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