Daily Devotional : Baptism is a Verb

Galatians 2:20 -
I have been crucified with Christ(A) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(B) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.

And 

Mark 5:  14-16 - 
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven

A verb is a doing word. Not static but active. Being active in Baptism is not only about going around preaching to the world but first about change in ourselves and then about showing the world.

Christianity is a way of life, not a religion of do's and don'ts only. When we choose to practice it, our psyche and our behavior, change. It effects the choices we make, the people we meet and the language we speak. It effects how we work, our profession, our relationships with people, and with the world.. In short it brings about change within us. This change is then visible to the world which acts as an example for others. But how do we do it? 

As practicing Christians, We need to ask ourselves, is there a change in me? Create a measure. It may be a good idea to honestly list out things which are in us and not in the Word of God. Am I fond of gossip? Have I stopped. Am I gluttonous? Has my gluttony reduced. Am I prone to abusing, cursing or swearing? Has my language changed. Do I condone immorality? Have my views changed. Has my empathy factor increased?

These are just examples. Each one of us have our unique set of traits that are un Christ like. These changes are not done overnight. Time needs to be set aside daily to imbibe Gods word. Please not I use the word imbibe which means to absorb, not just read. This is a change in itself. For example, take the 7th commandment. Thou shall not commit adultery. I may not be in the literally sense but I maybe doing exactly that in the figurative sense by adulterating Gods word or letting other things get priority over God.

These are some of the changes we must bring about, before, like Paul, we can say not I but Christ lives in me.

Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections: When Christ had a request

When Christ had a request

Mathew 26: 39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Christ had a request. He requested God to spare Him the fate that awaited Him. Though God did not grant this request, Christ set the perfect example of   how to pray.

Let us take example from His prayer - when He requested God to spare Him the agony of what was to come.

"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed". — Matthew 26:39

There are several instructive features in our Savior's prayer in his hour of trial.

Solitude

It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from his three favored disciples. Like Him we must also be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not replace the solitude of prayer when we are in complete communion with God. Remember, like Christ, David too withdrew into solitary prayer.

Humility

It was humble prayer. Luke says he knelt, but another evangelist says he “fell on his face.” Where, then, must be our place? Humility gives us  a good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that he may exalt us in due time.

Relationship 

It was filial prayer. “Abba, Father.” We will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead our adoption. WE have no rights as a subject, WE have forfeited them by our treason; but nothing can forfeit a child’s right to a father’s protection. Be not afraid to say, “My Father, hear my cry.”

Perseverance

Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. We should also cease not until we prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

Resignation

“Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Many times our prayers are not answered. Remember what we pray for is part of our plan. What we want. It may not be part of Gods will. Since our view is short term, it may not be the best for us in the long term. It does not mean God has not listened. It does not mean He isn't aware of our need. It simply means, in His wisdom, He has a better, more enduring plan.

Christ's prayer was not answered. He requested for something that was not part of Gods plan. Remember, had God granted that prayer, had Jesus Christ been spared and not died and resurrected, had He not experienced the depths of Hel on our behalf, I would not be writing this and you would not be reading it.

* Todays reflection is based on the Based on the KJV Bible Study. 

Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections : Finding Good in Evil

Todays Reflection: Forgiving evil. 

Genesis 37: 26-28

Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. 28So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Forgiveness is not blind. It's does not happen at the spur of the moment. It's a process.
I take example and inspiration from Joseph. Why and how did he forgive his brothers?
His brothers had sinned against Joseph and God. But God had a different plan. He wanted to use Joseph for ensuring continuity of his family.

Joseph forgave his brothers, after their true repentance. The Agape Bible study explains this so well and the following points are taken from here https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Genesis/Lesson_18.htm

Joseph put his brothers through three tests -
"The first test was the brothers' three day imprisonment which was intended to cause them to come to terms with their sin against him.
The second was a test of their willingness to rescue their brother Simeon by bringing their brother Benjamin to Egypt and retuning the money Joseph put in the sacks of their pack animals.
The third was a test of their willingness to sacrifice their freedom for the life of their youngest brother, Benjamin".

Only after these were successfully completed, did real forgiveness set in because Joseph was sure that true repentance had set in. 

Forgiveness, while being at the core of the Christian faith, is not to be given away like bread. It is to be nurtured so that all ill feeling is got rid of completely, from both sides. True forgiveness happens after true repentance. 

Evil will happen. But if we look , and ask for Gods help, we can find good in evil. And when we do that we can either continue to hate the perpetuator of that evil or choose to find the good, praise God and forgive, after we are sure that there is true repentance and sorrow. If we don't find repentance,  it is still possible not to hate since we derived good from their evil act.  

From Despair to Hope - A Testimony by Pastor Abhishek

4th March   , 2022.

                                                          From Despair to Hope 

                                                          Pastor Abhishek Lyall

 
In this video Pastor Lyall describes his journey as he went to despair and then to hope. God's work starts when we have given up our own efforts and dependence on self and friends. 

1 Cross + 3 Nails: The Power of Gods word.

Today's message by Pastor Rajiv talks about depression and angst. We all go through it and as did I for the past few days. Financial worries, uncertainty of the future, all contributed to my faith possibly weakening in God's promise. For a couple of days now I didn't even feel like writing a daily devotional record which I normally do.  It felt as if the Heavens had shut me out. This was in spite of some excellent news coming in the morning. Yet depression was setting in. 

But this is what happened- My morning devotion quoted Deuteronomy 31: 6 

Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Another morning reading was titled "Believe the impossible". It was based on Matthew 9:28. It concluded "no matter how big your problem is, it is not impossible for God to give you a solution". I read it all and yet I did not hear God as He spoke this. 

But , as I did my afternoon devotion in the Upper Room, it talked about a woman having similar doubts. It quoted Hebrews Chapter 11 ver 1. I read it and was prompted to read the whole chapter which I did. Then I researched for an explanation of the Chapter and as I read and understood, it seemed to me that God was talking to me, convincing me not to lose faith. He showed me what faith meant with examples of the great people of the Bible, from Abel to Abraham to Moses and on and on. He defined faith through His servant Paul and gave examples. 

God. The creator, the Almighty Glorious maker, looked upon the plight of this servant and spent time rejuvenating me, not by performing some physical miracles but simply showing me the past to be able to have faith in my future with God. 

I know that Hebrews was not written for me but everyone. But I also know that God looked down on me today and gently nudged me to read, get strengthened and draw on my faith and the promise He gave me yet again in the morning through Deuteronomy 31:6. 

The next day I saw another devotional passage. It explained that, while in the old days when God promised something, people usually asked for a sign from God (2 Kings 20:16) and He gave them. These were days when there was no written word, as in the Bible. Today His word is available to us through the Bible and He speaks to us through it. Instead of looking for physical signs, search the scriptures and find His word. 

H.L. Mencken said faith is the “Illogical belief in the occurrence of the impossible.” truly what God has done for my family is impossible and illogical because we did not deserve this nor did we ever dream of it. We praise and thank Him for it.

Your Will be done ! Following His commandments

 Praise the Lord everyone.

Myself Bro. Vikas Masih, and I am a servant of our God Lord Jesus Christ.

I began to know about Lord Jesus Christ when I was only 13 years old. I trusted in Jesus and I was living my life as usually like a common believer. I used to read Bible, pray, attend church and spend time with pastor and other Christian. But there was no change in my life. And I was living my life according my will. I wanted to become an actor and singer, I used to do mimicry of many Bollywood actors and singers and cartoons. And the aim of my life was to work in Bollywood industry. I prayed and tried to enter in Bollywood, but all my efforts were vain.

In 2005, when I was reading a spiritual book, God did encounter with me and began to talk through that book. In that book, pastor was sharing his experience, and said:

One day I was in a medical collage, addressing many medical students. I was sharing about PRAYER, and I asked to all students, do you pray everyday? And almost everyone said we pray. Than I asked to a particular girl student, how do you pray and what you ask ?

She said, I only pray when I get up, and go to sleep and take food, That's it. Than I asked her, do you pray to God that God not mine, but let Your will be done in my life? And she replied, no pastor, I don't pray like this, I said, why you don't pray like this? She said, I want to be a doctor, "if God says no?" than what I will do?

I said, my daughter, we always should pray that God, let Your will be done in my life, not mine. Because God has great plan for your future and life.

When I was reading this incident in that book, Spirit of the Lord was talking to me and I was thinking, if I pray like this that Lord let Your will be done in my life and if God says to me also, I don't you to be an actor and singer than?

But unwillingly I went to my room and knelt down and prayed, Lord let Your will be done in my life. And from 2005, this one prayer became my life and now I can say that the Will of my God is fulfilling in my life and God is guiding me in everything. My life with the will of God is blessed and growing in Christ Jesus.

I give thanks to the Lord our God for everything. This is God who is doing these all things through me. God alone be praised and glorified for it. Because I know myself, and I know, I am not worthy and eligible to do these things.

May the Lord speak to everyone who reads it.

We wish a Happy and Blessed Sunday to all readers. Today we have testimony from Upasana whose family had contracted COVID (Not the Omicron variation) and who have subsequently recovered. We thank and praise our Lord for their healing. Her original testimony was in Hindi which we have translated and present both versions for you.

I greet you all in the Holy name of of our Lord Jesus Christ. My name is Upasana and I live in NOIDA, India, in the National Capital Region. 

I would like to thank our Lord Jesus Christ, who has healed my entire family from COVID, through His holy blood. I would also like to thank all our family and friends who prayed for our healing through this time and who stood by us. We would also like to pray for all those families who are affected by COVID for their healing believing in the Promise of God our father who said 

“ “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26

This is Gods promise which has healed us and will heal all who believe. Amen. 

सबको जय मसीही की। 

मेरा नाम उपासना है। मैं नोएडा में रहती हूं।

मैं धन्यवाद करना चाहूंगी हमारे प्रभु यीशु मसीह का उन्होंने अपने पवित्र लहू से बांध कर मेरे पूरे परिवार को कोविड से चंगाई दी। और आप सबका जिन्होंने हर समय अपनी प्रार्थनाओं में मेरे परिवार के लिए प्राथनाएं की। हमारी मदद के लिए खड़े रहे। ओर उन सब परिवारों के लिए दुआ करते है जो बीमार है हमारे प्रभु यीशु मसीह ने कहा है, कि यदि तू अपने परमेश्वर यहोवा का वचन तन मन से सुने, और जो उसकी दृष्टि में ठीक है वही करे, और उसकी आज्ञाओं पर कान लगाए, और उसकी सब विधियों को माने, तो जितने रोग मैं ने मिस्रियों पर भेजा है उन में से एक भी तुझ पर न भेजूंगा; क्योंकि मैं तुम्हारा चंगा करने वाला यहोवा हूं॥ 

निर्गमन 15:26

वो यहोवा राफा है उसी परमेश्वर ने हमे चंगा किया और अपने बाकी बेटे बेटियो को भी जरूर चंगा करेंगे। आमीन

I experienced God's grace and peace in my life

 

I am Evangelist and Pastor Joshan P Thomas Varghese from Kerala. I am doing God's ministry to glorify the only name of Christ Jesus. 

 

For the last 12 years I have been a devotional play back singer. I am happy and blessed to share my testimony and experiences that I faced in life and the love and Grace of God to me. The year 2021 was a tough year for so many people including me and I faced some trials in life, but my prayers to God were answered and my painful tears was answered with showers of blessings.

 

There was a time last year that I felt  alone and lonely in life with no one who I could talk to or share my problems.  But   at the same whenever I faced loneliness the word of God strengthened me in many ways mentally and physically and  that gave me power of the Holy spirit to stand and fight to win the battle against the forces of the devil, who tried  his level best to put me down in life The Devil tried his best to make my life  complicated but God promised me my life will be complete with blessings. My life could have been in a complete mess but Christ Jesus stood by me, comforted me and blessed me. I faced many tests in my life but each time I had a friend in Jesus. I know why this happened. It was so that I am able to give a testimony about the love of Christ and how he carried me in the palm of my hand.  

 

I am nothing but God made me everything I am thankful to God almighty for his sincere love and care that's forever for sure because he chose me and called my name before I was formed in my mother’s womb.

 

I am happy to conclude my blessed testimony with one of my favorite quote i used to introduce,

 

Start the day with God.

End the day with God.

Live for God and Die for God

 

God bless you🙏

 

 

 

A Miracle of prayer

Shalom in the name of Christ.

I got married on the 6th of October 2010, starting a new  journey in the name of Christ. As any newly married couple  we were happy  and enjoying every moment of our married life with our friends, family and church. Soon,  we were in the family way; it was a very blessed time for both of us.

In Sep- 2011, during a  normal medical checkup, we came to know that the baby will be born with Down syndrome. While we received this news with fear and shock,  our journey in Faith started from here. Multiple tests were taken, in Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, but every report gave the same result. With  every passing day our fear became bigger and bigger. At the end of six months  we were finally prescribed the last test from the baby's serum and we had to wait for 21 days to get the report. By this time we were physically, mentally and  financially exhausted.

We were only looking to our God for a miracle in this report but after 21 days we were shattered as this final report was the same. But, having resigned to this fact, we got strength from Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.".

Doctors  started counseling us  to abort the baby, but we had surrendered to God our Father and decided that we will have this child. You see, we had already had one miscarriage and we did not want to lose this blessing as well. 

As we were financially exhausted and could not afford Apollo hospital we consulted another doctor by the name of  Dr. Y. Pandey of Holy Family. Hospital, New Delhi. We visited her residence in the month of Jan-12, but she refused to take our case at this late stage of the  pregnancy, which was nearly 7 months. But we did not lose our hope and started visiting her residence every day and every day she refused. And then the first miracle happened. After 10 days God changed her heart and she accepted our case. After seeing all the reports she too was convinced that the baby would be born with Down’s syndrome. She gave us the delivery date of the  23rd of March but my wife didn’t have any labour pain. However, we went to the hospital on the 23rd morning at 7:00 AM  and my wife got admitted. There was still no labour pain so the doctor gave procedures to induce labour but with no success. After an examination the doctor told us the same procedure will be repeated tomorrow. 

Later, at 6 p.m.  Dr. Y. Pandey came and said “ Ashish I am going to the chapel so be around, I will come after my prayer and will talk to you” (I remember those words very clearly), she came back after 45 mins and said to me “Ashish, I will do the surgery today”, I said “Ma’am she is your patient and you know better”.

That day, the 23rd of March, at  nearly 10:00 pm, doctor came out from operation theater with the baby…..the doctor was crying, as was I.  She said Ashish God has performed a miracle on your baby while she was in the womb. This is your Baby Girl and her weight is 3.75 Kgs., absolutely normal and healthy! The moment I saw my daughter I was on my knees to Praise our Father Jesus Christ for this blessing.

In those nine months, God did perform the biggest and best miracle of our lives. I believe our prayers were not in vain. 

Today, my daughter’s age is around 10 years and her name is Nilisha Merrill Kumar. (Nilisha means – Aquamarine, Spiritually connected with God), she is a big blessing in our life and we have surrendered her to Christ.

This was my testimony and we as a family are in complete surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ, He is our Father and He will take care of everything.

May God Bless You all in Jesus name. Amen

Ashish and Shalini.

God’s grace and peace

I trust you all are fine and protected by God’s grace and peace.

I write to you today to share about Gods work in our family. 

 

In 2020 my family and I undertook a visit abroad for some work and also visited my brother for a month. But lockdowns were announced by India and flights got cancelled, right from the day we were to fly back, 23rd of March, 2020. And then one thing and another led to our extended stay..

At the same time, our daughter had to leave early to return back to India and thus we were separated during these dangerous times. Daughter in India and we are here, which gives us a lot of anxiety and worry. Believe me when I say we were in constant despair. Our constant endeavor was to be able to catch a flight and head back. But such was not God’s will. However, in June she was able to get permission to fly from the authorities and was finally able to come to us after landing here and spending 14 days in quarantine.

Today, we are all here, living at home in my brothers house and in peace and have been granted stay till June 2022.

I cannot but think of this as God’s grace and plan. Like Noah, we have been put in an Ark and taken high above the dangers which we would have faced. In retrospect, with the kind of travelling I have to do for my work, I am sure I would have got the virus and brought it home. In all probability it would have been fatal for my wife and/or me. But God willed otherwise.

God has not only brought us to safety but also provided for our needs as well, with my brother opening his home for us and his family adjusting with us for so long. When I think of this blessing, I think of this as nothing short of a miracle. There was no way this could have happened but for divine intervention.

Thinking back, I see His hand of mercy and provision every day of our life. Impossibilities becoming realities, personally as well as professionally. I think I am the living embodiment of the forgiveness of Christ and His blood. For I am probably the least person to deserve what I have received. There is no deservingness in any form of what God has done throughout, and what He is doing today. I do not know His plan, nor do I understand why we have been blessed so much. But what I do know is this: I have learnt my lesson of trusting in God’s plan for me, and not my own, and taking one day at a time, waiting on His will.

I have also learnt that He does speak to us. In my daily devotional, I keep getting messages with His promises of deliverance. When we were worried sick about our daughter, He spoke through His word and assured us of reunion with her soon. Of course, I took it in that it meant we will go back to India to her. We were reunited with her but not in India, and against all norms and government policies, in this country. Another huge miracle has been finances. I had not done internet banking in the bank account where we had our savings, nor did we take a debit card, for security reasons. We had our travel money but obviously not to last 2 years. God provided there as well. The General Manager of that bank (public sector) is a Christian and, unbelievingly, he transferred money to our other bank (private bank) without a check or a Draft or anything. Simply a request on mail. No signatures, no checks, on private gmail and to another Bank. This, in my experience, is an impossibility in a public sector bank in India!

Workwise we also were supported. Not one person from our team fell ill. Cash flow, though affected and jerky, still was there and payments received when we really needed them. Yes the financial strain has been huge but not back breaking. We still survived, though so many start-ups and SMEs closed shop.

Today, I believe we four are still in the Ark and sailing in safety from the storm and the flood. Where? I do not know, but I do know that He who has brought us thus far, will be there and not desert us.

Again and again Jeremiah 11:19 kept coming up and I take it as His promise for me and my family.

I share this story with you not only as gratitude but also as a testimony to encourage others in Christ. That forgiveness which I had taken for granted in the past as well as His blessings and miracles, has brought us here. I think we owe our very lives to God and His angel. 

I was somehow prompted to share this with you. This is not the first evidence of God's hand over our family’s lives but the most recent and relevant. For the rest, let me just say it has been many times He has snatched us up from disaster and ruin and, probably not the last.

Meanwhile, we continue to pray for all our brothers and sisters who have been affected by this pandemic or loss of jobs etc. We look forward to a new world soon. 

Name withheld by request