This Week With Jesus

  "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 ge...

                  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 t...

 

Peace is a word most sought after, most misunderstood and most misinterpreted. We are in the second week of advent, with the theme of peace, and yet According to recent data, there are currently around 56 ongoing conflicts worldwide , with some sources stating this is the highest number since World War II, involving numerous countries engaged in conflicts outside their borders. So then, what is this peace? What does it look like? What does it mean? What is the peace of God?  In the Bible, the word Jesus uses for peace in most of these passages comes from the Greek word eiréné , which means harmony, tranquility, and reconciliation. It’s the concept of being in perfect unity and accord with the Lord, living in tune with his commands and ways. It is a deep, inner peace that surpasses human comprehension, a calmness and serenity that can be experienced even amidst difficult circumstances, and is considered a gift from God that guards one's heart and mind through faith in Christ Jesus. ...

While the world celebrates Christmas with merriment & laughter, there are many whose hearts are filled with anguish. Unseen and unknown. Beneath the façade of smiles and laughter, a silent storm often rages within the them. Unseen anguish can manifest in various forms. It may be the quiet desperation of a person grappling with a chronic illness, the silent suffering of a victim of abuse, or the internal turmoil of someone struggling with mental health issues. It can be the gnawing loneliness of an isolated soul or the profound grief of a bereaved heart. The world often overlooks these silent struggles, dismissing them as mere fleeting moments of sadness or temporary setbacks. However, for those who endure them, unseen anguish can be a relentless force, consuming their thoughts and emotions. It can lead to feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and hopelessness. Yet, even in the darkest depths of despair, there is a flicker of hope. Jesus Christ: offering a lifeline, offering underst...

                        “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.” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones) “For God to reveal His Son in us is not the result of research or searching; it is entirely a matter of mercy and revelation. It is an inward seeing, an inner knowing.” (Watchman Nee) “You cannot go outside of A and Z in the realm of literature; likewise Chr...

Revivals have been a part of Christian history for centuries, and they continue to occur today. Once such annual revival concert called "Revive", happens in India, every year in November, at the Bethel Methodist Church in a Place called NOIDA, bringing in the Christmas. Today we bring you a short glimpse of this years' concert.   

  "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" ,  Psalm 141:3 There is a super power given to us and that is the tongue. It produces words and Words have power. They can heal or they can destroy. They can also make you a laughing stock. God's Word mentions the tongue in over 120 passages, and many of those are cautions about using it wisely. Learning to control how we speak – to the Lord and to others – is one of the vital parts of our growth as Christians. The tongue reveals our hearts. It is a window. If you want to see the effect of your tongue, take a tube of Toothpaste and squeeze some onto your hand. Now try putting all that you squeezed back into the tube. Impossible right? Trying to put it back in the tube will further mess your hand. The tongue is like the tube. Once it has spoken words, you cannot put them back in your mouth. They will leave a mark. If they are good, kind words, you will leave a good kind mark. If they are harsh and ...

 

  “No one sets out to become an apostate—it's never the result of one abrupt, drastic turn away from the Lord. Instead, apostasy is most often the product of a pattern of sinful compromises that harden and gradually steer a professing believer away from the truth.” -  (John MacArthur) “True weanedness from the world does not consist in being beat off from the world by the affliction of it, but a being drawn off by the sight of something better.” -  (Jonathan Edwards) “Discipline is not inconsistent with love. It is lack of discipline, in fact, that is inconsistent with love. The Lord disciplines His children because He loves them, and we will discipline our brothers and sisters in the Lord if we truly love Him and truly love them.” -  (John MacArthur) “The Christian is not superficial in any sense, but is fundamentally serious and fundamentally happy. You see, the joy of the Christian is a holy joy; the happiness of the Christian is a serious happiness. ... it is a s...

  We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. You come to us through other people and their love and concern for us. You come to us through men and women who need our help. You come to us as we worship you with your people. We remember your presence with the pastors wife with stage 4 cancer and the hope you bring this advent to all those who call upon you for a miracle. We remember a lady in India suffering from back and hip pain and who needs the relief you can give. Mr. Crane says - Today I would like to have a prayer request for the health of the father of one of my co-workers who is very dear to me. He has problems with his lungs and is in the ICU being treated. He has been with this problem since he had his accident at the age of 42. He is now 57 and still fighting... Stephanie prays for God to repair, restore, connect, and heal in every way her relationship if it’s in...

  We have just finished Thanksgiving yesterday with a lot of celebrations possibly all over the world, even though it is more of an American tradition. In reference to our giving thanks to God, recently Pastor David Jacobs wrote - "A common misconception among young people.... is that we pray to God to ask for something. Perhaps there have been times when you yourself have prayed for good and righteous things. But we shouldn't forget thanking Him for what has already been provided. God is not our concierge: in fact, we serve God. Trust in Him, for God gives us what He deems is necessary for His children, and for this, we should continually show our gratitude ". While Thanksgiving is a day dedicated once a year to give thanks, we have received so much that once a year may not suffice. Instead of asking for more, will it not be a good thing to dedicate a Friday or a Saturday or any one day in the week, (or maybe everyday) to give ONLY thanks for what we have received duri...

 

The Colt Peacemaker revolver was named for the sentiment that an armed society was a polite society. The presence of a Colt revolver was thought to discourage troublemakers from picking a fight. The Colt Peacemaker was also seen as an equalizer for women, the elderly, and those who were physically smaller. In a warped sense, the very instrument of violence was thought to bring about peace. But Christ talked of a different peacemaker. Men and women who are empathetic to others. The peacemaker initiates reconciliation when others have wronged them. The peacemaker is also quick to repent when they have wronged others. In a world, where we have been discipled to avoid conflict, peacemaking takes a commitment to move toward it. The human peacemaker does not enforce peace with the threat of violence but brings about peace with love. When we contemplate the profound words of Jesus in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God,” we understand the inheritanc...

Good for the Eyes, Bad for the Soul (Adapted from the KJV Devotional)  “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise…” Genesis 3:6 KJV Satan never lures people with repulsive bait, but he always uses things that appeal to our greatest desires. The truth is that God has already provided everything that we need, but Satan incites a dissatisfaction that began in the Garden of Eden. He creates counterfeits of God's blessings and falsely presents that he can give even more, as in the case of Eve and the forbidden tree. The tree was not just pleasant to look at and with good fruit to eat, but it offered something extra—it seemed to make one wise. But in the end, what the devil offers may look good, but it is always destructive to one's soul.

"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds". Psalm 73:28 "Looking back on life, we observe countless moments when God has intervened in our lives or the lives of others. He bestows upon us numerous blessings and miracles beyond our understanding. We each have a story to tell and a witness to share. We will shout praises to God from the mountaintops and continue to look for opportunities to tell all we meet about the mighty works of the Lord". Pastor David Jacobs.  These stories could be of protection from our own or others mistakes or from health issues or about healing; they be could of provision when all sources were finished. Different people will have different stories and each story can be an inspiration to someone somewhere. Sharing it is also a thanksgiving for deliverance, as we let our life itself become a witness. Today we urge you to share your story. Send it to us so we can s...

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" . 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV "We may think it is complicated to search for and know God’s will in our personal lives. Some may think it is for them to become a pastor, a teacher, a doctor, or to run a business. While all these are actually personal choices that God has freely given to us, He had a specific will for all His people. .... the opening scripture reveals that God’s perfect will is for us to remain thankful to God in all circumstances. When we are thankful, whether in good or bad seasons, it means we see God moving, and this keeps our faith going! Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), which is why being thankful is a crucial element of walking in the Father’s perfect will! " What are you thankful to God for today? Quoted from Watchdis Media in KJV Devotional. 

All too often, in this great world, we seem to lapse into a state of ingratitude, taking for granted all of the blessings and comforts we enjoy or have enjoyed. We either revert into an attitude of self-satisfaction, expecting that peace and bliss will always follow us, or, become despondent and depressed and totally hopeless when face with adversity and think that our desperate situation is forever. During these times we should, with sincerity of heart, count our blessings! Maybe even write them down to keep reminding us. There is a song too, by the same name which has a history which demonstrates the reality and truth of this song. We may have heard this song in school or #Sundayschool, because maybe adults think it is childish to thank #God so simply.  Gipsy Smith, a famous evangelist of yesteryear, said of this song, "Men sing it, boys whistle it and women rock their babies to sleep to it." How did this song come about?  Johnson Oatman, Jr., born April 21, 1856, was a ci...

With Thanksgiving around the corner next month, Pastor Rajiv talks about the importance of giving in a Christian's life.    As Thanksgiving approaches, we may consider submitting a part of our blessing to God, which, in todays world which is tantamount to sharing His Blessings with others as well. Pastor Rajiv talks about the importance and more, of sharing God's Blessings with others who may need what we will share.  Lets us thank the Almighty for deliverance from a pandemic which hit the world after a century; for our deliverance from it and other evils which may have befallen. From hunger, as even today 345 Million People Are in Hunger Crisis while the haves waste food (40% of the food produced in America is never eaten and. if just half of the food waste worldwide were recovered, we could end World Hunger).  In this context and background, Pastor Rajiv's message is ever so important.