Shaking the Gates of Hell!

There us a story in Africa which goes like this:

"In Africa, when the sun comes up, the gazelle wakes up early, ready to run her fastest or she will be hunted, killed and be eaten. At the same time the lion also gets up, also ready to run the fastest, faster than the gazelle, because if he doesn't, he will go hungry.

The point is this: it does not matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be running".

Our lives as Christians are exactly the same. Except that we are not hunters; we are being hunted. Unlike the gazelle who runs away from the lion, we need to run away from satanic forces and take refuge in and surrender to God. We are called to a Daily Surrender of the way we live our lives, to our creator and Lord, and to do His will. The rest He will do as He has promised in Psalm 91.

In this context, Jesus said -

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23 KJV

A devotional in KJV also says -

"Following Jesus is not a one-time altar event or simply an emotional hype—it’s a daily decision. When the Lord calls each of us to lay down our own desires and take up our cross, this means we are choosing His way—even when it’s hard and even if it means letting go of comfort and control as we’re walking down the narrow path with Him every day.

The truth is, we are not called to live an easy life but one filled with purpose and daily surrender. Every morning is an opportunity to say “yes” to Jesus and shake the gates of hell!" That day the evil which is threatening to devour us will lie defeated. 

And That day the lion will cease to hunt.

Finding God's Abundant Presence

Psalms 91:14 "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name".

Psalms 3:5 "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me".

Today Francis Taylor asks a question we should always by asking ourselves -

"Where and how has God made Himself abundantly present in your life?

It's an interesting question! First, you need to realize that God IS present in your life. Then you need to look for him. As I was thinking about this, I remembered the movie White Christmas and the wonderful song "Count Your Blessings." What were your blessings today? Do you have your health? Did you have a nice meal? Did you find that perfect gift, or make all the lights? Do you have people in your life who love you? What are your blessings? I count my friends, my family, my home, my job. I could go on, but you get the idea. There are also significant moments – the birth of a child, recovery from an illness or injury. The ability to deal with grief and moments of intense joy are signs of God's presence. And don't forget the gift of faith, the people that God puts in your way that say just the right thing at the right time, the song you hear or something you read that guides you when you need it. So many opportunities to feel God's presence, if you look! Tonight, before you go to bed, take the advice of Bing Crosby in the movie and "count your blessings instead of sheep" and you'll fall asleep wrapped in the arms of a loving and ever-present God.

The biggest blessing for anyone is to have God in their life and know He is there".

The Hall of Faith

Read Hebrews 11

Faith is as important to a Christian as is water to a fish. In times like these, when world events challenge our faith every day, we need to draw inspiration from Biblical heroes and heroines, including Noah.

While it is good to read about Noah's faith, it is important to understand the role of faith in our walk with God, because faith is not just intellectual assent but a confident trust that leads to action and obedience.

We tend to look at faith from afar, but up close it may have very different connotations.

Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" because it beautifully recounts the stories of numerous individuals throughout the Old Testament who demonstrated remarkable faith in God. Their stories teach us what faith is all about. Think of it as a powerful testament to what it means to live by belief rather than by sight.

Why is faith so important to us that a whole chapter was devoted to it by Apostle Paul?

The role of faith is absolutely central to the Bible, permeating both the Old and New Testaments. It's not just a passive belief, but an active trust and reliance on God, His promises and His word. It is :

1. The Foundation of our personal Relationship with God because it is the fundamental way humans connect with God. Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Therefore, it is through faith that we acknowledge God's existence, His character, and His power.

2. Faith is the Means of Salvation:

The New Testament clearly teaches that salvation is a gift received through grace by faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). It's not earned by works but freely given to those who believe in Jesus' atoning sacrifice and resurrection.

3. Faith is the Key to Righteousness:

In the Old Testament, Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3). This sets a precedent that righteousness before God comes through believing His promises.

Faith is not just about believing that God is, but also believing in what He says and acting on it. Noah did it, Abraham did and so many more, as called out in the Hall of Faith.

4. Source of Power and Miracles:

Throughout the Bible, faith is linked to God's miraculous works. Jesus often told those He healed, "Your faith has made you well" (Mark 5:34).

How does all this concern us as Christians? Because we are called on to live by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7). This means trusting God even when circumstances are unclear or challenging. It involves making decisions and living life based on God's Word and promises, even when they seem contrary to human reasoning.

As we said in the last post, our own intelligence and reasoning is our worst enemy as it tends to dilute what God has asked of us. We "rationalize" situations, as we do His word. We interpret according to our convenience and logic. In effect we question God and maybe put words in His mouth. In the last post of the Rudderless Boat, I am sure many many of us would have advised God that He forgot the rudder and the sail.

Finally, faith is evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." It's the conviction that what God has said and or promised is real and will come to pass, even if it's not yet visible.

The Hall of Faith is about all those people who actually lived by faith in what God wanted them to do.

Faith, in the Bible, is not a blind leap into the unknown but a confident trust in God who we know.

It's a dynamic and active reliance on the unseen God and His unfailing Word.

The Rudderless Boat

Genesis 6 

Would you ride in a car that had no engine, no steering wheel and no brake? 

When we read about the great flood and Noah and his ark, we mostly read Genesis 6 without much thought. Yes, he built a boat and saved countless animals etc. etc.

But verses 15 onwards tell us that it was no ordinary boat. It was made according to God's specifications. That was one special boat.

Why did God give the exact measurements?

There may have been multiple reasons but before that remember the objective this boat had to fulfil.

1. It had to accommodate a huge number of passengers

2. It had to float. Unlike the Titanic It was not mean to travel or go from point A to point B. It had to be built for the successor world to not drown but float and survive.

While the Bible doesn't explicitly state why those exact measurements were chosen, the most likely reasons relate to the Ark's functional requirements for stability, capacity, and survival, all that was necessary to keep a three-story building afloat. 

But The level of detail in the instructions emphasizes that the Ark wasn't meant to be a haphazard construction. God provided specific guidance, highlighting his intentionality and control over the process. Just as God meticulously designed creation, the design of the Ark was also a deliberate act.

But for this deliberate act to happen, someone had to follow instructions without any deviation. Noah had unwavering faith and a spirit of obedience - which meant he never even thought about questioning God or His instructions.

Now comes the shocker: The boat had no sail and no rudder. Strange!

Noah would have realized that fact when building the boat, yet he did not question. He did not add, nor did he subtract from God's direction. He would have realized this that he and his family would have had no control over the Ark's direction; they were entirely reliant on God's provision and the movement of the floodwaters. That's faith and trust. Hence our question of today: Would you get into a car which had no steering wheel, no engine and no brakes?

How many times, when we follow God's given directions, do we add to it or subtract from it based on our own so called wisdom - not remembering -

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts".

If we were in Noah's place, would we have not said - "Hey Lord you forgot the sail and the rudder"?

Yet, we are alive today because of that rudderless boat that God designed.

Ocean Ministries relates what happened then to what we need to do now.

"doesn’t the Ark preach the very foundation of the Gospel? We are called to a childlike faith, a faith that hands our lives over completely to the will of a Good Father. He sent His only Son to be the Ark of salvation for His children"

When you follow Jesus into the spiritual Ark you are giving up your rudder & sail and saying I trust you to sail my life to the places you so desire. I give up control.

Adam's Legacy

Read Genesis chapter 5 & 6

What Adam and Eve started, God ended with the great flood. A complete destruction of the World.

The state of the world before and during Noah's time, according to the Biblical account in Genesis, was one of extreme wickedness and violence. Several key aspects characterized this period:

* Widespread Corruption: The text states, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). This suggests a pervasive moral decay affecting all aspects of human life.

* Prevalence of Violence: The earth is described as being "filled with violence" (Genesis 6:11). This indicates a breakdown of social order and rampant aggression among people.

* Ungodliness: People lived their lives with no regard for God or his ways. They were consumed by their own desires and pleasures, seemingly oblivious to any impending judgment.

* Normalcy on the Surface: Interestingly, Jesus compared the days before the flood to the time preceding his own return, noting that people were "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" right up until the day Noah entered the ark (Luke 17:26-27). This suggests that outwardly, life appeared normal, even as deep moral corruption festered.

Some interpretations of the Genesis account also mention the intermingling of the "sons of God" (maybe fallen angels) and the "daughters of men" (Genesis 6:1-4), leading to the birth of the Nephilim, which is sometimes associated with increased wickedness and the corruption of the gene pool.

While the Bible doesn't give a precise population count, some estimations based on lifespans suggest a potentially large population. Despite this, the narrative emphasizes that only Noah and his family found favor in God's eyes due to the overwhelming depravity of the rest of humanity.

In essence, the world in Noah's time was characterized by a profound moral and social breakdown, marked by pervasive wickedness, violence, and a general disregard for God, even as daily life continued in its usual patterns for most.

These are not just Bible stories. Evidence of some of what is mentioned has been found.

The Book of Enoch, the one who walked with God and did not die, though not considered scripture (that is, writing not inspired by God) is very informative as a historical document, describing the nature and deeds of the fallen angels, among other things.

Enoch was so close to God that He took Enoch into confidence and shared the judgements of the future- of things to come.

Such was Adams legacy that depravity, crime, and sin became everyday life - grieving the creator to the extent that He regretted having made man.

The union between the spirits and women caused such a huge disruption in a world which was supposed to be based on order - that God took the final decision. Nothing less than full scale destruction to stop this depravity.

In the event of such a destruction Noah was the succession plan.

Today, when we try and fully understand what happened, we can well imagine it because we see some of it happening even now. Adultery, polygamy, murder, violence, sexual depravity, war, terrorism, corruption and injustice - you name it and its there.

With limited knowledge man tries to play the role of God in this world and the universe. We defied gravity, defied space, and defied Gods laws of creation to replicate His work. Our works have not glorified God - they have competed. Our works have not pleased God - they have grieved His spirit. Every newspaper account, every page, paints a picture of a world similar to the one before the great flood.

Genesis chapter 6 verse 3 is a chilling verse, no matter how you interpret it. We have, once again, vexed Gods spirit. Pray that we turn from our ways so that His Spirit does not give up on us.

Adams legacy was death. Praise God for Jesus because of who we have the promise of Life.

Sunday Quotes

 

It is not our business to make the message acceptable, but to make it available. We are not to see that they like it, but that they get it. - Vance Havner

Let me remind you that this is God's universe, and He is doing things His way. You may think you have a better way, but you don't have a universe to rule. - J. Vernon McGee

"When we share Christ, the Truth behind our transformation, we are offering people an opportunity to be transformed." ~ David Jeremiah

"When the Lord's white sheep become dirty gray, all black sheep feel more comfortable." ~ Vance Havner

"If you see a Bible that is falling apart, it probably belongs to someone who isn't!" ~ Vance Havner

"God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way." ~ Aiden Wilson Tozer

"The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now." ~ Rick Warren

"God is not just saving individuals and preparing them for heaven; rather, He is creating a people among whom He can live and who in their life together will reproduce God’s life and character." ~ Gordon Fee

"If you're praying, you're not worrying, and if you're worrying, you're not praying!" ~ Ruffin McNeill

"Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking God uses only 'special' people the strong, the intelligent, the beautiful. We don't think He has a place for the rest of us. We are so wrong!" ~ Chuck Smith

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." ~ Martin Luther

"The moment God put a dream in your heart, the moment the promise took root, God not only started it, but He set a completion date." ~ Joel Osteen

"Sometimes God lets you be in a situation that only He can fix so that you can see that He is the One who fixes it. Rest. He's got it." ~ Tony Evans

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." ~ C. S. Lewis

"The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Saviour from Hell rather than a Saviour from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness." ~ Arthur W. Pink

"The universe is wired with the electricity of God, & each of us is a lamp. It doesn't matter the size or shape of the lamp; it only matters that the lamp is plugged in. With every prayer, every thought of forgiveness, every meditation, every act of love, we plug in. The more of us who plug in, to more the darkness of the world will be cast from our midst. Today, let's all increase love's wattage!" ~ Marianne Williamson

"Most of all, God has blessed us by giving us the privilege of knowing Him and walking with Him every day. He did this by sending His Son into the world to die for our sins." ~ Billy Graham

"We need to replace the lies of the enemy with the truth of God; to do so we need to know the truth of God." ~ Christine Caine

"Don't waste another moment crying over what went wrong! If it wasn't a blessing - it was a lesson." ~ Paula White

"Humility is not a character trait to develop, it's the natural by-product of being with Jesus." ~ Louie Giglio

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." ~ John Wesley

"When to give grace? I'd rather stand before God knowing I loved others too much rather than regretting that I judged too harshly." ~ Lysa TerKeurst

"Always be ready to give a good testimony for the Lord, but remember that the best testimony a Christian can have is a love for others and good work habits." ~ Larry Burkett

"We suffer much agony because we try to get from people what only God can give us, which is a sense of worth and value. Look to God for what you need, not to people." ~ Joyce Meyer

Sunday Quotes

The chief purpose of prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer. 

 R. A. Torrey

Too many Christians live their Christian lives inside their heads; it never gets out through hands and feet and lips. - Vance Havner

God gives us people to love and things to use, not things to love and people to use. - Max Lucado

There is no sweeter manner of living in the world than continuous communion with God - Brother Lawrence

Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. - Dwight L. Moody

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.' - Billy Graham

Creative words generate energy; negative words drain out energy. - Robert H. Schuller

It is not the bee's touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian. - Thomas Brooks

We shall not grow weary of waiting upon God if we remember how long and how graciously He once waited for us. - Charles Spurgeon

Every day we live is a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insights. - Dale Evans

If we want to be known in heaven and feared in hell we must be willing to lose our reputation here on earth. - Loren Cunningham

The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation. - Dwight L. Moody

People who walk by faith don't see obstacles, they see opportunities. - Warren W. Wiersbe

Kids today learn a lot about getting to the moon, but very little about getting to heaven. - David Jeremiah

Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; forty years learning he was nobody; and forty years discovering what God can do with a nobody. - Dwight L. Moody

Peace doesn't come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat. - John Ortberg

Accept the risen Jesus into your life. Even if you have been far away, take a small step towards Him. He awaits you with open arms. - Pope Francis

All places are places of worship to a Christian. Wherever he is, he ought to be in a worshiping frame of mind. - Charles Spurgeon

To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge! To do the will of God is the greatest achievement. - George W Truett

God not only orders our steps, He orders our stops. - George Muller

How you live your life is a testimony of what you believe about God. - Henry Blackaby

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. - Corrie Ten Boom

If you want to give the devil a nervous breakdown, just get up every day and see how much good you can do. - Joyce Meyer

Knowing that we are fulfilling God's purpose is the only thing that gives rest to the restless human heart. - Charles Colson

If we do not fill our mind with prayer, it will fill itself with anxieties, worries, temptations, resentments, and unwelcome memories. - Scott Hahn

God doesn't bless us just to make us happy; He blesses us to make us a blessing. - Warren W. Wiersbe

Strive to make every person feel special. After all, every person you meet is made in the image of God.- Joel Osteen

Don't worry about having the right words; worry more about having the right heart. It's not eloquence he seeks, just honesty. - Max Lucado

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? - Corrie Ten Boom

Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment; being a Christian is the work of a lifetime. - Billy Graham

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

Sunday Quotes

Inspiring Christian quotes serve as beacons of hope, faith, and encouragement in our daily lives. They remind us of God's unwavering love, the strength found in Christ, and the beauty of living with purpose and compassion. These quotes, often drawn from Scripture or the wisdom of Christian thinkers, provide guidance during challenges and celebrate the joy of faith. Whether uplifting the spirit or deepening one's connection with God, they resonate with timeless truths that inspire believers to walk in love, grace, and perseverance.

“Satan is so much more in earnest than we are—he buys up the opportunity while we are wondering how much it will cost.” (Amy Carmichael)

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” (John Wesley)

“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction.”

“Every temptation, directly or indirectly, is the temptation to doubt and distrust God.” John Macarthur 

 “The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in.” RC Sproul 

 “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” - C S Lewis 

 “Today Jesus Christ is being dispatched as the Figurehead of a Religion, a mere example. He is that, but he is infinitely more; He is salvation itself, He is the Gospel of God.” - Oswald Chambers 

“I will not glory, even in my orthodoxy, for even that can be a snare if I make a god of it... Let us rejoice in Him in all His fullness and in Him alone.”- Martin Lloyd-Jones

“Here lies the tremendous mystery: that God should be all-powerful, yet refuse to coerce. He summons us to cooperation. We are honored in being given the opportunity to participate in his good deeds. Remember how He asked for help in performing his miracles: Fill the water pots, stretch out your hand, distribute the loaves.” - Elisabeth Elliot

“The terrible, tragic fallacy of the last hundred years has been to think that all man's troubles are due to his environment, and that to change the man you have nothing to do but change his environment. That is a tragic fallacy. It overlooks the fact that it was in Paradise that man fell.”

“Be still, and know that I am God. We must not interpret that ‘Be still’ in a sentimental manner. Some regard it as a kind of exhortation to us to be silent; but it is nothing of the sort. It means, ‘Give up (or ‘Give in’ and admit I am God’. God is addressing people who are opposed to Him.”

Martyn Lloyd -Jones 

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.”

Oswald Chambers 

“I have heard of some good old woman in a cottage, who had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water, and lifting up her hands, she said, as a blessing, “What! all this, and Christ too?” - Charles Spurgeon

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength.” - Corrie Ten-Boom

“Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.” - Billy Graham

“Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.”

St. Augustine

What Would Jesus Do?

In our last post we talked about Jesus being the way and why we need to follow Him, if we want salvation. Following Jesus means commitment to living a life that mirrors his teachings, values, and example, prioritizing his will above all else, and striving for spiritual growth through faith, love, and service. In short it means "living Jesus" every day. Addressing challenges He faced - His way. Relating to people - His way.

How we can do that is to ask ourselves in every situation - what would Jesus do? And then do what He would do. If we don't know- go to the Word. Ask.

Rev Francis Taylor says this -

"Everyone faces temptation every day. It may be something as unimportant as having an extra piece of candy, or skipping exercise, but it could be as serious as giving in to road rage, drinking too much, cheating, gambling, taking drugs, or – (insert your favorite vice here)! Jesus was tempted to let us know that this is something we all must overcome. When you face a temptation, how do you respond? Jesus looked to scripture for the answer."

So, there you have it. Jesus lived by the "Book." Time we did do and do what He did.

The Way : Beyond the Cross

Did you know that the Early followers of Christ were called followers of "the way"? The term "Christianity" came much later.

Let us pause and think why were they called that? What was "the way"? The answer will open the door to another basic question: why should anyone follow Christ?

Because Christ offered true followers a pathway to salvation. Jesus was and is the way to our salvation.

Thus, our ultimate goal to follow a resurrected Jesus is because He is the way to salvation. 

How may you ask? Jesus said to take up our cross and follow Him - essentially symbolizing the end of our earthly self and a new beginning. When a person carried a cross in Jesus’ day, no one thought of it as a persistent annoyance or symbolic burden. It was literal! "To a person in the first century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by crucifixion. To carry a cross was to face the most painful and humiliating means of death human beings could develop. Two thousand years later, Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus’ day the cross represented a torturous death. The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion (see John 19:17). Bearing a cross meant one was about to die, and that one would face ridicule and disgrace along the way".

Therefore, Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call to self-abasement and self-sacrifice, no matter how hard or painful it may be. One must be willing to die to self in an absolute surrender to God, crucify our "self" and resurrect finding hope, strength, and transformation through our challenges.

This Lenten season, can we reflect on what we need to do to follow His way, or "the Way"? 

One suggestion is to adopt the principle of "what would Jesus do" or WWJD. In our next post we will cover that principle.

Monday Quotes

 

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come" - Rabindranath Tagore

"When I fall sick, I am taken to a hospital where I surrender to the nurses, attendants and doctors. They put me in a wheelchair and take me where I do not know, put me on machines I do not recognize and do tests which the doctors have ordered. I am completely in their hands. Then I wonder, when I can trust the doctors, nurses and attendants for my well being, and surrender myself, why do I have a problem surrendering to God? Why cant I let God push my wheelchair?" - Pastor Jolly Raj, Bethel Methodist Church, India.

" Faith is the bird that feels the light, when the dawn is still dark". - Rabindranath Tagore

"Pray; and as you pray, surrender; and as you surrender, believe". - Aiden Wilson Tozer

It is not our business to make the message acceptable, but to make it available. We are not to see that they like it, but that they get it. - Vance Havner

You will never be saved against your will; God drags nobody to heaven by the ears. - Charles Spurgeon

Too many Christians live their Christian lives inside their heads; it never gets out through hands and feet and lips. - Vance Havner

"Don't ever come to church without coming as though it were the first time, as though it could be the best time, and as though it could be the last time." ~ Vance Havner

"When the Lord's white sheep become dirty gray, all black sheep feel more comfortable." ~ Vance Havner

"Fundamentally, our Lord's message was Himself. He did not come merely to preach a Gospel; He himself is that Gospel. He did not come merely to give bread; He said, "I am the bread." He did not come merely to shed light; He said, "I am the light." He did not come merely to show the door; He said, "I am the door." He did not come merely to name a shepherd; He said, "I am the shepherd." He did not come merely to point the way; He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."" ~ J. Sidlow Baxter

"Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength." ~ Dwight L. Moody

"There is more grace in God's heart than there is sin in your past." ~ Erwin W. Lutzer

"Love the sinner, hate the sin? How about: Love the sinner, hate your own sin! I don't have time to hate your sin. There are too many of you! Hating my sin is a full-time job. How about you hate your sin, I'll hate my sin and let's just love each other!" ~ Mark Lowry

"Because with every action, comment, conversation, we have the choice to invite Heaven or Hell to Earth." ~ Rob Bell

"Every day we live is a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insights." ~ Dale Evans

"God doesn't break things so He can fix them; He fixes broken things so He can use them." ~ Bob Goff

A Woman of Substance

 

The Bible features many amazing women who played significant roles in various narratives. On this International Women’s Day, we would like to highlight one such woman – Rahab, a Canaanite woman who helped Israelite spies and later became part of the lineage of Jesus.

Rahab is a significant figure in the Bible, known for her bravery, faith, and role in the Israelite conquest of Jericho. Her story is primarily found in the Book of Joshua, chapter 2, a powerful example of faith, courage, and redemption. Her actions had a lasting impact on the Israelite history and the lineage of Jesus Christ

To understand the importance of her role, we must first understand why Jericho was so important to the Israelites?

In the biblical account, Jericho holds significant importance as the first city the Israelites encountered after crossing the Jordan River into Canaan around 1,400 BCE. The story highlights the miraculous destruction of the formidable Wall of Jericho, which fell after the Israelites marched around it for seven days, bearing the Ark of the Covenant. This event symbolizes not only a pivotal moment in the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land but also serves as a testament to their faith and obedience in following divine instructions.

Knowing the importance of capturing Jericho, the Israelis sent spies into the city to do what spies do: Ascertain strengths and weaknesses. If these spies had been captured or killed, the morale of the Israelis would have gone crashing to the ground. After all, if they could not capture the first city they encountered in the promised land, what would they do for the rest? They probably would not have attempted to war with Jericho, their faith in God would have been shaken and a defeat at Jericho could have delayed the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land. Jericho was a key entry point into Canaan, and losing the battle would have hindered their progress and possibly prolonged their efforts to take possession of the land. They knew that.

And that is where Rahab mattered. She made sure that the spies were NOT captured and the Israelis went ahead and did what God wanted them to thus fulfilling the promise of divine intervention and Gods plan. She had faith in God, His promises and His power even though she was not an Israelite. 

Rahab's story is a powerful example of faith, courage, and redemption. Her actions had a lasting impact on the Israelite history and the lineage of Jesus Christ. Rahab is commended for her faith in the New Testament. She is mentioned in the "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11:31, and James 2:25 highlights her righteous deeds.

Do read about Rahab today. Her story is a powerful reminder that our past does not govern our future and faith, courage, and positive choices can lead to transformation and a meaningful legacy. Her example inspires us to believe in the possibility of change, take risks for what we believe in, and live out our faith in God in tangible ways. 

The Bath Tub

If you were told to empty a bathtub and the choice was to use a bucket, a glass or a spoon, which would you use? 

The answer of course is none of the above. The smart way would be to simply pull the plug, because using any of those above-mentioned alternatives would never completely empty the tub. There would be a remnant of water remaining. 

Similarly in our spiritual life, if you don't pull the plug there will always be remnants of our previous sins which will remain. 

The problem is when called upon to pull the plug, our strength fails us. We are unable to empty that tub completely because of our attachments to our earthly desires and possessions. But Jesus can! 

He sacrificed himself to pull the plug and drain out sin from the world, including for you and me. 

Today, as we fill our own tubs, let us be careful that we fill it with what Jesus wants, not what we desire from this world. 

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Two Ways to Play the Game: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

Play to Win or Play Not to Lose! 

The 7 Christians

As we read Revelations, trying to understand, one thing stands out: the significance of the 7 churches to our lives today, with 7 different types of Christians in the world. Let's take a look:

The Loveless Christian:

First, we have Ephesus, a prominent city with a church mentored by Paul and pastored by Timothy. They are doings things right and yet do have their faults, primary among them is that their devotion to Christ had declined.

What can we learn from this church? Like the Ephesian church, we can easily fall prey to a cold, mechanical observance of religion. Like the Ephesians, many tend to focus solely on doctrinal purity and hard work, to the exclusion of true love for Christ. As this letter shows, no amount of zeal for the truth or moral rectitude can replace a heart full of love for Jesus.

Persecuted Christians: 

Then we have Smyrna. Persecuted Christians. Jesus encourages them to remain faithful, for more persecution is to come. Like the people at Smryna, many today face persecutions of different kinds. They may face satanic persecution like Job or Maybe at work, or in society or in some nations. However, They are blessed because they remain faithful to Jesus.

The Compromising Christian: 

At Pergamos the church is question on its "purity". While they were commended on the fact that believers lived in a difficult place, surrounded by pagan influences, yet they held fast to Christ’s name and did not deny Him during difficult times. Yet they were compromising with "those in the church who contradicted the ethical implications of the very gospel they followed" (Jeremiah Study Bible). Do we, as a church or as individuals, also compromise in such matters?

The Corrupt Christian

The Church at Thytira were an active, flourishing, busy, growing church yet Their problem was that they were tolerating sin. They had a false teacher who was corrupting some of them yet The church leadership failed to rebuke or remove this false teacher from their midst. This situation is seen as a symbol of the danger of allowing worldly influences to creep into the church, our families or ourselves, and compromise Christian values.

Do we do the same with people or the world around us?

The Hypocritical Christian: 

Church at Sardis. The Sardinian Believers had effectively built a winning brand for themselves in their community. By all appearances, the church in Sardis was a vibrant, effective powerhouse. But inside they were lifeless. Spiritually dead. When a church attempts to operate from any other power source than Christ, that church can officially be identified as dead. The problem with a deceased church is that it rarely recognizes the condition. A dead church will often continue to function in its own power, programs, and pomp and attribute the momentum to Christ—celebrating every temporal victory as if it had eternal merit.

This applies to us as well - when we are separated from God, we rarely recognize it and continue as before. Therefore We do not regenerate our relationship with Him because we don't know it's broken in the first place.

The faithful Christian: 

Philadelphia

Unlike other churches mentioned in Revelation, Jesus did not criticize or condemn the church at Philadelphia. Why? because they remained faithful to Jesus despite facing persecution and having little strength, holding fast to His word and not denying His name, even when under pressure; essentially, they demonstrated unwavering loyalty in difficult circumstances.

This is what we all should strive for.

The Lukewarm Christian

Finally the Chruch at Laodicia. A church who thought they needed nothing more. The Christians of this city had permitted wealth to dull them spiritually; they became prideful and independent. In fact, they behaved as though they did not need God. The land provided for them; they had enough water. They imagined they were safe because they believed Jesus was the Risen Lord, even though they did not act as though Christ’s life, death, and resurrection had impacted their hearts. They allowed God to exist but did not let Him live in them.

They lived as though they had one foot in the world and one foot in heaven, but they were foolish if they thought He would permit such wavering.

Does that sound familiar?

Those seven churches tell us what not to do and what to do, to be spiritually alive. Each individual can find their likeness within these seven churches. Finding yourself if the first step to bettering yourself and these 7 churches help us to know our own spiritual condition.

Let us wake up before it is too late, and ask God to open our eyes to see our own spiritual condition—repent of complacency, compromise, materialism and stubborn independence; respond to the leadership of Jesus Christ and do not lose your reward!

Sunday Quotes

                 

You will never be saved against your will; God drags nobody to heaven by the ears. Charles Spurgeon

This life is the only hell believers will ever know. But for those who die in their sins, this is their only heaven - Ray Comfort

Let me remind you that this is God's universe, and He is doing things His way. You may think you have a better way, but you don't have a universe to rule - J. Vernon McGee

When we share Christ, the Truth behind our transformation, we are offering people an opportunity to be transformed - David Jeremiah

Too many Christians live their Christian lives inside their heads; it never gets out through hands and feet and lips - Vance Havner

When the Lord's white sheep become dirty gray, all black sheep feel more comfortable - Vance Havner

If you see a Bible that is falling apart, it probably belongs to someone who isn't! Vance Havner

God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way. - Aiden Wilson Tozer

Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.  Alexander MacLaren

We should not pray for God to be on our side, but pray that we may be on God's side. Billy Graham

Once Upon a time in Heaven...

Once upon a time, in a place called Heaven, a curious scene unfolded.

The old king sat at the head of the round table, with His head bowed and deep in thought. Around Him sat His closest advisers, Sir Michael, Sir Gabriel and others and His Son stood next to Him.

“You know why we are here,” said the king. The earth is in shambles, people are rebellious, and no one wants to live in peace with each other, let alone listen to me. In fact, some of them openly hate me “

“I made the earth and created humans to have a relationship with me. This relationship characterized by love, worship, and communion. I wanted Humans to live in harmony with me and each other.”

“I wanted them to take care of the planet and all its inhabitants, love me and love each other.

But most of all I wanted them to do all of this of their own accord – so I gave them free will. And what did they do with that great power of free will and choice?? They rebelled against me!

I gave them laws but they broke them. I gave them a way to atone for their wrong doings – they did that and kept on sinning and kept on atoning. That became a vicious circle- A catch 22. Where was the time for me? Where was our communion?

I told some of them, you are my people. I made agreements with them. But alas, nothing changed. They sinned – sacrificed for forgiveness and then sinned again. They marvel at my creation, yet they treat their own lives, with disdain.  And on top of all of this, that fellow Lucifer – he keeps reigniting their wickedness by either scaring the life out of them or simply enticing them".

"I tried to destroy them but felt pity. How can I completely destroy what I have created? I regretted my creation, but I did save a handful to start over again. They did and started over on their wickedness as well".

So, I see no way out. I cannot have such dreadful creatures be a part of this place and expect them to glorify me or even praise me and worship me. I find it distasteful and dreadful. If any of you have any ideas, please let me know”.

The Kings speech was followed by pin drop silence. Everyone there knew the problem. No one had the solution.

Archangel Sir Michael spoke up after deep thought – “My Lord, with Lucifer playing such an active role, we need a more permanent solution. The people are weak; its not that they don’t want to follow the law but they are not able to for various reasons of greed and temptation by Lucifer. They love their life on earth too much to bother about any plans for heaven.”

“I know,” said the king. So, what is to be done? Should we release all the fury of Heaven on them? They would deserve it! But here is the problem: I created them. I love them. How can I annihilate them?”

Then Sir Michael spoke again – “Lord, why not just finish the source? Let us wage war on Lucifer and his cohort. You know we can finish them and once and for all solve this mess.”

“Well Sir Michael, we can do that, but I gave Humans a very potent power: THE Power of Free choice. If we finish Lucifer, Humans will follow me by default – whereas I want them to want to follow me and love me by choice. The problem is Lucifers war is with me, but he uses the humans as a tool to fight me.”

“Father”, said the Son, “maybe I have a solution.”

“Speak my son: show me how we can save these creatures from Lucifers hand? And if I give them a blanket forgiveness every time, Lucifer will accuse me of not following my own rules for a sacrifice, even though that sacrifice has become more of a convenience for them”.

“Well Father, you remember how you asked Abraham to sacrifice his son? He proved His allegiance to you and of course you didn’t make him do it, but think about it. Why not make a one-time sacrifice for all times? Why not give them love commandments instead of law commandments?

“Explain this to me my Son. What you say is interesting”.

“Well, we know for sure that humans have a rebellious and sinful nature. And that is the chasm between you and them, because you cannot bear to see sin. While a blanket forgiveness can be given, Lucifer will mock you for ignoring your own rules and in any case they sin again. So why don't we make a one-time sacrifice?”

“I have two questions my son. First who or what is so Holy that it’s sacrifice will cover the entire humanity – current and future? Second, you said yourself they will sin again, so how will such a sacrifice help? It will never be one time.”

“Well, I will leave that to you. I do not know”.

The King slowly lifted His head, “I know”. “It has to be me or a part of me.”

“What???” The entire gathering stood up in shock and dismay.

“My Lord and my King,” said Sir Michael, “if you are sacrificed the entire heavens will be destroyed by Lucifer. You cannot vacate your power!”

“Sir Michael, the issue is not one of power but of a moral right to govern. Lucifer knows that. But you are right. Lucifer can misrepresent that. After all, he is a master story teller and deceiver. He can see it as a sign of weakness and fear.”

“There is a solution though: we are a Trinity. As the trinity I exist in three persons: As God the father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. So, a sacrifice of any of these will be good enough. But humans have to see it, which means that the sacrifice has to be in human form, so that all can see the suffering and torture that the sacrifice will go through, for them. Therefore, it has to be someone who can take on a human form – which can only be my Son”.

“He is my Kings only son” said Sir Michael “our entire army will protect Him. How can you or He be sacrificed? My Lord, how can we accept that? Or even think about it?”

“The King looked crestfallen, “Sir Michael, it pains me no end. Which father can send His only child to a death of horror and torture of Sin? Yet, it needs to be done. My Son, will you do it?”

“Yes Father, but what will happen in the long term? Humans will sin again and again. Will my sacrifice be worth it?”

“You are right. Yet we can address that issue through the Holy Spirit – my Spirit. The Holy Spirit's primary role is to indwell, guide, and empower believers. The Holy Spirit can work within individuals to transform and sanctify them, helping them grow in their faith and live according to my will, as long people choose to believe in your sacrifice and in you. And that will happen only if they see that sacrifice happening right in front of them.”

“It will be the ultimate demonstration of my love for humanity. It will show that I was willing to give my only Son to save people from their sins, which will otherwise convict them forever to Lucifers cohort”.

“This sacrifice also satisfies the demands of my divine justice, addressing the consequences of sin while offering forgiveness and redemption to humanity.”

“The trinity is key to all of this: The Holy Spirit's role is different but equally vital, focusing on guiding, empowering, and transforming believers. They have been given a conscience, but it is for the Holy Spirit to reside in them and guide that conscience. Together, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will work in harmony to accomplish my plan for salvation.”

“My Son, are you ready for such a sacrifice?”

“My Father, you tested Abraham with willingness for the ultimate sacrifice. He passed. Today you ask me for the same. Of course, I am willing and ready. The point is, are you?”

“I don’t know my son”. “I know I will suffer the worst kind of heart break anyone could feel. But I will have to suffer that for these people. Of course, the Holy Spirit will need to bring you back to me and I will wait in heartbreak for that. Yes, my Son, I will have to do it.”

A sober mood fell upon the entire gathering. Contemplating the future they asked – “And how is this to be accomplished?”

“Send out prophecies of this plan through our prophets. Prepare the people. Prepare the ecosystem. This means a lot of work and time and effort, but it needs to be done. Choose people whom we can work through, good and evil. Identify the times when all of this will happen. Get it documented for future generations.”

And that is how we, the people in the story, in a land called Earth, were given hope and redemption. Our power of free choice created the problem in the first place, so today it is to be used wisely, based on wisdom given by our God in the Bible, because God paid a very heavy price indeed for our freedom.