This Week With Jesus

  When the Heavens Declare Gods Glory

  The two major villains of Christianity are Lucifer and Judas. We imagine their sin and shudder, never imagining we could act like them.  But, within each of us, a complex and often contradictory landscape of loyalties and betrayals does exist. This internal conflict is what we might call "the Judas in you." This isn't about committing a grand, historical betrayal, but rather about the subtle, everyday moments where we turn against our own values, our truest selves, or those we claim to love. It's the part of us that whispers for the easy way out, even if it means compromising our integrity. A part that indulges in hate, criticism, gossip, slander, lies, compromising integrity at work or at home, backbiting, and the list goes on. The Judas in us manifests in various ways. It's the voice that convinces us to stay silent when we should speak up for what is right, prioritizing our comfort over justice. It's the impulse to gossip about a friend to feel more inc...

 

 

A Life Woven with Love: The Story of Tabitha Today let us turn our hearts and minds today to a remarkable woman found in the book of Acts, chapter 9 and take inspiration from her. Her name was Tabitha, or Dorcas as she was also known – a name that means "gazelle," suggesting grace and beauty. But Tabitha's beauty wasn't just outward; it shone from within, radiating through her actions, as it should for us as well.  The scripture tells us in Acts 9:36, "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas). She was always doing good and helping the poor." This simple verse paints a profound picture of a life truly lived for others. Tabitha wasn't just an acquaintance of good deeds; she was "always doing good and helping the poor." This was her essence, her consistent character. Think about that for a moment. "Always doing good." In a world often preoccupied with self, with accumulation, with recognition, Tabit...

"The LORD will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace". Exodus 14:14 KJV God Sees Your Silent Battles. Not all of the time do we have the energy to speak up, push back, or defend ourselves, which is sometimes the right way to do it. We can be so overwhelmed in life, emotional or physical pain, that silence and shutting down are what the body craves, and that’s okay. After all, God sees the quiet battles no one else does—the ones in our hearts, behind closed doors, in the moments when silence feels safer than explaining. But.   Know that you are not alone in the fight of life.   You are not overlooked. You are not ignored. The truth is that you are fiercely defended by a God Who fights for you even when you whisper prayers through your tears. Keep your peace. He’s already moving on your behalf. Let us thank God for fighting for us even in ways we don’t perceive. Help us rest and be still in His presence when we are tempted to react.  May His victory speak louder ...

Read : Matthew 9:21 The faith of this woman, mentioned in the quoted verse really needs to be commended. She knew that a simple physical touch of His garment would heal her. Today while Jesus does not walk this earth in His physical form, He did leave behind the Holy Spirit for us, to touch, to be filled and to help us understand His word and connect. In Christianity, "touching" the Holy Spirit isn't a physical act in the way you might touch an object. Rather, it refers to experiencing the presence, guidance, and transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our life. This experience is often described through various spiritual and emotional sensations, as well as by observable changes in a person's character and actions and the various activities around us. Here's how we can be "touching" the Holy Spirit: 1. Receiving the Holy Spirit: Acceptance of Jesus Christ: The foundational step is often believed to be accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour and askin...

Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, popularly known as FUD, is a common sales strategy that really top sales professionals excel at. It involves deliberately disseminating negative or alarming information about a situation, in order to make a someone feel uncomfortable or insecure about their current choices or future prospects. In order to counter or check FUDs, one has to look at the present and past evidence to be able to reach a rational decision. FUD is also a strategy used by the Master of Deception , Mr. Satan. He excels at it - creating situations where people can start doubting themselves and even God. He uses the dangers and storms that come our way, to plant fears in our heads. We start thinking, will God bring me through this storm? Will I make it? Do I need to look for alternatives? And that is exactly what Satan wants. He wants us to look for alternatives. But God hates that. Our God is a jealous God. And thus shuts the gates of blessings till we come back to God. It is natural...

(References of sermons by Pastor Jolly Raj of Bethel Church Noida, India and Pastor Rajiv) Christians all over the world are a mixed lot. Some are fiery, some lukewarm, some extremely committed and some very regular church goers. But we all love our Hymns for sure. We all sing our Hymns and pray every Sunday and wonder and discuss what's it's like up there. Once such Hymn is "Stand Up for Jesus". How do you do that? How do you stand up for Jesus? Or are they just empty words? To understand this question, we need to delve into what is "not standing up for Jesus." Pastor Jolly Raj, in his sermon of the 22nd of June, 2025, talked about how the environment we live in, can slowly and innocuously creep into us and slide us into a situation where we compromise basic principles of Christianity. Such a compromise can end up even in us breaking core commandments and tenets of our faith and justifying it to ourselves in the name of humanity or integration or, as the mo...

 

RC Sproul once related a possibly not so well known story: "After the Korean War ended, South Korea was left with a large number of children who had been orphaned by the war. We’ve seen the same thing in the Vietnam conflict, in Bosnia, and in other places. In the case of Korea, relief agencies came in to deal with all the problems that arose in connection with having so many orphan children. One of the people involved in this relief effort told me about a problem they encountered with the children who were in the orphanages. Even though the children had three meals a day provided for them, they were restless and anxious at night and had difficulty sleeping. As they talked to the children, they soon discovered that the children had great anxiety about whether they would have food the next day. To help resolve this problem, the relief workers in one particular orphanage decided that each night when the children were put to bed, the nurses there would place a single piece of bread i...

In a small, quiet village nestled among rolling hills, lived a young shepherd named Elias. His days were filled with the gentle rhythm of tending his flock, the warmth of the sun on his face, and the comforting sound of sheep bells. Yet, beneath his simple life, Elias carried a deep longing for something more. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the fields, Elias sat on a hilltop, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the sky. A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers, and as he listened to the distant bleating of his sheep, a sense of peace washed over him. In that moment, Elias heard a voice, soft and clear, like the whisper of a summer rain. "I am the Good Shepherd," the voice said. "I know my own and my own know me." Startled, Elias looked around, but there was no one there. Yet, the voice continued, filling him with a sense of warmth and belonging. "I lay down my life for my sheep." As Elias liste...

 

There is a Hymn called Standing on the promises of God. Nice hymn though it leaves some questions which is how do you do that? What does it mean?  We are so used to broken, partially broken or seldom kept human promises that we are conditioned to take promises with a pinch of salt. Yet we are told to stand on Gods promises. What does it mean? Standing on the promises of God means having faith in God's promises and living in a way that is faithful to God. It also means being aware of God's promises and applying them to one's life There are more than 8000 promises made by God in the Bible . Which ones do you claim? Which ones has God made good on, to you? Here is an E Book listing them out and you can download it here . Read it and see what the Lord has done for you and can do for you. After all.... "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?...

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark. 1. Don't miss the boat. 2. Remember that we are all in the same boat. 3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. 4. Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. 5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. 6. Build your future on high ground. 7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs. 8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 9. When you're stressed, float awhile. 10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals. 11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. - Author Unknown

  Ref:  John 10:3  There are some verses which we don't really think about and/or take for granted. The example of the shepherd and the sheep is one. Today let's see what it's about? A query on an artificial intelligence engine tells us "Sheep are herd animals that are led by voice and naturally follow their shepherd. Shepherds use their voice to guide their sheep, with specific calls to stop, turn, or move forward. Sheep will eventually learn to recognize the shepherd's voice and trust him, and will not listen to commands from others ". "Sheep learn their shepherd's voice by following other sheep, who instinctively move towards new pasture lands". What this AI engine knows and tells us today, the Biblical authors knew and told us 2000 plus years ago. Three things stand out: 1. The shepherd's voice  2. Following other sheep. 3. The gatekeeper. As God's people, we often become confused with the voices, sounds and sights and get mixed up in...

Have you ever felt trapped? like there was no way out of a difficult situation. Jonah was no stranger to that feeling. After running away from God's call, he found himself in the belly of a great fish. Can you imagine the darkness, the stench and the despair he must have felt? Yet, in the midst of his darkest hour God was still with him.  Sometimes we find ourselves in our own 'Belly of the Fish" moments. It maybe a broken relationship, a health crisis or a seemingly impossible situation. Its in those moments we need to remember that God is with us even in those depths. He is our refuge and our strength.  Just like Jonah, God can use our difficult circumstances to shape us and teach us important lessons. It was in the belly of the fish that Jonah repented and cried out to the Lord. Sometimes it takes being in the belly of the fish for us to truly surrender to God and seek His guidance.  So if you find yourself in a seemingly impossible situation, remember Jonah. Your bell...

  Good morning,   As you got up I watched and hoped you would talk to me. Just a few words, such as thanking me for something good in your life yesterday or last week would do. But I noticed you were busy selecting the right clothes for work. I waited again to hear from you. When you ran around the house collecting papers, I knew there would be a few minutes to stop and say hello, but you never slowed down. I wanted to tell you that I could help you accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible if you would just spend some of each day with me. At one point, you waited fifteen minutes in a chair with nothing to do. I waited to hear from you. Then I saw you spring to your feet; I thought you wanted to talk to me, but you ran to the phone and called a friend. I watched as off to work you went and waited patiently all day long to hear from you. With all your activities you were too busy to talk with me. I noticed at lunch you looked around; maybe you just felt embarrassed to...

"God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile" - Max Lucado "God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies." - Hudson Taylor "Remember who you are. Don’t compromise for anyone, for any reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth." - Lysa Terkeurst "Let God’s promises shine on your problems.” - Corrie Ten Boom "Christ literally walked in our shoes." - Tim Keller "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength." - Corrie Ten Boom "The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us." - Billy Graham "Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them." - Elisabeth Elliot "God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go." - Tony Evans "The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, b...