten away from the Word of God. And the farther we get, the more complicated our problems become. Right now there are men in positions of authority in this land who are saying that there is no solution to our problems. That is the reason I am teaching the Word of God in its entirety— I believe it is the only solution. And, frankly, friend, we had better get back to it.
Another President, Thomas Jefferson, said this about the Bible, “I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better husbands, and better fathers.” This is something to think over today when our citizens are burning down the cities in which they live and when divorce is running rife.
It was Daniel Webster who made this statement, “If there be anything in my style or thoughts to be commended, the credit is due to my kind parents for instilling into my mind an early love of the Scriptures.” What about you today, Christian parent? Are you making a Daniel Webster in your home or a little rebel? Webster also made this statement, “I have read it [the Bible] through many times. I now make a practice of going through it once a year. It is the Book of all others for lawyers as well as divines. I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought and rules for conduct.”
THE BOOK OF BOOKS
Born in the East and clothed in Oriental form and imagery, the Bible walks the ways of all the world with familiar feet, and enters land after land to find its own everywhere. It has learned to speak in hundreds of languages to the heart of man. It comes into the palace to tell the monarch that he is a servant of the Most High, and into the cottage to assure the peasant that he is a son of God. Children listen to its stories with wonder and delight, and wise men ponder them as parables of life. It has a word of peace for the time of peril, a word of comfort for the time of calamity, a word of light for the hour of darkness. Its oracles are repeated in the assembly of the people, and its counsels whispered in the ear of the lonely. The wicked and the proud tremble at its warnings, but to the wounded and the penitent it has a mother’s voice. The wilderness and the solitary place have been made glad by it, and the fire on the hearth has lit the reading of its well-worn pages. It has woven itself into our dearest dreams; so that love, friendship, sympathy and devotion, memory and hope put on the beautiful garments of its treasured speech, breathing of frankincense and myrrh. —Henry van Dyke
These message from Trans world Radio India site www.radio882.com
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Victory On The Cross - By Dr. Paul Dhinakaran
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.(Romans 8:37)
Dear friend, do you want victory over the problems in life? There is victory in the blood of Jesus Christ. Yes, God has ordained victory through the blood of Jesus Christ. When you give your heart to Jesus Christ, you become His child.
Every person born in this world will go through trials and tribulations in some stage or the other in their life. But not all are victorious during such times. But when you trust the Lord, you will certainly be victorious during such times.
“In the world you (my children) will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” says Lord Jesus (John 16:33).
Many years ago, there was a rich man who generously supported the Lord’s ministry with his finances. Unfortunately, he met with an accident and was admitted to a hospital for fractures in his neck and in his hands. He was tormented by physical pain and agony. He lamented, “Why should I suffer when I gave to the Lord wholeheartedly? His heart was filled with gloom. One day, the Holy Spirit descended on Him. The Holy Spirit opened his eyes and showed him the suffering of Christ Jesus on the cross. No words could describe the suffering and the sorrow that Jesus Christ went through. The body of Jesus Christ was brutally broken. The rich man who had been lamenting realised that his sufferings were nothing when compared to the sufferings of Jesus Christ. He said, “Lord, You have wounds all over Your body. Your hands and feet have been pierced by nails. You have suffered for my sake. Lord, I thank You for Your infinite compassion and mercy. Thank You for sacrificing Yourself on the cross for mankind.” That very moment a divine peace filled his heart. The rich man started forgetting his pain. Very soon he was healed of his wounds in a most miraculous manner and he began to love the Lord all the more. God exalted him and made him wealthier than he had ever been before!“
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Dear friend, when battered by trials and tribulations, you could get close to losing your faith in the Lord. Circumstances may seem that the Lord has forsaken you but it is during such times that the blood of Jesus Christ pleads for you saying, “Father, my son/daughter cannot bear any more of these sufferings. Please put an end to his/her agony.” His blood intercedes to give you victory over the trials and tribulations in your life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I fall prostrate before You for Your love for me. I praise and thank You for the victory through Your blood that You have ordained for me on the cross. Strengthen me and help me to look up to You always during hard times. Lord, be with me and guide me in my life. Fill my life with Your grace. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
Dear friend, do you want victory over the problems in life? There is victory in the blood of Jesus Christ. Yes, God has ordained victory through the blood of Jesus Christ. When you give your heart to Jesus Christ, you become His child.
Every person born in this world will go through trials and tribulations in some stage or the other in their life. But not all are victorious during such times. But when you trust the Lord, you will certainly be victorious during such times.
“In the world you (my children) will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” says Lord Jesus (John 16:33).
Many years ago, there was a rich man who generously supported the Lord’s ministry with his finances. Unfortunately, he met with an accident and was admitted to a hospital for fractures in his neck and in his hands. He was tormented by physical pain and agony. He lamented, “Why should I suffer when I gave to the Lord wholeheartedly? His heart was filled with gloom. One day, the Holy Spirit descended on Him. The Holy Spirit opened his eyes and showed him the suffering of Christ Jesus on the cross. No words could describe the suffering and the sorrow that Jesus Christ went through. The body of Jesus Christ was brutally broken. The rich man who had been lamenting realised that his sufferings were nothing when compared to the sufferings of Jesus Christ. He said, “Lord, You have wounds all over Your body. Your hands and feet have been pierced by nails. You have suffered for my sake. Lord, I thank You for Your infinite compassion and mercy. Thank You for sacrificing Yourself on the cross for mankind.” That very moment a divine peace filled his heart. The rich man started forgetting his pain. Very soon he was healed of his wounds in a most miraculous manner and he began to love the Lord all the more. God exalted him and made him wealthier than he had ever been before!“
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Dear friend, when battered by trials and tribulations, you could get close to losing your faith in the Lord. Circumstances may seem that the Lord has forsaken you but it is during such times that the blood of Jesus Christ pleads for you saying, “Father, my son/daughter cannot bear any more of these sufferings. Please put an end to his/her agony.” His blood intercedes to give you victory over the trials and tribulations in your life.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I fall prostrate before You for Your love for me. I praise and thank You for the victory through Your blood that You have ordained for me on the cross. Strengthen me and help me to look up to You always during hard times. Lord, be with me and guide me in my life. Fill my life with Your grace. I give You all glory, honour and praise.
Amen.
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