Can bad things happen to good people?

Job was a good man, Job 1:1 says “….This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil…” it goes on to say that not only was Job good but he was also blessed financially and “was the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1:3). So one day the sons of the East came to present themselves before God and Satan came with them. God said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). And we know the rest of the story how Satan tells God that Job is good just because God is good to Him and if He would but stretch out His hand against Job, he would curse Him.

But beloved, have you considered what God says to Satan after that? Job 1:12 says “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.” “Behold” said the Lord, which would mean “Look” or “See” or “take note of the fact” that all that Job has, is in YOUR (Satan’s) power. Hmmm!!

Again in chapter 2 when the sons of the East came to present themselves to God, Satan came. God reminded him that Job still held on to his faith in God and when Satan told God that it was because God had not allowed him to touch Job’s body, God said yet again “…Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life” (Job 2:6). Interesting!! Now remember God does not destroy nor brings any harm, it is because He chooses to bless (Isaiah 54:15). Both of these statements made by God ended in “buts” like Job had done something wrong and God, who is good, was trying to protect him. So then there must have been a doorway open in the life of righteous Job through which Satan could act and wreck havoc in his life. God told Satan to look and see that Job was “already” in his hands.

In Job 3:25 Job says, “For what I FEAR comes upon me, And what I DREAD befalls me.”

Beloved Job was in the hands of the Destroyer because he feared. God clears this issue when he tells Isaiah about the inheritance of the saints in Isaiah 54.

“In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have NOTHING TO FEAR. TERROR will be FAR REMOVED; IT will NOT COME NEAR YOU.  If anyone does attack you, it will NOT BE MY DOING; WHOEVER ATTACKS YOU WILL SURRENDER TO YOU. See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; NO WEAPON FORGED AGAINST YOU WILL PREVAIL, AND YOU WILL REFUTE EVERY TONGUE THAT ACCUSES YOU. THIS IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:14-17)

Hallelujah!! Woooo hoooooo!!! This is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord. So this explains why Moses in Psalm 91(Yes Psalm 91 is written by Moses) says, “You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;  Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.  A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you” (Psalm 91:5-7)

So coming back to the issue at hand, do bad things happen to good people? Let me answer it his way, BAD THINGS CANNOT HAPPEN TO THE SERVANTS OF GOD! Isaiah 54 says so. God says so. When the servants of God meet the destroyer who forms weapons against them, no weapon formed will prosper and every tongue that rises up against them will be cast down. Amen!! This elite group of king-priests do not think about terror, neither do they fear. Their thoughts are on the things that are true, noble, right, pure, worthy of praise, admirable, things of virtue (Philippians 4:8). These people do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1), and therefore do not fulfil the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16) bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:15). So when these servants walk into a house the peace of God comes in with them (Luke 10:5) when they touch a sick person, the sickness must go (Mark 16:18). They are the salt of the earth, the light of this World, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). And Romans 8:19,22 says that the whole earth is moaning and groaning, with birth pangs waiting for the manifestation of these, the sons of God. Hallelujah!!

Beloved I have a very good habit which I have come to recognize of late. I do not concern myself with what goes on around me. Politics, devastation, and disease nothing worries me because I do not read the news. Trust me I am a champion worrier when it comes to things that concern me but that must go too. We cannot add one bit to our stature by worrying or fearing. Terror shall not come near us. We as sons of God must not know any fear except the fear of the Lord. When people would ask prophet Kobus van Rensburg (I honor that mighty man of God) what he thought about certain things that were against him, he simply replied, “I don’t think about them.” Wow!! That is what I want to say each time a pressing issue comes to mind! Hallelujah!!

So beloved, as a son of God, pray for the nations, pray for the peace of the New Jerusalem which is above. Intercede for those who are being lost that they might come to see the Light and believe in Jesus and be saved. And as a son of God pray for the sick that they will be healed, not taken away from suffering but healed to live long and for all eternity. A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but it will not come near you. For no weapon formed against you will prosper, says the Lord!! Hallelujah!!

Jesus wept!! ??

In Sunday school John 11:35 was my favourite verse. It simply reads, "Jesus wept",  the shortest verse in the bible. In John 11, Jesus is informed that the brother of Mary and Martha, Lazarus, had fallen ill and later He is told that he had died. John 11:35 occurs when Mary, hearing that the Lord had finally arrived goes to meet Him. In context, it would appear that Jesus was grieved on losing a dear friend; as if the Giver of Life was at that moment, overwhelmed by death. 

However, last night the Spirit of God showed me something amazing. In Young's Literal Translation, the verse reads "Jesus....did groan in the spirit, and troubled himself (vs 33)". So He weeps in vs 35. Again at the tomb of Lazarus the Word says, "Jesus, therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the tomb (vs 38)". Beloved, in both the verses preceding the ones I have mentioned, there are strong elements of unbelief.

 In vs 32 Jesus heard Mary say, "Sir, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died" and in vs 37 the mourners say of Him, "Was not this one, who did open the eyes of the blind man, able to cause that also this one might not have died". Beloved, the Son of God, Life Himself had stepped into the scene and yet "they knew Him not". 

Jesus did not grieve for Lazarus as many may say; He was troubled to tears at the unbelief, even from Mary who had sat at His feet and heard words of Life (Like 10:42). He had clearly told Martha, "I am the rising again (resurrection), and the life; he who is believing in me, even if he may die, shall live (vs 25)". The Giver of Life does NOT compromise with death.

Jesus knew what He was going to do. So He walks up to the tomb, prays what seems to be one of the shortest recorded prayers; where He says, "Father, I thank Thee, that Thou didst hear me; and I knew that Thou always dost hear me, but, BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE THAT IS STANDING BY, I said [it], that THEY MAY BELIEVE that Thou didst send me (vs 41-42)",  and calls out to the one who was dead for four days and "HE COMES BACK TO LIFE (vs 44)"!!! Hallelujah!!

You see beloved, the Lord knew what He would do, for when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He said, "This ailment is NOT unto death, but for the GLORY of GOD, that the SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED through it (vs 4)"; and when He heard that the sick man had died, He purposely delayed His arrival in Bethany saying, "Lazarus our friend HATH FALLEN ASLEEP, but I go on that I MAY AWAKE HIM (vs 11)". 

He knew that God would glorify Him in this miracle before it even happened. So when He weeps, He weeps not in grief but because He was walking among His own but His own KNEW HIM NOT (John 1:11). 

Beloved the Holy Spirit has revealed the deep things of God to us today. As Paul says, "but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV). These things have been revealed to us for a reason, "For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God." (Romans 14:11)" and beloved we are that chosen generation. 

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). "

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.." (John 14:6). Choose Jesus, choose life!! Shalom!! :-D

Of the Doctrine of Baptisms: Tongues (Part 2 of 3)

Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17-18 NIV)

  

Beloved speaking in tongues is for the New Covenant believers. However, Pastor Joseph Prince speaks also of a Jewish Rabbinical teaching which says that in the days of the Letter, when a high priest would go into the Holy of holies, for the brief moment (when he would commune with God) the Shekinah glory of God would descend and for that time the high priest would speak in another tongue. Isn't that amazing, a supernatural gift previously reserved for a privileged few under the Old Covenant is freely available to all those who believe in Jesus Christ today. Hallelujah!!

Paul took a whole chapter in his first letter to the Corinthians to explain speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14), the gift of tongues and the ministry of tongues. So this bible study is dedicated to this beautiful gift which we receive as the Lord Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Spirit. Another amazing truth is that this is the ONLY gift of the Spirit which operates as we choose; all the other gifts operate as and when the Spirit wills but the gift of tongues manifests when a believer speaks out in faith. Hallelujah!!

Why tongues

Beloved, the book of Genesis records the account of people wanting to build a tower that would reach up to heaven; the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). God foiled their egoistic endeavor by making them speak in diverse tongues. So that one could not understand the other and they could not co ordinate with each other to finish building the tower. Under the new covenant the gift of diverse tongues is bestowed upon those who believe and this helps UNITE people of diverse social and geographical backgrounds. 

On the day of Pentecost the Jewish Proselytes from various countries marveled as they heard Galilean fishermen speak in foreign tongues; 3000 were saved that day (Acts 2) as it was beyond doubt a sign from God, a manifestation of the power of the LIVING YAHWEH.

Brother Dhinakaran talks about two kinds on tongues in his book “the Gifts of the Holy Spirit”; tongues which are languages used in the world and a heavenly tongue. Paul urges those who speak in tongues to pray that they may also interpret (1 Corinthians 14:13), as the interpretation of a message in tongues is beneficial to all whilst speaking in tongues to God is for personal edification(1 Corinthians 14:4). At the infilling of the Holy Ghost a believer may speak in either of the types of tongues, as the Spirit gives utterance. Brother Dhinakaran talks of an incident where an unbelieving man standing outside the church heard a little girl speak fluently in Hebrew as she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Later the same man came to Dhinakaran to inquire about the strange phenomenon and was saved. What changed his mind was the manifestation of the Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit is for each individual for the BENEFIT of ALL (1 Corinthians 12:7). Hallelujah!!

Brother Hagin speaks of a time when a believer newly filled with the Holy Spirit spoke for a while in tongues and another person interpreted it saying that “Jesus was coming soon”. Many in that congregation rejoiced. But brother Hagin understood (and confirmed with other experienced men of God) that the Spirit was helping the newly baptized believer pray for certain things in his own life. Beloved, misinterpreting tongues or wrongly interpreting divine utterances without the unction of the Holy Ghost is wrong and it greatly harms the congregation. That is why Paul urges those who speak in tongues to speak to themselves unless they or anyone else have an interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:28).

To summarize, a believer speaks in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and a believer may an interpretation ONLY when the Spirit gives it.

Immediately after the baptism in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God helps a believer to pray with moaning and groaning which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). These prayers are generally to edify the believer; to make him/her a ready vessel to be used by God. At this stage it is not right for a believer to try to interpret his/her utterances. Beloved the gift of interpretation of tongues manifests only as the Spirit wills, it is NOT our job to interpret. At this stage it is wise to speak as much as possible in tongues, to pray effective prayers guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and usher in the manifestation of the all the other gifts as the Spirit wills. This is what Paul urges Timothy to do in 2 Timothy 1:6.

Pastor Joseph Prince points out that the gift of tongues is the only gift that ushers in the manifestation of all other gifts. Beloved, there are days when I speak a lot in tongues. Those are the days I am most happy and more at rest, despite any issue which may arise.  I have seen for myself that on those days I end up being more productive at work and am unknowingly am brought to the right place at the right time. Paul said, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” (1 Corinthians 14:18) I believe that what God could do in the life of Paul had a strong correlation with how much time he spent speaking in tongues. This is how the Apostle edified himself. Hallelujah!! Pastor Prince speaks of a missionary in China who began speaking in tongues for 15 minutes a day and saw remarkable progress in her ministry.

Biblical Evidences

There is a prophecy in Isaiah 28:11, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” Paul quotes this in 1 Corinthians 14:21, he says, “In the Law it is written: "With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."

 The only evidence indicating the infilling of the Holy Ghost is that Spirit filled believer speaks in strange tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (We will discuss the diversities of tongues in another study.) For now let us look at what the Bible says on the infilling of the Spirit and the gift of tongues.

Beloved, in Acts 2:4 when the disciples in the Upper Room were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in other tongues and magnify God (Acts 2:11). People from various nations who had gathered in Jerusalem that day (for the feast of the Pentecost) heard them speak in their own different languages and were surprised to see Galilean fishermen speak in foreign languages (Acts 2:6).

(Note: Beloved, tongues is a miraculous sign, it is for the unbeliever, a sign to make them believe (1 Corinthians 14:22) and for the believer, a powerful gift unto his/her spiritual, emotional and even physical edification (1 Corinthians 14:4)).

At the house of Cornelius, Peter and the other Jewish disciples knew that the same gift or anointing which they had received in the Upper Room was poured out on the gentile family when they heard the entire household of Cornelius speak in tongues (Acts 10:45-46).

Acts 19:6 records that when Paul laid hands on the disciples of Apollos, they began to speak in other tongues and prophesy.

These three instances indicate that every time a believer is baptized in the Spirit; the Breath of God gives them the utterance to speak out in an unknown language.

It is safe to put inside your mouth

According to Leviticus 11:3, the Jews are only allowed to eat those animals which have cloven hooves. Beloved, the tongues like as of fire which came and rested on the heads of all those gathered in the upper room were cloven tongues (Acts 2:3). It was a beautiful sign, through which God was telling them that it was safe, it was kosher, for them to put it in their mouths.

In the book of Joshua, the Lord instructs Joshua saying, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 KJV) The Hebrew word for meditate is hagah, which literally means to mutter under one’s breath all the time. Religious Jews keep muttering the Scriptures under their breath all the time. The Apostle Paul says, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” (Acts 14:18 ESV) Speaking in tongues is for the personal benefit of the believer (1 Corinthians 14:4). When a believer speaks in another tongue, he speaks mysteries to God (1 Corinthians 14:2), the Spirit stirs up his heart and prays perfect prayers in line with the Word (Romans 8:26) and he speaks unto his own edification (1 Corinthians 14:4)

In his letter to Timothy, he writes, “… I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands”. (2 Timothy 1:6 NIV).  Let us see in Acts 19:6 what happened when Paul laid hands on the disciples of Apollos, “And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.” In the letter to Timothy Paul used the word charisma, for gift, which translates as a miraculous manifestation or a spiritual gift. Another word, in Greek, for gift is dorea, which Peter uses in Acts 2:38 when he urges the crowd to “"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Dorea is used whilst talking about a gift in the conventional sense, like a birthday gift, something tangible.

We receive the dorea of the Holy Spirit when we ask Jesus to baptize us and the Holy Spirit enables us to manifest or stir up the charisma which is in us because of His Presence in our lives. Hallelujah!!

Final Words

Beloved, the infilling of the Holy Spirit is a life altering event meant for everyone who believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Being born of water and Spirit is how we enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5). John the Baptist urged the people to repent, to change the way they think, because the kingdom of God was at hand. The Kingdom of God was ushered in when Jesus came with Grace and Truth. The same Kingdom of God, which Jesus asks us to seek first and above all else (Matthew 6:33), is not a fleshly kingdom, it is not of eating and drinking, it is RIGHTEOUSNESS (of God through the finished work of Jesus), PEACE (for which Jesus was chastised on our behalf) and JOY (everlasting undiluted unconditional joy which we have being justified freely through Grace by the redemption that we have in Christ Jesus) in the HOLY GHOST.

Beloved this is why the Spirit was sent on the Day of Pentecost. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, the same life giving power, the creative dunamis of El Shaddai that created the universe, dwelling in us; the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19). This is what believers receive; this is our inheritance, our gift. The baptism in the Spirit is an unmerited, undeserved gift available freely because of the righteousness which we have through the finished work of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Hallelujah!!

Of the Doctrine of Baptisms (Part 1 of 3)

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:1-2)

Beloved, the sixth chapter of Hebrews is a call to maturity. 1 Peter 2:2 says “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”.

There is a time in our spiritual walk when we are just saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) and are in that sweet spot where we tangibly feel the love of God embracing us each and every day of our new lives (2 Corinthians 5:17). At this point Peter explains that we are to desire the pure milk of the Word. Here we learn the basics; the foundations of perfection from dead works (freedom from the Law Galatians 3:13), of faith toward God (the righteousness that is available through faith 2 Corinthians 5:21), of the doctrine of Baptisms (Yes!! There are two Baptisms) and of laying on of hands (for healing the sick and for imparting/receiving the dorea gift of the Holy Spirit) and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement (a time will come when the dead will be raised, given eternal bodies and the unjust will be judged).

Now concerning the “doctrine of baptisms and laying on of hands”, many remain in a state of confusion and unbelief. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would convict the world of ONLY ONE sin. That is the sin of UNBELIEF (John 16:8-9). And I am sure that the Spirit of Truth will shine this light through His word and clear every unbelieving thought from your minds and tear down every stronghold that is hindering you from grasping this life changing truth. Amen!

John the Baptist declared, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11 NIV) In Ephesus Paul asked the disciples of Apollos, “ “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism.” (Acts 19:2-3 NIV) Then Paul went on to explain, “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:4-6 KJV)

Jesus said, “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”(Luke 24:49 NIV) And in another place it is written, “Gathering them together, He (Jesus) commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5 NIV)

Beloved the bible says, “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 17:6, 2 Corinthians 13:1). I have now presented you with three witnesses regarding the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the account of Matthew, that of Luke and of the Lord Himself. And two or three more come to mind which I am not mentioning here. This is one of the founding principles and an indispensible part of our spiritual lives. My dear friends seek the baptism in the Spirit with all your hearts. Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 NIV) Amen, Amen and Amen to this eternal truth. Praise the Lord!!

Who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit?

Beloved, John (the Baptist) made it clear that it is Jesus who would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and With Fire (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33). Wow!! I just realized that all the four gospels speak of this baptism and the One who baptizes. Imagine the importance of this wonderful baptism now. Hallelujah!! Isaiah 4:4 says, “The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.” Jesus is the one who baptizes you with the Holy Ghost and with fire (Luke 24:49)

When can we get baptized? Do we need to tarry like Jesus asked to in Acts 1?

Beloved, this is the best part. The answer to the above mentioned question is that God can baptize you RIGHT NOW. We will discuss this in the next study but as Jesus explains in Luke 11:13, the Father will in no way withhold this Gift from you, and you are to ask in Jesus’ name (John 14:13, John 16:23).

Some might erroneously say that you need to wait, to tarry.

Yes, Jesus did ask the disciples to wait in Jerusalem in Acts 1:7-8 but they were only to wait till the day of Pentecost had fully come (Acts 2:1-4). After the Pentecost, NO ONE had to tarry to receive the dorea gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul received the gift as soon as Ananias prayed for him (Acts 9:17), the fellowship at Cornelius’ house received the gift as Peter was speaking to them (Acts 10:44), the disciples of Apollos received when Paul laid hands on them (Acts 19:6). There you have it, three witnesses who disprove the erroneous message that we still have to tarry. Hallelujah!

Beloved, the household of Cornelius was not even baptised unto repentance, yet the Father poured out the Holy Spirit on them. Pastor Randy Clark speaks of a woman who heard a group singing in tongues and simple told God that she liked it and she wanted it, she was IMMEDIATELY filled with the Holy Ghost.  I know someone who has recently received the Holy Spirit in the same manner. Hallelujah, we serve a wonderful God.

John’s baptism was unto repentance, unto metanoea, the changing of the mind and the way we think, for the kingdom of God was at hand. This change occurs by the washing of water by the word.

Jesus once told His disciples, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3 NIV)

Paul says that the bridegroom (Jesus) will make His bride (the Church) holy “cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:26)

The baptism in water is a symbolic expression of the metanoea, the change in the way we perceive the Kingdom, which in truth happens ONLY and ONLY by the washing of water through the Word. Paul therefore urges the Romans, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person BY CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)

Hallelujah!!

To be continued…..

Made in His Image

A few months ago, I was on a train looking out the window. It was around 6 am and the sky was overcast with rain clouds, but it has not started raining yet. The morning breeze was ticklishly chilly and saturated with a plethora of smells...wet earth, green leaves, smoke from a fire lit in a thatched hut. Even though there was no sun, the sky was illuminated in a magnificent way giving the entire scenery a brilliant grey background.

A few white birds flew past when I felt the tender voice of the Holy Spirit tell me that all of what I was seeing and appreciating, all of mother nature in her magnificence, was created by the Word, the Breath, the Vibrations from the mouth of God. He spoke and they came to be. Hallelujah!! My spirit rejoiced with the Spirit of God. And then in a way that only God can, He blew my mind with the next thing which He pointed out. He said, "..but son, I formed you by My hands"!! Oh the joy that flooded my spirit at that moment. A silent but powerful revelation.

The Psalmist realized the glory of God which was manifested in the human form and proclaimed in worship, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalms 139:14). Beloved we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Although we are on earth, our blueprints are heavenly, we are images of the Holy, Omniscient and Omnipotent Master of the universe. Hallelujah!! Our bodies were not meant to be afflicted with maladies and stress. We were created to soar, to commune with Heaven and walk hand in hand with Elohim. The human body is a masterpiece. It is perfectly designed to resist disease, fueled by two sources of energy - one of the world and one divine (proving our supernatural tie with the Creator) and built to live long and meaningful lives on earth and then live forever in Jesus Christ.

Beloved, you are not an accident. You are not a product of chance, improved over millions of years of evolution and survival of the fittest. You are a masterpiece crafted carefully in the comforting hands of a Loving and Caring Father. His love for you is unfathomable. The Apostle Paul concludes, "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever may believe in Him, will not perish but will have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Beloved the Messiah, promised to Abraham was born on Christmas day. The Christ, Yeshua, the Saviour was the Son of God, the Holy One of Yahweh made flesh, born to die, the Lamb who would take away the sins of the whole world (John 1:29). Hallelujah!!

Paul, by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 6:19). Declare these truths over you bodies today, and witness the healing power of Jehovah Rapha in your lives as you call on His Name. Finally, I quote the words of John, who knew the Love of God, he said, "Beloved, in regard to all things I pray that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" (3 John 1:2).

Shalom!!

Born to Die: The Christmas Story

Mary lifted her eyes up to the heavens to gaze at a particularly bright star. It was almost as if it guided them to their destination. They had finally arrived at Bethlehem, Joseph’s birthplace; for he was of the family of David and according to Caesars decree each man had to return to his place of birth for the census. Joseph seemed tensed, although their long and tiring journey had at last come to an end, there was another thought which troubled him. The baby was coming and they had no room to spend the night, no place for Mary to give birth. A gentle evening breeze kissed her face as she, bravely enduring the pains of labor, watched her husband run fruitlessly from one door to another, pleading for a roof over their heads. Bethlehem had no room to accommodate the desperate couple that night.

Beloved, all circumstances surrounding the birth of our Lord were in no way coincidental, (Jeremiah 31:15) they were a series of events beautifully orchestrated by the Holy One of Israel. Joseph and Mary not finding a place to stay was just another piece of the Master Plan being executed at just the right time.

“And by and by they found a nook in a stable all forlorn / and in a manger cold and dark Mary’s little boy was born”

 - Bethlehem Ephrathah, the place where the baby lay in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes was not an ordinary animal shelter. It was the place where newborn lambs were set apart for the Passover. As the ewes would give birth, the new born lambs would be wrapped in swaddling clothes to make sure that they remain without blemish, to maintain them as the perfect sacrifice. So when the angels described the baby to the shepherds they had absolutely no trouble finding that particular stable where the King of kings lay. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy in Micah 5:2 “And you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He shall come forth to Me, to become Ruler in Israel, He whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.”

The branch from the stem of Jesse promised by Isaiah....the heir of David.... the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty One of Yahweh, the Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace) was born; God made flesh, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the World – they named Him Yeshua, as instructed by the angel of the Lord.

A group of shepherds watching their flocks by night they were startled by a brilliant light in the heavens. A million floodlights of our day could not match the brilliance of the angelic host that came to proclaim the birth of the Son of God. The Father lit up the sky to announce that His Son had been born as the Son of Man.  And the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

These lowly shepherds became the first ones to witness the incarnation of God as Man, the Holy one of Israel as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stone trough where animals were fed. None could imagine the depth of that glorious sight which lay before them. The babe wrapped in cloth lying in a stone trough looked awfully similar to a dead man lain in a stone tomb.

As some time passed, the three wise men who knew about the prophecies concerning the birth of the Savior of the world reached Bethlehem. They claimed to have followed a new star that had appeared in the heavens and it led them to the city of David. Matthew 2:11 says, “And coming into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother. And they fell down and worshiped Him. And opening their treasures, they presented gifts to Him, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Gold offered as a gift fit for a descendant of Royalty, for the baby in Mary’s arms was the long awaited heir of David (Jeremiah 23:5). Frankincense, offered to the high priest of the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7) who would one day stand before Elohim, as the perfect mediator – the One Job longed to have (Job 16 and 17). The last gift was unusual; it was Myrrh, bitter herbs, to embalm the body of the Perfect Sacrifice.

 Mary knew that her firstborn was different; He was not another human baby for He was not born of man but of the Holy Spirit. She understood why the scholars and shepherds came to worship her Son. She knew that the joy in Simeon’s eyes was the joy of the Lord, like a fountain gushing from a dry well, the man had seen God. His words “For my eyes have seen Your Salvation” is literally translated “For my eyes have seen Your Yeshua”. (Luke 2:25-30) The words of Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:38) confirmed to all who were eagerly waiting for redemption, that unto them a King had been born, the babe in Mary's arms was the Savior of the World.

Right from the day He was born, Jesus was set apart to be offered up as propitiation for our sins. That our sins be placed on Him and His righteousness imputed to us by faith in His perfect work. (Romans 3:25)

The ram caught in the thicket by the horns, (Genesis 22:13) the perfect sacrifice for Abraham to offer to God in his son’s stead……the Passover lamb, whose blood on the doorposts of the Israelites saved their firstborn and earned them their freedom (Exodus 12:7, 13)……these were all shadows, prophetic events in history pointing to the final offering that would once and for all time (Hebrews 9:28) reconcile man to God… the Messiah, who was born on Christmas Day. Praise God!!

Mary, did you know

that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know

that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know,

that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding, is the great I AM.

Hallelujah!! Merry Christmas to you all. Shalom!

Fulfilling the Great Commission out of the Overflow

Many believers today misunderstand the Great Commission. Churches literally force people to go out and preach the Gospel to unbelievers. The results are often not very good. 

One of the reasons why many of our sincere efforts bear no fruit is because we have been taught a mixture of the Law and Grace. Beloved what Peter preached in Acts 2 and 3000 were saved, what he preached at Cornelius' house and Gentiles (for the first time) were baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 10), and what Paul preached mentioned in Acts 13 that caused a lame man to receive faith to be healed (Acts 14:9), is what really matters. Yes, not HOW, WHEN, or WHERE they preached but WHAT they preached!!!!

They preached GRACE, undiluted, unadulterated, unaltered, pure Grace. They preached that through this Grace (Jesus Himself) there is forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 10:43, 13:38) available to all who believe in Him (Romans 10:9-10) for God SO loved the world. (John 3:16)

The great commission was never about us. If Jesus wanted Peter and the apostles to go out and fulfill the great commission by themselves then He would have not told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). If God required men to go out and save the lost then Paul would not have cried out, "It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives through me" (Galatians 2:20) and Jesus could never have said, "who ever my Father sends to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)

Beloved, it is El Shaddai who seeks and saves the lost......the loving Father who looks out for His lost Son....Jehovah Rohi who rejoices when He finds that one lost sheep. Amen!!

So how exactly do we fulfill the great commission? 

What we receive by grace through faith in Jesus edifies us. And how much we receive is always more than we can handle. (Ephesians 3:20) It is the overflow that causes us to fulfill the Great Commission. It is the ABUNDANCE of what we receive that reaches out to our lost world. It is His light reflected off of us that draws in the weary and heavy laden to Christ (Matthew 11:28). His light makes us that city on a hill which cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14)

Let me clear the air regarding how exactly the disciples and apostles went out "to the uttermost parts of the earth". (Acts 1:8) Immediately after the ascension of Jesus into Heaven, the disciples stated in Jerusalem as the Lord commanded. (Acts 1:4) Even after Peter's first message they remained in Jerusalem. All throughout Acts 2 to to Acts 7 it is mentioned that they would go to the temple to preach and many were healed (Acts 5:12,16) and the church grew in number (Acts 2:41, 43, 47, 5:14). Still no apostle moved out of Jerusalem (except the people from different nations who had been there for the feast of the Pentecost, they went to their homelands with the Good News oblivious of the great commission). Acts 8:4, makes it clear that it was only after Stephen's death and when Saul started persecuting the followers of Christ in Jerusalem that the brothers were "caused" to scatter to other place, and there under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the dunamis of God, they PREACHED the Gospel. He made all things beautiful in His time. Hallelujah!! 

Today do not be burdened with guilt because you are not preaching the Gospel. Condemnation kills but the Law of the Spirit of Life in JESUS CHRIST has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) Do not let anyone force you into coercive preaching, it is never effective. Beloved, do not try to do the work of the Holy Spirit by yourself. But rejoice because under the New Covenant most of the time believers end up ministering and witnessing to people even when they are NOT aware of it. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that "you shall be my witnesses", our lives will be living testimonies and that is what will draw people in darkness to come out into the light of Jesus that shines through our lives. Amen!! God will confirm this preaching of His word with signs and wonders (Mark 16:20)!! So no more worries about making up excuses as to why miracles did not happen, because you better brace yourself as all heaven will break open and the dunamis of God will flow when His word goes forth from the mouth of His beloved son or daughter! Amen!! Praise the Lord!!

Beloved the same power that flowed through Paul, Peter and the 1st century believers is alive and well able to do the same and even greater works in us today. The first century church was no different than us today. they faced the same difficulties, made the same mistakes and had the same power which we have today.So quit disqualifying yourself, blaming the "evil times", quit playing the blame game. Jesus' perfect work has made you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and you are now the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Believe that there is nothing wrong with you because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice, look up and see the blessings flow, miracles manifest and experience the power of God making each of the days of your natural lives, SUPERNATURAL!! Hallelujah!! 

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Beloved this kind of a life, we abiding in Jesus and His word in us (John 15:7); this life will speak to the ends of the earth and declare that JESUS is Lord, and whatever we ask for in Jesus' name, will be done for us by the ever loving and gracious Father, the one and only wise King, to Him be all glory and honor and praise, forever and ever! Amen! 

Many are later called into full time ministry by Jesus like Paul, Dr. DGS Dhinakaran, Pas. Joseph Prince, Smith Wigglesworth was a plumber before being called full time but there are instances in his life when he would go to do his job and the glory of God would be manifested in the way he spoke and acted so much that people would themselves approach him to ask him what kept him so happy and satisfied. The answer obviously was Jesus!! Beloved it is of utmost importance that we do not rush in on our own but wait for the call, besides that the word assures us that our very lives will touch people and make paradigm shifting changes wherever we are!! Look to Jesus, beloved, only He can give you that abundant life (John 10:10) where you do not end up "making it through" the day, instead you LIVE EACH MOMENT EXPERIENCING HEAVEN ON EARTH for the GLORY of GOD!! Amen!!

Blessed?? Hallelujah!!

Of Food and Freedom

Beloved, I want to discuss an area which has confused me a lot in the past but thanks to God that today by His Grace I no longer stand divided in my mind. God is “Jehovah Shalom”, God our Peace; it does not mean that He give us peace; He IS our Peace. On this note I would also encourage you to look to Jesus whenever you are troubled or confused and He will guard your hearts and minds with His shalom peace (Philippians 4:7). Amen!

This is about food offered or sacrificed to idols or the “prashad” which many of us have been offered some time or the other in the past. I have always avoided taking this and many a times been confused my conscience, not by partaking of this food but by seeing believers who partake of this food openly.

Now let me point out that those who believe in Jesus and yet partake of this are under no condemnation, for they give thanks to God and because He has made all things clean, “the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof” (1 Corinthians 10:26).

The problem, beloved was my weak conscience and lack of knowledge.

Let us look at what Paul says. With regard to food sacrificed to idols the first thing he says is, “with regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1) Hallelujah!! The wisdom of God!! Powerful!!

Beloved the knowledge of freedom too can cause us to become ignorant of people who lack it. So this is why the Holy Spirit brings this up, we who have the knowledge that idols are nothing in this world (1 Corinthians 8:4), no food is unclean (1 Corinthians 10:25-27), and food does not cause  us to go closer to or farther from God (1 Corinthians 8:8)  -  must “be careful that this liberty of ours does not become a hindrance to the weak." (1 Corinthians 8:9)

Yes, all food is clean but as Paul says “everything is not beneficial” (1 Corinthians 10:23).

Regarding food, I wish to tell you as Paul did, “Eat everything that is available in the marketplace” (1 Corinthians 10:35) but meditate on what Jesus told Satan when he asked Him to turn the stones into bread (Matthew 4:3-4). Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 saying “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. Let me point out to you that in the original Hebrew text, the word “word” is not there. Instead it reads, “man shall not live by bread alone but by everything (every vibration) that comes from the mouth of God”!! Hallelujah!! So I can safely quote that “food is not even NECESSARY!!” Jehovah sustains us by His word.

Coming back to food offered to idols, let us see how Paul expands on this topic in 1 Corinthians 10. He says by the Holy Spirit that idols are nothing but demons and that the pagans (unbelievers) offer sacrifices to them. So it is impossible for us to partake at the table of the Lord and that of demons. (1 Corinthians 10:20-22) The Spirit knew that we can be alarmed by this so He says in the very next verse that all things are good and that all food is good (1 Corinthians 10:25-26), and even when you are invited to the house of an unbeliever do not hesitate to eat whatever is offered to you (1 Corinthians 10:27). And then Paul adds, that if an unbeliever (or a weak believer at any other time) happens to mention that a particular food has been offered to idols, then do not eat it (1 Corinthians 10:28). Not for the sake of defiling yourself (because you can never be defiled by what you eat or do not eat) but for the sake of the other person whose conscience is weak. (1 Corinthians 10:29)

Beloved, Paul says that if by eating a certain type of food we cause a weak brother to fall into sin, it is better to avoid that food. (1 Corinthians 8:13)

You now possess the knowledge regarding food sacrificed to idols, now let us look at love. Beloved, love builds up. This knowledge is useless without love because we can now easily exercise this knowledge, become puffed up and end up causing many with weak consciences to fall into sin and confusion. So how do we exercise this love.

The answer is in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

For though I am free from all, yet I have made myself servant to all, so that I might gain the more.

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain the Jews. To those who are under the Law, I became as under the Law, so that I might gain those who are under the Law.

To those who are outside Law, I became as outside Law (not being outside law to God, but under the Law to Christ), so that I might gain those who are outside Law.

To the weak I became as the weak, so that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, so that I might by all means save some.

This is love. The love that builds up lies in us exercising our knowledge (the freedom from guilt regarding what we eat or do not eat) to go and be with unbelievers and weak believers, to eat what they eat and be with them to proclaim the Gospel to them, so that they too might one day be free in Jesus' name. Amen!!

So those of you, who are new believers, do not hesitate to eat the “prashad” offered to you at home. Give thanks (for He has made all food clean) and partake lest you lose the opportunity to testify about Jesus at your own homes. And to believers in Christ who are under no such compulsion, you are free to exercise this knowledge but do so in love for your fellow believers who are weak.

Shalom!! 

Marriage vows revisited

About three months ago brief discussion with my uncle on the wedding vows we normally use at Christian weddings sparked a tiny flame. 

Half of the things which we say and anticipate will be a part of our married lives are downright pessimistic under Grace. For example, we say, “to have and to hold in sickness and in health, for better or for worse..”

Clearly this is like cursing a union before it even begins. Sure the argument that “anything can happen” and that “we should consider all possibilities” may hold true for unbelievers; but for the children of the Most High God such a statement is absurd.

Beloved Yeshua suffered and died one of the most painful and agonizing forms of death just so that we, today, will be free from all sin, sickness and worries. So to declare or even hope to encounter such things is wrong. The writer of Hebrews says, “…and who have fallen away; it is impossible, I say, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify the Son of God afresh to themselves and put Him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:6)

Beloved, repent!! Metanoea!! Change the way you think!! Because the work of Christ is complete. It was one sacrifice, offered once, for all our sins and it was accepted as perfect by the Father. So if there was any sin which God had not forgiven that day at the cross, He (the Father) could not have raised Jesus from the dead. So perfect health, prosperity and peace of mind are blood bought gifts given to us freely by faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“Till death do us part…” is another inappropriate phrase. 

Beloved, for a believer the word death is invalid. Believers pass on into eternal life. The “zoe” life which the bible speaks of begins when this mortal life ends. And the Saviour who died to reconcile all mankind to the Father is not in the business of parting us from our loved ones. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known.” Then when we are perfected in heaven we will know each other, all the painful memories will be gone but all the good times will be enhanced.

Today when we are separated from those we love…parents…siblings…spouses…we feel void, incomplete and alone. 

Eve was made because God saw that Adam was alone (Genesis 2:18). And Adam loved Eve, because we see when man fell and the woman was cursed Adam declared over his wife that her name shall be “Chavvah” (Eve) which means life (Genesis 3:20). Wow, imagine they had just lost their immortality and this guy names his wife “life”. I believe that they know each other in heaven and I am sure that we all will know our loved ones too.

Beloved, the covenant of marriage is holy. God made man and woman to be with each other.

Paul explains the deeper significance of marriage in Ephesians 5, mentioning what Jesus, the Bridegroom, did for His bride, the Church. Here husbands are instructed to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). Christ died for His bride so that He may present her without blemish before God, by the washing of water by His Word. (Ephesians 5:26-27) Husbands are the priests of their households. It is their duty to wash their families with the “washing of water by the word”; to intercede on their behalf and to be the representative of the love of Jesus in their families. Amen!

Wives are told to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22) not as slaves rather as worthy equals. The picture is of the Holy Spirit and the renewed spirits of the redeemed (2 Corinthians 5:17). The unsaved spirits of unbelievers cannot stand before Spirit of God, let alone receive from Him but when a sinner repents he is made a new creation. This new creature (spirit) is perfected by the work of Yeshua and can stand face to face and receive from the Spirit of God. Hallelujah!!!

“for this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be united with his wife…”(Ephesians 5:31). The cause is simple, beloved. The cause is LOVE. Jesus is LOVE. God is LOVE. Marriages on earth represent His Love for us, His Bride.

So marriage vows under grace would sound something like as follows:

I take my beloved <name of your spouse> as my lawfully wedded husband/wife

To have and to hold for all eternity

In the abundance of health and happiness

For better moving on towards the best

Till we are perfected in love when we stand face to face with the author and perfecter of our love, Jesus Christ

Amen

Beloved this is a truth, and Jesus said that the truth always sets us free. Feel free to renew your wedding vows with your spouse if you are led. For those who are not married yet, declare these promises in your heart so that when God brings the right person to you, you will declare life over them in Jesus’ name. 

Yes, beloved, when we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. We will rejoice in the arms of our Lord and celebrate with all whom we love. It will be a grand grand reunion.

Shalom!