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Empowered by Faith: Embrace Your Spirit of Boldness

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II Timothy1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Encouragement of Paul to Timothy

Timothy was young and had a similar spirit of Paul (Philippians 2:19-20). He does the work of the Lord as Paul did (I Corinthians 16:10), who is Paul’s beloved and faithful son in the Lord (I Corinthians 4:17), having a good cheerful spirit (Acts 18:5) and is a faithful steward (Acts 19:21-22.)

Paul encourages Timothy, saying “I am continually praying day and night remembering…..”

  1. Your Sincere Faith, Genuine faith (II Timothy 1:5)
  2. Prayerfulness, Mindful of your tears (II Timothy 1:4)
  3. Holding steadfast the sound words from Paul. (II Timothy 1:13 – 15)

Paul instructed Timothy that (II Timothy 1:8)

  • He should not be ashamed of the Gospel.
  • He should not be ashamed of The Gospel preacher.
  • He should be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel.

Why? The GOSPEL.

It Saved us, Called us with a Holy calling, Blessed us with His own purpose & Grace and Planned for us even before the time began.

Spirit of Boldness/Courage:

Romans 8:15: “you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.”

  • Once, we were under the bondage of sin and of this world, but now we received the Spirit of Freedom and Sonship to break every bond (Ephesians 2:1 – 6; John 8:32 – 34).
  • We have Not received the Spirit of Fear and Terror (Hebrews 2:14).
  • Fear of Death
  • Fear of our Future
  • Fear about our Children
  • Fear of unbelievers

Adoption:

  • Sonship means the same rights and privileges as being born in the same family, having the right to call “Abba, Father”.
  • The slaves are never allowed to say ‘Abba’ to their master.

We read in Romans 8:16 -17: 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.17 Not only children but even heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

Also, Proverbs 28:1 says, “……. the righteous are as bold as a lion”.

Examples:

  • Early disciples witnessed Lord Jesus’s resurrection with boldness. (Acts 4:13) When they saw the boldness of Peter & John, they found that they were with Jesus. If we also have such fellowship with Jesus and with the power of the Holy Spirit, then we will also be able to witness Jesus Boldly.
  • Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel boldly (Acts 13:16; Acts 14:3).
  • Joseph of Arimathaea went boldly to receive the body of Jesus (Mark 15:43).
  • Jonathan boldly went to face the enemies singlehandedly saying to his servant “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” (I Samuel 14:1).
  • Four lepers at the city gate entrance boldly said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’ (II Kings 7:3)
  • Esther went before the King boldly to intercede for her People. “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Spirit of Power:

Luke 24:49 says, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Dunamis means Inherent Power/ Power to reproduce itself.

Paul reminded Timothy,

  • To fan into flame the gift of God given to him, “to stir up the Spirit” (II Timothy 1:6).
  • Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders of the church laid their hands on you (I Timothy 4:14).

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his Glory and Goodness (II Peter 1:3) (I Corinthians 2:14)

Demonstration of the Spirit and Power. (Romans 15:18 – 29; Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:17 – 20)

Spirit of Love:

I Corinthians 13:4 – 7

  1. Patience: believes, hopes, and endures all things, suffers long.
  2. Kindness: love in action.
  3. Generosity: not envious or jealous
  4. Humility: does not parade itself
  5. Courtesy: Polite, never rude or discourteous.
  6. Unselfishness: seek good for others.
  7. Good temper: never irritated
  8. Righteousness: love in conduct, hate sin, not glad when others go wrong.
  9. Sincerity: Always Honest, not a hypocrite, never boastful.

Spirit of Sound Mind:

Galatians 5:22 – 23 describes the Fruit of the Spirit.

We need to overcome all the problems and difficulties we face in our life, for which God has given us the Power of Understanding.

God has indeed given us such boldness and power to witness our Lord and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit in this world.

As Matthew 5:16 says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do you have such courage to share the word of God in this present dark world? Let’s pray that our Lord and Savior, the true Light of the World, gives light to everyone to shine.

Transfiguration

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Matthew 17:1-6 1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

Background:

We read in Matthew 16:13 that when Lord Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, whom do men say that He (The Son of man) was?

His disciples replied Jesus saying that some said that He is John the Baptist, while some others said that He is Elijah and others said that He is Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

Jesus then asked his disciples, “But, whom do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of living God.

Caesarea Philippi: 

A Roman sanctuary, which included temples and ritual courtyards, built near the sacred grotto of the Greco-Roman God Pan. The ancient city named after Pan, was located to the south of the springs.

This city was originally known as Paneas (also spelled as Panias) because of the temple erected there to Pan a god of shepherds and flocks, a different version of Baal-gad (a god of good luck), Canaanite’s god.

According to Greek mythology, the Pan god is depicted as half-human, half-goat (it’s upper body and head like man, while standing on its hind Goat legs and also having goat horn on its head) playing flute. His pipe-playing was believed to entertain the dancing goats. At the bottom of the cave, there was a deep chasm/fountain with a spring. As a part of Pagan worship to Pan god, which started from the Hellenistic period – 3rd century BCE, sacrifices were thrown down into this deep chasm. If the sacrifices sank into water, they believed that their offering was accepted, else they would repeat the sacrifices and if signs of blood appeared, then it was considered as that their sacrifices were rejected. This Deep chasm/fountain was called the Gates of Hades/Hell (Gate of Underworld).

In 20th BC Herod the Great, rebuilt the Temple in honor of Caesar. 18 years later Herod’s son Philip inherited the site and named it after him as Caesarea – Philippi.

During the time of Hebrew Bible, before Banias became associated with Pan, the northeastern corner of the Kingdom of Israel was a center for Baal worship. In the nearby city of Dan, 6 miles to the west, Israelite king Jeroboam built the high place that angered God and eventually led the Israelites to worship false deities. In the due course, worship of Baal morphed into the worship of Greek fertility Gods. Baal-gad (Joshua 11:17, Judges 3:3) a city in North Palestine was named after his name. (“Baal’ Lord of good luck” or ‘Baal is God’)

This was the place where the deep Chasm/fountain called the Gates of Hades was present. It was this very place where Jesus questioned his disciples about whom people thought He was and also said to Peter that the gates of Hades will not overcome.

Matthew 16:28 Jesus said, ‘Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming His kingdom.” 

Luke 9:27, 31 Lord Jesus demonstrates the Power of the Kingdom of God using a vision of his Heavenly glory to strengthen the faith of the Apostles.

Matthew 16:18 – 19 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

  • Expresses His divine nature and magnification of His glory (Philippians 2:5 – 11).
  • Moses and Elijah appeared on either side of Jesus and talked about His death. Moses as the fulfillment of law and Elijah as the fulfilment of prophesies of old testaments to give us grace, mercy, and peace.
  • It was an inauguration of New Covenant and presenting Jesus as High Priest to us.
  • It teaches us the transformation of Humanity to His glory and the transfiguration of mortality to immortality. (I Corinthians 15: 52, II Corinthians 3:18).

Matthew 17: 5 – 6 1 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid

  • “Hear Him”, the Him represents Christ’s supreme authority.

Read Luke 9:28 – 36

Luke 9:28 – 29 28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

Mountains can be a place where we see the glory of Lord Jesus.

The Lord is seeking to take us all to the Mount of His Glory, so that we’ll see the glory of the Lord and witness the glorious works of Christ.

What a marvelous revelation we will receive of Him on the Mount of His Glory, which is our Mount of Transfiguration.

  • Climbing up to the Mountain of Prayer:

Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; John 6:15 speaks about how often Jesus climbed the mountains and prayed.

In I King 18:42; I King 17:1 We read how Elijah climbed up Mt Carmel and prayed for rain. And there was no rain for three and half years. He then again prayed earnestly, and God sent rain.

Prayer transforms us.

Without prayer life, we will be unable to understand the burden of others.

e.g   High priest Eli misunderstood the burden/agony of Hannah. (I Samuel 1:14)

Simon did not fathom the brokenness of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet. (Luke 7:38)

Gehazi did not comprehend the Shunammite woman’s turmoil but Elisha. (2 King 4:27).

In Mark 3:13-14; Luke 10:1à we read how the Lord went up on the mountain and called His disciples to himself giving them authority.

At times, Mountains can be a place of temptation and testing but it’s the place to ground us in Prayer.

  • Climbing up to the Mountain of Good News

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Romans 10:15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

The coming of the swift-footed messengers of the gospel of the kingdom of God is beautiful.

We are called to share the good news about Christ wherever we go, to different workplaces, neighborhoods, schools and campuses and to the different countries he has scattered us.

For this ‘Goodnews’ is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

The outset of the runner seen on distant mountains dashing closer with long-expected good news is lovely to the sight.

The feet of the Gospel givers are appealing because they are close at hand with good news of peace, hope, salvation and God’s sovereign rule.

  • Climbing up to the Mountain of Building Church

Haggai 1:8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.

We read in I king 5:1 – 8 that Solomon brought in the timber from Hiram and built the Temple of God.

God has called us for ‘His Work/ Purposes’.

‘Gods cause’ needs work to be done completely and not stopped because of the obstacles faced while executing ‘God’s work’.

Even Solomon, first built ‘the Temple of God’ before building his own palace.

As William Carey’s motto says,

 “Expect great things from God;

Attempt great things for God.”

  • Climbing into Upper room to get the Anointing of Holy Spirit.

Act 1:13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James, son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

The Disciples of Jesus who were all together in the Upper room, were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance on the day of Pentecost. Peter (who had once denied and betrayed Jesus in Caiaphas’s house) stood up and preached with anointing from the Holy Spirit. About 3000 souls received Salvation that day.

This Upper Room experience demonstrates the great ‘Move of God’ and the ‘Immediate impact of the Holy Spirit’.

And also, one of God’s palpable Presence, Salvation, Celebration and Joy.

  • Climbing the Mountain for Higher /Intimate Spiritual experiences.

Exodus 24:1 à Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance.

  1. Firstly, (Exodus 24:9, 10) all the 70 elders of Israel went up and had “a vision of God.”
  2. Secondly, (Exodus 24:12, 13) Moses and Joshua went up on the mountain and obtained the Law and Commandments from God. 

Exodus 24:12 à 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

  • Thirdly, (Exodus 24:15) Moses further went up and saw the “Glory of God”.

Exodus 24:15, 16 à 15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.

Each of us should encounter these Intimate spiritual experiences. (Revelation 4:1; Philippians 3:10 -12)

Thanking God for the Mountain of Calvary, where He delivered each of us from all our sins.

Believe and climb the Mountains of the Lord that He has kept for us and we’ll find His Glory on top of each one.

God Bless you!

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth.

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Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Here apostle Peter talks about Lord Jesus in the house of Cornelius. As the Spirit of God was with Lord Jesus, he did good and delivered many from diseases. We believe trinity and all have equality of power and authority, God the Father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit.  John 1:1,3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

These are the clear proof of the divinity of our Lord Jesus. So now we have a question why this all-powerful Lord Jesus needs anointing though HE is the son of God and HE can do everything. Even when HE was on earth, HE was as 100% man and 100% God. Just everything will obey and happen by HIS one word. Still did Jesus require this Holy Spirit to be as a son of man and be enabled to do God’s will?

Many times, we see Jesus was anointed, when Jesus stepped out after HIS baptism, HE received The Holy Spirit and even led to the wilderness by HIM. HE did all ministry through the strength of the Holy Spirit.  Isaiah 61:1 Here we see the Holy Spirit is upon HIM to proclaim Gospel (Luke 4:18). John 5:19- He does only what the father does.

That means in order to discard all his own desires and do only God the father’s will, Jesus required the anointing of the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22 “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.”

Here Lord Jesus sends His disciples into this world to do God’s will. John 20:21;22 Jesus said like father sent me, I too send you into the world. To do God’s will is like food to Jesus. So, likewise we all have been sent into this world to do God’s will and in order to do God’s will Jesus emptied himself likewise we need to empty our self. Phil 2:6;7 Though He was equal to God. Took the form of servant and became like man. So, we need the Holy Spirit in order to empty ourselves and do the will of God.

In this world Jesus was as a role model and lived to do God’s will and showed as that we need to receive this Holy Spirit and go into this world. If we can’t live like Jesus our forerunner, we can’t go to be with Him eternally.  Romans 8:9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

How serious! Those who don’t have HOLY SPIRIT don’t belong to Christ.  “Christ ” means anointed one. 2 Corinthians 1:22 “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Because God has bought us as His own by the blood of Christ Jesus and sealed us with Holy Spirit. Now just like the seal is outside and all can see it, anointing of Holy Spirit can be witnessed by all.

Eph 2:8,10 says to do good deeds you have been created in Christ Jesus. Also, we have been changed as God’s deeds. But do we do good deeds? Instead we think we can’t do anything for the kingdom of God. To give Jesus to a person is the greatest good deed a person can do in this world.

Now I ask you, how many souls have you been able to bring to Christ?

If not even one soul, then be aware there is no one as irresponsible as you.

Mathew 7:21– This verse tells us that those who haven’t done God’s will can’t enter the kingdom. According to HIS word only, God will judge. Another question is if I don’t ask God what should I do, how can HE teach me? Jesus every night sat in God’s presence and prayed and took decision, even to choose HIS disciples.  So, if we must do God’s will, we need to sit at the Lord’s feet. and ask HIM what the purpose God is has sent us in this world and to do that purpose, we also need to receive Holy Spirit and moreover there will be God’s will already under action in those who have received the Holy Spirit.

Phil 2:4—each one has to look into other requirements, not only self-seeking. Titus 2:14–Jesus Christ was sacrificed to do good deeds. To do these good deeds and fulfil all HIS ministry, Jesus required HOLY SPIRIT.

Likewise, we each one should be anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfil God’s purpose. To send this great gift of Holy Spirit Lord Jesus said it will be better for HIM to go (John 16:7)

Now Jesus seated at the right hand of God the Father can send Holy Spirit.  That’s why John the Baptist said Lord Jesus will baptise us with the Holy Spirit and fire. HE is our comforter and advocate and helper. John 3:34–God pours HIS spirit immeasurably.  Lamb of God had these characters of humble, purity, sensitive and gentle. Holy Spirit dwells in a person like this who humbles by denying self.

Why many don’t have HOLY SPIRIT in their life?

Mathew 16:24 If a person must do God’s will, should deny self-desires and change his track towards doing God’s will. Only then he or she can do God’s purpose and will. Only upon him The Holy Spirit will reside. But in the life of a person who doesn’t deny self-will, Holy Spirit cannot reside.

Luke 4:1 Jesus was led to the wilderness by the HOLY SPIRIT and then led by the Holy Spirit to Galilee to do wonderful miracles, Luke 5:17 healed diseases, Luke 10:21Joyful in Holy Spirit

Luke 11:20 by the finger of God drive away evil. Mathew 12:28 by the Holy Spirit drive away evil. Also, Jesus could surrender to cross due to Holy Spirit.  Heb 9:14

Rom 1:5 due to the power of the Holy Spirit which was in Lord Jesus he was resurrected from death. Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Bible says Jesus Was filled with Holy Spirit and power. That’s why God wants us to wait in Jerusalem until we receive Holy Spirit.

Halleluiah.

The Mercy Seat

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Exo 25:17-22

After 430 years as predestined by God the same day the Israelites were brought out of the bondage of Egypt. They were made to camp at the foot of Mount Sinai and God asked them to prepare themselves by fasting for 3 days and purify them, so that God can speak to them. As told God came down upon the mount and spoke to them, which was terrible fearful sight and Israelites decided not to hear God directly, instead wanted Moses to talk to God.

But God wants to dwell among us and talk to us. God showed the model of tabernacle on the mount and told Moses to build similar tabernacle in the middle of the dwellings of the 12 tribes. Now to build the tabernacle and all things in it. God asks His people to give offering willingly out of wholeheartedness. (Exo 25:1-2) God had made Egyptians give their silver and gold to Israelites when they came out of Egypt, they had things to offer.

The Mercy Seat

God gives specifications to make ark of covenant covered by the mercy seat. Mercy seat means covering. This ark of covenant is foreshadowing of our Lord Jesus. It is made up of shittim wood which symbolize humanity and the gold covering symbolizes divinity. As our Lord Jesus walked upon earth as 100% man and 100% God.

This ark of covenant has 3 things in it. (Heb 10: 4,5)

i) Golden pot with manna

ii) Aaron ‘s Rod

iii) Two tablets of commandments

All these represent our Lord Jesus, Aaron’s Rod represents testimony of the chosen the high priest role of Lord Jesus. The Golden pot with manna refers to our heart filled with  the word of God ( Mathew 4:4) man doesn’t live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth, in the Gospel of John 6:35, Jesus says HE is the bread of life. The 2 tablets refers to the Law of Moses.

Why this mercy seat should cover the ark of covenant?

NKJV Bible. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of the God. Roman 6:23 wages of sin is death. Law kills and can’t make anyone righteous because even if one Law is violated one is guilty of not following the entire Law and should be killed for violating the law. God covered this Law with mercy.  This mercy seat covering the law covers all the sins. So, we can go near God. Cherubim is model of God’s throne of grace.

1. Mercy seat is a place of receiving grace, forgiveness, place of redemption.

When a sinner cries to God accepting his sin and repents, God forgives through HIS mercy. 1 John1 :7.

Because Jesus paid the penalty on the cross once for all and sat at the right hand of the Father God (Heb 10:11,12)

Blood of Jesus Christ covering our sin and we have boldness to come near mercy seat. (Heb 10:19)

John 1:16 “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Col 2:14 “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it”

Roman 3:26;25 1 Thes 5:9 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God removes the judgment from us by breaking the law and the mercy seat prevails over law.

2. Mercy seat teaches us the Pattern of Worship and Offer sacrifice to God.

Lev 16:14,15.”He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

[15]“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

Lord Jesus became the lamb.”

The mercy seat needed to be sprinkled with blood.  Jesus shed the blood on the cross for you and me.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. … [8] For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Roman 12: 1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

3. Mercy seat teaches us the Pattern of Interceding Prayer.

Exodus 25:22 “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.”

This is the secret place of prayer. Heb 4:14; Lev 7:89–place where we meet and talk to God.

Our prayer, intercessor being answer through Jesus.

Lev 7:89 “Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.”

Today our body is the temple of God. Holy Spirit resides in us, He fills our heart with living Word of God (Golden pot of manna) and He pour out love of God (Romans 5:5). Glory of God shining in us (2 Cor 3:18) The Shekinah the visible presence of God overshadows us. Whenever we approach God in prayer, we shed tears of joy, our heart fill with praises. While we praise our God, God is descending in clouds of praises, there we hear and speak with God.

Disciplined prayer life keeps our body in God’s presence as temple and this way that we built the Ark of covenant within us.

If you do not have real communion with God then you do have reason that Christ is not in your first place, not honoring God, you are seeking worldly things, and you are far away from God.

Salvation is the hidden treasure [Mathew 13:14]. Receive this salvation and workout our salvation fearfully Considering all other profitable things a loss. [Phil 3:8, Isaiah 55:1; Rev 3:18]

Due to this mercy seat we come near God.

Mercy prevails over LAW. If we submit ourselves to God as pleasing sacrifice, we can be in communion with God all the time, as Immanuel “God is with us” now in our Spirit making us HIS temple.

We really need to Thank God for HIS abundant unchanging mercies.

Halleluiah. GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST.

The Destiny and Identity of God’s People

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Exodus 19:5-6

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Almighty God delivered Israelites from the bondage of slavery in Egypt and brought them to the Mount Sinai. They camped under the mount and God revealed Himself and taught them who these God’s children are. There is lot of difference between how this world sees us and how does God see us. Even in the life of Joseph we see that his father Jacob’s household who were shepherds came to Egypt, were not respected by the Egyptians.

Similarly, the world may look down upon Christians or sometimes we ourselves think inferior about ourselves, but God wants us to know how we are seen by Him.

Let’s go through some verses which reveal us this.

1.The armies of the Lord

Exodus 7:4 But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Here we see God addresses Israelites as ” My armies”

Exodus 12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

Here as “armies of the Lord”. God looks at us as a mighty Army, so we just need to obey Him instantly just as a national army obeys its commander.

Gen 47:4 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.”  In heaven God has armies of angel but in earth we are the armies of God.

Are we army or are we coward?

Eph 6:10;11 says we need to wear the armor of God to fight against the principalities and overcome the powers of darkness. Yes, the army of God must be ready to fight the enemy wearing the armor of God.

Zechariah 9:8 God camps around His army to watch over them. Isaiah 47:4 God of army or Lord of hosts.  Joshua 5:13;14;15 Lord God is the commander of the army. God doesn’t leave us alone but walks ahead of us as the commander. Exodus 13:21;22 God goes ahead of us and breaks the obstacles. Exodus 14:19- Also God protects HIS ARMY front and back from the army of Pharaoh.  Ex. 2 Chronicles 13:12 God himself is with us as our head.

2.A Special Treasure.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.  Exodus 6:7; Titus 2:14, 1John 3:1 All these verses we see how much God loves us and calls us HIS own people who are bought for good deeds through The precious blood of HIS only begotten son Lord Jesus.

3.The kingdom of priests.

Exodus 19:6 ,1 peter 2:9– we are Royal priesthood who always stand in front of God.

Stand between people and God pleading and interceding. Always giving praises to God.

4.The First Born

Fourthly, God addresses Israelites as HIS firstborn, who is eligible for double portion blessings

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. God considers us as heirs in the line of Lord Jesus and our dwellings place is in heaven. (Phil 3:20; Col 1:15, Gal 3:26)

We are only sent to this world temporarily to fulfill God’s purpose and then we will be taken back to heaven.

So, we need to lead a very disciplined life. We have divine Father, if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Since we do have such privileges, we ought to well-disciplined and having of good moral culture.

5.The Holy People.

Exo 19:6 God calls us HIS Holy People.

God lets the people fast for 3 days to purify themselves before HE could give them commands in exodus 20.

HE is a Holy God. Moses 19: 23,24 warns people not to come near the mount.

Exo 20: 18-20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, people trembled with fear. Now all the people witnessed the thundering, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”

God revealed Himself literally because i) to test the people ii) they do have God fear iii) so they don’t sin.

Today this magnificent God Holy Spirit dwells in our body. 1 Cor 3:16;17. We are the temple of God.

Many don’t have fear of God as they don’t know themselves nor know their God. Eze 43:12- says Holiness is the law of the temple. So after being redeemed by the blood of Christ and taken baptism and our names written in the book of life, we are now the children of The most High God and God’s Spirit lives in us.

So how fearfully we need to live a holy life as we are HIS Holy People. (Heb 10:19)

Let’s always remember and worship God.

Halleluiah. Amen.

God who heals you.

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2 Kings 20:1-2,5

[1] In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’

[2] Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,

[5]“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.

As this word comes to king Hezekiah to set right his household matters as he may not live long, today God is telling us too.

We need to be prepared to leave this life and enter into His glory anytime. So, we need to settle allotments for our family members before our death. People write legal document for their children regarding their land and properties. Thus, preparing for their death.

Similarly, we as believers need to be ready spiritually to leave this earthly life anytime. Jesus can come anytime to take HIS church. So, we need to be ready anytime. This preparation requires us to be in constant connection with God transforming in HIS likeness.

Luke 12:19 we see a foolish man who is joyfully talking to his own soul rejoicing in his prosperity without knowing that his money and overfilling barn is not going to help his soul. But the soul or our inner real man needs to be with God always to be healthy.

Here we see about king Hezekiah who was a very good king. God had done many wonderful deeds in the life of king Hezekiah. 2king 18:2;4 Reveals us that from the time Hezekiah became the king of Judah at the age of 25 years  , he was very careful in following  all the instructions that God had given through Moses and brought great revival and reformation among the people of Judah. He delivered the people from idolatry and turned them towards the true worship of God.

First, 2 Kings 18:5,6 King Hezekiah did not turn away from God, but was always depending on God trusting HIM alone.

It means our soul is always clinging unto God in all situations. None of this world’s troubles or desires should be able to separate him from God. We should have very close relation with God. GOD should be happy with our life.

Secondly, he walked according to all that God taught to Moses.

If a man is very religious, but doesn’t walk according to the statutes of God, his devotion is in vain.

Thirdly, he did not turn back from God and was consistent in following God.   2kings 18: 7 says so God was with him.  Because he was always in God’s presence.

David to Solomon

(1 Chronicles 28:9-10)

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

David tasted God’s goodness and so instructed his son Solomon to be very careful in following God’s commands.

He taught his son that God has a greater purpose in his life and so advised him to be very careful in obeying God.

In bible, we see so many examples like Moses, Joseph, Jacob, David who always hold on to God and rejoiced to be in God’s presence. Moses did not want to go anywhere without God. Joseph even in prison was with God. God promised Jacob that wherever he goes God will be with him and fulfill HIS promise to him. (Genesis 28:15)

Is it possible to be with God always?

Yes, that’s why God had given us Holy Spirit to always be with us and guide us. Immanuel means God with us.

God wants to be with us. So, we should be careful enough to not grieve the Holy Spirit in us (Eph 4:30). When we seek to please God in meditating bible, prayer and fasting God does wonderful deeds (2 Chro 26:5)

2 kings 20:2. We see king Hezekiah turned towards wall and cried.

We might think why God would take away such a good person so early in his young age of 30’s, but the death of saints is pleasing to God. He wasn’t afraid of death but was worried of leaving behind his people who are just learning to turn towards God. He was worried thinking there will be none to lead them after his death. All saints of God including apostle Paul and David were eagerly waiting to die and meet their Lord Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

 Hezekiah upon knowing his dreadful disease, wholeheartedly cried unto God, totally cutting off from the world and prayed earnestly. Immediately God answered his prayer and send word of adding 15 yrs to his life. ( V 5)

Acts 12 we see how the church prayed earnestly for Peter and God miraculously brought Peter out of prison.

Diseases occur due to many reasons. God did not say we won’t get any disease.   We might get disease due to many reasons

1) because of sin in the past life

2) can be an allowed from God to test our love for God, like in the life of Job to find out whom we rely upon primarily God or man?

James 5:13,15 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Yes, even today God watches our tears and listens to our prayers of faith.  God extended the life of Hezekiah by 15 more years seeing his tears.

HE is the same God today.

If we are with HIM, GOD is with us and hears our prayers and answers and delivers us from any grave situation.

Let’s not accept sickness in our body but pray in faith for healing from our Father God in JESUS mighty name.

HE will heal us, and we will glorify HIM.

Halleluiah. May God bless.

The Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom

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1 Chronicles 13:14

The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.

Ark of covenant can be understood as the place where God’s presence dwells, from where God speaks to HIS people. Exodus 25:17-22 God gives HIS servant Moses instructions how to make tabernacle, mercy seat, the most holy place, and the ark of covenant. God used to speak to Moses from the most holy place and Moses brings God’s word to HIS people.

But as time passed, the priests of the Highest God did not follow God’s word diligently and so God rejected them. During the time of Eli, the priest, God let the philistines defeat Israel and capture the ark of God. They took it to their place (1 Sam 3:11-24, 1 Sam 4:21-22). But they couldn’t keep it for long with them, as the ark of God in the enemy’s camp brought disasters to them. (1 Sam 6:19;20) In fear and trembling the philistines wanted to send the ark back to Israel because they were not aware of the statutes of God in taking care of the ark. Philistine sent the Ark of covenant to Israel.

Now it was 20 years, none sought the ark of covenant during the days of king Saul (1 Sam 7:1,2). (1 Chronicles 13:1-2) But during David’s kingship we read here how David started seeking for the ark and planned to bring it back. We must also seek God’s presence daily.

1 Chronicles 13:7- so they brought the ark with great joy, singing and worship. But the end was sad, God strike down Uzza who touched it unworthily and he died. (1 Chronicles 13:10) Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.

Number 4:15 “And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.”

Because God had given statutes and instructions how to carry the ark of God. So, anyone who touches it unworthy will be killed same time.  Uzza’s fatal attempt to steady the ark of God is painful lesson underscoring the necessity of doing what is right in God’s eye, not our own eyes.

Leviticus 10:1-2 “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So, fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”

God strikes the people as they disobey the proper instructions and do according to their desires (I Sam 6:19 )

Even today people don’t know how to worship God. (Deuteronomy 12:4;8, judges 17:6; 21:23) They prefer doing in ways that seems best to their knowledge and desires, but not mindful of what the scripture teaches. They learnt the ways of gentiles and worship God like the gentiles did, which is abomination to God’s sight.

1 Chronicles 13:12, Here seeing the judgement of God, David now was afraid of God. He did not take the ark to his house, but rather sent to OBED EDOM house. But successfully moved after correcting mistake (I Chr 15:1-28)

People of God forget to give reverence to God, ignoring the Church and not attending the Worship. Hebrews 10:25 says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. ” So, there is God’s judgement on families, no peace at home and children’s future is questionable.

Hebrews 12:28-29

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

Though God forgives us when we repent due to HIS grace and doesn’t destroy us, but the consequences of sin we need to suffer and so there is pain and losses.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Now because God dwells in us, we need to submit each part of our body to God for holiness.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. God today speaks to us from within us.

Why did God bless OBED EDOM House? Because…..

  1. The service which Obed-Edom rendered.
  2. He followed the covenant, The Word of God.
  3. He accepted the responsibility for the Ark even though there was visible deadly fear.
  4. He led his family in regular worship and taught God’s statutes to his children and grandchildren.
  5. He turned dead to life.

So, God blessed his house with grace and mercy.

  1. David appointed him as minister before Ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank an to praise the Lord. 1 Chr 16:4-6
  2. The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men. All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons and their brethren, able men with strength for the work: sixty-two of Obed-Edom. I Chr 26:4-8
  3. Generation after generation they served the Lord.

Now as new testament believers do, we take time to know what God teaches us?

How eager we are to teach to our kids the fear of God?

In all these verses, it is wonderful to see how God blessed Obed-Edom and his kids and even grandchildren and whole family of 62 members, due to their reverence and obedience to God.

Let’s decide to seek God with the due respect and obedience and be blessed.

Amen

Fasting and Prayer

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Praise the Lord

Luke 18:1-14.

This scripture portion teaches us about how we need to pray consistently without getting discouraged.

  • Prayer is very important in the life of a Christian.
  • Prayer is a place where one can express his or her emotions and feelings to God.
  • Praying person reflects that he is totally dependent on God for each and everything in his life.
  • Prayer is a place where we give thanks to God, because though we are in a world full of troubles and struggles, God is our portion and refuge and directs us throughout our life.
  • Prayer is where we declare our faith in God.
  • A prayerful person’s mind is always in a state of Prayer and can connect to God immediately as he kneels to pray.

Here in this passage, we see 2 parables teaching two aspects of Prayer.

  1. Importance of persistent Prayer
  2. Truthfulness in humble prayer.

Here, Luke 18 :1-5, we see the widow is continuously asking the unrighteous judge to do justice for her. Finally, though he is not interested to hear the widow’s case and do justice, he does justice just to get rid of her.

But we need to understand we have a righteous judge our God, who always listens our prayer and does justice to whoever calls to HIM.

Luke 18:3 likewise, we also have an adversary that is Satan and his army rulers, principalities, demons and evil spirits. We need to fight against this adversary with God in our daily life without getting discouraged in faith (Eph 6:11,12). Satan tries to burden us with worldly worries or entice us with worldly pleasures. So, we get tired of problems and stop seeking God. Or we are so much drawn towards the worldly pleasures that we forget God. This is the weapon of Satan to stop our personal prayer. That is why we need to be vigilant in prayer. In Christ Jesus we are victorious (2corinth 2:14; Romans 16:20)

Though the result might not be immediate, but we need to have faith that our God listens to our prayer and will surely give reply at the perfect time to all our prayers. (Luke 18:7,8)

Secondly, Luke 18:10-14 we see 2 men praying, one pharisee and the other tax collector.

While the pharisee was self-righteous and proud in his prayer, we see the tax collector who was truthful and humble before God. Bible says not the pharisee, but the tax collector was accepted by God due to humbleness.

James 4:10-“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and HE will lift you up”.

1 Peter 5:5 – shows we need to be humble before God.

How can we humble ourselves?

One of the ways to humble is by fasting and praying.

Ezra declared fasting to seek protection from enemy while return from Babylon to Jerusalem Ezra 8:21,23

Even in the life of Ahab, the most wicked king of Israel, God showed mercy and didn’t bring judgement upon him, when king Ahab humbled himself before God. (1King 21:27-29)

In the book of Jonah, we see God forgiving the land of Nineveh when the king and people upon hearing God’s warning humbled themselves along with their cattle and household without drinking even water. (Jonah 3:5-10)

Like these examples from scripture teaches us to take our petition to God with fasting, even Queen Esther took her

petition to the king (her own husband) with fasting and received his favor that brought great deliverance for the whole Jewish people.

We need to take fasting and pray at least once in a week for our long-term problems in family, health, job, finance and spiritual growth.

Joel 2:15 God teaches to gather people for holy fasting and pray along with their babies, elders, newly married, servants of God and each household.  Then HE says HE will then bless them (Joel 2:28) and pour out HIS Spirit on them.

Shall we decide to humble ourselves in prayer every day before God and win over our adversary through Christ our Lord and savior?

Let’s take a determination that we will never be discouraged in praying continuously even when the reply is delayed.

For we are certain and declare in faith that our God listens to our prayers and will reply at the perfect time.

Amen

ஜெபம்

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லூக்கா 18:1-14.

சோர்வடையாமல் நாம் எவ்வாறு தொடர்ந்து ஜெபிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதைப் பற்றி இந்த வேதப் பகுதி நமக்குக் கற்பிக்கிறது.

  • ஒரு கிறிஸ்தவரின் வாழ்க்கையில் ஜெபம் மிகவும் முக்கியமானது.
  • ஜெபம் என்பது ஒருவர் தனது உணர்ச்சிகளையும் உணர்வுகளையும் தேவனிடம் வெளிப்படுத்தும் இடமாகும்.
  • ஜெபம் செய்யும் நபர், அவர் தனது வாழ்வில் உள்ள ஒவ்வொரு மற்றும் அனைத்திற்கும் தேவனை முழுமையாகச் சார்ந்திருப்பதை பிரதிபலிக்கிறார்.
  • ஜெபம் என்பது நாம் தேவனுக்கு நன்றி செலுத்தும் இடமாகும், ஏனென்றால் நாம் பிரச்சனைகள் மற்றும் போராட்டங்கள் நிறைந்த உலகில் இருந்தாலும், தேவன் நம் பங்கு மற்றும் அடைக்கலம் மற்றும் நம் வாழ்நாள் முழுவதும் நம்மை வழிநடத்துகிறார்.
  • ஜெபம் தேவன் மீதுள்ள நம்பிக்கையை நாம் அறிவிக்கும் இடம்.
  • ஜெபம் செய்யும் நபரின் மனம் எப்பொழுதும் ஜெப நிலையில் இருக்கும், மேலும் அவர் முழங்கால்படியிட்டு ஜெபிக்கும்போது உடனடியாக தேவனுடன் இணைக்க முடியும்.

இங்கே ஜெபத்தின் இரண்டு அம்சங்களைக் கற்பிக்கும் 2 உவமைகளைக் காண்கிறோம்.

1) நிலையான ஜெபத்தின் முக்கியத்துவம்

2) தாழ்மையான ஜெபத்தின் உண்மைத்துவம்

இங்கே, லூக்கா 18:1-5, விதவை நியாயமற்ற நியாயாதிபதியிடம் தனக்காக நியாயம் கேட்கும்படி தொடர்ந்து கேட்டுக் கொண்டிருப்பதைக் காண்கிறோம். இறுதியாக, விதவையின் வழக்கை விசாரித்து நீதி வழங்குவதில் அவருக்கு ஆர்வம் இல்லை என்றாலும், அவளிடமிருந்து விடுபட அவர் நியாயம் செய்கிறார்.

ஆனால், எப்பொழுதும் நம் ஜெபத்தைக் கேட்டு, தம்மை நோக்கிக் கூப்பிடுபவர்களுக்கு நீதி வழங்கும் ஒரு நீதியான நியாயாதி நம்மிடம் இருக்கிறார் என்பதை நாம் புரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

லூக்கா 18:3, நமக்கும் ஒரு எதிரி இருக்கிறான், அதுவே சாத்தானும் அவனுடைய தூதர்களும். விசுவாசத்தில் சோர்வடையாமல், நம் அன்றாட வாழ்க்கையில் கடவுளோடு இந்த எதிரிக்கு எதிராக நாம் போராட வேண்டும் (எபே. 6:11,12). சாத்தான் நம்மை உலகக் கவலைகளால் பாரமாக முயற்சிக்கிறான் அல்லது உலக இன்பங்களால் நம்மை கவர்ந்திழுக்கிறான். அதனால், பிரச்சனைகளால் சோர்வடைந்து தேவனைத் தேடுவதை நிறுத்திவிடுகிறோம். அல்லது உலக இன்பங்களை நோக்கி நாம் மிகவும் ஈர்க்கப்பட்டு தேவனை மறந்து விடுகிறோம். இதுவே நமது தனிப்பட்ட ஜெபத்தை நிறுத்த சாத்தானின் ஆயுதம். அதனால்தான் நாம் ஜெபத்தில் விழிப்புடன் இருக்க வேண்டும். கிறிஸ்து இயேசுவில் நாம் வெற்றி பெற்றவர்கள் (2கொரிந்த் 2:14; ரோமர் 16:20)

பதில் உடனடியாக கிடைக்காவிட்டாலும், நம் ஜெபத்திற்கு நம் கடவுள் செவிசாய்ப்பார் என்றும், நம்முடைய எல்லா ஜெபங்களுக்கும் சரியான நேரத்தில் பதில் அளிப்பார் என்றும் நாம் விசுவாசிக்க வேண்டும். (லூக்கா 18:7,8)

இரண்டாவதாக, லூக்கா 18:10-14 -ல்  இரண்டு மனிதர்கள் ஜெபிப்பதைக் காண்கிறோம், ஒரு பரிசேயர் மற்றும் மற்றொரு வரி வசூலிப்பவர்.

பரிசேயன் தன் ஜெபத்தில் சுயநீதியுள்ளவனாகவும் பெருமையாகவும் இருந்தபோது, ​​கடவுளுக்கு முன்பாக உண்மையாகவும் பணிவாகவும் இருந்த வரி வசூலிப்பவரைக் காண்கிறோம். பைபிள் கூறுகிறது பரிசேயர் அல்ல, ஆனால் வரி வசூலிப்பவர் உண்மையும், மனத்தாழ்மையின் காரணமாக கடவுளால் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளப்பட்டார்.

யாக்கோபு 4:10-“கர்த்தருடைய சந்நிதியில் உங்களைத் தாழ்த்துங்கள், அப்பொழுது அவர் உங்களை உயர்த்துவார்”.

1 பேதுரு 5:5 – நாம் கடவுளுக்கு முன்பாக மனத்தாழ்மையுடன் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பதைக் காட்டுகிறது.

நாம் எவ்வாறு நம்மைத் தாழ்த்திக் கொள்ள முடியும்?

நம்மைத் தாழ்த்திக் கொள்வதற்கான வழிகளில் ஒன்று உபவாசம் மற்றும் ஜெபம்.

எஸ்ரா பாபிலோனிலிருந்து எருசலேமுக்குத் திரும்பும்போது எதிரிகளிடமிருந்து பாதுகாப்பு தேடுவதற்காக உபவாசத்தை அறிவித்தார் (எஸ்ரா 8:21,23)

இஸ்ரவேலின் மிகவும் பொல்லாத அரசனான ஆகாபின் வாழ்வில் கூட, ஆகாப் ராஜா கடவுளுக்கு முன்பாக தன்னைத் தாழ்த்திக் கொண்டபோது, ​​கடவுள் கருணை காட்டினார், அவர் மீது நியாயத்தீர்ப்பைக் கொண்டுவரவில்லை. (1இராஜா 21:27-29)

யோனாவின் புத்தகத்தில், கடவுளின் எச்சரிக்கையைக் கேட்ட இராஜாவும் மக்களும் தண்ணீர் கூட குடிக்காமல் தங்கள் கால்நடைகள் மற்றும் குடும்பங்களுடன் தங்களைத் தாழ்த்திக் கொண்டபோது, ​​நினிவே தேசத்தை கடவுள் மன்னிப்பதைக் காண்கிறோம். (யோனா 3:5-10)

வேதத்தில் உள்ள இந்த எடுத்துக்காட்டுகளைப் போல, உபவாசத்துடன் கடவுளிடம் நம் கோரிக்கையை எடுத்துச் செல்ல கற்றுக்கொடுக்கிறது, எஸ்தர் ராணி கூட மூன்று நாட்கள் உபவாசத்துடன் ராஜாவிடம் (அவரது சொந்த கணவர்) வேண்டுகோள் வைத்தாள்  அது அவரது தயவைப் பெற்றது மற்றும் இது முழு யூத மக்களுக்கும் பெரும் விடுதலையைக் கொடுத்தது.

நமது குடும்பம், உடல்நலம், வேலை, வருமானம் மற்றும் ஆன்மீக வளர்ச்சியில் நமது நீண்டகாலப் பிரச்சனைகளுக்காக வாரத்திற்கு ஒருமுறையாவது உபவாசம் இருந்து ஜெபிக்க வேண்டும்.

ஜோயல் 2:15 பரிசுத்த உபவாசத்திற்காக மக்களைக் கூட்டி, அவர்களின் குழந்தைகள், பெரியவர்கள், புதிதாக திருமணமானவர்கள், கடவுளின் ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் ஒவ்வொரு குடும்பத்தோடும் ஜெபிக்க கடவுள் கட்டளையிடுகிறார், கற்பிக்கிறார். பின்னர் அவர் அவர்களை ஆசீர்வதிப்பார் என்று கூறுகிறார். (யோவேல் 2:28) அப்பொழுது அவருடைய ஆவியை நம்மீது ஊற்றுவார்.

தேவனுக்கு முன்பாக ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் ஜெபத்தில் நம்மைத் தாழ்த்தி, நம்முடைய கர்த்தரும் இரட்சகருமான கிறிஸ்து மூலமாக நம்முடைய எதிரியை வெல்வதற்கு நாம் தீர்மானிப்போமா?

பதில் தாமதமானாலும் தொடர்ந்து ஜெபிப்பதில் சோர்வடைய மாட்டோம் என்ற உறுதியை எடுப்போம்.

ஏனென்றால், நம்முடைய தேவன் நம்முடைய ஜெபங்களுக்குச் செவிசாய்க்கிறார், சரியான நேரத்தில் பதிலளிப்பார் என்று நாங்கள் உறுதியாக நம்புகிறோம், விசுவாசத்தோடு அறிவிக்கிறோம்.

ஆமென்

Kingdom of God

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Luke 17: 20-24

Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, “The kingdom of God doesn’t come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!’ or, ‘There it is!’ And why? Because God’s kingdom is already among you.”

But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Luke 11:20)

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. (Colossians 1:13), The kingdom of God is not matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

Luke 17:22, 23,24 Lord Jesus tells them during the temporary separation, (when after Jesus Christ is taken up to heaven) these disciples will become weary and discouraged without Jesus and want to see HIM.

Jesus will come back and establish HIS literal Kingdom on earth, the whole world will see it (like lightning in dark sky shines from one end to another)

Rev 19:11-14; 2 Thes 1:7,8; Jude 1: 14,15; 1 Thes 4: 16-18; Zechariah 14:2, 4, all these verses in the bible speaks about second coming and its nature.

Luke 17:26–Jesus continues to say how the people will be during the period of HIS Coming. Giving examples of the people in Noah era and Lot and his family. God brought both judgement and salvation. Similarly, in these end days too there will be Judgement on one group and salvation on the other group. (1 Thes 5:3)

What made God bring judgement? (Gen 19:17-20)

  1. People’s tendency to rejected God and don’t want God’s control or counsel, want to do according to their own desire of flesh and mind.
  2. No realization of sin and its consequences.

Good example in Bible the Life of Samson the judge in OT. (Judges 14,15,16 chapters)

He was mighty warrior, chosen by God to be Nazarene and brought up very carefully by his parent to be holy and set apart for God. He was a judge on the whole Israel, did mighty things by the special anointing on him. (Judges 16: 16, 19, 20, 21)

But we see, that just he fell prey to the lust of his eyes. He wanted to marry a philistine woman (who did not know God) against his parents wish just because she pleased his eyes. Then he fell for a harlot who enticed him and found the secret of his strength and sold him to philistines for money.

Samson once who defeated philistine as a single person, now became slave to them and lost his eyesight, had to be imprisoned where the mighty judge of Israel was pulled down to grind flour.

What a pity?

Sin (small or big) is powerful to pull anyone out of their great purpose in the kingdom of God.

Today how many people of God who are anointed, taking part in Lord table, doing ministry are deceived by such sin.

God gave 3 chances to Samson to realize the deception of sin, but he did not. (judges 16:7,9)

Even today many God’s people have fallen for flesh. In each person’s life there is God’s plan and Satan’s plan. We need to submit ourselves and use God’s grace to overcome the desire of flesh (Roman 6:12,13,14) thereby fulfill God’s plan.

3. Preoccupied their heart with present world and cares of this life. (Luke 21:34)

  • Angle said “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be [c]destroyed.” Genesis 19:17. But Lot did not want to go to the hill but wanted to stay in plain only. (v 19:18)

Likely, even today people don’t want to take effort to receive higher spiritual experiences.  Just stay in comfortable zone. (come to church and go, just they and their family). Unlike Moses climbed the mountain to see God’s glory and Peter, John and James climbed transfiguration mountain and seeing the glory of our Lord.

Instead obeying of word of angel he said, “See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” Ver 20.

Today also many people have fallen prey to small sin, which eventually destroys their entire life.

  • Luke 17:31 people’s heart is filled with lust of worldly things or with the worries of the world like Lot’s wife. Instead our heart should be filled with Godly love and mercy.

Today my dear brothers and sisters are we like Lot?

Not willing to fast and pray and walk in the narrow path of life to grow in the likeness of God?

Still is our heart longing for the useless entertainment of this world, cinema, serial, gossip, parties?

Do we really want to be the part of the kingdom of God?

Are we ready to submit ourselves wholeheartedly to the complete control of God?

Let us judge ourselves and turn towards God.

May God establish HIS kingdom in us and through us.