Jesus is Risen

Jesus came into this world, He was born in poverty, lived as a poor man, suffered to be killed on the cross and then buried in a borrowed tomb. When Christ was risen from the dead, the angel told the women who had gone to see the tomb, that He is risen (Mathew 28:5-6) but then adds that He is going before you (Mathew 28:8).

The Christ who is our model has gone before us in all situations. We need not worry of the ridicule we face, the sufferings we undergo, the torture of our family members, the pain we bear. Our Lord has gone before us. When He gives the promise of heaven, He tells His disciples, that He is going before them to prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3).

Our Lord has gone before us in this world, and He knows our difficulties, and He has gone before us, to prepare a place for us. So we can sing,

                                                                 Lifted up was He to die,

                                                                It is finished was His cry,

                                                                Now in heave exalted high,

                                                                Hallelujah what a SAVIOUR

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Last Days… Cont…

In Mathew chapter 24 the disciples wanted to know, as we do, when Jesus would come in power to establish His Kingdom. Jesus pointed out that His disciples should be less concerned about knowing the exact time, but prepare themselves for His coming by living a godly life focusing on Him. 

The first sign Jesus gave to them was to ‘SEE THAT NO ONE MISLEAD THEM’ Math 24:4.  Today we live in a world of deception. Satan uses the entire world and religious system as a platform to mislead half hearted born again Christians. Many pastors/ preachers are using the medium of prayer to make money through healing and prosperity messages. Not only are they mislead, but misleading many. 

We too can be misled and deceived even without our knowledge when our focus is changed from Christ-centeredness and His word to the things of this world, from spiritual enlightenment to worldly entertainments, from spiritual blessings to physical and material prosperity. 

The only way to keep ourselves from being deceived is to focus on Jesus and His word.
When we do that we enter into a higher level of spiritual life like Psalmist who says “Whom have I in heaven, but YOU? And beside YOU I desire NOTHING on the earth” Ps 73: 25

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We are living in LAST DAYS!!!

We all know that we are living in the last days.  The disciples asked Jesus “What will be the sign of Your coming? (Mat. 24:3).  One of the signs were, the coming of the son of man will be like the days of Noah (Mat. 24:37). What was the day of Noah like? Who is Noah today? 

Noah and family were living in the midst of the people who were wicked, worldly, interested in material gains, lived without following the instructions of God.  Noah and family were God fearing worshipers of Almighty God.  

What were the outstanding qualities of Noah who found favor in the sight of God?

1) He was righteous man

2) Blameless

3) Walked with God

Moreover, he was a father who prepared his family to lead a godly life.  In the midst of wicked people he found God fearing wives for his sons.  As a family they built the ark. 

Noah is a challenge to all of us in these last days.  Let’s ask ourselves this question. Am I like Noah who prepared himself and his family in obeying the instructions of God? 

Heaven is not a place filled with Christians who are selfish, unforgiving, half hearted, gossipers, money lovers, hypocrites, etc.  But it is place for His children who are saved by the grace of God and walk in this world as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6)

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If Jesus comes to your house today!!!

If Jesus comes to your house, what can He find there?  Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent, maybe pondering over the promise that God had made in Genesis ch.17. Suddenly three men appeared. Abraham made them to rest, while he went inside and asked Sarah to make cakes from three measures of fine meal (Genesis 18:6). Abraham’s preparedness of the situation is seen in getting the tender and good calf for them (Genesis 18:7). He might have had an eye on this calf and might have thought that it can be killed for the next good occasion. He gave them a lavish meal, fitting for a king. 

How are we placed in such a situation? If God were to come to our house, will we be prepared? Will he find the house in order? We read in Rev.3:20 that He is standing at the door, and if we open, He wishes to come in and sup with us. He wants to have fellowship with us. Are we ready for Him? 

To lead a life of faith, we must be prepared to have Him in our lives. If God has to have our fellowship, He will change us, correct us and mould us to His Image. 

Dear Lord, Help us to keep our house in order for a reception with You. Amen

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Money is Power!!!

Money yields power. We know this phrase and have seen it work in our eyes. When a person has wealth, he is given a prominent position, some privileges and power. These are evident in our churches. People with money commands ‘respect’, and position. They are given administrative prominence, leadership and even a different place to sit. The downfall of the church began when money power took over the leadership. 

Jesus Christ, when He came into this made himself NOTHING (Philippians 2:7, NIV). He was the God who created this world (Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:3). He was so humble in His life, that He did not have a place of His own (Mathew 8:20), had to borrow to pay taxes (Mathew 17:24-27), buried in a borrowed tomb (Luke 23:53). He did not come to be served but to serve (Mathew 10:45). To sum it up Paul says, ‘He became poor for our sakes’ (2 Corinthians 8:9). 

Christ the owner of this whole world lived a pauper when He made His abode among men.  Those who yield power because of their wealth must realize that before man they may be SOMETHING, but before God they are NOTHING. 

Being rich will hold no value to those who are the true followers of Christ

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Imitate Christ…

The omnipotent God, incarnated in this wretched world to be rejected by His own (John 1:11). There was another fact of His coming. The One who created the universe, made Himself NOTHING (Philippians 2:6, 7). He humbled Himself to the point of death (Philippians 2:8). Christ became NOTHING, was made NOTHING, so that we become the children of God.    There was NOTHING-NESS in Christ. 

In our Christian work, we have to know that without Christ we can do NOTHING (John 15:5). If we abide in Christ, we will bear fruit. Christ is our source of energy. Our fruit bearing ability is possible when we depend on Him. For only with Him, we can do SOMETHING. 

In other words, we must realize we are NOTHING, helpless people, who will have to depend on Him for our strength. All what we do must be for His honour and glory.

If we want to imitate Christ, we must become NOTHING.

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When I say I am a Christian…

WHEN I SAY I AM A CHRISTIAN…
When I Say, “I am a Christian,”
I’m not shouting, “I am saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost!”
That is why I chose this Way.

When I say, “I am a Christian,”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
And need someone to be my guide.

When I say, “I am a Christian,”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I am weak
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, “I am a Christian,”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, “I am a Christian,”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are too visible
But God believes I’m worth it.

When I say, “I am a Christian,”
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
Which is why I seek His Name.

When I say, “I am a Christian,”
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I am loved.

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