How beautiful the hands that served...!

I dedicate this blog to our Dear Achen Ninan & our Dear Pastor Sherwin...! Pastor, We appreciate you!

October.. is the 'CLERGY APPRECIATION' month! I am glad somebody had dedicated this WHOLE month for appreciating our pastors, instead of just one day! That shows us that one day is not enough to appreciate the Pastors!

Why should we appreciate our Pastors? The reasons are so many; I know I am trying a 'failure attempt' to write only a few things; they mean more than what these words can express!

While they are sick, they visit church members who are sick, to utter the words of assurance and healing, showing no signs of their own sufferings!

While they grieve for their personal situation, they go and celebrate the joyous occasion of the church members, showing no signs of their own pains!

While they need several helping hands, I have noticed, they go out and help the needy, showing no signs of self-needs, but just pointing to other's needs!

While they are 'stoned at' for anything they did, they pray for me and love me, as if I did nothing wrong against them.. oh boy.. this means a lot to me!

While they toil day and night to prepare the sermon and deliver it on Sundays, I just summarize them in one line saying 'it is not an effective sermon', because they don't use technology..! I apologize; I no more try summarize the sermons, but I just surrender & submit in His presence!

While the whole city was 'stand-still' during the ice storm, they went out, driving on the risky-icy-slippery roads, to pray for me and help me out; I told them 'I am contagious' they said, that is fine! I thought they are crazy.. Yes! They are! For your sake!

While I complained about their leadership style, they exemplified the servant leadership, 'do not follow men', 'just follow Jesus', a better way to Christian Maturity..!

While they were neither my friends, nor my family, but they act like one, leaving room for me to fail but learn, leaving room for me to be 'me', but follow Jesus!

While I stand 'TALL' and look down on them (some times), I realize the very reason I stand tall today, because they knelt and BEND down for me in their personal closet and prayed for me; And they continue to do it for others...! That is why I still see them kneeling in His presence..!

While I HIGHLIGHT their 'one' weakness among their 100 strengths, they were waiting to compliment me for the ONE thing I do right among the 100 things I do wrong! They are still waiting...! (Why did my eyes get wet as I write this....? They deserve my respect!)

While I am impatient, in-tolerant, proud and lethargic, they were patient, tolerant, and humble, in not just accepting me as I am, but continue to support me and teaching me 'His Purpose' for me...

This song comes to my mind when I think about them...

How beautiful the hands that served
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross - Twila Paris

They deserve our appreciation -everyday, they deserve our respect -all the time, they deserve our love un-conditionally, they deserve our helping hand- to lift up others, they deserve our support- in their loneliness, they deserve our faithfulness -in serving, they deserve our commitment to Christ ...after all that was their only aim to make us go there..!

Now it is your turn....! Take your phone and call them or take a blank sheet of paper and fill it with your heart felt thanks... a few tear drops...may wet the papers and I think it is fine, they are used to those moisture papers... ! To Any Pastors or missionaries who touched your life...! They deserve a 'THANK YOU' from you!

The Disciple and His Common Sense

Imanuel G. Christian
October 2011

For the past few months we have been thinking about the ways to know the will of God for a particular situation in life. This month we will deal with common sense. How does common sense come into the picture as we try to discern the will of God? This article will be the last in this series (If you would like to get all of the previous five articles together, let me know).

Common sense means sound and prudent judgment in practical matters; the basic level of practical knowledge that we all need to help us to live in a reasonable and safe way. God has given
common sense to every one of us, and it is our responsibility to use it for sensible living. When we want to know the will of God, we have to use our common sense. In our past articles we have noted that the Word of God is the most basic tool to help us know the will of God. But that does not mean that we have to totally lay aside our common sense.

The Word of God tells us to use our common sense. Peter says, “Prepare your minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13), and, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7). In both of these verses the original meaning is to use discernment, right judgment which we would call common sense. Similarly, Paul says that the grace of God teaches us, “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12). And, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7), where self-discipline means living sensibly, with careful thinking.

The prophet Isaiah gives a beautiful example of the common sense of farmers. A farmer knows when to plow, what kind of seed to sow in what kind of soil. He knows that different crops require different farming techniques because, “His God instructs him and teaches him the right way”. He uses God-given common sense (Isaiah 28:24-29). Similarly, by common sense we know the proper time for different activities, how to behave, what to say and what not to say, and how to relate to people in different situations.

By common sense we know that during the extreme cold of the winter we should not go out without wearing heavy warm clothes. But if we go out with those clothes during the extreme heat of the summer, people would think we are out of our minds. If we are sick we have to consult a doctor. If we are a student we have to study hard to get good grades. We have to avoid some situations that put us either in physical or moral danger. These are things we know through our common sense and we do not need to know the will of God in such matters.

The Bible does not give any help in the matters which we can decide simply by using our common sense; it leaves those things to us to decide. For example, when an angel took Peter out of the prison, they passed two sets of guards and came to the iron gate which miraculously opened and Peter went out of the jail. At that moment the angel left Peter and disappeared. Now Peter was on his own and he had to use his common sense to decide what he should do next and where to go (Acts 12:5-19).

However, as it has been said, common sense is not very common. We all have done and said things that do not always make sense. Our foot is more often in our mouth than on the solid ground of our common sense! Think of a criminal who called a bank telling them to put all their cash in a sack for him and he would pick it up in fifteen minutes. Or, a Wal-Mart customer who filed a police report about his I-pod being stolen from his car in the parking lot. He had locked the doors, put the windows up, and set the alarm, but had left the top of his convertible open and the I-pod sitting on the passenger seat. Or, the jury that awarded two million dollars to a lady who carelessly spilled hot coffee in her lap while driving; and now there is a warning on McDonald coffee cups “Warning—Hot Coffee”!

Even if we are wise enough to use common sense most of the time, man’s common sense, like we noted in the case of man’s conscience, has limitations in knowing and following the will of God. The main problem is that our common sense has been trained in the wisdom of the world and many a time we consider everything in the way that the world thinks, thinking in terms of the gains in this life rather than in relation to eternal values. As Paul writes, “The sinful mind is hostile toward God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8). That is why Solomon says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (common sense). Do not be wise in your own eyes” (Proverbs 3:5, 7). But be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil (Romans 16:19).

We need to train our common sense according to the principles, ideals and morals of the Word of God rather than of the world. Not to confirm to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we can test and approve what is pleasing in the sight of God (Romans 12:2).

God sometimes leads us in a way that may not make sense to our common sense or even seems outright foolish and contrary to our common sense. Noah’s building of the ark, which took him a hundred and twenty years, must have seemed foolish to everybody around him at the time when people did not even know what “rain” was. Or, it must have seemed foolish to Abraham’s extended family and friends when he totally uprooted himself and left to go to a place he did not know (Hebrews 11:8). Just imagine a friend asking him, “Abraham, where are you going?” and his response, “Well, I don’t really know!”

I was a college professor when I felt led by the Lord to go into full time ministry and applied to Dallas Theological Seminary. The only idea about ministry that I had was to be a pastor, and pastors in India at that time received less than one-third of what I was getting as a professor (today it is less than one-fifth since professors’ salaries have sky-rocketed while pastors’ have not). When I went to the U. S. Consulate to get a student visa and I told this to the man there in response to his questions about my future plans, he shook his head and said, ”This doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone leave a well-paying job and spend four years of his life in further training to get a job that pays only one-third of what he is getting now?” They denied me the visa. Only after I wrote a long letter (in whatever broken English I knew then!) giving testimony of my conversion and commitment to the ministry, and the Seminary wrote a recommendation letter to them based on my written testimony sent to the Seminary earlier, did I get the visa. (I am convinced that those two letters, by God’s providence, must have fallen into the hands of a believer in the consulate office!). I am sure we can find examples without number from many a servants of God where what they were doing seemed foolish to the people around them.

There are many things in the Word of God and in a believer’s life that do not match with human common sense. “The message of the cross is foolishness” to the people of the world, and, “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).

And so, as we live in the world we do have to use our God given common sense. We cannot jump off a cliff just because we know God can and does take care of His children. But we have to remember that the things of God are from out of this world and they are not always discerned by our common sense (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must always live by faith and not by sight (1 Corinthians 5:7) and trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own common sense.

The ABC of teaching Sunday School...!

(by Mary Ellen Drushal )

So what are the ABCs of teaching? You may already have all 26 letters in your teaching primer. Or as you read this alphabet of teaching qualities and skills, you may discover new combinations of letters you need to be an effective teacher.

The ABCs that are foundational to teaching:

Availability: Don't turn off when the last "bell" rings. Kids still need hugs and attention when they see you in the hallway. And be available for training. It's the best way to become a better teacher. Make it a goal to incorporate one new idea from each training session you attend.

Boasting: Be proud of your children. They need someone who thinks they're special and who says so. Let your children hear your praises of them.

Coping: Many children have difficult lives. You need to be able to cope with what's happening to them. Don't avoid children with problems, but embrace them and counsel them when necessary. When a child makes a need known to you, pray for that need and seek to minister to that child.

Discovery: Explore biblical truth with your kids in every lesson. You're an expedition guide into the most exciting territory ever for kids: the Bible.

Encouragement: Your positive support will encourage learners to risk new things. Pepper your speech with comments such as, "I appreciate the way you tackled that mural" or "You worked hard during that game."

Flexibility: Children develop at different rates -- even children of the same age. Be patient with them while they develop. Don't ask them to do things beyond their physical or intellectual capacity. Praise them for trying rather than only for achieving.

Guidance: Proverbs 22:6 says if we guide children biblically, they'll not depart from the training when they get old. That's a promise for every teacher and parent!

Hesitation: When you ask a question, wait for children's responses. After ample thinking time and if someone doesn't attempt a response, rephrase the question.

Interaction: Don't lecture! One of the most effective teaching methods Jesus used was dialogue. Take turns in talking and listening. Maintain eye contact to underscore your interest in what the child says.

Joviality: A good sense of humor that leads to hearty laughter is good medicine for everyone. Remember to laugh with children and not at them.

Knowledge: Learn about developmental characteristics and effective teaching methods. Put your knowledge into practice to develop age-appropriate lessons for kids.

Love: Your children must feel you love them by how you act, what you say and the tone of your voice. Love costs us nothing, but it can make all the difference to a child.

Modeling: You are Jesus to your children. Jesus welcomed the children with open arms. He had standards and expectations for them, but he'd forgive them without fail. Model Christlikeness.

Naturalness: Don't read the lesson as written by an editor 2,000 miles away; teach the lesson in your words. Familiarize yourself with the content, write specific questions and don't read the curriculum word for word.

Order: Children constantly ask non-verbally, "Who's in charge here?" Discipline is maintained through a loving relationship with each child, not by authoritarian power. If a child is misbehaving, pull the child aside, and kindly remind him or her of the classroom rules.

Preparation: The "Saturday night scramble" can be avoided if you start lesson planning early in the week. Begin on Monday. Review your lesson and start gathering supplies. Through the week the Holy Spirit will provide real situations to illustrate the lesson objectives and provide quality learning for you and your children.

Question asking: Ask questions beyond who, what, when and where. Help your children understand the causes behind the story and make present-day applications. Encourage kids to put themselves in a character's shoes. Ask how they would feel had they been that person.

Respect: Children are God's gifts to us and are entrusted to our care for only a short while. Give them choices and respect their opinions.

Spirituality: Make sure your well doesn't run dry. Daily Bible reading and prayer will keep your pump primed to give to the kids in your class.

Tolerance: Children will misbehave. Expect it, deal with it appropriately and forgive it. Whatever you do, don't leave kids with the impression that church is a place for punishment.

Understanding: Children are unique genetically, socially, intellectually, physically and spiritually. Appreciate and respect their differences, and provide ways for each child to contribute to the class.

Vitality: Teachers who bore children with the Bible should sing in the choir instead! Enthusiasm for God's Word is contagious. Teachers don't have to be cheerleaders but neither should they be as dead as King Henry!

Warmth: Sunday school should be a good place to be -- like going to grandma's. The classroom should be "child friendly" with materials and resources easily accessible. The surroundings should be pleasing to the eye, ear and touch.

XP: These Greek letters represent Christ -- and so do you. You are Christ's ambassador. Disciple, train and teach children as Jesus would.

Yoking Up: Don't go it alone. You need a partner who'll pray for you. Teaching children is a tremendous task, and the extra support you get from having a prayer partner will be invaluable.

Zeal: Teachers shape the attitudes and values of future generations. And Christian teachers have a direct impact on children and eternity. Get a vision for the difference you're making in each child's life.

The Disciple and His Conscience - By Imanuel G. Christian

September 2011

For the last four months we have been dealing with the topic, knowing the will of God. In the last article we noted four things that help us know His will. These are the Word of God, the Spirit of God, the people of God, and finally the peace of God as we prayerfully seek God’s guidance in this matter. Another related topic is the conscience of man and what role it plays in discerning whether what we are doing is according to the will of God and pleasing to Him or not. Actually, the conscience is involved in the fourth step above: the peace of God. If we come to the right decision that is pleasing to God, our conscience will be at peace about that decision. Man’s conscience is a gift of God, a voice telling him what is right and good and what is not. When we do something that is right, our conscience is at peace; and when we do not, our conscience goads us. It is an instinctive sense of right and wrong that produces a sense of guilt when violated.

Every person is born with a conscience. It is a stamp of God’s image in every human being that separates us from the rest of the creation. It is the conscience that guides man, even the pagans, to discern the difference between right and wrong and through it man knows the moral law of God, the will of God, and feel a sense of guilt when it is not followed (Romans 2:14-15).

However, the conscience is not the best or fool-proof guide in discerning the will of God and knowing the difference between right and wrong. Because of man’s sin nature it is possible that his conscience may not always lead him to the right choice and he may not feel a sense of guilt even when he is doing something morally wrong. Man’s conscience may not always spoil the pleasure of sin, or render a wicked person miserable, and may not force man to confess his wrongs.

Paul uses terms like “seared” conscience (1 Timothy 4:2) and “corrupted” conscience (Titus 1:15). When a person continues to ignore the voice of his conscience and continues to follow evil ways, his conscience becomes so seared, calloused and cauterized that it loses the sensitivity of good and evil and so does not feel the shame or guilt of following evil ways. As Paul describes, “Having lost all sensitivity they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Ephesians 4:19).

History provides ample examples of the dead conscience of man. How could the Nazis participate in the wholesale slaughter of the Jewish community? Or, think of the many instances of genocide around the world in recent years. According to one account, during the twentieth century alone more than a hundred million people have been slaughtered this way, more than the causalities in all the wars in the whole world combined. Or, how can we understand all the terrorist activities around the world today unless their conscience has gone awry.

On the other hand, a person’s conscience may be “weak” and may easily be offended even when doing things that are not really morally offensive. In Paul’s days, for example, some people with weak consciences were troubled about matters such as eating meat and determining which days should be considered special (1 Corinthians 8:7-12; Romans 14:1-6).

Now we want to raise a few questions regarding the relationship of the conscience and the Holy Spirit. Are they either the same or different entities? What is the work of the Holy Spirit towards the unbeliever’s conscience? How does the Holy Spirit affect the believer’s conscience? What is the responsibility of the believer’s conscience towards the work of the Holy Spirit?

Obviously, the conscience and the Holy Spirit are not one and the same. As we noted above, the conscience is a part of every human being, whether a believer or an unbeliever. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit is given only to those who have become a part of God’s family by believing in Jesus Christ. Only the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; etc.).

However, this does not mean that the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the unbeliever’s conscience. Not only is it the Spirit that restrains the sin in the world in general (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7), but He also convicts the unbeliever of his sin, tells his conscience of God’s righteousness, and informs him of God’s judgment if that righteousness is not carried out (Romans 2:15-16). As Jesus told His disciples, “When he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). However, that does not always lead the unbeliever to do what his conscience requires.

On the other hand, the work of the Sprit in relation to the believer’s conscience is much more extensive and effective. First of all, through the work of the Spirit the believer’s conscience is cleared of any feeling of guilt of past sins (Hebrews 9:14). Secondly, the Spirit helps the believer to keep his conscience clear. The believer maintains a clear conscience by living in harmony with the truth of the Word of God as he is guided by the Spirit (John 16:13-15; 2 Corinthians 1:12-13). As the believer grows in his relationship with God through his time in the Word, his conscience is sharpened and is more sensitive to sin and to what grieves the Spirit of God. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit provides the strength that is needed to keep the conscience clear of sin and to guard it against temptations (1 John 4:4). It is through the work of the Spirit that the believer is released from the power and slavery of sin (Romans 7:24-25).

The believer has a greater revelation. He not only has his conscience which is a mark of God’s image in man, but was defiled because of the Fall, but he also has the Holy Spirit who guides him into the truth. With greater revelation comes greater responsibility. Now the believer’s responsibility is to make sure that he does not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and, like Paul, strives always to keep his conscience clear before God and man (Acts 24:16). The goal is to live with a pure heart and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5), and, as a result, to have no regrets at the end.

The Disciple and Knowing the Will of God
Imanuel G. Christian
August 2011

For the last three months we have been dealing with the topic, how to know the will of God in a specific situation in life. We noted that some of the methods used in the Old Testament, putting out a fleece and casting lots, do not always help in discerning the will of God in a very clear and unambiguous way. How shall we, then, know the will of God in life’s major decisions?

One of the foremost and most important principles about knowing the will of God, as we noted last month, is to actually be doing the will of God that is explicitly taught in the Word of God. It is obvious that those who want to know the will of God have to be living by the will of God. Otherwise, why would God make His will known? I am convinced that those who live by the will of God in those five areas we mentioned last month will have the spiritual maturity and Godly wisdom to discern the will of God in the personal and complicated issues of life. God reveals Himself to those who are seeking Him and wants to show the way forward to those who are walking in His way. If we are living pleasing to the Lord in every area of our life, then, as Paul said, we “will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

Now those who have taken that first step of obeying the known will of God can take the following four steps to discern the will of God in a particular situation in life. We can have clear and definite direction from the Lord by studying the Word of God, prayerfully asking for the guidance of the Spirit of God, and getting advice from the people of God. And as a result we will have the peace of God in the decision made.

First and foremost is the Word of God. The Word of God provides clear and definite direction for every aspect of our life and helps us to make important and right decisions. “Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him” (Psalm 25:12; also Psalm 32:8). Also, the psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105), and “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). The Lord said through the prophet Isaiah, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). And so Solomon’s wise advice is, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Word of God guides us and helps us to choose good over evil, eternal over temporal, things that would be a blessing to others over selfish desires, His kingdom and His righteousness over the things of this world.

The Word of God has an answer to all the problems and puzzles in life. But many times we may not find a direct answer to a very specific situation in life. For that we cannot make a decision just by looking at one or two verses at random, but it requires an overall knowledge of the Word of God. We have to have our hearts and minds saturated with the Word of God so that in a critical moment we are not in a situation of “digging a well when our house is on fire” (a Gujarati proverb!). Like Moses said, …the Word is very near us; it is in our mouth and in our heart (Deuteronomy 30:14), and therefore the wisdom needed to make the right decision whenever we are in that situation will be available to us. Paul told Timothy, “…from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-16), and also for every right decision.

Another resource connected to the Word of God is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God not only helps us to understand and to grasp the deep truth of the Word of God, but He reminds us of this truth at a very critical moment guiding us to the right path. As Jesus told His disciples, “The Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26), and “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The apostle John writes in his letter, “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things…remain in him” (1 John 2:27).

It is worth noting that one of the methods used in the Old Testament, casting lots, was also used once by the apostles for selecting the replacement for Judas Iscariot. But this was the last incident in the New Testament where this method was used and it took place before the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. After that they followed the leading of the Spirit and never reverted back to the method of casting lots.

The third resource that can help us in making the right decision is conferring with other people of God, people who are wise, spiritually mature, well versed in the Word of God, and living lives that are pleasing to the Lord. We can tell them about our decision but should be willing to change it if they think differently than we do. As Solomon said, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22), and, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Proverbs 19:20; also 20:18; 24:6; etc.).

All this has to be done prayerfully seeking God’s leading as we search the Scripture, follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and discuss the matter with spiritually mature friends. One thing we have to make sure of is that whatever advice we get from others or whatever decision we arrive at in the end, it should not be contrary to the principles of the Word of God, because whatever is contrary to the Word of God is certainly contrary to the will of God.

When we come to the final decision that has been arrived at by following these steps, we will have the peace of God. The peace of God would be the natural outcome of the right decision. But if we still have some doubt and are not sure about the decision, we should continue to follow the above mentioned three steps until we arrive at the decision that gives us the peace of God. If we have made the decision considering, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable” then, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:8, 7).

The Insider..!

In the world of Stock Market, if you are an insider, your actions will influence the value of the company, and in turn will impact the outside world. Though as an insider, you are bound to certain terms and conditions, you will feel comfortable because you know the details better than an outsider; and of course your actions will impact the outside world either to good or bad!

It is very interesting, that even in our daily walk of life, the 'INSIDE' information, in government, in military, in churches, even in our families, can be used either to build or to destroy;

In one way, I consider, 'Christians' or 'those who believe in Jesus Christ' are just like the INSIDERS; because we know the TRUTH; And since we know the TRUTH, this makes us so powerful and influential. How?

First, this 'sets us free'; sets us free, from worrying about what the future holds for me!

“If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" - John 8:31-32

Are we really FREE, set by the TRUTH? If not, this is the time to go back to TRUTH! This is the time to NOT just indulge in our Christian activities, rather building the foundation of our lives with TRUTH!

Second, this makes us more influential to the outsiders, to the world; How?

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world- I John 4:4

Are we really influenced by the Holy Spirit to be an influence to the outside world? This is the time to start influencing the world with Christ's Love and Christ's forgiveness;

To summarize: Love to quote this song from the United Methodist Hymnal(356), my all time favorite:

When we are living, we belong to God;
When we are dying, we belong to God;
Both in our living, and in our dying,
We belong to God,we belong to God;

What a great relief you and me have in Christ Jesus! When we live and when we die we belong to God; As the Truth of the Gospel sets us free, are we willing to live as an insider, reaching out to the outsider and influencing this world with Love?

The Disciple and Doing the Will of God

Imanuel G. Christian
July 2011

One of the major questions in life that the people of God face is: How can we know the will of God for the major aspects of life and how do we receive confirmation about the decisions that we make, whether they are in the will of God or not. The past two months we examined two methods used in the Old Testament to determine the will of God, putting out a fleece and casting lots. The second method, casting lots, is also used in the New Testament, as we noted last month. However, we noted that neither of these two methods is always helpful in knowing the will of God as we make major decisions in life. How shall we, then, know the will of God regarding complicated issues of life which require thoughtful consideration, weighing between good and bad choices or between more acceptable and not so acceptable choices?

The first and foremost principle of knowing the will of God is to be doing the will of God! If we really want to know the will of God we have to live by the will of God that we already know. If we do not follow the will of God that He has already revealed to us, why would He want to reveal His will to us at all?

Mark Twain (1835-1910) used to say, “I am not bothered by the things of the Bible I do not understand. What bother me most are the things I do understand”. What he meant was that we do not have to follow the things that we do not understand. But we are responsible to follow the things we do understand! It is the same about knowing the will of God. It is easy to know the will of God in major aspects of life, since He has already clearly expressed it in His Word. But to do the will of God is another thing. Moses said, “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” (Deuteronomy 29:29).

God has already revealed His will for the major aspects of human life. First of all, it is the will of God that everyone comes to know the Lord and receive eternal life through Jesus. Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). And, “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:14). God “wants all man to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). This was the purpose of Christ’s first coming; He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10; Matthew 18:14).

This is the first and foremost will of God for any human being. Not only that, but this is also the first and foremost condition for knowing the will of God. Only those who have fulfilled this condition will desire to know, and will also be enabled to know, the will of God through the leading of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer.

Of those who have already fulfilled the first condition, the second clearly expressed will of God for their life is their sanctification, a life that is morally pure and pleasing to God in every aspect. “It is the will of God that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen” (1 Thess. 4:3-4). For a believer there is no ambiguity about the will of God concerning any sin in his life. The clear and expressed will of God is, “Be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). Job manifested this ideal in his life, and God Himself commended him for that, “He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8; 2:3). That is the evaluation that we desire from God, because that is the expressed will of God.

The third clearly expressed will of God is, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Being joyful, praying continually and giving thanks in all circumstances, all three go together as we trust God even in difficult situations and commit these situations to Him in prayer, rejoicing that the outcome will be according to His will and plan for our life. Paul makes this explicit in Philippians 4:4-7. It is the will of God that His people live a thankful life “in all circumstances” and “in everything”, as Job told his wife, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10).

The fourth area where God’s will is explicitly expressed is, Live a life of submission. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority initiated among men… For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-17). Submission is not only toward the civil authorities, but Paul speaks of submission in every human relationship—husband and wife, child and parent, slave and master—with an attitude of submission and reverence for the sake of Christ (Ephesians 5:21-6:9).

The fifth matter where God explicitly declared His will is, Be ready to suffer for the sake of Christ. “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). And, “Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19). “If it is God’s will” suggests that not every believer will have to suffer, but every believer has to be prepared to suffer for the name of Christ; and there should never be an occasion that a believer has to suffer for doing evil.

These are the five areas where “this is the will of God” or similar words are used clearly and explicitly showing the will of God. But even where these words are not used, the Bible presents the will of God in many straightforward commands. We have to live by the commandments and the standard set by the Word. We have to live with an eternal and not temporal perspective in focus. We have to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, etc. There is no ambiguity in knowing the will of God in major areas of our life. God has clearly expressed that. As Mark Twain said, the problem is not about knowing the will of God, but in doing the will of God.

And yet, the question still remains: How do I know God’s will in specific situations in life? How do I know God’s will, for example, in choosing the right person to marry, or, deciding what occupation I should pursue, or, what line of study program I should choose? There is no clear and specific guidance in knowing the will of God for every specific and individual situation in life. But the Bible does provide some clear guidelines and principles that we can follow in order to know the will of God in each situation. We will note these next month.

The Disciple and Casting Lots

The Disciple and Casting Lots
Imanuel G. Christian
June 2011

How do you make important decisions in life? When you have to choose between two alternative options, how do you make the choice? In other words, does the Bible provide us clear guidelines for making important decisions in life? Last month we considered one method that is used only once in the Bible; it is in the account of Gideon putting out a fleece. Although God responded to Gideon in a very understanding manner, we noted that putting out a fleece is not a sure and consistent method for knowing God’s will in making important decisions in life. There is another method that is used in the Bible far more widely than putting out a fleece; it is casting lots.

The practice of casting lots is mentioned seventy times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament. However, nothing is known about the exact nature of the lots. One possibility is that the lots were flat stones marked on both sides and could be tossed much like our coin toss today. Another possibility is that colored stones were placed in a bag or pouch and a priest or a diviner would reach into the pouch and pull out a stone. Or, he would shake the bag up and down with increasing vigor until one stone popped out.

This was a very common practice among the heathen nations. For example, during the reign of the King Xerxes, Haman cast lots to select the day and month to annihilate the Jews (Esther 3:7, 13). Similarly, the heathen sailors cast lots to find out who was responsible for the storm (Jonah 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman soldiers divided Jesus’ clothes by casting lots (Matthew 27:35; Mark. 15:24; John. 19:23-24).

It was not just used by the heathen nations, but it was also a common practice among the Israelites, the chosen people of God. For example, the scapegoat was selected by casting lots (Leviticus 16:7-10). The land was divided among the twelve tribes by using lots (Numbers 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; Joshua 18:10; etc.). Sometimes lots were used to identify the guilty person (1 Samuel 14:40-42). The lots were used to select people for the Temple service (1 Chronicles 24:5-31; 26:13; Luke 1:5-9). In the New Testament lots were used to choose the replacement for Judas (Acts 1:26).

And it was not that the people of God had imitated this heathen practice against the will of God. God had clearly instructed them to use this practice. For example, in the division of the land God had told them to use lots, “Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups” (Numbers 26:55, 56). Most of the incidents that we noted above about using the lots actually were according to the instructions given to them by the Lord. Nowhere is it mentioned that the Israelites were imitating a heathen practice in doing this.

Similarly, the Biblical description of the special clothing worn by the High Priest included an apron with a pouch in it to hold lots; known as Urim and Thummim (lit. lights and the perfections). It is believed that these were used and cast like dice, the manner of their fall somehow revealing God’s will. These were probably stones, most probably colored stones, placed in the breastplate of the High Priest which he wore when he went into the presence of the Lord and used them to ascertain the will of God in any important matter affecting the nation (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8; Deuteronomy 33:8; Ezra 2:63; etc.).

The idea behind making decisions by casting lots was that the decisions would be from the Lord and not from man’s choice. As Solomon said, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverb 16:33). God is sovereign, even in minutiae like so-called random throwing of dice. So, this was not like practicing gambling, but was used realizing that God would sovereignly guide the lots according to His will and plan. Another reason behind using this practice was that the outcome was totally outside the control of the parties involved, and so this method was considered completely impartial and there would not be any place for confusion and argument between the involved parties. “Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart” (Proverb 18:18).

Since it was believed that the Lord’s hand was behind it, the method of casting lots was taken very seriously and was performed prayerfully. For example, when deciding the replacement for Judas in the New Testament, the apostles prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen…” (Acts 1:24). And so when they used this method, there was no gambling involved, but it was done with an assurance that the Lord’s will would be done. By casting the lots it was as if they were saying, “Lord, not what we want, but what you want”.

This raises the question: Can we use this method of casting lots to make important decisions in life today? The answer to this question depends on the situation. We use coin-toss in athletic events, which is very similar to casting lots and is very appropriate. Similarly when, for example, a husband and wife want to go out to a restaurant and both have different idea where to go, they can settle the issue by casting a lot, by tossing a coin, etc. So, there are situations where casting lots or tossing coins would be appropriate to settle the issue without any partiality.

However, we have to realize that this method was used in making decisions in the matters that were simple and straightforward like distributing the land among the tribes or deciding between two persons who were equally qualified for the job. There is not a single incident in the Scripture where the people of God used this method when there were complicated issues which required thoughtful consideration, weighing between good and bad or between the more acceptable and the less acceptable, like, for example, choosing a mate in marriage.

So the question still remains, does the Bible provide us any guidelines for such complicated matters? The answer to this question is a definite yes. Next month we will see some of the Biblical principles to follow in determining the will of God in major decisions of life.

The Disciple and Child-like Faith

The Disciple and Child-like Faith
Imanuel G. Christian
March 2011

Please Note: This month instead of my own article I am sending you this story that I received on the e-mail long time ago. Author unknown, at least unknown to me:

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin.

My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped outside his closed door to listen. "Are you there, God?" he said. "Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed."

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different.

Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap - I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care. Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed, Kevin won't be surprised at all!


“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1). “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3).

Lessons on Lent Day 1& 2 & 3

DAY # 3
Today we will explore the personality of Elizabeth, wife of Zacharias, mother of John-the Baptist, cousin of Mary and importantly the aunt of Jesus. Eli+Sheba=God is generous or God's promise.
ELIZABETH - Reliabilty (Mary could confide in her):
ELIZABETH - Provider (Mary stayed with her):
ELIZABETH - Levite, wife of a Priest (Unlike Mary-a Jew);
ELIZABETH - Filled with Holy Spirit, faithful & pious;
ELIZABETH - Humility (even though is very much older than Mary she says ...Mother of the Lord should come to me...Lk 1:43)
ELIZABETH - Lost hope (past the child bearing age);
ELIZABETH - Was barren - became fruitful; etc., etc.,
PRAYER: Lord many are times we feel desponded like Elizabeth, help us to learn from her. . .AMEN
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Day # 2
As hinted yesterday we will look at the personality of Joseph, the (foster/earthly) Father of Jesus, as the bible introduces as "husband of Mary'. As we ponder more about Joseph, imagine Joseph carrying baby Jesus in his hands and nurturing him. At one point of time he did not want to consummate the marriage because his fiancé was already pregnant. Where are we heading towards :
JOSEPH - willingness to take insult (if any)
JOSEPH - A man of integrity
JOSEPH - Obedient (angels direction)
JOSEPH - Sojourner/pilgrim (taking Jesus to temple, etc.,)
JOSEPH - faithful husband
JOSEPH - hard worker (Carpenter)
JOSEPH - Pious Jew
Prayer: Lord in this world where there is so much jealousy and hatred help me I pray to learn from your earthly father the virtues he exemplified. AMEN

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Day #1
Dear People of GodToday is 'Ash Wednesday' and many of us in our hustle and bustle of life would not even made note of it. I want to take this opportunity of reminding us of our Savior's sacrifice on the cross. So this season we will focus on important people (may be 40+) and learn from their personalities. I humbly urge to reflect on these few lines prayerfully and be blessed. Today I would like to focus on MARY-the mother of God : Theotokus (greek) litterally meaning Theos=God and Tokos= child -bearer/carrier or birthgiver. Bible introduces Joseph (tomorrow's person) as the husband of Mary and Mary the mother of Jesus (Matt 1).
MARY - A virgin (signifying purity)
MARY - Highly favored
MARY - was afraid
MARY - Questioned!
MARY - Submission (I'm Lord's servant)
MARY - Authority - Jesus (to make wine)
MARY - followed Jesus to the cross . . .
Prayer: Dear Lord we thank you for mother Mary and help us to learn her virtues and apply it in our lives. AMEN

CSI Dallas Sermons - Demo

The Disciple and the Yoga

Imanuel G. Christian

February 2011

It all began long time ago. God told Adam and Eve, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17). But then they were led astray by the lie, “You will not surely die….” Instead, “When you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” (Genesis 3:4-5). And everything was spoiled forever. All the grief and sadness, all the bitterness and broken relationships, all wars and violence entered into the human race. From that point on, man’s chief goal has been to escape from all this suffering and still continue to attempt to be like God, to be his own master, to be his own God, and has come up with many paths to take control of his destiny.

Yoga is one of these attempts. In writing about Yoga, I feel like Jude who wanted to write something that would benefit his readers spiritually, but instead he had to warn them of certain ideologies that had slipped in among the believers (Jude 3-4). Yoga today has become a part of the western culture practiced from kindergarten schools to the Whitehouse, a kind of miracle cure-all claiming to release stress and provide good health.

But most people are unaware of the philosophy behind yoga and the inherent physical, emotional, and spiritual dangers that even the proponents of yoga, some of the Hindu gurus, warn about. We very briefly will look at these two things and also answer the question: Can a believer innocently practice yoga?

As mentioned above, the goal of yoga is to escape from all the sufferings in this world and to become one with god (small “g”). Yoga literally means union, uniting self, the finite being, with something (yes, someThing, not someOne) that is higher, greater and transcendent known in Hinduism as Brahman. It is believed that man is divine; the only problem is his ignorance, not knowing who he is. So the goal of yoga is to harness that latent force within himself through meditation and other metaphysical techniques for the enlightenment and to be one with the Higher Being.

As a part of teaching Sanskrit in a state university college in India, I taught the philosophy of Yoga and still remember the eight-step path of yoga, like a staircase, leading the yogi (one who practices yoga) from ignorance to enlightenment, from atman (self) to paramatman (Higher Being). These eight steps are: Yama (self control), niyama (spiritual practice of rules), asana (seatings, postures), pranayama (control of breathing), pratyahara (controlling sense-perception), dhyana (deep contemplation, meditation), dharana (concentration), and finally samadhi (union or enlightenment). Yoga, as practiced in the West, popularly includes postures and breathing exercises, which as you can see, are steps three and four along the pathway to union with Brahman.

So, the philosophy behind and the goal of yoga is nothing less than demonic, and the source of it is Satan himself whose thoughts are well described by the words of Isaiah 14:14, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars (i.e. angels) of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly…. I will make myself like the Most High”. Satan asked for submission and demanded worship even from the Son of God Himself (Matthew 4:8-9). Yoga, down to the core, is nothing less than devil worship and occultic. Many of the websites that talk about yoga also include subjects like astrology, psychic readings, psychic paranormal, tarot, New Age, psychic meditation, dreams, reincarnation, etc. That in itself makes clear what kind of an ideology one is dealing with when one gets involved in the practice of yoga.

If the philosophy and goal of yoga are demonic, the dangers of yoga are unlimited, as described by the yoga proponents themselves (Dipankar Khanna; www.cherrysage.com/articles/kundaliniyoga). It is believed that the primordial “shakti”, cosmic energy lies coiled in the base of the spine and yoga awakens this cosmic energy and “when this awakening happens to people who are not on a spiritual path, the experience can leave them fragile and fragmented” (Khanna). Some of the physical manifestations described by Khanna are: “twitches, cramps or spasms. Itching, vibrating, prickling, tingling, stinging or crawling sensations. Intense heat or cold. Involuntary bodily movements (occur more often during meditation, rest or sleep): Jerking, tremors, shaking; feeling an inner force pushing one into postures or moving one's body in unusual ways. Alterations in eating and sleeping patterns. Episodes of extreme hyperactivity or, conversely, overwhelming fatigue. Intensified or diminished sexual desires. Headaches, pressures within the skull. Racing heartbeat, pain in the chest. Digestive system problems. Numbness or pain in the limbs (particularly the left foot and leg). Emotional outbursts; rapid mood shifts; seemingly unprovoked or excessive episodes of grief, fear, rage, depression. Spontaneous vocalizations (including laughing and weeping) are as unintentional and uncontrollable as hiccups. Hearing an inner sound or sounds, classically described as a flute, drum, waterfall, birds singing, bees buzzing but which may also sound like roaring, whooshing, or thunderous noises or like ringing in the ears. Mental confusion; difficulty in concentrating. Heat, strange activity, and/or blissful sensations in the head, particularly in the crown area.”

And some of the psychic experiences, as described by Khanna, are: “Altered states of consciousness: heightened awareness; spontaneous trance states; mystical experiences (if the individual's prior belief system is too threatened by these, they can lead to bouts of psychosis or self-grandiosity). Ecstasy, bliss and intervals of tremendous joy, love, peace and compassion. Extrasensory perception; out-of-body experiences; past life memories; astral travel; contact with spirit guides through inner voices, dreams or visions; healing powers. Increased creativity: New interests in self-expression and spiritual communication through music, art, poetry, etc. Intensified understanding and sensitivity: insight into one's own essence; deeper understanding of spiritual truths; exquisite awareness of one's environment (including 'vibes' from others). Enlightenment experiences direct Knowing of a more expansive reality; transcendent awareness.” You can decide which of these are beneficial, if any, and which of these are harmful.

If the goal and philosophy of yoga are demonic and the physical, emotional and spiritual dangers are unlimited, the benefits of yoga, if any, are exaggerated. Yoga promises nothing that cannot be achieved by some simple stretching and aerobic exercises. Actually, yoga does not do anything to build lean toned muscle or burn fat, which is what most people want. It does not boost energy or if there is any feeling of rejuvenation, it is temporary and mostly emotional and may even be occultic. By the use of various asanas (physical postures) and meditation (spiritually emptying of the mind) yoga claims to give relief from stress. But without eliminating the sources of stress, the relief, if any, is only temporary and it is almost like being high on mind altering drugs, as described above.

There is a better way. That is Christianity. Ironically, the goal of Christianity, too, is to be like God, to become Christ-like, but not in the sense of having ability and power like God, but in the sense of having an attitude of humility (Philippians 2:4-5) and a moral, holy character just as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), and in manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26) through the power provided by God Himself (Philippians 4:13). Man’s basic problem is not ignorance of self, but sin that keeps him separated from God and from enjoying his full potential of being what God intended him to be. Yoga provides a goal that cannot be attained by a finite human being; instead it can take one on a downward spiral of self-destruction leading to the pit of hell. If we live according to the principles laid down in the Word of God, most of our stress would be relieved and we would enjoy life to its fullness. The joy and fulfillment of life is found not in our attempts to usurp God’s place, but the truest and greatest joy of life comes from trustful obedience to God, from nothing else.

Depiction of God in 'Isaiah 16' and '1 John'

Depiction of God in 'Isaiah 16' and '1 John'

Isaiah 16

5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it—
one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the
cause of righteousness.

1 John

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.


I chose these two verses because they are written by two different authors, in two different contexts, to two different audiences, centuries apart, and yet are beautifully consistent in terms of their depiction of God.

Isaiah 16:5 is written in the context of God's great wrath and judgment against the Israelites, in light of their countless meanderings from God's laws. It is a prophecy from Isaiah to Israel, and verse 5 is a brief respite from the "doom and gloom" of the coming invaders -- for a moment, we get a glimpse of God's actual plan for His people, i.e., the coming redemption from sin via Jesus Christ. The "God of the Old Testament" is often made out to be wrathful, jealous, and full of "eye-for-an-eye" philosophy such that He orders the killing of thousands of people. This is falsely contrasted to the equally imperfect concept of a "New Testament God" who is peace-loving, yet wishy-washy.

Make no mistake -- God is the same God throughout Old and New Testament. It is only His methods that have changed, from the overt expression of His power to the Jewish people previously, to the more subtle but no less powerful presence of the Holy Spirit to all men after Christ. These two verses show us that God is not at all different in character.

Both deal with the issue of sin and its consequences -- in Isaiah, God still judges and seeks justice. Only someone who is holy could be a just judge. In 1 John, we are required to confess our sins; this assumes the existence of sin, and therefore the existence of holiness versus unholiness. The fact that we are confessing our sins to God and that He forgives us, indicates that He himself is sinless and is therefore capable of forgiving us. It also indicates that there is something that we must be forgiven from, and that there would have been a penalty to be paid had God not forgiven us. In other words, both passages clearly indicate that God cannot simply overlook or tolerate sin -- as a just God, He must deal with it.

Secondly, God's intrinsic characteristics are identical in both passages. In Isaiah, He sits with "faithfulness", "seeks justice", and speeds "righteousness". In 1 John, He is "faithful and just" and will purify us from our "unrighteousness". It is no coincidence that these words appear essentially unchanged across these volumes of Scripture -- they describe the same God, who is eternal and unchanging! How amazing it is that even in the most disparate locations, Scripture is so marvelously consistent and trustworthy.

- Deepak Ramesh

Spiritual Paralysis...!

I attended Sunday School at my church, and we were studying on Luke 5:17-26. We had a great discussion, great learning and great applications as we finished our class. I could not keep silent, so I thought of writing these lines in an effort to reflect my own life with reference to this incident.

For some reason, the thoughts keep lingering in my mind, and keep repeating in my ears.. 'Your Sins are Forgiven !' Here is a man at a vegetated state, because of friends help, he got in (though the friends have taken an extra measures to get him inside the room), and all he needed was healing! There is another set of people watching what would Jesus do..!

ONE Room; Three Groups of People; Friends with Faith ! Paralytic with Sin ! Pharisees with Pride ! Jesus Answered all the three of them in ONE sentence ! 'Your Sins Are Forgiven !'

For the Pharisees, He informed them, there is NONE else than Himself can forgive the sins of men and nobody else have the authority to forgive sins! For the paralytic, He answered, He has the authority to heal, and so He asked him to pack up his bed, and get out ! For the friends, who believed, who had faith, He did not fail !

This is the question I have been pondering this whole evening, which group am I in? Am I a friend who take other man to Jesus? or Am I a paralytic ? or Am I pride filled Pharisee with pathetic attitude? Before I answer my questions, my thoughts led me to one point, that I am SPIRITUALLY PARALYZED!

May be I am inactive, not usable by God, may be I am prejudiced, not meltable by Grace (like the pharisees) In either case, I am spiritually paralyzed! But I had Great Relief 'MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN'. I had great relief, "God told me to stand up, take my stretcher, and walk and witness' I had great relief, whether I am spiritually paralyzed, or spiritually pride, God's forgiveness of sins gives relief !

This is how the incident ends:

Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today. - Luke 5:25-26”

ONE FINAL NOTE: Actually, there is a FOURTH group of people in this incident, who are the home owners! They were never on the lime light ! They were never even mentioned! But gave way to my healing, my forgiveness of sins, by their sacrificial giving off of their own roofs! Thanks to sacrificial missionaries, faithful friends!

What do you choose today? A sacrificial home owner, or a faithful friend, or to walk and witness like the healed paralytic? They all played very significant role, in bringing the forgiveness and healing of Jesus Christ, just for ONE unusable, inactive, vegetated man!

Prayer, Praise and Promises 1/31

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 16:1-11

A Day of Delighting

Read Psalm 16:1-11

This is a psalm of delight. We find no trials or tribulations in this song.

David is simply delighting, first of all, in the Lord. "You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You" (v. 2). In other words, he is saying, "I have no good beyond God."

Then David delights in the Lord's people. "And to the saints who are on the earth, 'They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight'" (v. 3). Do you delight in God's people? "To live above with saints we love will certainly be glory. To live below with saints we know, that's another story." Are some of God's people becoming abrasive to you? Start delighting in the Lord, and you'll start delighting in His people.

David also delights in God's providence. "You, O Lord, are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places" (vv. 5,6). God, in His providence, knows where to draw the line. Problems arise when people don't know where His lines are. They want to keep moving the line. Let God give you your inheritance. When Israel went into the Promised Land, He gave each tribe its inheritance. It wasn't done by a real estate agent or by a lottery. God said, "Here are the lines. Maintain those lines." Do you want to delight in God and in His people? Then delight in His providence.

David also finds delight in God's pleasures. Verse 11 has been my life verse for many years. "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Do you want life and joy? Here's the secret: Live on God's path, live in His presence and live for His pleasures.

You have much to delight in--God's people, His providence and His pleasures. The key to delighting in the things of God is to delight in God Himself. Sometime today take a moment to simply delight in the Lord and praise Him for who He is.

Psalm 16:1-11 (New International Version, ©2011)

A miktam[a] of David.

1 Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Footnotes:

1. Psalm 16:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
2. Psalm 16:10 Or holy

Prayer, Praise and Promises 1/30

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 15:1-5

Are You Worthy?

Read Psalm 15:1-5

Imagine what would happen if I walked up to the main gate at Buckingham Palace in London and said to one of the tall, hand-some, well-dressed guards, "Sir, I want to live with the royal family." He would look at me and say, "Begone, before I arrest you."

Who is worthy to live with God? Only through Jesus Christ can we "dwell in God's holy hill." David always was a little bit envious of the priests. When we read the Psalms, we find David saying such things as, "Oh, those priests. They are able to walk in the temple of God. I can't do that. I can't go into the Holy Place." Spiritually he could, but physically he couldn't. Because we are in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can come boldly into the presence of God, not just to visit Him but to live with Him.

David describes the kind of person who is able to live with God. He must have the right kind of feet ("walks uprightly") and hands ("works righteousness"), lips ("speaks the truth") and heart. What we say with our lips always has to come from our heart. Verse 3 also talks about the tongue: "He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend." This is the person God welcomes at His front door and says, "You come and live with Me." That person has clean feet, clean hands and a clean heart that produce clean words and clean motives, one in whose eyes a vile person is despised. His eyes look upon only what is right and good.

Here is a beautiful picture of the kind of person God chooses to live with Him. And the beauty of it is this: Such a person will never get an eviction notice. "He who does these things shall never be moved" (v. 5). How can we be this kind of person? Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God welcomes those with clean feet, clean hands and a clean heart. Remember, your worth is founded in Jesus Christ. It is through faith in Him that you are acceptable in the sight of God. Are your feet, hands and heart clean?

Psalm 15:1-5 (New International Version, ©2011)

A psalm of David.

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?

2 The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.

Prayer, Praise and Promises 1/29

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Proverbs 9:10 2 Corinthians 1:20 Psalm 14:1-7

Who's a Fool?

Read Psalm 14:1-7

The word fool in Psalms or Proverbs does not refer to an unintelligent person. It refers to a person who is morally perverse. Why is he a fool? Because "the fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (v. 1). And what is the result of this? "They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good" (v. 1). God looks down and says, "Does anybody have a clean heart?" The answer is no.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). When people don't fear God, they have no wisdom, spiritually or otherwise. The fool says, "There is no God," which is practical atheism. Most of the world today lives by the philosophy that says, "There may be a God, but I'm not going to think about Him." God is not in their thoughts, and consequently, He is not in their lives.

The two words "there is" in verse 1 are in italics, which means they were added by the translators to help complete the meaning of the verse. We can read this: "The fool has said in his heart, 'No God.'" The fool not only says that there is no God; he also says no to God. When we say no to God, we are telling Him that we know more about life than He does and that we have more authority than He has. We cut off ourselves from the blessing He wants to give us.

Rejecting God involves a man's whole being. "The fool has said in his heart" (v. 1). There we have the heart. In verse 2 God looks down to see if any understand. That involves the mind. "They have all turned aside, . . . there is none who does good, no, not one" (v. 3). There we have the will. Verses 1-3 show the heart, mind and will possessed by sin, because somebody has said, "No God." If you want peace, say yes to God. All of His promises are yes in Jesus Christ (II Cor. 1:20).

The most foolish thing you can do is leave God out of your life. If you do, you cut off your source of life and blessing. Don't make the mistake of the fool. Turn to the Lord and submit to His authority.

Psalm 14:1-7 (New International Version, ©2011)

For the director of music. Of David.

1 The fool[a] says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on the LORD.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge.

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Footnotes:

1. Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.

Prayer, Praise and Promises 1/28

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 13:1-6

How Long Can You Wait?

Read Psalm 13:1-6

Have you ever been impatient with God? Impatience is one of my big problems. I always get into the wrong lane on a toll road. Someone's in front of me with foreign currency, trying to buy his way through the tollbooth. I get into the wrong line at the airport, thinking, This line is a good line; it's going to move. But it doesn't because somebody in the line has lost his passport. And I get irritated.

It's one thing for us to be impatient with ourselves or with others. But when we become impatient with God, we should watch out! "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul?" (vv. 1,2). Four times David asked, "How long?" We're so time conscious today. We have watches that show us split seconds. But what do we do with those split seconds? If we save three minutes by taking a shortcut, what significant thing will we accomplish with the three minutes we save?

We expect God to do what we want Him to do--and right now! But He doesn't always act immediately. Abraham had to wait for 25 years after God's promise before Isaac was born. Isaac had to wait 20 years for his children. Joseph had to wait 13 years before he was set free and put on the throne. Moses had a wait of 80 years. You see, God's schedule is not the same as ours. Sometimes He waits so that He can do more for us than we expect. When He heard that Lazarus was dying, our Lord waited until his friend's death before He came. But when He came, He brought a greater miracle and received greater glory. The hardest thing to do is to wait on the Lord. But we can if we will trust Him and rest on His Word.

Some of your greatest blessings come with patience. When you must wait for God to act, you can be confident that He knows what is best for you and what will best glorify Him. Are you waiting for God to act on your behalf? Align with His timing and rest on the promises of His Word.

Psalm 13:1-6 (New International Version, ©2010)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Footnotes:

1. Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.

Prayer, Praise and Promises 1/27

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: John 10:4 Psalm 12:1-8

Pure Words

Read Psalm 12:1-8

When you feel deserted, alone in standing for what's right, read Psalm 12. The emphasis in this psalm is on words, on speaking.

First, David speaks in prayer (vv. 1-3). Where are the godly? People today don't want to take a stand for the truth, but David stood for what is right.

Sometimes we feel the faithful have disappeared--those who believe in prayer, giving and commitment. Today's generation doesn't believe in commitment, especially with our words. We hear so much empty talk, lies and flattery. Flattery is manipulative, not communicative, like our advertising and some of our preaching.

Second, the wicked speak in pride (v. 4). Never underestimate the power of speech. Jesus told the truth; His enemies argued. He gave words of life; they rejected Him. He came in love; they crucified Him. One of the evidences that a person is giving the truth of God's Word is that he is rejected. People don't want to hear truth unless they belong to truth (John 10:4).

Third, God speaks in promise (vv. 5,7). His words are pure, not empty lying (v. 6). But the words of the wicked will burn in the furnace. God's Word is precious, because it cost Jesus' life. It is proved (v. 6) and permanent (v. 7). He keeps His promises. God knows where His people are, and He helps them. "I will arise"; "I will protect"; "I can be trusted" (vv. 5-7).

So much that is spoken in this world is untrue and empty talk. Be encouraged that God speaks in promise. His Word is pure and true. When you are surrounded by lies, rest on the promises of the Bible.

Psalm 12:1-8 (New International Version, ©2010)

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.

3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold[c] refined seven times.

7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Footnotes:

1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

Prayer, Praise and Promises 1/26

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 19 Psalm 86:11 Psalm 12:1-8

The Elijah Complex

Read Psalm 12:1-8

Whenever you get the idea that you are the only one left who is godly, beware. That's how David was praying in Psalm 12. He said, "The godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men" (v. 1). I call this the Elijah complex. You will remember that Elijah had this problem (I Kings 19). He left his place of ministry, went out into the wilderness and sat down, pouting. God asked, "What are you doing here?" Elijah replied, "I'm the only godly one left, and they are trying to kill me." God said, "I have 7000 people waiting in line. I can pick any one of them to get My work done."

When you begin to think you're the only godly person, it quickly leads to pride. In this passage David refers to the sin of flattery (v. 2). Our world is filled with flattery. Sometimes it's called advertising or promotion, but it's still flattery. God doesn't flatter people. He tells the truth. Flattery is manipulation, not communication. It comes from a double heart, from mixed motives. David said, "Unite my heart to fear Your name" (Ps. 86:11). Don't fall for flattery or flatter yourself into thinking you are the only godly one left.

Verse 6 tells us where to turn: "The words of the Lord are pure." Listening to your own words may lead to discouragement or pride. And the words of others may be flattery, lying or vanity. So listen to the Word of God and test everything you hear by it.

The godly person has not completely vanished from the earth. We'd be surprised to find where God has His people, waiting to accomplish His will. Others are waiting to stand with you and help you. Lay hold of God's Word. It has been tested and proved. You can trust it.

The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength. Feeling discouraged? Encourage yourself with the Word of God.

Psalm 12:1-8 (New International Version, ©2010)

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.

3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold[c] refined seven times.

7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Footnotes:

1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

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