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Why does it happen to me?

1 Samuel 31:10 - And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth:
and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

King Saul’ death was a terrible incident; he killed himself at the
battle field after facing defeat. This defeat was not because he
lacked the ability to fight the battle but was only because the Lord
was not with him and was in fact against him.

The spirit of Samuel spoke to Saul some time before the battle and
told him that he and his sons would die. Along with him disobeying the
Lord one of the reasons was because Saul tried to communicate with the
spirit of the dead, the very thing he knew was not allowed by the Lord
and he himself had put away all those who communicated with spirits.

Today we read about persecution of Christians in many parts of the
world. Sometimes even we tend to face problems in our lives as
Christians. Many a times we tend to think it is persecution and
continue our mistakes or wrong practices.

Jesus spoke about us facing persecution but we need to understand why
and specially why during the later days?

The grace of God saves us but this grace cannot be taken for granted,
the Lord had to pay a heavy price for this grace. No doubt this grace
acts like a cushion to the anger of God but then we also need to
understand when the glory of God is more and more manifested the more
harsh and quick is His judgment. In these days many amongst us are
experiencing the glory of God and it is this reason why persecution
has also increased in this world.

Now the question comes why are these Christians facing persecution.
Many of them have come out from religions of Islam or other religions
with great faith and proclaimed fearlessly themselves as Christians
yet we do not see the Hand of God supporting most of them when they
are persecuted.

The persecution of the early Church also started when people started
lifting Peter up and glorifying him instead of the Lord. They started
treating him like god by keeping the sick in his path for his shadow
to fall. This was not done even for Jesus and we need to remember it
was not he alone who was healing people but also the other Apostles
were healing people and doing great miracles.

In today’s message the Lord is telling us a very serious message. The
armour or personal protection of Saul was given up unto the House of
Ashtaroth (which was named after the goddess Ashtoreth then known as
the Queen of Heaven and even today goes by the same name under the
disguise of a person of the New Testament. The city wall symbolizes
protection to one’s belonging for it protected the city. It was on the
wall of Bethshan that the body of Saul was fastened. The word Bethshan
means ease. It symbolizes people who take the grace of God for granted
and they misuse His provision for the satisfaction of their lust of
the flesh, mind and ego.

There are many who call themselves Christians. No doubt they believe
in Jesus Christ but along with Him they also believe in a goddess who
is not from God. They are deceived since they are not rooted in the
Word nor have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. There are also
others whose purpose of becoming Christian is solely to be blessed in
this world. They do not pursue the treasures of Heaven but the
treasures of this world. Their God is not Lord God but Gawd the god of
fortune (God and Gawd are pronounced the same).

The Israelites were protected by the Lord. When they walked in His
instructions even though obstructions came before them and armies came
against them yet not even one soul among them was lost. But when they
started to waver in the Lord’s instructions they had to bare great
casualties. It came to a point that their protector became their most
enemy like during the times of Jeremiah, Isaiah and after Jesus died
(70AD).

Today as we find more and more people coming to know God and have
relationship with Him the more things change in this world. When the
glory of God is there here, things cannot continue in the same way.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, Your Word shows us when there were no Men of God the people
continued in sin and nothing happened. But when a Man of God took
birth their lives were shaken up and things were not the same. Lord,
we pray today’s message wake up those who are asleep and brings light
to those who are under deceit. They think they are Christians but
follow other gods too like Solomon did. Lord, we pray none of your
sheep become calamity and are saved...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
1 Samuel 28:16-19
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the
LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD
hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy
neighbour, even to David:
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst
his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing
unto thee this day.
19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand
of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me:
the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the
Philistines.

1 Samuel 31:1-5
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel
fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and
the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s
sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and
he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me
through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me
through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore
afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise
upon his sword, and died with him.

Acts 5:11-18
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard
these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders
wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in
Solomon’s porch.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people
magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of
men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and
laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter
passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto
Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean
spirits: and they were healed every one.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him,
(which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with
indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Acts 8:1-8

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And Samuel will be born into your life

Samuel is born to Hannah

Samuel was the son of Elkanah and Hannah. His grandfather' s name was
Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Elihu, who was the son of Tohu, the
son of Zuph. You may wonder why I am giving history lesson in today's
message. If we take the meanings of their names there is a beautiful
message for us today.

Zuph = Honeycomb (honey symbolizes understand, thus the name
symbolizes man of great understanding)
Tohu = lowly (a humble man)
Elihu = He is my God (a person who knows God)
Jeroham = showing pity (a person who serves and blesses others)
Elkanah = God has possessed / created (a person who knows his purpose
in the Kingdom of God)
Hannah = grace (a person who dwells in grace of God)
Samuel = He is my EL (EL is a term used for God but means mighty or
strong, thus the name symbolizes a person who knows Almighty God not
just God but who He is and experiences His Power)

We know Elkanah was a rich man (by his offering). His wife Hannah had
no children while his other wife did. It was after great crying unto
the Lord that Hannah was blessed with Samuel. All her years of fasting
and praying only paid off when she dedicated her son (her product) to
the Lord.

In all this there is a message for us today and that is even if we are
people of great understanding having knowledge of things of the world
or even the Bible, we may be a humble person in life, we may be
knowing God, that He exists, we may be people serving others, helping
other people, we may be people who know God's plan in our lives and
people living in the grace of God yet we may find we are not
experiencing the Power of God in our lives.

We may be people of prayer and people who fast unto the Lord yet we
find we are not really experiencing the Power of God in our lives.
There are many times we may be going on our knees and asking the Lord
why are we not like Jesus Who experienced the Power of God every
moment of His life as man on earth.

The Lord is telling us today unless we do not dedicate our work unto
Him we are never going to experience the Power of God in our lives.

Dedicating means doing work for His glory. Remember when we dedicate
our work unto the Lord we need to give our best so whatever we do for
the Kingdom of God should not be half-hearted efforts but our best. We
should also remember what ever Jesus did, in it He first gave thanks
unto the Lord, meaning He did not do it by His strength but by the
strength of the Father. He did not take credit for any of His works
but always acknowledge the Hand of His Father.

Let us draw from today's message and giving our best unto the Lord,
not working with our strength but by His strength. Let us experience
His Power in our lives like Jesus did.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, we want to experience Samuel in our lives. We want to see your
glory in our lives so that we can draw others to You. We have been
struggling and at time getting very disappointed with the turn of
events. Lord, let today's message be written in our hearts that every
day we remember it and experience your Power...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
1 Samuel 1:1-11
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim,
and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the
son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name
of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no
children.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to
sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his
wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but
the LORD had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret,
because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the
LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and
why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to
thee than ten sons?
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they
had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple
of the LORD.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt
indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and
not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man
child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life,
and there shall no razor come upon his head.


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Moving out of the Island of flesh hurts

Acts 27: 21 - But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst
of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not
have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

Luke was recording the last stages of Paul life when he was taken as a
prisoner to Rome. On their journey to Crete they experienced bad
weather. This was not something very unusual but the usual southern
winds which were strong winds experienced annually during a specific
period. These winds were normally for short period so were not feared
so much.

When Paul reached Crete he had warned the roman troop that there was
great danger ahead not only to the ship but also to their lives. They
did not take heed to Paul's warning and thought Paul was talking of
the southern winds getting rougher. So they discussed, it being a
cold winter and the port at Fair Haven which they were docked at did
not favour them staying there, they chose facing the winds rather than
facing the cold temperature. To be safe they kept their ship close to
the shore and took a path which the wind would not hinder their travel
(they were almost against the wind). The port was a short distance
from Cape of Malta, only four miles from Fair Haven. But the moment
they left the port the wind changed direction and instead of coming
from the south the wind came for the north east and they were taken
away into deep sea far from the land.

Luke made it a point to note the name of this wind. In some
translations it is written as Euraquilo and in some Euroclydon. It was
not an ordinary wind; people also call it Gregale which happens
regular when low pressure occurs in the Mediterranean Sea. The name
Euroquio means North-eastern. A historian gave us a good background of
this storm which explained the records of Luke. This storm has happen
only a few times in historic records occurring once between 300 to 500
years. Every time it came Euraquilo caused great devastation like a
tsunami does. This storm lasts even for a month and during the time of
Paul it lasted 15 days. People were aware of this storm thus in the
start these people thought it would last for many more days so saved
their food and did not eat, but on assurance of Paul they ate and even
threw a lot of the grains cargo they were carrying so as to lighten
the ship. When they saw land, on trying to go on land they crashed the
ship to some rocks and had a shipwreck. In the shipwreck they almost
got the prisoners killed since the roman troop did not want any
prisoner to escape so were on the verge of killing them, but it was
the centurion's soft corner for Paul that got them saved.

In today's scripture the Lord has a very important message for us. The
word Crete in Greek means flesh. The Lord is telling us when we make a
decision to distance ourselves for your fleshy way of life suddenly
the normal problems take an unprecedented turn. They suddenly become
unexpected, unthinkable and at times life threatening. That
one-in-a-million possibility happens to us and we think we are doomed.
But when we have a relationship with the Lord like Paul did and when
we hold on to His promises like Paul did, then we will go throw this
problem alive. Paul even after being saved from the storm he was
bitten by a deadly poisonous snake, so also we too may suddenly find
after all is over something unexpected and disastrous hits us. Yet the
Lord says He will do something unimaginable and people will see His
glory in our lives.

So let us not fear to stop living our fleshly way of life, let us
leave the Island of Crete.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You knew it was just impossible for man to overcome the fleshy
desires which sin has put into us. It is only the Truth that sets us
free for our flesh and that is why You sent your Son to pay a heavy
price so as to make available your Spirit of Truth for us. Holy
Spirit, it is You Who teaches us all things. It is You Who care for us
and mould us into sons of God. Holy Spirit we trust in You and
surrender unto you...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Acts Chapter 27, Chapter 28:1-10.

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Life of Amaziah

2 Kings 14:18 - And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Amaziah was the eighth king of Judah, son of Joash, began to reign B.
C. 835, and reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. He did well in the
sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. Having established
himself in his throne and slain the murderers of his father, he
mustered a host of 300,000 men of Judah, and hired 100,000 men of
Israel, for a war upon Edom. These hired forces he reluctantly
dismissed at the command of God, who gave him the victory without
their aid. But this did not prevent him from carrying home with him
the idols of Edom, and setting them up to be his gods. For this
defiance of Jehovah, he was threatened with destruction by a prophet
of the Lord; and soon after, went headlong into war with Israel, in
which he was defeated and humbled. Fifteen years after, he was slain
by conspirators, after flying to Lachish to escape them.

From the records of Amaziah we read the good and bad things he did. He
was a like us ordinary Christians today who make efforts be in the
Lord. We see when the Lord spoke to him and he abided by it he was
blessed, but when he strayed away from the Lord, the Lord send a
warning to him through His messenger and he did not abide to the
warning. Later we read out of his over confidence in himself not
realizing it was the Lord Who gave him victory the previous time, he
went into battle this time on his own might and we read he was utterly
defeated.

What we read after a period of fifteen years of eating the humble pie
he was killed in the same way like his father. The very thing which
was first priority of his life became his poison.

The Lord is teaching us from the life of Amaziah how even when we are
shaky in our lives and we listen to the Lord we will see victory over
everything, however impossible they may be. But when we stop having a
relationship with the Lord and put other things above the Lord, it may
not be another god, but a person even if that person claims to be from
God is given more priority than God. It may also be a desire to make
it big in life, to prosper, to have fame and money. It may be an
addiction or a tradition which is given more priority than God
Himself, if such things are made gods and worshipped then God would do
the same to us like He did to Amaziah.

We may say we live in the times of grace therefore nothing will happen.

Yes we live in the time of grace but we need to understand this gives
us more time and not total freedom to continue our evil way of life.
Grace makes our God slower to anger not blind and void of anger
towards sin.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, your grace saves us from your wrath. There are many times when
we do not listen to You, You send your messengers to correct us and
bring us to You. Lord, there are times when we put things of this
world, people and our worldly understand above You. Lord, help us not
to turn away from You and to remove all the gods we have set above
You. We pray that we do not experience your wrath like Amaziah did...

This we pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.


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Lucas

Luke

Today the Lord wants us to study from the life of Luke.

Luke is not doubt a major contributor to the New Testament after Paul.
He wrote the Gospel of Luke and also the book of Acts. He also is
mentioned many a times in the letters of Paul. Luke was the closest
companion of Paul, even when Paul was imprisoned in Rome Luke was
there with him.

According to some historical records Luke is claimed to come from a
slave background because of his name origin. He is recorded to be from
Antioch and a gentile before he became a Christian. He is said not to
be in the list of people who were direct eye-witnesses or on the
'seventy' list.

By profession Luke was a physician but his profession was not eminent
to his ministry as much his calling gifting was. Luke is called by
many as an Evangelist but had the calling of a Teacher and was blessed
with immense wisdom. Among the 3 Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke, Luke
was written last and it complements the other two, all that was
missing is found in the Gospel of Luke. He is also called a historian
not because of his profession but because of his calling as a Teacher.
Paul used his service greatly to understand scriptures and also all
that the Lord showed him directly.

The Gospel of Luke is most accurate in sense that it is to the point
although it was a second hand recording unlike Matthew and Mark
(Jewish name John, Roman name Mark and lived in Jerusalem). Luke got
all his information of Jesus from Paul and via Paul from the Apostles
and people who were eye-witnesses to the events with Jesus.

Paul called Luke his son but respected him as his associate in Christ.
Although Paul had a great personal relationship with the Lord yet he
also depended on the services of Luke for his ministry as an Apostle.

Today the Lord wants us to learn from Luke. Even though we were
unbelievers (we may have been Christians but did not know Christ) the
Lord can use us like He used Luke. We may be successful in a
profession and may think we will minister unto the Lord through our
professional skills. The Lord is telling us He does not need our
professional help. Luke was a physician but the Apostles did not use
Luke's ability to heal people but laid hands and healed them. They
used the Lord's ability. David too was a shepherd by profession but
his shepherd skills did not benefit him but as a shepherd the Lord
taught him to be a hunter and that skill benefited him.

We also need to learn to be humble like Luke who did not mention much
about himself in his own records. We learn about him more from Paul's
letters and not from his own records. He used the word 'we' more than
the word 'I'. He worked as a team in the Body of Christ keeping
himself totally in the background.

Let us work for the Kingdom of God like Luke did, not by our strength
or our ability or for our glory but all by His strength, for His
Kingdom and His glory.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, help us to learn from the life of Luke. We pray Lord that we may
work for your Kingdom selflessly. Help us not to use our strength or
our ability, but totally depend on You and your ability. May You alone
be glorified in the works of our hands...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Philemon 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Acts 16:11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight
course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

Acts 20:15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against
Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at
Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

2 Timothy 4:11-13
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he
is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest,
bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments [skin
used to write on mostly as rough drafts].

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Many are called, but few are chosen

Matthew 22:14 - For many are called [invited], but few are chosen[elected] .

Many or I would say almost all of Jesus' parables have a
multi-dimensional understanding. They reach out to those who drink
spiritual milk and also to those who eat solid food.

If one goes by the parable of the marriage feast by which Jesus
explains this statement we see that many know the Lord and are given
the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but only few accept it and come to Him.

The first request to come to the marriage was to those who already had
the invitation before with them when the servants went to call them.
The people Jesus implied here were the Jews. The Jews by their birth
in Abraham had received the invitation but did not abide to the
messages of the Prophets. The Jews claim to be followers of Yahweh and
abiders of the Law of the Lord through Moses but are in fact religious
people who follow rituals and not the Lord. They follow the words of
Moses without understanding what the Lord spoke through Moses,
therefore with reference to them it is written not the Law of the Lord
but Law of Moses.

In the second incident the King sends another Servant implying to His
Son Jesus Christ and it is written He was sent not empty handed but
with confirmation to abundance at the wedding but again they did not
only not accept the invitation but caught Him, mistreated Him and
killed Him. To this the King sends His army to destroy the murders and
also their whole city.

People are deceived to believe that the followers of Judaism are still
inheritors of the Kingdom of God. They did have this privilege until
they rejected Jesus Christ, His Message and killed Him. People mistake
spiritual Israel with the people who follow Judaism. Paul takes a lot
of pain in his letter to the Romans to explain this, but yet we find
many preachers preaching contrary to the Bible.

In the third part of the parable the invitation goes out to those on
the highway and it seems they receive the invitation and come to the
marriage. People on the highway implies to people referred in the New
Testament as gentiles. The term gentile does not refer to all
unbelievers but God's people who did not know Him, in simple terms His
lost sheep. People who lived in the city (Jews) lived in protected
walls. Jesus died outside the city. The Jews were and are protected by
the Lord until the day His wrath finishes them. We have seen all the
greatest disasters of the Jews are already prophesied in the Bible and
linked to the wrath of God. Their biggest enemy is their God for they
have rejected His Servants.

In the fourth part of the parable Jesus spoke of those from the
Highway who received the invitation and came to the wedding but did
not wear the wedding robe. Jesus took this from a historic event which
was fresh in the minds of the people who were listening to Him. He was
referring to the Roman marriage of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. At the
very grand marriage which Mark Antony had over many days, he was aware
there were people from his own who wanted to assassinate him like his
mother's cousin Julius Caesar was so he ordered every invitee to
remove all their belongings even the clothes they came in before
entering the main hall and were given special clothes to wear. This
was done to prevent the assassin from carrying any weapon.

In this part Jesus was not referring to one or two individuals but a
large part of those who came to the marriage. The Bible states only
one third of those who accept the invitation and come to the marriage
will actually enter and the remaining two third would receive more
worst punishment then those who rejected the invitation. These people
as Jesus puts are those who believe in Him but have refused to abide
by His Father's Word.

Christians are deceived in their understanding that all who believes
in Jesus Christ will go to Heaven. No doubt as the Word of God says
they will be saved from Hell but it is not necessary that they will
enter Heaven. It is only on Judgement Day when all are judged that
those found abiding in the Father's Word will enter Heaven and be part
of the Wedding.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, the Christians today have no fear of You for they are deceived
that by just receiving the invitation they will enter Heaven and be
part of the Wedding. They do not understand that if only they cover
themselves by the righteousness of thy Word will they be able to enter
Heaven. Your first Commandment requires us not to just love You but
love You with all our strength and understanding. It is not our
understanding that counts but the understanding we receive from your
Word. Lord, You said in your Word that more and more of them from the
later days will be part of the Wedding. Lord, we believe this Word has
reached many of those who will abide and be there at the Wedding in
Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Matthew 22:1-14
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a
marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the
wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants [singular], saying, Tell them
which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and
fatlings killed, and all things ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of, and went their ways, one to his farm,
another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants [singular], and entreated
spitefully, and slew.
7 But when the king heard, he was wroth: and he sent forth his
armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which
were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find,
bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered
together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding
was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man
which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not
having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and
take him away, and cast into outer darkness; there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few chosen.

Matthew 7:21 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.

Zechariah 13:8-9
8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, said the LORD, two
parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left
therein.
9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine
them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they
shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my
people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

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Beware of Daimons (Devils)

Mark 5:12 - And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the
swine, that we may enter into them.

In today's scripture the devils which were inside the man possessed
with a legion request Jesus to allow them to enter into the swine.

It was interesting when I search up the Greek word which is translated
as devils. The Greek word here is the word 'Daimons' which comes from
the word 'Daio' which means 'one who distributes fortune'.

Firstly there is no doubt these were evil spirit yet we see the Bible
uses a name like daimond for them. This Greek word was used for gods
or deities specifically to those who were inferior and worked under
the main gods, both good and evil. The correct translation in some
Bibles is demons and not devils (the name used for Satan(s) or He-goat
god). Demons are similar to what Hindus mythology call as devas. It is
only the Bible which shows them in bad light while all other religions
show them as good, even Islam calls them genie and says there are some
among them who are good and whose help can be taken to go to heaven or
quicken our work here on earth.

In the Bible they as clearly exposed. They are the fallen angels whose
angelic powers were taken away before the floods of Noah.

When Lucifer the cherub along with the Beast revolted against the
plans of God and disobeyed Him by bringing man to sin, God restricted
their entry to the Upper Heavens by putting Cherubs and a Flaming
Sword in the path.

Although the angelic powers of these spirits are taken away yet they
do have some powers and 2 Cor 4:4 states them as 'gods of this world
who blinded the minds of those who do not believe'. They do not really
rule this world for they do not have any power in any levels of the
Kingdom of God, not even in Hell. But they rule the corrupt
understanding of the people of this world and since God has given man
dominions on this level of the Kingdom of God thus through man they
rule this world. The more man rejects them the less the control they
will have on this world. They fear man who has the knowledge of Truth
in him like Jesus did.

It is interesting to note like God blesses us with prosperity so also
these spirits have the power to give fortune. There is a very thin
line between the fortunes which God blesses us and the fortune which
these spirits bless man with and that thin line is 'purpose'.

All what God gives has a purpose and everything that He give builds us
in Him and does not take us away from Him. But on the other hand the
fortune which these demons bless with gratifies the flesh and the
earthly desires of man and thus takes us away from the Kingdom of
Heaven. If we have riches or anything in excess, which gets us
attached to it and takes our eyes away from God then we need to ask
ourselves who gave these riches to us?

Jesus warns us we cannot serve two masters God and Mammon which means
wealth. It is not the fortune which comes from God but that which
comes from the demons. When we understand this we also understand why
the unbelievers have access to the riches of this world. It only
happens when we do not exercise our spiritual powers and bind the
powers of these demons. This we should not do so that we have these
riches but that the shine of God given riches may be more in this
world.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are light and every things You do has purpose to prosper.
The prosperity You give has purpose to better us and bring us more and
more towards You and your Glorious Seat. Lord this world loves
prosperity but sadly they are fooled by the worldly prosperity given
by demons. The prince of the air which means vanity blesses his child
and tempts your children also so as to destroy them. Lord, help us
discern things given by You and things that come from demons. Help us
not to get attached to worldly things and be destroyed but help us to
bless others and change all that of Satan by putting them to good
use...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine unto them.

Matthew 6:24-26
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye
shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than
raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.
Are ye not much better than they?

Luke 16:8-13
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done
wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser
than the children of light.
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of
unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into
everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in
much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Ephesians 2:2-3
2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that now works in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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Our God will surely judge

Romans 5:2-11

Of late Pune has become a play ground for Satan and he has been having
a free hand in that city. Although there are many believers in that
city yet Satan has not spared even the churches, in fact his main
operation centers are so called Christian churches.

One church there has a mission of bringing all gods to the same table
under one understanding like man did when they build the tower of
Babel. There is another Church called Children of God which promotes
free sex while holding a Bible in the hand. They also have the courage
to say this is written in the Word of God. And people like Eve who was
not rooted in the Word fall for this.

There is another group of so called Christians and are connected with
today’s message; these people always talk of ‘God is love and an ever
forgiving God’. Their concept of love is different than what the Bible
says. They say God forgives everything so even today after we accept
Jesus Christ as our savior we can continue sinning or doing anything
or everything we desire and we will be forgiven (or are already
forgiven). Under this understanding they promote all kinds of
relationships, a life of all fleshy desires, everything one can
imagine under the sun and all this is done with a straight face with
head held high believing they are in the Lord and are Christians.

When we talk about them we detest them for calling themselves
Christians but in today’s message the Lord is asking us about our
understanding. How many of us fear the Lord when we continue our
sinful way of life. We all trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of sins but we should realize we cannot keep
continuing for there will surely be a day when there will be a full
stop to the taking granted of the grace of Jesus Christ.

When we are far from the Lord, whatever our sins were, however much
they were, they are all forgiven the day we accept Jesus Christ as our
Lord and Savior and are baptized in Him. But the day we receive the
Holy Spirit and the power to overcome sin then we are expected to stop
our sinful way of life. If we still continue our sinful way then in
simple terms we are rejecting the power to overcome sin, which is the
Holy Spirit and we know grieving the Holy Spirit is something which
does not get forgiven.

Today the Lord is asking us to remember even though He has given us
abundant grace still we need to remember at the end we all will be
judged. So till the grace of God is over us let us change and continue
our fight against our sinful Adam nature and put on the nature of
Jesus Christ.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord Jesus, when there was no hope for man against the wrath of God
when man sinned, it was You who became our sacrifice and taking the
wrath on yourself You made available abundant grace for us. Help us to
always remember that this grace was paid for by You at a high price
and that we cannot take it for granted. Lord, help us remain in your
grace for we do not want to experience the wrath which awaits those
who reject your grace and worst which is in store for those who abuse
your grace. You shed your Blood to protect us from the wrath of God
and we thank You for your Blood sacrifice...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Romans 5:2-11
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and
honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of
the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to
the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Hebrews 10:26 -31
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge
of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted
the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy
thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I
will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his
people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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Our sacrifices do not please God, our ways do

Micah 6:7,8 - Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with
ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my
transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath
shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of
thee, but to do justly [live righteously] , and to love mercy [live in
His grace], and to walk humbly [live modestly] with thy God?

In the first part of today's message the Lord is telling us the
sacrifice of thousands of rams or giving ten thousands of rivers of
oil, do not please Him.

We live in a time where we do not do such things as sacrificing rams
or pouring out oil to the Lord so why this message to us?

The Lord wants us to be aware we have many people who spend a lot of
time praying, fasting, giving charity and they feel these things make
them a good Christian. Even if we be on our knees the whole day or be
stretched out on the floor for hours praying to the Lord, the Lord is
telling us these things do not please Him. It is not that they are
bad, they are good and necessary but they do not buy favour with the
Lord. Any sacrifice even if it is of our most loved thing does not buy
favour of the Lord.

In the second part of today's message the Lord is telling us exactly
what pleases Him and buys His favour over our lives and these things
are our living righteously, living under His grace and living a modest
life. Also it is not sufficient that we do just these but we do these
‘with Him'. The most important thing is being with Him.

People do many things taking the Lord's name but they never confirm if
the Lord is with them in their task. People sow and sow and find
either no results or hardly any results for the efforts they put out
for the Lord. Let us be like Moses who told the Lord if He would not
be with them they would not go and were ready to die in the desert
place.

Let us remember always, to gain the favour of the Lord we need do a
spiritual sacrifice not just a physical sacrifice. Sacrificing our
sinful ways and our desires for things that please the flesh, these
please God more than anything. He does not require us to live a
hermit's life but tells us to live a modest life. A modest life means
have things that are necessary and not that ‘extra'. Even though He
blesses us with that extra we need to give that extra to those around
us who are of need.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are God and no amount of gold or silver, sacrifice of
animals or the works of our hands can please You. You are our
providers so what can we give You. You made all things living so what
is of ours that we can offer You. It is You who gives strength to our
hands so how can its work please You. But Lord You gave us the freedom
of choose and when we make the right choice it pleases You. You gave a
perfect image which we corrupted by sin and when we put this image
back in order, it pleases You. Although man was removed from your
presence, yet You stretched out your Hand (Holy Spirit) through your
Son and when we hold this Hand and walk with You it please You. Lord
we want to please You and it is the only desire in our hearts to
please You and without your help it is not possible, help us O Lord to
please You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

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What are you praying for?

Luke 1:60 - And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be
called John.

In the background of today's message we read Zacharias who was a much
respected priest, known for his pious and blameless life. But we see a
two faces of a coin when it came to his faith in God. He was an aged
man who spent a great part of his life praying for a child since being
a Levi and a high priest he needed someone to keep that portfolio in
the family like he received from his fathers. Not only he but even his
relatives prayed unceasing unto God for his cause.

But surprisingly when the time came for him to receive the answer of
his long efforts, when the Angel Gabriel appeared unto him, he lost
faith and failed to believe that his prayer would be answered. This
caused the Angel to make him dumb till the time the child was born, so
that he does not open his mouth in his faithlessness and stop his
blessing.

What we see, even though the Lord answered Zacharias' prayer yet he
did not get what he thought he wanted. Zacharias wanted a son to
inherit the traditional post of being a High Priest and serving the
Lord. The Lord did answer Zacharias' prayer of giving him a son to
serve the Lord but not in traditions but in truth. It is written there
was no man in whole of history till that date, who had managed to
bring so many people to God like John did. That list includes Joseph,
Moses, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah and other Men of God. Never is it
written a man caused humans to 'take the Kingdom of Heaven by force'.
John was the first man to give the perfect Gospel. In all this we can
imagine the mental state of Zacharias (if he was as alive at that
time) as his son grew and instead on being involved the temple work,
went into the desert and started living a strange way of life.

In today's message the Lord is telling us to be aware of what we are
praying for, are we asking things worldly or things heavenly? Our God
is not interested in traditions or rituals, these things are for the
eyes of the people and not for the Lord. Lord does not answer prayers
which are to please people or to keep people busy. When the Lord
blesses He does it in truth and in perfection. It is our short
sightedness, our lack of knowledge of the Kingdom of God that causes
us to ask for things which the Lord does not give. So let us know the
Kingdom of God and pray according to His will not ours.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, out of our lack of understanding of reality we pray and pray and
find our prayers are not been answered. At times to answer our prayer
You need to put us in difficult situations so that we do not be a
hurdle to our own prayer. We also find at times we receive exactly
what we asked for but we know Lord You will not give a serpent to your
child when he asks for food. Lord help us to keep faith in You and to
trust You to give us the best for us, beyond the limits of our
understanding. ..

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Luke 1:5-22, 57-64

Matthew 11:7-15
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes
concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed
shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?
behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you,
and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger
before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there
hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he
that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of
heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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The Teacher of all teachers

Mark 14:50 - And they all forsook him, and fled.

The Bible records about three to three and a half years of the
ministry of Jesus Christ with the miracle of Cana being the first
recorded. But if one reads even at this time Jesus already had
disciples and it was He and his disciples along with His mother were
guest to the wedding.

Historic documents show Jesus as a Jew and a true Levi fulfilled
scriptures and dedicated Himself to the Temple work right from the age
of twenty one. He Himself studied scriptures even though He was God
who humbled Himself and came as man. He used none of His ‘God powers'
throughout His human life and was 100percent man in every way.

Among the many titles Jesus had was one which referred to Him as
Teacher. All of history has no man who was better than Jesus in
explaining or teaching anyone. The 3 Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke
concentrate on the teachings of Jesus. The methods Jesus used then,
even today if applied are the best to teach any person. The teachings
which Jesus gave had people understand them then and even today people
are still understanding them! The teachings had so much depth that
everybody received a small part of its understanding and are still
doing.

When it came to teaching a common crowd Jesus used lots of symbolism,
current historic events, geographical data, culture etc. so the
simplest of simple as well as the intellect received varying amounts
of understanding. For His close disciples Jesus used very simple,
plain words when He was in private with them. But when it came to the
over smart ones like the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Priests; Jesus
would answer their questions mostly with a question, more than making
them understand Jesus was shaking their understanding.

Even though Jesus was the best of best human teacher that man ever
had, yet we see in today's message His best students failed to a point
that they all forsook Him. We find many among them had great
revelations of Jesus yet when the test came they all failed miserably.
They really came to know Jesus and fully understood His teaching only
when they received the Holy Spirit.

Even though Jesus was the best human teacher yet He was not comparable
to the Teacher of all teachers which is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus as
man was limited, while the Spirit of God is not. The Holy Spirit
teaches us better than any human teacher which included the man Jesus.
We as human may even come to the level of teaching people like Jesus
did but if we have wisdom like Jesus we would do what Jesus did. He
knew His limitation as man and therefore handed over His students to
the ultimate Teacher.

Let us not be foolish to lead people all their lives. When I see
people being led by the same person over many years and not having a
relationship with the Ultimate Teacher than either the person is a
common man and not a disciple or the teacher is a failure.

Make true disciples by bringing them to the point that they are handed
over to the True Teacher. The Kingdom of God is suffering because
people are failing as good teachers to make disciple for the Lord but
are making disciples for themselves.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord Jesus, You came as man to be the corner stone. Lord, the people
have failed to know You and align themselves to You and imitate You.
They call themselves Christians but fail in imitating Christ. Father,
we pray they know there is no one better than You as a Teacher and
that more and more people are led by You and not by man...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
John 2:1-2
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the
mother of Jesus was there:
2 and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage.

John 3:2 - The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi,
we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these
miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and
all ye are brethren.

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The Way of The Cross

Mark 14:67 - And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon
him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

Today’s scripture talks of Peter just before he denied Jesus thrice,
the Lord bought my attention to Peter warming himself. The event of
Jesus’ crucifixion happened during the winter season in Israel.
Actually, Israel does not have a winter season for it has only two
seasons, summer which is from late May to October and rainy / winter
season which is from November to May. The winter / rainy season see
the temperature go sometimes very low such that times it even snows.

In this period during evening people gather around a fire to keep
themselves warm. Peter’s denial did not happen on the day Jesus was
crucified but on one of the early days of the 5 days during which
Jesus was arrested and tortured, since on the day of His crucifixion
He was so bruised that people could not recognize Him as a human.

We need to understand when one bleeds one looses ones strength and it
caused the person to be weak. The climate being cool (between 6 to 11
degrees at normal times) we can imagine with all the blood Jesus lost
during those days of torture He must have been shivering and that
could also be a reason for Him needing help to carry the crucifix.

Some Christians believe in a set of events connected to Jesus’
crucifixion calling them the ‘Way of the Cross’. These events are not
only far from reality, they are also far from that which is recorded
in the Bible. They put events like Jesus fell only thrice which is not
in the Bible nor written in Historic records. They actually diluted
the suffering of Jesus on the crucifix and made a drama of it such
that some people mimic it to the extent of even nailing themselves on
a crucifix.

The person who wrote the script of the movie “The Passion of Christ”
shared that the Romans soldiers who whipped Jesus, after the Jews did,
were shocked to see Jesus still alive after they had done with Him, to
the extend a fear had come into them that the hand of their gods was
behind Jesus being alive, so they dipped Him in salt water to stop His
bleeding.

Today’s message goes to all those who think they can encapsulate the
suffering of Jesus during the crucifixion; they need to think that
again. They need to come out of the deception they live in and open
their eyes to the reality of the Truth. They need to stop doing the
drama that they do in this so called ‘Lent’ period and spend more time
knowing the Truth.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, people are deceived with wrong information so that they lose the
benefits your sacrifice made available to them. Lord, no doubt the
blood of the sacrificial lamb was applied on outside not for man to
see but the Angel of death from the Lord to see. Your blood not only
protects us from the wrath of God but has also been shed to gain
numerous benefits like peace between God and man. Lord, we pray your
people understand this Truth and be blessed in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Exodus 12:1-13


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Mother of Israel

Ezekiel 19:2 - And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down
among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.

In Ezekiel chapter 19 the Lord is talking to princes of Israel about
their mother. Most people think this mother to be the nation Israel
but is not so.

The Lord is talking to His people, and only when the whole lamentation
is taken into consideration then only it gives a clear picture of who
the mother is.

The mother here is the Church started through Abraham and it talks of
her 2 young lions. The first young lion is the Jewish Church which was
founded through Moses. Although Moses bought the people out of Egypt
yet the Lord says it was taken bonded unto Egypt. This Egypt which the
Lord talks of is not the country Egypt but the meanings of the word
'Egypt' which symbolizes double way of life. Jesus always rebuked the
Jewish religious leaders because although they had the Law of God with
them they followed the Law of Moses. This meant they did the
traditions without understanding, what they did was contrary to what
they Law spoke of.

The second young lion spoken here is the Christian Church formed
through the Apostles. This Church started with great vigour and power
but then this Church too landed being bonded. This time it was done on
a greater scale in which all the nations were involved and this Church
has been taken unto Babylon. Here too the Babylon spoken of is not the
kingdom but means confusion.

The lamentation is perfect to our times and therefore time and again I
have been getting scriptures from this lamentation.

The lamentation stops at a situation where there is no strong branch.
Today the situation of the Christian Church is very sad. Although
people are coming to know God and more and more are getting added the
expansion is only happening as the horizontal direction. In the
vertical direction there is hardly any growth. Last Saturday at my
session where we are studying on Acts, the Lord was teaching us of the
times when the glory of God was awesome in His Church and the people
had the fear of God so much that the people kept far distance from the
Apostles. The Apostles occupied a prominent part of the temple known
as Solomon's Protico (Proch). They enjoyed the respect of not only the
Christians but also other people.

The persecutions of this Church started after people started
glorifying man and not God for the wonders which the Lord was doing
through the Apostles. People made Peter a hero and moved their focus
from God unto Peter so much that they ran even after his shadow. It
was not that Peter was the only one healing the people but it is
written all the Apostles were healing, yet Peter was most sought
after. The incident of Ananias and Sapphira had set so much in the
minds of the people that they failed to understand why it happened but
focused on the person Peter through whom this event took place.

Later this Church was taken into so much confusion that during that
period the Lord went even to the effect of calling it the temple of
Satan and the seat of Satan. People put this era as the dark ages of
the Church but do not realize that even though the evil doings have
stopped, the corrupt teachings or understandings still continue.

In the 1400-1500 AD the Believers separated themselves from this
Church but yet they carried with them a large portion of the corrupt
understanding of the Church. We may have hundreds of denominations but
yet all of them took their portion of corrupt understanding from this
Church. That is the reason today we do not have any great happening in
the Church, every time something little happens it soon busts like a
bubble, and the reason is the corrupt understanding which still
prevails in our Churches.

The Lord is telling us unless we do not scrutinise everything we
believe in, every tradition we follow with scriptures and confirm it,
we will continue in our confusion and the lamentation will continue.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, the dragon has used all its efforts to destroy your Temple.
Lord, your people are still under the powers of confusion. They are
not rooted to the Rock which is your Spirit of Truth. Lord, renew the
minds of your people; give them more of your discernment. Lord we pray
You cause a great awakening among your people...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Luke 12:1-2
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable
multitude of people, so that they stepped one on another, he began to
say to his disciples first of all, Beware you of the leaven of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither
hid, that shall not be known.

Acts 2:38-47

Acts 5:1-18

Revelation 2:1-11


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Heads of Governments

Deuteronomy 1:15 - So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and
known [understanding] , and made them heads over you, captains over
thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and
captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

These days if you are on Facebook with American brothers and sister on
yours 'friends' list you are sure to see posts of either criticizing
Obama or supporting his policies, mostly against than pro. The same is
the story in many states in India since the elections are at hand
either the corporation election or state election. These elections
also effects the Church services and you find people praying for a
good government very often.

In India things are a little less for people are got used to being
oppressed, but in America Obama is become another god for many
Americans. It is not that they worship him but even though they hate
him, he has become the center stage of their lives. One needs to
understand whoever takes the most important place in your life is your
God. Even if it is out of hatred and not love yet that person or thing
becomes your god and you land up paying homage to that person or thing
every now and then.

In today's message the Lord is telling us it is He who appoints people
to lead us or administer over us, if we are walking in His ways then
we would have anointed, wise and people of good character governing
us. But if we are not walking in His ways then we would have people
who will supress us, exploit us and persecute us.

Praying is good but better is holding on to the promise by abiding in
the Lord and awaiting the good results. Mercy of God is like rains.
God has made seasons so do not expect nonstop showers, if there was
nonstop rains then there would not be seasons but only one season.

The message is very clear to us, if we want good governance let us
start working inside us; let us walk in the ways of the Lord and
surely the people in the government will be good.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are God and nothing in this world happens without your
knowledge and permission. In your anger You turn your face from man
and thus allow the devourer a free hand over the people. Lord, today
we make a commitment to improve our personal lives and build a better
relationship with You so that we will be blessed and have peace in our
lives...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Deuteronomy 28:15-18,36- 38,43-44
15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice
of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his
statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall
come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land,
the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
36 The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over
thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and
there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.
37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword,
among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather
but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
43 The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very
high; and thou shalt come down very low.
44 He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be
the head, and thou shalt be the tail.



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Returning to our fathers

Luke 2:4 - And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

In today's message Luke speaks of the lineage of David. In his
document (Gospel) of Jesus Luke records a lineage, but this lineage is
not of Joseph but of Mary. And that is why from David this lineage
differs to the lineage recorded in Matthew.

In the English translation it is given 'the son of' but in the
original script these words do not exist (therefore written in italic)
but written just as 'of'. Heli was the father of Mary and the father
in law of Joseph.

Luke 2:22-38
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon
him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved
Son; in thee I am well pleased.
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as
was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was of Heli,
24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was
the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was of Joseph,
25 Which was of Mattathias, which was of Amos, which was of Naum,
which was of Esli, which was of Nagge, (it is the same right up to
Adam and God)...

Luke records the legal relationship. Joseph being married to Mary
became a part of the family of Heli. Wearing of the ring resembles the
rights the person has into the family and during marriage is not
between the two getting married but between the family and the person
coming into the family.

When Jesus gave us authority in His Name and when He called us His
brothers we too are become part of His family and thus become of
Abraham. It is faith that brings us into the family of Christ and it
is faith that keeps us in the family. But if we reject this faith then
like son in the parable of the Prodigal Son lost his sonship so also
we too will lose our sonship. We may still be sinners but it is our
faith that links us to our spiritual family. That is why it is written
that by our faith in Jesus Christ we are saved, because after death we
are gathered to our fathers like those from Abraham onwards who walked
in the way of the Lord were gathered unto their people. The sacrifice
of Jesus saves us such that even though we do not walk in the ways of
the Lord and are sinners yet His Blood saves us; it is faith that
keeps His Blood over us.

In today's message Joseph belonged to the house of David therefore
returned when the time came, so also we all will one day return to our
fathers when the time comes. This gathering too will be temporary
until we all are judged and enter Heaven when Jesus comes.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, by your sacrifice You cancelled the curse of Hell and even
though we are not perfect or have sinned yet we are saved. We are
gathered unto our fathers by our faith in You. Holy Spirit help us
walk in You so that we return to our Father in Heaven when Jesus
comes...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old
age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 35:29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered
unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and
Jacob buried him.

Genesis 49:33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons,
he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and
was gathered unto his people.

Numbers 20:24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall
not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of
Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

Deuteronomy 32:48-50
48 And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,
49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is
in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land
of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:
50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto
thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered
unto his people:

Luke 16:22-23
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the
will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw
corruption:

Acts 7:59-60
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become
the firstfruits of them that slept

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works.


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Pleasant or unpleasant we will listen, Lord

Jeremiah 42:6 - "Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey
the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well
with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."

In today’s message these words were of the people who many a times
spoke to this very Man of God Jeremiah saying ‘speak smooth words to
us’. They were rebuked by the Lord through Jeremiah because they were
worshiping the Queen of Heaven and were spiritually fornicating with
the bones of their dead rulers. Even after they spoke these words
their ways had not changed. Christians today also do the very same
thing which the Israelites did at that time.

Many a times I have people coming to me and advising me not to
complicate the Gospel, or give such strong messages but to give words
of encouragement. I liked to ask them if they understood what the word
‘Gospel’ means?

Gospel starts with knowing God and having fear of Him for what He is
and what we are. This fear causes repentance and brings the person to
take refuge in the only hope Jesus Christ. It calls for the believer
to surrender to the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit of God to take
charge of one’s life so that by the works of the Holy Spirit the
person can receive the reward of entering Heaven and being one with
one’s Creator.

There are numerous people who send sweet so called ‘gospels’ which do
not really change people. They do send words of encouragement but
these words also encourage the person to keep continuing in the
desires of the flesh and not overcome them. Their message of hope is
without the fear of God, self realization and repentance. They dip
people not immerse them in the Gospel.

When I started my Daily Devotions site, I started with 150 persons in
my list and within 2 years this list grew to two thousand plus people.
During that time my messages were sweet and I used to get good
feedback from people but then I realized, neither these people’s faith
nor their spiritual level changed over the years and they were
struggling in the same place. Today I do not find more than people
adding themselves the Lord adding them through others in unthinkable
ways. My messages go to more than 50 to 70 thousand people everyday
not because people added themselves but the Lord added them to me.

We love gathering audience for the Lord and not believers or disciples
for Him. People hate the Truth and love only pleasing words which do
not hurt their fleshy way of life.

The Lord is telling us in today’s message His Word is not a fairytale;
it is His Word and Truth which causes life to change and be saved.
God’s Word not only lifts the valleys but also levels the mountains
(our own understandings) . We should not be hoping to hear only
pleasing words but even words of corrections. If one feels their life
does not need change then God’s Word is not for that person nor does
that person need God. It is only when we are ready to allow the Lord
to work in us by bringing down the illegal constructions we have in
our hearts, will we really grow in spirit and in relationship with the
Lord.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, let me not be like the people who learned through bitter
experience to surrender to You. We thank You for not taking us through
those experience due to the grace of Jesus Christ in whom we are
baptized. Lord, lift in our valleys and bring our mountains down and
bring us in level to your Word which is the Truth. Lord, what is not
of your Kingdom remove from us and fill us in our areas of lacking...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Jeremiah 42:1-6
1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah,
and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least
even unto the greatest, came near,
2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our
supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD
thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of
many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and
the thing that we may do.
4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold,
I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it
shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I
will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness
between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which
the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice
of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with
us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 7:17-19
17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the
streets of Jerusalem?
18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the
women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to
pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to
anger.
19 Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke
themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

Jeremiah 8:1-3
1 At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the
kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the
priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all
the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served,
and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom
they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they
shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of
them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places
whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.


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Follow the steps to be fruitful in the Lord's work

Matthew 28:19,20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.

We have many Christians or I would say so called Christians who are
also half atheist. Many during the time of trouble do acknowledge God
exists and then there are others who think God does not have the power
to do things or we live in a time where God has shut shop and will not
do any great miracle. For these if any one miracle happens through a
person, that person is glorified and called 'Saint' and his or her
statues and photos are put all over the place. That person then
becomes another god among the many they have. No doubt this is
intentionally done with commercial intention for this institution also
called 'Church'.

Something I will never forget when in fellowship a Brother was sharing
in a humour tone about what happened with another Pastor. This Pastor
from south India was having a sharing session at the area common
between groups of houses, so people of all faiths were sitting at this
session.

At this session this Pastor was sharing on the crucifixion of Jesus
Christ and was telling them how He was whipped, bruised and nailed on
the crucifix even though He was innocent. The Pastor did narrate this
with great emotion and caused the hearts of many to feel the suffering
and be moved. In all this an old Hindu woman cries loud out in her
native language saying 'O Krishna how did you let such an innocent
suffer'. She was calling on her god Krishna and questioning him as to
how he let an innocent man like Jesus suffer on the cross!

All these things happen because we Christians do not follow the
instructions of the Lord on how to extend the Kingdom of God. In
today's message the Lord gives us very clear instructions on how to
reach out to people and bring them into His Kingdom.

The instructions to us is to go to all the nations and to teach all
nations, but before the teaching there is something we are told to do
and that is baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit.

A large group of Christians have made the second part of the
instructions as a ritual and called it the sign of the cross. Before I
came in the Lord I too used to do this hand gesture every time I
started my prayer, stood before a religious statue or even passed a
monument where Christians gathered to fellowship. Not only that, even
if I passed any funeral or stood before a grave that gesture would be
there. Some do it not once but a number of time and the speed at which
they do looks like they are doing some martial arts moves.

If one reads the instruction clearly Jesus did not give us this
instruction to do some gesture or exercise. The Son is not greater
than the Holy Spirit such that the Son is before the Spirit of God. It
is given in that order because of Who revealed Who. It is the Father
Who revealed the Son to us and it is the Son Who revealed the Holy
Spirit to us. Unless one does not know Who God the Father is, it is
useless speaking to that person about the Son.

If we go out and preach about Jesus Christ to people who do not
believe in God or have many gods, it is just a waste of time and
efforts. Before we tell people of the Holy Spirit or even of Jesus
Christ we need to clear their minds that God exist and that there is
only one God. It is only after this is clear that we tell them about
the Son and how the Son came from the Father. Once they know the Son
only then it is appropriate to tell them about the Holy Spirit and how
the Son came as man to give us His Spirit so that by the working of
His Spirit man could be saved.

Baptizing means submerging and here Jesus does not tells us to
submerge the person in water but in the Name of Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. Like I shared earlier the Greek word translated as name comes
from the meaning understanding. Thus we need to submerge the people
first in the understanding of Who God the Father is then Who the Son
is (includes man Jesus and God the Son) and then only give them the
understanding of the Holy Spirit.

It is a pity people call themselves Christians even though they have
not completed step A of the process. It is only when we do this
process properly would we be able to teach them the Word of God.

Without the Holy Spirit it is impossible to keep the Commandments of
God which is not the 10 given through Moses or only the 2 through
Jesus, but the whole Word. It is only when the Author of the Word is
in us that the Law gets written in our hearts. Many consider the heart
as a room and a part of God occupies it. God being in us means the
understanding or knowledge of God (Father, Son and Spirit) is rooted
in us. It is only then the glory of God will manifest in our lives.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, your people err because we do not follow your instructions.
Lord, we thank You today that You found it good that we know this. You
have found us worthy to know what was hidden from many who are
considered wise in this world. It is out of your love and grace that
You chose us to be blessed in You. Lord help us walk according to your
instructions so that we would be fruitful in our doings...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


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Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of Jesus

Today the Lord wants me to share with you on the transfiguration.
People have varying ideas on transfiguration.

Jesus transfigured from human into a something amazing and that
amazing form was not the glorious Jesus before He humbled Himself and
became man. Understand before humbling Himself He was God the Son and
like written in Psalms God can span the universe with His Hand so His
God form cannot be comprehended. It is only at the marriage in Heaven
the Son will be glorified to His true form before the world was.

So what did Jesus transfigure into and why?

Firstly what Jesus transfigured into was not something very great; for
man it was, but in reality was not.

Understand Jesus did not do anything without purpose and in everything
He did He taught us, and showed the way for us. Jesus did not
transfigure to show off His powers but had 2 purposes for
transfiguring.

Before I take on the 2 purposes I like to clear the misunderstanding
people have between Son of God and God the Son. Jesus was God the Son
Who humbled Himself as Son of God and came as man. Son of God means a
being having the perfect image of God in them and this category
includes Angels and man (includes women) who have the perfect image of
God in them (since all have sin we all do not have the perfect image
it will be over time that we will become once the whole Truth is in
us).

Adam before sinning was referred to as son of God, but when sin came
into him; he lost something and thus lost his sonship and the image.
If one has seen Angels one will see the same effect described of the
transfigured figure of Jesus in the Angels. They do not have wings
like shown in images. The Angels are also called sons of God because
they have the perfect image of God in them.

Jesus by His transfiguration confirmed to us He was perfect and He
alone as man still had the image of God in Him and thus became hope
for all mankind. When we are baptized in Jesus, we get spiritually
connected to Jesus and thus as His brethren get the right to inherit
this image again. So from the corrupted image of Adam we move to the
perfect image of a son of God through Jesus.

Coming to the second reason; God had forbid man to speak or
communicate with spirits that included evil spirits or spirits of
people dead. That is because man in the flesh was a corrupt being. If
Jesus had communicated with Moses and Elijah in His flesh body then He
would have sinned by breaking God’s commandment. Therefore to show us
that we cannot speak to spirits of dead people (people sleeping in the
Lord; others go to Hell from where they cannot come out) Jesus
transfigured to communicated with Moses and Elijah.

Was this conference important? None of the talk was very important,
for what they spoke was already written in the books of the Prophets;
but the transfiguring event is very important to us.

Today a very large section of Christians due to lack of understanding
and being misguided by the already misguided, pray to souls of dead
people or try to communicate with them.

Those who have died believing in the Lord are sleeping (written in the
Old Testament as gathered unto their fathers) and these souls are not
to be communicated with by corrupt man in his flesh. Unless we are
able to transfigure like Jesus it is a big NO NO to speak to them or
even pray to them (praying means communicating) . It is the grace of
Jesus Christ that keeps many from the consequence like King Saul faced
when he communicated with the spirit of Samuel.

People get fooled by evil spirits (fallen angels) who come as the
people whom humans are communicating with. It is very easy to discern
them if people are rooted in the Word and are in relationship with the
Spirit of God.

In today’s message the Lord is encouraging us by saying; we too will
have the same glorious form which is described with Jesus’
transfiguration very soon. The Lord is also warning us at the same
time that unless we can transfigure today like Jesus we should not be
communicating with dead people or their souls even if they were
excellent examples when alive. Jesus is an exception for He was
perfect and has ascended to Heaven already and is seated at the
Righteous Hand of the Father. Even He has requested us to ask of the
Father in His Name and He alone is our intercessor in Heaven.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, many are deceived by evil spirits coming in forms of people
resting in You. These evil spirits are destroying your flocks today as
they were doing from the time of Noah. Lord, we pray that your people
get rooted in your Word and your Spirit so as to discern these
spirits. We also thank You Lord for confirming again to us the things
set for us in You. Help us remain in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Luke 9:28-32
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he
took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and
his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should
accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and
when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood
with him.

1 Samuel 28:10-19
10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth,
there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said,
Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and
the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou
art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?
And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man
cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it
was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed
himself.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me
up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make
war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more,
neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that
thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the
LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD
hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy
neighbour, even to David:
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst
his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing
unto thee this day.
19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand
of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me:
the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the
Philistines.

Leviticus 19:31 - Regard not them that have familiar spirits [those
who communicate with spirits of dead ones], neither seek after wizards
[those who evoke familar spirits] , to be defiled by them: I am the
LORD your God.

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:


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Formulae for true love

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now abideth faith, hope, charity [love],
these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love].

In today's message, in Paul's first letter to Corinthians, in this
chapter he compares the gifts of the Holy Spirit with love and Paul
says even all the gifts of the Holy Spirit (not only the 3, for the
semi colon is after three) that can help us enlarge the Kingdom of God
or do great work for the glory of God like healing, tongues, prophecy,
knowledge etc. are not worth if we do not have love.

In English translating the Greek word Agape as love is not very
appropriate, in fact the most proper word for Agape is charity.
Charity is love expressed without expectation of personal return.
Charity is also love that has purpose not to please but to prosper
that person in the right direction. True charity never let harm the
other, but just builds the other stronger and stronger in the Kingdom
of God.

Charity does not mean pleasing or being nice, it means being fruitful.
It means saying the right words or doing the right thing at the right
time. We may say or do the right thing but if whatever we do does not
build the other person it is not charity. Charity also does not mean
not correcting the other person when the person needs to be corrected.
We may not want to hurt that person so we hold back and then think we
did it out of love, but in truth that is not love. For love we need
the perfect time with the right deed or/and words. Man is all his
wisdom living in the present tense will never know the right time that
is the reason to love man needs the help of the Holy Spirit for He
lives beyond present tense. The Lord is throughout time therefore is
the only one Who can guide us.

A point I learned today in today's message is Paul including hope here
in the list. Hope is not really a gift but is the step towards faith.
It is hope that matures and grows into faith. Hope is in simple terms
a desire to believe. It is only when knowledge and understanding
grows, this hope becomes faith.

Faith has two elements one is belief and the other Truth. Hope is to
do with the first half.

What I learned today is that the desire to believe is also one of
gifts which the Lord gives. So to grow in our desire to know, believe,
love or any other good purpose, we can ask God and He will give us.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, without You man cannot truly love. Even if man is full of all
knowledge and understanding and ability, yet to know the right time is
not in man's hands. Lord, You are already in our future today and You
alone know the best time for us. Help us Lord to do the right things
or say the right words at the right time so that our work or words
bear good fruit. Lord You said if we desire for good things in your
Name, our Father will surely give us. Father, fill us with desire for
the good things of your Kingdom and guide us to use them well
according to your will...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
1 Corinthians chapter 13

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
7 Â But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 Â For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another
the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 Â To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of
healing by the same Spirit;
10 Â To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to
another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to
another the interpretation of tongues:
11 Â But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing
to every man severally as he will.

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No power can bind this Strong Man

Mark 3:27 - No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his
goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will
spoil his house.

When this scripture is read most think the strong man to bind is Satan
because in the previous scripture Jesus is speaking about the unity
among the evil ones.

Yes the evil ones are united in their purpose which sadly today is not
the same among us who are supposed to fight the kingdom of darkness,
which has deceived this world with its understanding of
self-destruction. Many among us lose the purpose and land up doing
work for our earthly benefits or for our own glory.

People on reading this scripture tend to bind the powers of Lucifer
when they go out to fight against the kingdom of darkness. One should
understand the term Satan used in the Bible is a plural word, Lucifer
is already bonded in Hell and the one among us is the Beast who is
also known as the Prince of Tyrus or the one who roars like a lion
unlike Lucifer who is known as the king of Tyrus or the one who comes
as a serpent (adder).

Now coming to the message given to us today, the house spoken of today
is the House of the Lord and the Lord is telling us not to fear for He
is the Strong Man of the House. Jesus Christ came as man and overcame
the works of darkness, so today again He is telling us 'cheer up and
do not fear for I have overcome'.

Let us boldly stand against the works of darkness and speak unto it
and say 'we do not fear you for the Strong Man of our House is our
Lord Jesus Christ and He has already overcome and made the way for us
by His victory and we in Him will also become overcomers'.

Now all we need to do is remain in the walls of the House that means
remain in Christ that means in His Blood and our testimony in Him.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord Jesus, You came as man and overcame sin. You showed us the way by
your Spirit how we can overcome sin and death. Holy Spirit, You are
the Keeper of this House, keep us Lord in the Body of Christ so that
we do not fear darkness or the powers of darkness...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might
have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in
my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in
his throne.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and
by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto
the death.

Ezekiel 28:2, 12-13
2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I
sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man,
and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say
unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of
wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was
thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the
onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle,
and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared
in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Psalms 91:13 - Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young
lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

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Recline in the work of the Lord

Luke 17:7 - But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding
cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field,
Go and sit down to meat?

Sometimes I get so angry when translations mess up with scriptures and
try to give another picture which is not what the Lord had given. But
then they are just fulfilling scripture for the Lord said that until
the time comes the Truth will not be fully revealed.

I will note the interlinear of the scripture given to us as today's message.

Luke 17:7 who But of you a slave having ploughing or herding, who on
coming in out of the farm will say to him: Immediately coming up
recline,

Luke 17:7 - But, whom among you having a slave ploughing or herding,
who on coming out of the farm will say to him: Immediately come and
recline,

The Lord in today's message is speaking to 2 types of workers in the
Lord Vineyard (farm) one who are preparing for His Kingdom and those
who are caring and feeding His people. There are many others who work
for the Lord (or claim to do so). Many among them do not know what
role they are playing themselves yet advice others and then there are
those who physically push the ploughing machine when God has given
them the keys to it.

In today's message the Lord is telling us there are times when He
calls us to rest in Him.

Just yesterday I was with a great Man of God whom the Lord is using in
a great way in His Kingdom. As we were talking he opened up about his
struggle in one area and was showing tiredness in that area. The
problem was that although he has great faith in God and great passion
for God yet he was not taking rest in Him. Even though this Man of God
would take rest in half a place, he would be busy working in the other
half.

The Lord uses the word 'recline' in today's message. Recline does not
mean just to sit. Many of us may sit or physically rest but yet be
anxious for our eyes will still be on the work. When we recline our
eyes do not look at the farm, or the flock, or the work we have done
but our eyes turn up towards Him.

We need to understand when to work and when to stop and just keep
looking at Him. When we learn this then we will not be tired doing His
work, or struggle to get results for the efforts we put. When we learn
to stop using our head and using our strength even when things may
seem to be turning into a commotion, soon there will be a time when
great results will sprout out from these so called commotions. These
results will be expected and unimagined.

Let us, those who work in the Lord also learn to recline in Him.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, even though we work in your farm among your flock, it is You Who
gives us the strength and all the resources to do the work. Lord we
pray that we use less of ourselves and be just instruments for You to
do your work through us. Teaching us Lord to recline in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In
returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence
shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Psalms 37:7-11
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself
because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who
bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD,
they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou
shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves
in the abundance of peace.

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It is all in The Name

Acts 3:16 - And his name through faith in his name hath made this man
strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath
given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

When I had just come into the Lord there was confusion in me as to
what name do I take connected with Jesus when it came to healing a
person. I knew from scriptures like in today's message that the Name
of Jesus has power. There were names like Jesus (English), Yeshu
(Hindi), Yeshua, Jesu, Iesous (Greek), Joshua (Hebrew), Emmanuel etc.
which were before me, I started think is it that I was not taking the
right name that is why I was not experiencing the power in the name.
Then to add to it I came across the right translation of John 17:12
'While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given
me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of
perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled'. People thought the
'which' was referring to the people but was in fact referring to the
Name. So then the names Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah etc. got added to the
list.

It was when I came to the 3rd stage of Bible study which is word
study, where in I started digging into each word and its
characteristics that I realized all names in the Bible have meanings
to it. It was not only names of people but even names of places,
rivers, etc. had meanings to it.

In Greek the word onoma translated as name comes from the root word
ginosko which means understanding. That is the reason all the names
translated from Hebrew to Greek were not done with keeping the
pronunciation but the meaning. That is the reason the Hebrew name
Yeshua has the Greek name Jesus. But we use names like barcodes by
which we tag people. We do not take efforts to find names which will
be a blessing to the child, nor bother to find the meaning of the name
which we assign to a child. In the Bible the Lord gives importance
even to place and things but we treat man worse than them when we give
meaningless names.

We may call on the Name of the Lord in English, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi,
Tamil or another language but if we do not have an understanding of
Who He is then that name has no power. It is not the word Jesus that
has power but the knowledge of Who He is that has power. To know Jesus
does not mean we can read the New Testament and say we know Him.
Actually the knowledge of Jesus is less in the New Testament and more
in the Old Testament. It may surprise most the whole Bible from the
first scripture to the last scripture is all about Him. That is the
reason none of us till date really knows the Name of Jesus fully yet
the little we know does wonders.

Let us grow in the Name of Jesus so that we grow in power. It is by
the Name that all beings in Heaven, Earth and even Hell bow (leaving
God for the Name is He).

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Holy and your Name is Holy. Like no corrupt man can live
before your glorious You so also no corrupt man can take your real
Name and live. Lord, work in us that we may know your name and live.
Your Name has power and it is your Name that protects us. Keep us in
your Name...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Matthew 1:21 - And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call
his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mark 9:38-39
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out
devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him,
because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do
a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:13-17
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to
call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus,
saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the
priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I
know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and
overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of
that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at
Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was
magnified.

Philippians 2:10-11
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.


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The leaders are failing the Lord

Jeremiah 23:9 - Mine heart within me is broken because of the
prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man
whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words
of his holiness.

I can really understand Jeremiah's feeling when he wrote this
scripture. Just a few days back, I was in the same situation and was
totally disappointed looking at the state of people who were called to
lead God's sheep. It came to a stage I was thinking what is the use of
pursuing God's work among these hard hearted people who are more in
the flesh than in Spirit.

It was at this time the preacher at the youth revival was giving the
example of Samuel who was a little boy among all who had failed the
Lord. It was the glory of God on this little lad Samuel that caused
the glory of God to come again in His Temple. I cried to the Lord like
a little lad and prayed for the next generation so that the Lord's
glory may be at least seen on them.

It did not take time and within minutes I could sense in my spirit the
Lord had answered my prayer. Soon the whole lot of youth that were at
that the revival were touched by the Lord is such a great way that for
the next 2 days they were crying and crying for the Lord. The glory of
God was so awesome in that place that during the worship we could
sense Angels among us. For nearly 2 hours all were singing just 2 to 3
words and the music was just playing and playing endlessly. I could
hear the Heavens singing along with us and never in my life had I left
so weak in my knees that I just could not stand.

Today the story is very sad with the churches. There are many anointed
Men and Women of God but due to their weakness to the flesh they all
are failing the Lord. Every one climbs the spiritual mountain but soon
one after another most fall off the cliff. Prosperity (like one's
status among the congregation and among other leaders) and treasures
of this world take away the hearts of most of them, if not these than
the fear of man does. That is why in the Bible the Lord gave great
importance to 2 fruits, the pomegranate and the grapes.

One should really thank God if one has both these fruits in their
lives. Even if they have other weakness God with take care of them and
will patiently work on them but when someone messes with His Holy
things then God's wrath soon or later falls like we saw happened with
Eli's generations during the time of Samuel.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, we pray for your Church and for all your sheep. According to
your message today we pray that the ears of those called to lead your
sheep hear your warning and they change their hearts and walk
according your ways. Lord we specially pray for the youth of today
whom You are going to use mightily, that not walk the ways of their
parents but are led by your Spirit. You be their teacher and guide.
May they look to You alone and not anyone else...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Jeremiah 23:9-12
9 Â Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my
bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath
overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his
holiness.
10 Â For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the
land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and
their course is evil, and their force is not right.
11 Â For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I
found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
12 Â Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the
darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring
evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:12-18, 22-25
12 Â Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13 Â And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man
offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in
seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 Â And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all
that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did
in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15 Â Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and
said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest;
for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 Â And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat
presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would
answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will
take it by force.
17 Â Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD:
for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18 Â But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with
a linen ephod.
22 Â Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all
Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of
the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 Â And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your
evil dealings by all this people.
24 Â Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the
LORD'S people to transgress.
25 Â If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if
a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding
they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD
would slay them.

Exodus 28:34 - A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a
pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.


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The second Young Lion is taken unto Babylon

Ezekiel 19:12 - But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to
the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were
broken and withered; the fire consumed them.

In the lamentation of Ezekiel (chapter 19) the Lord symbolizes the
story of the two Churches one which is now known as the Jewish Church
and the second the Christian Church.

In very brief words the Lord shows the powerful Jewish Church founded
with Abraham how it grew and was feared by many. Later the
understanding of the world infected this Church and how it transformed
into a Church lives a double life. It does not follow what it says.
This Church has a Book of Life which is the Law of God in its hand but
follows the things of death which are traditions and called as the Law
of Moses. They follow the words and not its understandings therefore
it is written it is taken unto Egypt (which means double straits).

Coming to the Christian Church which is founded by the Apostles of
Jesus when the congregation received the Holy Spirit, this Church is
more powerful and started with tearing into the kingdom of this world
and expanding the Kingdom of God. But then too this Church was
captured unto Babylon which is confusion. Today there are no more
confused people than preachers or leaders of this Church. They have
the capacity to contradict themselves even trice in just one
statement. They have made the Word of God into words of God. This
confusion started with breaking the Word of God into Old and New
Testament.

Just some days back I confronted a preacher who said we should not
follow the Old Covenants but then in his own statement he also said we
should follow some parts of it.

We are blessed as children of Abraham by our faith in Jesus due to the
Covenant made by the Lord with Abraham. Also no person can receive
healing by the wounds of Jesus had it not been for the Covenant with
Moses. 1 Peter 2:24 which states we are healed by the wounds of Jesus
Christ has its roots in one of the sacrifices which the Lord told
Moses to do for the healing of man, also Galatians 3:13 which states
our curses are broken by the hanging of Jesus on the crucifix also as
to do with the peace sacrifice told by the Lord to Moses. We entering
Heaven has to do with the Covenant with Jacob, Jesus is King has to do
with the Covenant with David. I can go on and on. If we remove or
reject the previous Covenants than we have nothing but grace and
authority and I do not understand what this grace is for?

Jesus gave us the grace to remain in the Covenant between God and man
(all 6 before Him - who are Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and
David) even though we failed on our part to keep the Covenant. He also
gave us the authority to become overcomers.

The Covenant made with Jesus is a 'better Covenant' means something
was added to it and that something is Grace and authority. Nowhere did
Jesus say 'I came to replace everything', but in fact said 'I have not
come to change but to fulfil it'. Jesus through His way of life and
through His Spirit shows us the right way to understand the Covenants
made with the 6 people before Him.

Let us bring this Lion out from the chains of Babylon. Let us not
pursue a fivefold ministry (which is worldly) but follow the sevenfold
ministry which is of the Lord. Let us be founded on the Rock of Truth
which is the Spirit of Truth and not on human understanding.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, we pray for your Church that it leaders come into the true
understanding of your Word, that they realize without your Spirit they
have no way to understand your Kingdom, that they develop a
relationship with the Holy Spirit and walk every step with your
Spirit. We rebuke the chains of Babylon which have bound the Church
and set free thousands in the Name of Jesus...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Ezekiel chapter 19

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by
whose stripes ye were healed.

Galatians 3:13-14
13 Â Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a
curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a
tree:
14 Â That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through
Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith.

Romans 9:6-8
6 Â Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are
not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Â Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all
children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 Â That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not
the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for
the seed.

Romans 4:16 - Therefore of faith, that by grace; to the end the
promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of
the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the
father of us all,

Hebrews 8:6 - But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by
how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was
established upon better promises.


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If it is not written do not worry

Daniel 2:45 - Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of
the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the
brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made
known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is
certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

The book of Daniel is divided into 2 parts according to the language
it was written. Chapters 1 to 6 was written in Aramaic and chapters 7
to 12 were written in Hebrew. This was done by purpose because the
disclosures of prophecies in the first 6 chapters are more earthly /
worldly and the second 6 chapters are more spiritual. Aramaic was the
language of the people at that time and Hebrew the language of the
Sanctuary. For example the little horn in chapter 7 is not really a
kingdom, although it’s got the status of a kingdom it is actually an
institute which rules over the people. On the other hand the statue of
different metals connected to the dream in chapter 2 was purely
earthly kingdoms.

In today’s message the scripture talks of a stone which will crush all
these kingdoms. People think the stone is a kingdom and think Jesus
will come and rule the world as a man for a thousand years.

This stone spoken here has something special about it which helps
identify it. The stone is said to be ‘a stone cut out of the mountain
without hands’. If we look at scriptures there is only one set of
stones which were cut without the hands of man and those were the
tables on which the Lord wrote His Commandments. Thus this stone too
is not a kingdom but part of the Word of God in another word means
prophesy.

In today’s message the Lord is telling us everything in this world
which has been given power is also bought down by His Word. People
sometimes ask me how I am able to speak about world events before
their time.

One should realize all major events are already given in scriptures.
The Lord has allowed them for a purpose but also has written their
end. The Bible is not a history book having everything in detail but
has all historic events which are of concern for the people of God. If
any event is not written in the Bible then the people of God need not
worry about it for it will pass by without making much effect to God’s
people.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, we know You are concern of your people and have not abandoned
them. There are time in your anger You allow problems to come but
still used these problems as moulding tools to bring change in
stubborn man. Even in these problems we see your lover shine. We know
Lord nothing can devour your people for the end to all evil is already
written and we know your Word is true. Help us be patient and rejoice
in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
Exodus 24:12-13
12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be
there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and
commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into
the mount of God.

Exodus 34:1 - And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of
stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the
words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.

Daniel 7:8 - I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among
them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first
horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes
like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel 8:8-14
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the
great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the
four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed
exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the
pleasant land.
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down
some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon
them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by
him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary
was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of
transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it
practised, and prospered.
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that
certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the
daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the
sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days;
then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

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The Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:8,9 - For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power
of Christ may rest upon me.

When Christians discuss the Bible there may be many things they will
disagree on but there is no conflict between all, that in the whole
New Testament after Jesus no man has done greater work for the Kingdom
of God more than Paul.

Some days back from historic records I learned the things that
happened to Paul during his trip to Roman as a prisoner. The whole
event showed the great humility of Paul and no man would believe
looking at him at one stage that the greatest battle of this man was
pride.

We speak so much about the humility of Paul but this humility did not
come to him very easily. Paul was under the grace of God and had
easily overcome every other area in his life. He even had the grace
not to lead a sister (get married) but dedicate his life fully to the
work of the Lord. He never struggled with lust for things, or of the
flesh or any other area but for one area which he called a thorn of
the flesh and that thorn was pride. This thorn is exposed in his first
letter to Corinthians when he was compared to others with regarding
his preaching skills. In Acts Luke records how a man fell from a
height after falling asleep in Paul preaching. It is another matter
that the man was brought to life latter but the Lord got this incident
recorded, for us to know the background.

The Lord could have easily put his grace on Paul to overcome pride but
did not. Like Paul the Lord also does not take away all the struggle
areas of our lives, He will take away almost all areas but there will
be at least one area where He will not take it away but will give us
all the grace we need to overcome. Like Paul struggled and 3 times
earnestly asked the Lord to take it away. He knew his problem and the
Lord did always abide to his request every time but with the regards
to this problem the Lord wanted him to overcome.

Heaven is the place for overcomers; if the Lord takes away all our
problems, then what are we going to overcome? We cannot thank God for
our thorn, but we can always remember it is in the process of
overcoming our thorn that we become more and more like Jesus. It is
our thorn that keeps us humble, keeps us from being overconfident and
makes us take pride in the works of Jesus Christ.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord, there are many things we have asked for and You have always
answered, but there is one area which You know has caused us to fall
again and again. We know Lord your grace is on us and it is by your
grace we are what we are today. We also know it is only by your grace
we will overcome our thorn. Keep us Lord holding on to your grace
always and be rooted in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]
2 Corintians 12:5-11
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in
mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I
will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me
above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of
the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for
when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought
to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very
chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Acts 20:7-12
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on
the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were
gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being
fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down
with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said,
Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and
eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he
departed.
12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.


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