24 June 2017
Pride and exaltation
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
The second half of this verse appears twice in the book of Luke, chapter 14 and 18 and once in the book of Matthew, chapter 23. In today's verse the context is spiritual pride. Two men one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector were praying in the temple. The tax collector humbled himself before God asking God to have mercy on him for he is a sinner whereas the Pharisee prayed a hypocritical prayer thinking that he is better than others. Jesus instructed the people through this parable that self praise, self exaltation and self glorifying are only going to result in shame, but those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Pride, it is something that God hates absolutely. When he was on earth Jesus was compassionate towards the worst of sinners but he rebuked the self righteous and proud people. It was pride that made Lucifer a fallen angel, that made the great king Nebuchadnezzar become like animal and eat grass. It was pride that destroyed the lives of many great men and women throughout the history. How much ever someone achieves if they are proud then downfall is certain Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. On the other hand when someone humbled themselves they are exalted by God himself, look at the lives of Moses, Daniel, Joseph and David. How God exalted them from their humble state.
Of all kinds of pride, spiritual pride is very dangerous and it is so subtle that unless we carefully examine our hearts before God's word we cannot even recognise it. If we do not obey God's instructions in His word, it means we are prideful. Jeremiah 13:15 Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the LORD has spoken. we are thinking we know better than God which is pride.And if you have not still surrendered your life to Jesus then you are prideful Psalms 10:4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, There is no God.
To overcome pride in our life,we should remember that nothing we have or hold is permanent. It may be our possessions, our beauty, our job, our ministry, our talents, gifts, anything, it is God who blessed us with everything. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. And when we surrender them back to God acknowledging His Lordship over everything, He will make them a blessing to us and to others as well. Our worth comes from God and He alone deserves the glory.
Therefore, Humble yourselves, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you 1 Peter 5:6
21 June 2017
Give thanks
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I know this is a very familiar verse to all of us and we heard messages on this verse many many times. Still.. it is good to be reminded of the truth in this verse one more time. For in a christian walk every truth needs to be reminded again and again and again, repetition is necessary in order for that truth to sink in deep into our hearts. Otherwise the evil one will come and take it away making our faith weak and thereby making us fruitless. Matthew 13:19
Today's verse is the final part of the 3 set instruction that apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians. First one: rejoice always; second one: pray without ceasing and third one: in everything give thanks, all these are the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us. Remember it is not about simply rejoicing over something, it is not about praying to someone and it is not about giving thanks to someone but it is about rejoicing in the Lord, praying to Him and thanking Him in everything, in Christ.
Thanks giving as all of us know has the power to heal discouragement. A person with a grateful and thankful heart is more optimistic, more cheerful and less prone to stress. It is easy to give thanks to God for the blessings we have and when all is well. But here apostle Paul is telling us to take one step further to give thanks in everything. What does it mean by everything? Everything means literally everything, there is absolutely no situation or no circumstances or nothing in this world that we cannot give thanks to the Lord for. Next comes the question on how we can do that? Especially when our heart is grieving over something or someone how can we thank God? That's when the previous 2 verses come in help, when we start rejoicing and delighting in the Lord, when we submit all our petitions and requests in prayer to Him we will have this confidence that God is in control and that He will turn everything for our good, then we will be able to give thanks to God automatically.
Every instruction that God gives in His word is for our own benefit, we need to trust that.When He tells us to give thanks in everything He doesn't want us to just go by the motions but He wants us to do it with all our heart. Yes sometimes in the beginning we may have to do it deliberately in order for our focus to shift from that current problem or situation but as we thank Him for all the blessings He already showered on us we will be able to thank even for that tough problem or situation we are in right then. So counting our blessings or recalling what God has already done in our life helps us to maintain a thankful heart.
And finally dear ones these 3 impossible instructions like any other instruction God gives us cannot be performed in our own strength. Even God does not expect us to do them on our own and that's why He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit to be our forever counselor and guide. With the help of the Holy Spirit, by being sensitive to His leading and by obeying Him when He speaks to us, we will be able to follow these precious truths that God has given to us.
May our hearts be ever filled with gratitude and thanksgiving towards our Awesome God.
Cannot end this message without these lines from the beautiful song by Mr. Don Moen.
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy one
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His son.
20 June 2017
Be content
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
The book of Hebrews is addressed to the Jewish Christians who at that time were going through heavy persecution. And in this last chapter (13) the author encourages the Hebrews to continue in their faith and gives them some guide lines for living a positive christian life.
Money which is a very essential thing for us is also something that can cause a lot of heartache. Some think that if they money they can have everything, but it is so wrong. Money can buy highest and sophisticated healthcare but not health, can give you a luxurious life but not a peaceful life. Especially money can never satisfy the needs of the soul. Moreover as apostle Paul told in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 ...Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Please understand that money in itself is not evil and earning money is not wrong. Also it is not that God doesn't want us to have money but it is that He doesn't want our hearts to be occupied with this temporary thing for Matthew 6:21 where our treasure is there our heart will also be. Instead He wants us to focus on the real treasure which is Jesus Himself.
If we can remind ourselves that money like everything else is given to us by God and that we are just the managers and not the owners of it then we will not hold on to it too tightly. And when God who promised that He will never us nor forsake us and who promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19 is on our side what do we lack? Nothing. So we believers need not have to covet but can be content with whatever God has blessed us with because we know that our real treasures are in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy and where thief's cannot break in and steal Matthew 6:20.
Remember, godliness with contentment is a great gain 1 Timothy 6:6.
18 June 2017
Real comfort in affliction
Psalm 119:50, “This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.”
When my dad passed away on 31st may,2002, nothing comforted me except the verse God showed me the day after, when I randomly opened my Bible. It was Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose., I was a new believer then and I did not even know the meaning of the verse. But even with all those questions in my heart on how losing my dad can turn out for good, that verse somehow comforted my heart. I sure did miss my dad and cried for him many days but somehow there was this unexplainable peace in my heart even in the midst of that pain. In today's verse the psalmist talks about a similar thing, God's word comforted him and revived him in his affliction.
All of us who live in this fallen world, have to go through pain and suffering at some point in our lives. The duration and intensity may differ for each but we all have to face them. But as His children we have His promise of comfort and His presence. His word and His promises gives us hope and renews our hope even when everything else fails.
So dear ones, just trust Him with your everything, your joys, your tears, your acheivements, your failures, your pains and even your sufferings for He is able to make even all that to work together for your good.
P.S. Dedicating this message to my dad on this fathers day.
17 June 2017
Confidence or Over confidence
Luke 22:33 Peter said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.
We should have faith in God but we should never become overconfident of our faith. Especially we should be very careful with those commitments that we make before God in our emotional overwhelm. Because fulfillment of emotional commitments tend to have a higher failure rate. I have seen this in my life multiple times. Everytime I become so emotional and say God I resurrender my life to you and in my heart start feeling confident that I am doing well and will not fall into any deliberate sin, in few days I end up falling into that same sin which I felt confident of not falling into. Well, you know the aftermath, guilt, shame, feeling distant from God etc etc, I can even imagine satan having a hearty laugh at my foolishness.
In the context of today's verse Peter also was so confident of his faith that he made such a bold statement saying even if others fall away he will not and that he will not deny Jesus even if he has to die. It might be because he has seen Jesus' transfiguration and he has seen the response of people during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He would have probably become too confident thinking since Jesus is the Messiah, he is on the winning side so no need to be afraid of anyone or anything. He was right in his confidence but only partially for his focus was earthly.
This verse reminds us of how frail and how helpless we are to live a life of faith on our own. It is true we cannot live this life of faith in our own strength, but then this verse (or set of verses) also reminds us that Jesus our high priest never leaves us helpless. He knows our failures and still keeps interceding on our behalf.
When we fall down and when we break our commitments we made before God, He doesn't condemn us but instead He showers His love more and more on us. I have personally experienced this many times, everytime I fell down, He did not condemn me, but instead I could feel His love in a more definite way in my heart. I really cannot explain how but I did know that God loved me more during that time and it is His love that made me fall on my knees and repent before Him. Yes dear ones, God's love and mercy never makes us lenient towards sin and run towards it, instead His love compels us to turn away from sin and move close to Him.
All of us know the story of the prodigal son ( Luke 15:11-32) especially the part where the father when he sees the returning son runs to meet him, even with the son still a long way off. He doesn't condemn the son but embraces him instead. I can say with all my heart that I could connect with the story when I had to go through those times of failure. My heavenly father was always there for me welcoming me back home when I made a decision to turn towards Him.
Same thing happened with Peter, Jesus did not leave him there helpless, when he warned him of how he is going to deny him, he also told him that he will pray for him (V 31- 32) And after Peter repented of his sin, Jesus did entrust him with the responsibility of encouraging others in faith (John 21:15-17).He is such a wonderful loving God, His love for us has no boundaries.
If you are someone who is walking close with God, be careful with your walk, watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38. Never think you are beyond something or that you will never go back to such and such thing, for when you start thinking you will not fall that's when you will fall very badly 1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
If you are someone who fell and are guilty and gone away from God and you keep moving away from God because you felt your faith is useless as you failed once again. Please come back to Jesus, it doesn't matter how long or how far you have gone, if you turn back you will find our heavenly father already running towards you. Zechariah 1:3b Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.
And lastly, if you are someone who did not still accept him into your heart please do not reject the convictions of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Just surrender to Him and you will see the greatest miracle i.e. the miracle of salvation in your life. Please do not postpone this important decision, for now is the favourite time, now is the day of salvation 2 Corinthians 6:2.
16 June 2017
A Clean Heart
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
A physical heart is a vital organ in our body, it is one organ that never takes rest. If the heart stops beating even for few seconds the person may end up losing their life. Similarly a spiritual heart plays very important role in a person's life. A person speaks as per what is filled in the heart Matthew 12:35. And out of the heart comes evil thoughts and sinful desires Matthew 15:19. That's why it is very important to have a clean heart and to continuously guard it from sin and evil by filling it with Gods word.
If we look around, we see so much of evil, so much of violence and so much of suffering. But before we point fingers at anyone we need to understand that any human being is capable to doing such evil. If we see the history we see again and again that the most violent and evil acts were done by people who are ordinary. Every human is born with an evil heart, we understand this very well by observing any small baby, we don't have to teach a child to tell a lie or get angry, it comes naturally to them. Jeremiah 17:9 "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? So in order for a society to change, hearts of people needs to be changed first. No amount of external discipline will help unless the heart is changed and only when a person changes inside out, the change is permanent. And the only person who can change hearts is Jesus.
As for us believers, we need to be careful with what we fill our hearts with.I heard Mr.Ravi Zacharias mention in one of his messages that if a person with even a small paper cut when comes in contact with contagious blood have a fairly large chance of contracting those deadly diseases then how much more careful we need to be with those lacerations of the spirit. Satan is very deceptive, he tries to inject tiny doses of lies through a show or a book which appear unharmful to us. We need to be very careful with what we watch on tv and what we read. No wonder Jesus mentioned that eye is the lamp of our body and if it is dark our whole body will end up in darkness. Matthew 6:22-23. We need to make a commitment before God to not to set anything unclean before our eyes Psalms 101:2-3 .
And like the psalmist in today's verse if we cry out to God for a clean heart and a right spirit, He will honor our prayers by giving us a new heart and a new spirit Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
7 June 2017
When in doubt
Matthew 14:31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Of all the disciples of Jesus, Peter is the one who always quickly responded. His passion got him into trouble many times but it also enabled him to experience some of the profound moments. He had the courage to walk on water, responded first that Jesus is the Christ and boldly professed that he is ready to die for Jesus. At the same time he was so quick to falter also, like in the context of today's verse he started walking on water but as soon as he removed his eyes from Jesus he began to sink.
How many times we go through similar experiences, we will be in our spiritual high thinking our walk with God is going all great and then we turn our eyes around (our situations, circumstances and people) and immediately we start sinking into despair. And like for Peter the only person who can rescue us from sinking is our Lord Jesus Christ.
You know Satan plants many kinds of doubts in us, during our initial days of conversion doubts on whether God really exists or if it is just an illusion that we are believing in,later doubts on fulfillment of God's promises, doubts on assurance of our own salvation and many more. If we are not careful we fall victims to these doubts and lose our peace unnecessarily. Remember all it took was one small doubt that satan planted in the minds of eve and adam that changed the entire course of human kind.
Doubt, however small it may seem, if we allow it into our minds, it causes a lot of turmoil. I lost my peace and joy these couple of days struggling with doubts on few things. But the best part is like Peter, God never left me all through, as He promised He was with me all the time, even in my doubt. And by the grace of God as I immersed myself with God's word, audio messages and devotions He broke through my cloud of doubt and is slowly shining His light back into my heart. Such a wonderful loving God He is.
All of us of if not many of us will go through a time of doubt and confusion in our christian walk but the best way to come out of doubt is to immerse ourself in Gods word and His presence. If you have a small fellowship of Godly friends it becomes much easier as you share, pray and encourage each other. If not, keep reading His word and read good Christian books and devotions and listen to messages of Godly people and soon the clouds of doubt will start dissipating.
A word to those who are sceptical thinkers like me, we tend to demand evidences or proofs before we believe but God says believe and then you will see the evidence. And some times we may not even see the evidences of our faith in this life but do we still trust God? During those times the best thing to do is to ask ourselves this question, do we walk by faith or by sight? And which one does God's word tells to choose?
Remember the thumb rule, when in doubt, worry or fear, always run close to Jesus (not away from Him as your whole natural will longs to do). Agreed it takes a lot of courage and strength to do so but in the end its gonna worth it.