BLESSED SERVANTS.

" Trusted Servants "

Titus 2:9-10  Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them,

not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted,

so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive. (NIV)
 

The New Testament was written at a time when slavery was normal

although many of the servants were treated well

and became respected as part of the household.

When these slaves became followers of Jesus,

how were they to demonstrate their faith?

They should show their faith in the way they worked.

Christian workers should be willing to obey their masters,

to serve gladly without resentment, rudeness or stealing.

Indeed, they were to go further than that; they should see

what pleased their employer and make every effort to achieve that.

It was important for the credibility of the gospel that Christians

were known as people who could be trusted.

Trustworthiness demonstrates somebody's character.

Yet those servants who had previously been in the habit of serving grudgingly,

arguing and stealing needed to be taught that those things did not honour Jesus.

Although, in one way, Titus and the church elders in Crete would have nothing

to gain from teaching slaves to change their behaviour,

there was much to be gained for the gospel's sake.

If people could see the difference that Jesus Christ made to a person's life,

then the teaching about Jesus would be much more attractive.

This still applies to those people who work for others.

We do not primarily work well because somebody pays us,

but because Jesus has already paid the price for us to enter His household.

Paul expanded on this teaching in Colossians 3:22-24:

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it,

not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour,

but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that

you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

" So, if you work for somebody and you are trusting in Jesus ...

you should now know what to do!

Prayer for the day : -

Dear Lord God.

Thank You for being my Master,

for having purchased me with the precious blood of Christ

away from slavery to sin so that I might serve You.

Help me to see my daily work as part of my service to You.

May I please my earthly masters to the best of my ability,

with Your help, however difficult it might be.

I am sorry when I have resented what I had been asked to do,

argued with my employers or taken what did not belong to me.

Please help me to do my work with integrity so that I can be fully trusted

and be a good witness to Jesus Christ.

In His Name. Amen.

================================

" Letter to Son from his Father "

God gave us the gift of life;

it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.

 

Following is a letter to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster/Child Psychologist.

The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old.

All parents can use this in their teachings to their children.

 Dear son , 

 I am writing this to you for 3 reasons                                                                                                      

 

1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable;
    nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.      

                                                                                                                                                                                

2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.

3. What is written is based on my own personal experiences that perhaps
     could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.

Remember the following as you go through life

1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you.
    No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I.

    To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful,
     and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move.

    When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you.
    You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.

2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess.
    Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life
    when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/who you love most.

3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you.
    The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.

4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood.
    If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness.
    Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love,
     and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.

5.  A lot of successful people did not receive a good education, that does not mean
     that you can be successful by not studying hard!

     Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life.
     One can go  from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!

6.  I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old,
     neither would I financially support your whole life.
     My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up.
     After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine,
     whether rich or poor.

7.  You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so.
     You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you.
      If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.

8.    I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize.
      That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!

9.    No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together.
       We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.

BLESSED JESUS.

The Historical and Deity Jesus

Luke 24:24 - And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Among all mankind there is no person who has influenced mankind like one person by the name Jesus. Even those who are not His followers acknowledge Him on one way or another in their life.

The Gregorian calendar which is followed throughout the world is divided on the life of Jesus. The words used to denote dates BC and AD are connected to Jesus Christ. Among all religious or spiritual figureheads none have made an impact on mankind like Jesus did.

Among all religions worldwide the top 2 are Christianity and Islam, and their human figureheads being Jesus Christ and Mohammed. Jesus was such an impact that even the second acknowledged the first, even though the first directly warned about not following the second or anyone else.

No one can deny Jesus as being a perfect person, many tried to defame His character with lies but over time all of them got exposed one after the other.

The one factor of Him that sets Him apart from all others is His death and resurrection. No person or religious figurehead who has claimed to be a Man of God or God man has been able to achieve victory over death like Jesus did. This factor was one factor that shook all those who lived during the times of Jesus so much so that in the first 10 years after His death we have many people from various parts of the world who wrote on this event. Even though some tried to distort the truth but yet they acknowledged the fact that on the third day after Jesus died His body was missing from the tomb in which it was kept. Roman historical records confirm the fear of the Jews and Romans that the disciples of Jesus would take His body after His death and create a conspiracy thus the tomb was sealed with a large stone and not only that, guards were posted outside it.

As per the traditions of the Egyptians followed by the Jews in certain parts of Israel on the third day they would come back to the tomb and perform the final rites to the body and it was when they went to do this that they found that the tomb was empty (they would place coins on the eyes of the body which was a Egyptian pagan practice).

This factor has shaken each and every person even though they are not followers of Jesus. Mohammed knowing this factor would write him off denied Jesus' crucifixion in the Quran saying Jesus was neither crucified nor resurrected but was taken up by 'Allah' (Surah 4:157-158). About someone else being a substitute (namely Judas Iscariot) was later conceptualised not by Mohammed but many, many years later when people mostly Muslims started seriously taking up the fact of the death and resurrection of Jesus. What is funny in the Quran one place out of fear Mohammed denies Jesus' died and resurrected but at the same time in many places acknowledges Jesus would die and be resurrected by 'Allah' (Surah 19:15, 33). In one place Mohammed quotes (according to him) the words of the just born infant Jesus stating His death and resurrection. Mohammed states Jesus as Prophet (Man of God) then later makes him a liar by denying the words of the Prophet Jesus; the same way he does stating Jesus as Christ, Word of God or Messiah.

Lately a few years back a person named Sathya Sai Baba who claimed he was god incarnated and Jesus in the flesh; when he died all his followers waited for many days to see if he resurrected like Jesus did. The town where he operated from was always full of foreigners but after his death when this man failed to resurrect this town has become like a ghost town with no foreigners visiting it.

No prophet or godman or religious figurehead has been able to put their words to action of being someone exceptional to be followed like Jesus did with the one factor of His victory over His death by His resurrection. And the Word of God states the Power behind this task was the Holy Spirit. This message was given to me yesterday being Pentecost but I was very disappointed in the way the Church here in Mumbai did not take the most important feast for Christians seriously and so I was not in a frame of mind to send it.

Jesus was God who humbled Himself and came as man. Without the Power of the Holy Spirit working in His life even He would not have succeeded to be the cornerstone for all mankind to be born without blemish and remain without blemish. It was this fact that He was without sin (which is also acknowledged in the Quran) that caused Hell (He went there since our sins were on Him) not to hold Him back and thus resurrect.

Jesus by His life as man showed us the necessity of the Holy Spirit in our lives so let us also make the Spirit of God as the most important part of our lives, without Him we too will not be Christians like Jesus could not be Christ without Him.


[Prayer Starter]
Lord, we thank You for Jesus who became a worthy sacrifice to make us worthy to receive your Spirit. Lord, You have said it is only by the working of your Spirit in us that will allow us to be truly saved, not just saved from going to hell but will enable us to enter Heaven. Holy Spirit we need You more today than ever. Unite us as one body in our Lord with one mind and one understanding, work in us as You did with Jesus and make us a success like You did with Him. We know we too will rise like He did only by your Power...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[Reference Scriptures]
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:8-10
8 All that ever came (is in Aorist tense which is past, present and future at the same time) before (word also means ever) me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

Acts 1:8-9
8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Philippians 3:8-11
8 Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;
11 if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.

(Since a sister insisted on me quoting from the Quran to prove my comments on Islam, since many Muslim friends are reading my messages thus I am quoting scriptures from the Quran - I may not do this every time since it would make my already long messages longer and most scriptures in the Quran contradict themselves so we need to quote not just one like in the Bible)

Surah 4:157-158
157 That they said in boast, "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of Allah"; — ut they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no certain knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not: —
158 Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise; —

Surah 3: 55 Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee of the falsehoods of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute."

Surah 19:15 - So Peace on him the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life again! (the word again was added in the later translation and was not there in the original Arabic - Pickthall translations)

Surah 19:27-33
27 At length she brought the babe to her people, carrying him in her arms. They said: "O Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!"
28 "O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
29 But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
30 He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet";
31 "And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live";
32 "He hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable";
33 "So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life again!"

Surah 43:61-63
61 And Jesus shall be a Sign for the coming of the Hour of Judgment: Therefore have no doubt about the Hour, but follow ye Me: This is a Straight Way.
62 Let not the Evil One hinder you: For he is to you an enemy avowed.
63 When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the points on which ye dispute: Therefore fear Allah and obey me.

BLESSED FRIEND.

" Who is your Friend & Whose friend you are "

Proverb 18:24 .

A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother . (NASB) 

I am not a man of many friends.
I am friendly with a number of people and thankful for the people around me.
But I will distinguish between acquaintances and friends.

I will go a distance out of my way for an acquaintance - a student, -
co-worker, or someone I know around town.

These are not unimportant people and the deserve a definite measure of respect and cooperation.
If they ask for prayer or need a suggestion, it is rarely a burden or a problem.

If a student is struggling and needs help, a few extra minutes after class is easily given.

But then there are friends.
These are the people we have invested our lives into and they are invested into ours.

These are the people who know who we are with our flaws,
faults and foibles and still accept us and care about us.

They know when we are up or down, usually without a word being spoken.
Friends apologize when they have hurt us, and, more importantly,
accept our apology when we have hurt them.

They have permission to invade our personal space deeply at times.
They can tell us things we don't want to hear, but need to be told.

They will hear us when we need to bare our souls without judging us,
and chase us when we run to despair and drag us back.

They kneel at the Throne of Grace for us in our joys and our trials.

Jesus' inner circle of friends fell asleep while he prayed for them in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He was facing an agonizing death.

And while would be bad enough, for Him there was more.
Jesus Christ was facing the sins of all mankind through all eternity.

And, He was facing something He had never experienced -
separation from the Father on the cross.

He, who had never known sin, took on the every sin to satisfy the price of sin.
And He rose again to break the power of death over us.

Facing all of this, Jesus prayed for his friends who had promised to pray with Him,
even after they had fallen asleep.

As the omniscient Lord of Creation, He knew that they would.

After his resurrection, Jesus met His Disciples on the beach and had cooked them breakfast.
He ate with them and gently brought them back into His fellowship.

This was even true of Peter who had denied his Lord three times publicly
and was terribly humiliated at his failure to stand with Jesus.

Jesus gave us this as our example.

This is seventy times seven in flesh and bone,
forgiving and restoring important relationships even when they have faltered.

It is a reflection of the love that Jesus Christ has for us,
and it is a light to the world that doesn't understand the love we know.
John 15:15-17

15  "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

16  "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

17 "This I command you, that you love one another. (NASB)  

==============================================================================

-- 

" God is never wrong !  "

Hi Dear Ones,

I hope this story may strengthen your trust upon the Living God, 

who can moves the mountains……..

A king, who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances, said: 

My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. 

His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger.

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said

“Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger.”

The slave replied: “My king, despite all these things, 

I can only tell you that God is good, 

and he knows “why” of all these things. 

What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!”

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave. 

Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices.

In the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that the victim 

had not one of his fingers, so he was released. 

According to them, it was not so complete to be offered to the gods.

Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave that he received 

very affectionately and said - “My dear, God was really good to me! 

I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go!

But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?” 

The slave replied - “ My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, 

I would have been sacrificed for you, 

because I have no missing finger, 

therefore remember, everything God does is perfect. 

He is never wrong.”

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, 

forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

Every morning, offer your day to God, don’t be in a rush.

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. 

And do not be afraid. 

God is never wrong!

You know why this message is for you? 

I do not know, but God knows, 

because he never makes mistakes…….

“The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. 

He is the way of all those who trust in Him”. 2 Samuel  22: 31

God is never wrong !

BLESSED JOY.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). At the time these words were proclaimed, the Israelites had just returned from captivity in Babylon. Under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, the people had rebuilt Jerusalem's ruined walls. And now they set their sights on reestablishing the temple and restoring the nation.

At this point, Nehemiah called a special meeting at the city's water gate, within Jerusalem's rebuilt walls. "And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate" (Nehemiah 8:1). Some 42,360 Israelite men were on hand for this meeting. Standing alongside them were 7,300 servants, including 245 singers. Altogether, about 50,000 people were gathered.

First came the preaching of God's word. Scripture says the people were hungry to hear it: "They spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses...Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding" (8:1-2).

These people didn't need to have God's word pushed on them. A consensus of hunger had developed among them. And they were fully prepared to submit to the authority of God's word. They wanted to be governed by it, to make their lives conform to its truth.

Amazingly, Ezra preached to this crowd for five or six hours - "from the morning until midday" (8:3). Yet no one even noticed the time. "The ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law" (8:3). These people were totally captivated by God's word.

What an incredible scene! You simply wouldn't see such an occurrence in any American church today. Yet, I tell you, true revival can never take place without this kind of all-consuming hunger for God's word. Indeed, when God's people grow weary of hearing his word preached, a spiritual death begins - and the joy of the Lord departs.

You may have heard of the phrase "sermon tasters." This term is almost 200 years old, originating in London during the mid-1800s. At that time, the great preacher C.H. Spurgeon delivered sermons to 5,000 people every Sunday at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Across the city, Joseph Parker also preached anointed messages. And other fiery pastors preached throughout London, delivering deep, revelatory, prophetic words.

It became a popular sport among wealthy Londoners to hop in their carriages and race across the city from one church to another, sampling the preaching of these ministers. Each Monday in Parliament, exclusive meetings were held to discuss which preacher delivered the best sermon and who brought forth the deepest revelation.

These gadabouts were dubbed "sermon tasters." They always wanted to lay claim to some new spiritual truth or revelation. But very few practiced what they heard.

At the water gate in Jerusalem, however, there was no eloquent preaching, no sensational sermon. Ezra preached straight from the scriptures, reading for hours on end. And as the people stood and listened to God's word, they grew excited.

At times Ezra was so overcome by what he read, he stopped to "bless the Lord, the great God" (8:6). The glory of the Lord came down powerfully, and everyone raised his hands in praise to God: "All the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands" (8:6). As certain passages were read, "they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground" (8:6). The people humbled themselves before God, in brokenness and repentance. Then, after a while, they stood up to experience more.

Please note - this meeting didn't include any exciting stories to stir up people's emotions. There was no manipulation from the pulpit, no dramatic testimony. There wasn't even any music as yet. These people simply had an ear to hear everything God said to them.

I believe the Lord desires to move among his people in the same way today. I see his Spirit stirring up churches wherever there's a hunger for his word.

Yet I've also been in churches where people constantly glance at their watches, before the sermon has started. Then, when the pastor says his final "Amen," the people begin a mad race for the parking lot. There is no real joy in such a church. So, how can we expect desperate sinners to ever want a part in it?

The kind of revival we see in Nehemiah 8 requires a pastor who is as excited by the scriptures as Ezra was. Yet it also requires a people who are just as anxious to hear God's word and obey it. Even the most fiery preacher can't stir up a complacent congregation if they're not hungry to hear God's truth.

The Result of This Powerful Preaching
Was a Wave of Brokenness Among the Hearers.

A half-day of preaching wasn't enough for the hungry Israelites. They wanted even more of God's word. So they formed groups, with seventeen elders besides Ezra leading them in Bible studies the rest of the day. "(They) caused the people to understand the law...so they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" (Nehemiah 8:7-8).

As these people grasped God's law, they began to mourn over their sin. "All the people wept when they heard the words of the law" (8:9). Picture the scene: 50,000 people lay scattered on the ground, mourning their sin in unison. Like a hammer, God's word had broken their pride. And now their weeping echoed over the hills for miles.

I ask you - is this what revival is all about? Is it a word so piercing that people are driven to their knees, weeping and repenting before God?

I have experienced such holy gatherings myself. When I was a child, our family attended "camp meetings" at the Living Waters Camp Ground in Pennsylvania. Jesus' second coming was preached with such power and authority, everyone was convinced Christ would return within the hour. A holy fear fell, and people were driven to their faces. Some cried as if they were hanging over hell by a thread - wailing, broken, sorrowing over sin.

Often, God's word was preached all day and into the night. Early the next morning, people could still be found lying prostrate in the prayer room, grieving over their sin. Some even had to be carried out.

It was on such a night that the Lord called me to preach, at the age of eight. I was in the Spirit for hours, broken and weeping, God's word coming alive in my heart. Christ's soon return burned within me as an imminent reality. I'll never forget that wonderful experience.

Yet, as glorious as all of these manifestations were - whether at Living Waters Camp Ground, or at Jerusalem's water gate centuries ago - none of these things can draw sinners into God's house.

Imagine an unsaved person who's trying to bear up under life's stresses. He has marital problems, he's hurting and confused, he's afraid his life has no meaning. Such a person is joyless, disgusted with life. And nothing he tries can satisfy his thirsting soul. He's convinced he can't make it through the day without medicating himself with alcohol.

If you took this man to a church service where people were lying about prostrate, mourning over sin, he wouldn't understand what was going on. In fact, chances are he would leave more depressed than when he came in.

We have to understand - the water-gate revival in Jerusalem wasn't for sinners. It was strictly for the backslidden children of God. Likewise, few unsaved people ever attended Living Waters camp meetings. In both cases, the Lord was trying to repair his children - to deliver them from corruption, baptize them with joy and make them strong.

God's testimony is never that his people are lying on their faces, crying rivers of tears. No, the testimony he wants to bring forth in his people is joy - genuine, lasting joy. "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). This joy - which results from biblical preaching and true repentance - brings true strength to God's people and draws sinners into his house.

Most Christians never associate joy with repentance. But repentance is actually the mother of all joy in Jesus. Without it, there can be no joy. Yet any believer or congregation who walks in repentance will be flooded with the joy of the Lord.

What Is Missing in Multitudes
of Churches Today Is the Thing
Most Needed by The Lost:
Genuine, Soul-Satisfying Joy.

I often hear Christians say, "We prayed down a revival in our church." But I say this cannot happen by prayer alone. There can't be any such awakening unless both the pastor and the people hunger diligently for God's word. And they must wholly commit their lives to being governed by the scriptures. We simply can't obtain heaven's joy until the pure word has convicted us of sin - breaking down all pride, prejudices and false dignity.

When David disobeyed, he lost the joy of the Lord. And that joy could only be restored by true repentance. So he prayed, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Purge me" (Psalm 51:2-3, 7). David also prayed to regain what he'd lost: "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (Psalm 51:12).

I believe this explains the death pall that hangs over many churches today. In short, there is sin in the camp. And it's impossible to maintain the joy of the Lord if sin is present. How can the Holy Spirit pour out joy on a people who continue to indulge in adultery, addictions and materialism, living like the unsaved?

The Lord lifted his glory from Shiloh because the high priest, Eli, refused to deal with sin in God's house. Eli had become accustomed to the easy life - and if you're addicted to pleasure, you won't be motivated to expose sin. God finally wrote the word "Ichabod" above the door of the sanctuary - meaning, "The glory has departed." Then he held up Shiloh as an example of what happens to a church when sin is ignored. God's glory - including all gladness and joy - dissipates, in individuals and in the corporate body.

Where God's Word Is
Revered, the Inevitable
Result Is an Outpouring of
Genuine "Jesus Joy."

Ezra told the crowds, "You've been excited about God's word - hungering for it, loving it, allowing it to work in your heart. You've repented, wept and mourned - and God is pleased with you. But now it's time to rejoice. Take out your handkerchiefs, and wipe away your tears. This is a time for great joy and mirth."

The glory of the Lord fell on Israel, and the people spent the next seven days rejoicing: "All the people went their way to eat, and to drink...and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them" (Nehemiah 8:12).

The Hebrew word for mirth here means "glee, merriment, gladness, happiness." This kind of mirth isn't merely a good feeling - it's an inner joy, a deep exuberance. Its expression may look different in each of us, because such joy takes place deep inside us. But it's clear to everyone around us that our wellspring of joy comes from heaven.

Whenever Israel turned to sin and idolatry, the Lord removed their mirth: "I will also cause all her mirth to cease" (Hosea 2:11). "I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, and this whole land shall be...an astonishment" (Jeremiah 25:10-11). "All joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone" (Isaiah 24:11).

At times, Israel put on a false joy to try to cover their sin. We see this happening as well in many churches today. We may witness singing, dancing, manifestations, loud praising - but those who love God's word can discern whether it's true or false joy.

You may recall Israel's shouts as they danced around the golden calf. When Joshua heard the people, he said, "There is a noise of war in the camp" (Exodus 32:17). But Moses replied, "It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery" (32:18). Moses was saying, "That's the shout of a people still in bondage. They haven't mastered their sin." Gold had become Israel's god, and it brought a shout to the people's lips. Yet it was a shout of false joy - a noise that signaled God's impending judgment.

I once preached in a large church full of this kind of noise. During the worship, the pastor and organist whipped the people into a frenzy. The congregation sang and clapped loudly for an entire hour. After a while, I felt physically sick. I prayed, "Lord, something's wrong here. This isn't the sound of a people who've mastered their sins."

A year later, the pastor and organist were exposed as homosexuals. Yet the people had never discerned this about their leaders, because they weren't grounded in God's word. Instead, they'd followed a noise that appeared to be joyful but that was leading them toward destruction.

When we started Times Square Church in 1987, we quickly realized we were pastoring in a modern-day Corinth. And we had to preach a strong message that would expose all sin.

Our services were attended by many Christians who worked in the entertainment industry - in theater, TV and film. These people shouted loud praises - but, in some cases, their noise wasn't the sound of mastery. Some had chosen to stay in careers that clearly dishonored the Lord, working in plays or shows that blasphemed God.

We wondered whether we could evangelize unsaved show people if our own congregants were still involved in wicked aspects of the business. Finally, we decided we couldn't allow a double standard. So we preached holy separation - and the Lord began to deal with the people. Many of them gave up lucrative careers in entertainment, and God blessed them marvelously. One former actor now pastors a church in Jerusalem, preaching Christ on Mount Carmel.

Cross dressers also came to our services, dressed in drag. We never said anything to put them down, and over time the Holy Ghost dealt with them. Many were saved and began to change their appearance. Some even grew beards as a sign of repentance.

We had to face other significant problems among the people. Practicing gays wanted to sing in the choir. Bar-hopping musicians wanted to play in the orchestra. We had to preach the law to deal with sin, but we always tempered our messages with mercy.

We also had to deal with sin on our own staff. One musician was seen visiting X-rated theaters after our church meetings. And a member of our worship team - a white man - boasted, "Any black guy who tries to clean my windshield for money is going to get a fist sandwich." We released that man immediately.

We also had to deal with deceptions and delusions in our congregation. One married man told me he believed the Lord was going to take his wife from him. He said God had already revealed to him the woman in our church he was going to marry. I told this man bluntly that any such revelation he might have received wasn't from God.

We kept preaching holiness, week after week. And over time, our sermons scared many people away. Yet the Lord had kept a godly remnant for himself, a people who loved his word. In every service, these people sat like hungry little birds, their mouths wide open for food. Afterward, they took home sermon tapes to listen to over and over. We saw in them a spirit of repentance, an eagerness to obey, and a readiness to conform to God's word.

One wealthy couple called our offices and said, "Please send a truck tomorrow, along with some workers. We want to remove our liquor cabinet from our home, as well as our TVs."

As the people came under the power and government of God's word, a joy broke forth. Soon our services were filled with more than tears of repentance. Suddenly, the sanctuary shook with shouts of victory, mirth, glee and gladness. There was great rejoicing - because we'd begun to understand the great truth of God's word.

To Maintain the Joy of the
Lord, God Called for an Even
Deeper Work of the Spirit.

God had heard the Israelites' cry, and he'd shown mercy to them. He had turned their mourning into mirth, allowing them to shout and rejoice. And now he called them to gather for yet another meeting.

If Israel's joy was to be maintained - if it was not to be lost once again - God had to dig a little deeper. Certain areas of people's lives still weren't conformed to his word. Yet the Lord had allowed everyone to rejoice for a season, because he wanted them to know they were secure. Now, during this state of acceptance and joy, he asked them all to commit to a greater separation from the world.

God said to these joyful souls, "I am well pleased with you. You have revered my word - repenting of your sin, rejoicing in my mercy, and promising to obey me. Now, it's time for you to act on my love. I want you to separate yourselves wholly - to break away completely from the worldly influences that have crept into your hearts and homes."

You see, while the Israelites were in captivity, they'd become cozy with the heathen, slowly adopting their language and ways. Israelite men had married heathen wives, and Israelite women had purchased heathen husbands with dowries. The Israelites had also allowed unsanctified things to become a part of the worship in God's house.

Beloved, we can't go on to fullness in Christ if we don't increasingly separate ourselves from this world. If we're not becoming more heavenly minded, and less like the unsaved people surrounding us, we'll slowly lose all the joy of our repentance.

Israel didn't want to lose their great spirit of rejoicing. So they assembled again, to obey God on this matter: "The seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins" (Nehemiah 9:2). "They...entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law...and that (they) would not give (their) daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for (their) sons" (10:29-30).

This Israelite remnant had also neglected to tithe. Now God demanded this of them as well. You may wonder, "Would God really withhold his joy and mirth from a church if the people weren't tithing?" I refer you to Malachi 3:8-10:

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse...prove me...if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

God was saying to Israel, "Don't continue to rob me. If you'll conform to my command to tithe, I'll pour out a blessing you won't be able to contain." The people pledged "that we should bring the first-fruits...and our offerings...and the tithes...unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage" (Nehemiah 10:37).

God's Promise to Pour Out
A Blessing From Heaven
Holds True for Us Today.

When we set our hearts to obey God's word - allowing his Spirit to expose and mortify all sin in our lives - the Lord himself causes us to rejoice. "God had made them rejoice with great joy" (Nehemiah 12:43). I believe this poured-out blessing includes abundant joy, even in the midst of our trials. The Lord opens heaven and baptizes us with "Jesus joy" - with shouting, rejoicing and singing - no matter what our circumstances.

Nehemiah reminded a rejoicing Israel of how God had provided for their forefathers in the wilderness. The Lord had poured out manifold mercies on them. He'd taught them by his Spirit and led them by the cloud and the pillar of fire. He'd supernaturally provided them with manna and water. And, miraculously, he didn't allow their clothes or shoes ever to wear out (see Nehemiah 9:19-21).

How do these kinds of blessings sound to you? Manifold mercies, clear direction, God's Spirit teaching you, all your physical and material needs supplied - these all sound wonderful to me. And, indeed, all of these blessings hold true for us today. The Lord, in his great mercy, has promised to provide them all for his people.

Yet, we can still choose to live in a wilderness, as Israel did. Nehemiah pointed out that their forefathers had rebelled against the Lord, ignoring his law: "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs...Yet many years didst thou forbear them...yet they would not give ear" (Nehemiah 9:26, 30).

Can you imagine the awful spiritual death these people brought upon themselves? Forty years of sabbaths without any joy or mirth. Forty years of funerals, without ever entering the promised land. These Israelites were rich with blessings, increased with goods, needing nothing - but they were lukewarm in spirit.

This is a picture of Jehovah Jireh - the God who faithfully provides for his people, even when they become hardened to his word. The Israelites had become bored with the things of God. They were just going through the motions. In his mercy, the Lord continued to direct their daily affairs and provide for them. But these people would never enter into his fullness. Is it any wonder their clothes and shoes never wore out? They simply weren't going anywhere.

This is also the sad state of many churches today. God may extend his mercy to a congregation - freeing them of debt, giving them direction for good works, supplying them with finances for new construction. Yet that church may remain in a spiritual wilderness, never going anywhere. They can enjoy a measure of God's blessing - enough to keep from dying of thirst - but they remain weak, weary, ready to die. And it's all because their focus is still on the things of the world. They have no spirit, no life.

Simply put, only the joy of the Lord supplies us with true strength. We can talk all we want to about our ten- or twenty-year walk with Christ. We can show off our robe of righteousness. But if we're not allowing the Holy Spirit to maintain the joy of the Lord in our hearts - if we aren't continually hungering for his word - then we're losing our fire. And we won't be ready for what comes upon the world in these last days.

How do we maintain the joy of the Lord? We do it the same way we obtained his joy in the beginning: First, we love, honor and hunger excitedly for God's word. Second, we continually walk in repentance. And third, we separate ourselves from all worldly influences. This is how a Holy Ghost person or church maintains "Jesus joy" - rejoicing always, full of gladness and mirth.

BLESSED WORK OF GOD.

" God knows how to save "

 

Romans 11:25-27  I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited:
Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (NIV)
Today's passage contains a puzzle, because Paul writes that "all Israel will be saved".
Clearly, God's ancient people had become hard against Jesus.

As they continued in their resistance against the gospel, God allowed their hardness of heart;
but He also extended His promises so that Gentiles might believe and inherit eternal life.

At the same time, God had pledged Himself to fulfill His covenant to Jews and purge their sins.
How can this be?
 
In the same way that ancient Israel could not understand how God could welcome Gentiles,
some Gentile believers in Rome did not think that He would be gracious to Jews any more.

They could not see the end of the story or how God would fulfill His covenant to His people.
But we cannot apply human reason in order to predict God's activity.

Neither can we exclude what we think is impossible, because God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:7-9).

One thing we do know: only Jesus is the great deliverer, as this passage quotes (Isaiah 59:20).
 
The wonder of the gospel is that God welcomes everybody who puts their trust in Jesus.
The Lord, and not us, is responsible for the content of the message, sending out messengers,
softening people's hearts, giving them faith to believe, and filling them with His Holy Spirit.

It is not for us to determine whose hearts God will soften. Neither is it for us to predict the people
God will not save and transform by His power.

Our task is simply to make the Good News about Jesus
available wherever God sends us,
and trust the Lord to bring His Word to life in people's hearts.

It does not matter who they are: Jews or Gentiles, educated or illiterate,
travellers or settled people, young or old, healthy or sick,
whatever their ethnic or religious background ..all who believe in Jesus will be saved.

Prayer for the day : -

Redeeming God. Thank You that You always keep Your promises.

Thank You that everybody who comes to Jesus will be saved; irrespective of their background.

Forgive me when I have made judgements about who can or cannot be saved;
and when I have failed to spread Your Word because I thought it would be ineffective.

Help me to see people though Christ-like eyes, share the gospel freely and pray for Your Kingdom
to come on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Expect God to Answer Your Prayers “If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him ... but if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” (James 1:5-6 TLB) God wants to direct you in life, but two things need to line up: You have to ask the right person, God, and you have to ask with the right attitude — in faith, expecting an answer.  Have you ever asked God for something and didn’t expect to get it? That’s why you didn’t get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and we walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work. We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom; help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect him to do that. We think it all depends on us.  God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions. Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust him and listen to him, he will guide us. But we must ask in faith. ====================================   You have to be happy to receive the happy versions of other people!  With every single person you come into contact, you are either giving love or you're not. And based on what you give, that is what you receive. Give love to others through kindness,encouragement,support, gratitude,or any good feeling ,  and it comes back to you multiplied in every area of your life. Look for the things you love in a relationship more than you notice negative things  and it will appear as if something incredible has happened to the other person. You have to be happy to receive the happy versions of other people! The force of love presents you with a whole array of Personal Emotional Trainers,  disguised as everyday people, but they are all training you to choose love! Life is presenting every person and circumstance to you so you can  choose what you love and what you don't love. When you react to anything you are reacting with your feelings,  and as you do,you are choosing it! Changing the way you feel is easy compared to running around trying to change  the circumstances of the outside world. Change your feelings and the outside circumstances will change!