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...

Once upon a time there was a man named Jonah. God calls Jonah and charges him with a specific task go to Nineveh the capital of Assyria and ‘cry out against it for their wickedness. What did Jonah do? He went in the opposite direction. The Assyrians were a wicked nation and their years of cruelty had left deep wounds in the Israelite psyche. And for this reason, Jonah hated the Assyrians and his hatred for them caused him to question God’s grace. God knew that the Assyrians were a wicked nation so Jonah questioned why would God want to forgive them? Jonah thought he knew better, so he took a judgement call: Run away from God! But can anyone do that? In spite of Jonah’s self-justification of his action his was an act of deliberate disobedience. Jonah did not understand God’s grace. He did not understand that God appointed the Jewish people to be a light to the nations and what this meant. He did not understand why God wanted to give a second chance to the people of Nineveh. We all kno...

Human independence is devastating. When we are faced with a challenge, our first option or attempt is to address and solve it ourselves. We think we know all the answers. And then when we face failure we pray to God to help us out. Often, prayer becomes the last resort. The fact is that the enablement to solve problems or face challenges actually comes from God. He is the alpha and creator of everything, including our abilities and circumstances. After all when we face a problem with an appliance, do we not refer it to the manufacturers for a solution? Then why, in our life, do we try and solve everything on our own? Why not just refer it to the "manufacturer" of our lives? Logically, prayer should actually be our first option and not the last resort. As we go through life, living merrily everyday, we become stuck when we suddenly face a wall. That's when we rush to pray. But if proactive prayer was in our life, God would have shown us the way around the wall, and not get...

"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...

 

As we hear / see the news about the Iran Isarael conflict and other conflicts around the world, there are so many stories of missile attacks and bombings. We hear and see people running to bunkers to keep safe. Cars get into tunnels to escape the bombs. Everyone runs for the cover of safety - a good man, rich man, poor man, rebel, criminal, murderer, they all try and get to safety in  the bunkers.  There is also a war which is going on around us, against us waged by satanic forces, luring us, tempting us, scaring us, threatening us with even death. But human bunkers cannot protect us from those attacks. Yet, There is another bunker which is available for all those who are afflicted, to run to. People who are suffering not only in physical war but from pain, sickness, pestilence, emotional trauma, loneliness and any kind of danger - even the war or attacks of Satan and his cohort of spirits. That is the bunker of God. The secret place where God keeps everyone who comes there , ...

  Pastor Rajiv's last Message on the 7 Churches in Revelations. 

What causes the death of a church? For example, the Church at Sardis? In this 5th letter, today we will explore the history and outcome of the Church at Sardis and the parallels we see today. I want to share with you a quote from William Ramsay, a renowned historian, and biblical scholar. He explored the decline and death of churches particularly in his work on the "letters to the seven churches of Asia". This is what he wrote - ‘A church is in danger of death when it begins to worship its own past….when it is more concerned with forms than with life….when it loves systems more than it loves Jesus Christ….when it is more concerned with material than spiritual things’. This sounds so familiar when we look at the churches around us. Today we will study the 5th Letter to the Church at Sardis and what we can learn from them, to NOT do. 

Genesis Chapter 14 is a rich narrative that offers several important lessons. Here are some key takeaways: A. Courageous and Decisive Leadership : Abram (later Abraham) demonstrates remarkable courage and decisive leadership when he learns that his nephew Lot has been captured. Despite being significantly outnumbered, he gathers his trained men and allies and pursues the victorious kings to rescue Lot. This highlights the importance of acting swiftly and boldly, especially when those we care about are in danger. A. Loyalty and Family Ties : Abram's immediate response to Lot's capture underscores the strong bond of loyalty and family ties, as an extension of his leadership style. Even though Lot had previously chosen to separate from Abram and settle in a potentially dangerous area (Sodom), Abram risked everything to rescue him. This emphasizes the value of family and the responsibility we have to one another.  C. The Importance of Preparedness : Leaders are always prepared. Abr...

We humans are great visionaries and planners. At least that's what we think. When we envision something, maybe a job, or great wealth, social standing, maybe a visit abroad, we set about planning for it and working on schemes to achieve it.  As we continue our study of Genesis, we once again, focus on Abram, learning about human nature of planning, scheming and strategizing. An ancient reflection of what we do till today, leading to the saying - " Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit " or man proposes but God disposes. Abraham had immense wealth - and as all wealthy people, he needed an heir. So he set about planning for it. First, he plans for his wealth to go to Eliezer of Damacus as he is called, a trusted steward and member of his household. Then he tries to get a son through Hagar, Sara's maid. Though Eliezer is a role model of an ideal elder son, a manager or a caretaker, and Ishmael (Abram's first born and Hagars son) does become a nation, neither were God'...

Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” A once-great Christian nation—respected for its leadership, scientific excellence, and technological innovation—sought to reclaim its lost position in the world. They gathered under a powerful slogan, aiming to restore their past glory. Yet, in their pursuit of greatness, they overlooked the very foundation of true leadership: wisdom of honoring God.  Wisdom, as Scripture reminds us, begins with honoring God. They forgot His promise: "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." – Malachi 4:2 The act of honoring God was once the cornerstone of their greatness. It remains the cornerstone of a purposeful life for anyone. True leadership, whether within a nation or in our personal lives, flows from a heart that reveres and obeys Him. How to Honor God in Leaders...

As one gets older, most of us may wonder what will happen to us. What next? We look forward, and depending on faith, we hope we will live with God. But as we look back, we wonder what will happen to our families. Will we see them again? Or is this it? This short message from Ms. Francis Taylor answers that. But when you think deeper, Jesus' life itself is proof of what happens. He lived, died, was resurrected, and taken to heaven in His physical form. What more proof or assurance do we need? Let's read what Ms. Taylor says - Acts 1 9- 11 "Don't you sometimes wonder what was going through the minds of the apostles as they looked up to heaven watching Jesus disappear from their sight. Despite what Jesus had told them about the sending of an Advocate – the Holy Spirit – they must have felt abandoned. I know I would have. They had already suffered the loss of his presence once, and now they had no idea how long his absence would be. But it is interesting to think about the...