All we have is time: A first hand account of God's work

I, you and we belong to a world where more is less. We want more of everything, from food to clothes to cars, to education and other luxuries. When we get what we wanted, we dream and want the next level. We want it for ourselves as well as for our children, which is natural. And our children want the same for their children. And the story goes on till it can no longer,  because we die. And we spend the last few years of our lives deciding who to give what, of what is left of what we have collected.

So we spend 20 years dreaming, 40 years acquiring and then the last phase where we are giving or rather planning to give.

Covid broke that vicious circle for me. 

I and my family were stuck in a foreign country for more than 2 years. We had planned travel for 1 month but spent  2 years and more. Everything we had was in our home which was locked up and deserted. We had to learn to manage on less. Less money day by day, less clothing, less fashion, less friends, less access to things we took for granted in our country like education, etc etc. Everything was less except food since our hosts, my brother and his family saw to all our provisions.

And we survived. Professionally, I gave the option to our small team to go out and find a job. Most did. One stayed. And i am most indebted. 

Personally it was a challenge as well.... I have a closet of numerous coats, an overcoat and numerous woolen pants. And here I was stuck in winter with none. I prided my self on clothes and dressing. That pride went down the drain. But we survived.

We survived without a car, without travel, without shopping, without our luxuries which we thought were necessities. We who never boarded a bus, travelled in busses and trains and walked. And we loved it!

Through these two years all we had was time. 

To think, to review our lives and figure out how to make it better. And we did. Not in terms of money. not in terms of riches. Only in terms of experiencing God's love. and His hand on us. 

Yes, God's hand was on our family. Our elder daughter who got left behind earlier was able to travel abroad and join us against all odds. An answer to our prayers, because we were having our own plans of getting out and being with her in her place of posting. 

Our hibernation in fact protected us. I know that with my business travel in India, I would have been sure to get Covid. Not only this, numerous encounters with Gods hand at work showed us He was with us always.

Since we had time we started deepening our devotions. Started understanding more, reading more following more. And the more we imbibed from His word, the more satisfied were, the more happy we were. Our desire for the material turned into a desire for His knowledge and truth. And all of this, was prompted by Rev Rajiv Shipstone. 

In the meanwhile, The pandemic changed my life with one single change - I lost the desire for more things and gained the desire for more of His word.

Today I am back in my natural habitat. But the first thing I did on my return was to empty out my closets, give away shoes, clothes, artefacts and miscellaneous stuff which I had held onto for years and years. That stuff filled a full room.

With desires being gone, that empty space got filled with Gods word, and a strange thirst to know more.

And hence today I quote 

"Two things I request of You

(Deprive me not before I die):

8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me;

Give me neither poverty nor riches—

Feed me with the food allotted to me;

9 Lest I be full and deny You,

And say, “Who is the Lord?”

Or lest I be poor and steal,

And profane the name of my God" 

The key line is "Give me neither poverty nor riches.... "Feed me with the food allotted to me" which translates to a prayer we all know, "give us this day our daily bread". 

Our Father in Heaven... Holy be Your name,

May your Kingdom come,  May your will be done,

In my life. 

Give me today my daily bread, and Forgive me for all those times I doubted you. Forgive me when I spoke against you, when I grumbled on my situation. When I thought you were missing in action. Help me to let go of all doubts and issues I have with my brethren. Protect me from the evil which surrounds me, of ill health, of ill thoughts and son on. 

for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. 

Light the Lamp everyday: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life"

Quite a lot of the various verses and teachings in the Bible are interlinked across the old and New Testaments. For example the quoted verse is also linked to Psalm 119:105, Luke 11:36, Revelations 18:23

In the East, lamps and candles were used not only to lighten the dark houses but also to lighten the paths in the crooked narrow streets during the night. Even today men and women carry lamps or candles while walking during the night or probably torches if they can afford them.

So why so many references to a lamp?

First, God's commandments are likened to a lamp because life is full of difficulties and stumbling blocks. One has to have the light of God to be sure of his or her steps.

Second is the more direct correlation - JESUS IS THE LAMP AND GOD IS THE LIGHT.

If we want to see our way in this crooked world, we need to equip ourselves with a lamp everyday - through the word of God. Read, understand and remember it throughout the day so that we can see the way. Till the time comes when -

There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule forever and ever. (Revelations 22:5 )

Till then, keep drinking from the word of God, every day.

Quid est veritas: what is truth? Pastor Rajiv's Daily Devotional

Proverbs 30:5 KJV

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him".

Pontius Pilate: To Jesus

And what is 'truth'? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours? 

What is truth? Pilate’s answer to hos own question could be a question asked in despair. How do we know right and wrong, good and evil, what is the right thing to do in any situation? How can anyone believe in a universal truth that transcends this world of suffering and despair?

Whatever his motive, he didn't get an answer because the truth was right there, standing in front of him.

Today we , like Pilate, do not recognize the truth. The truth was standing in front of Pilate, to be judged to die or live. Yet he was asking?

I will quote Bob Kaylor when he says "For Pilate, anything that got him advanced in status in the eyes of the emperor was truth. Truth is whatever you decide it is, whatever is most pragmatic, kind of like throwing darts at the wall and drawing targets around them. Actually, Pilate would have been right at home in the 21st century, where truth is always relative."

Yes we are mostly in what I call the Pilate Syndrome: We practice relative truths, making it convenient. We justify our deeds, our wars, our destruction of nature, of human relationships and most of all our destruction of our relation with our God - our creator. 

We have the truth in our Bibles yet we ask - What is truth? Instead we should put our trust in God, in Jesus and His word and see the truth work in our lives. 

So next time you ask yourself or get asked - What is truth? The answer is simple: It is God and God's word. Here’s the distillation of the truth, according to Jesus in John 3: 17-19:

"17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. "

Do you Dare to Give? Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Proverbs 11: 24-25
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered..

26 - He that witholdeth corn the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. 

The eastern text reads a little differently - he who holds back grain in the day of distress shall fall into the hands of his enemies but a blessing shall be on the head of the man who sells it.

It is very difficult to part with something very dear or something that promises profit. So when called upon to do so, do we readily agree or do we grudge and grumble?

God won't ask us for what we don't have, but sometimes He will ask  for something we really want to keep. Why? To see if there is anything we value more than Him or His word. Remember Abraham?

God could be asking for us to give up a bad habit, or help someone in need with our resources or time. Or maybe the Church needs something to be done. It could be anything.

Abraham did not hesitate to decide to give up His son. Imagine his pain, his dilemma. What would he answer Sarah?

Yet he obeyed, or rather demonstrated his decision. No wonder he was called the friend of God.

Today, if God is asking you to do something , will you dare to do it? It's not about giving to receive but about demonstrating that nothing and no one is more important or valuable than God!

The Wisdom of Applied Knowledge: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Proverbs 2:5
"Then thou shall understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God"

As we continue our study of the Book of  Proverbs, we have already established that fear is referring to reverence and love and respect, not fear as we know it in the world today. It's not the fear of a dictator but reverence for God who has given us free will.

The verses preceding verse 5 are the 5 conditions and steps to attaining understanding and reverence of God.

"My son,(A) if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding(B)—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight(C)
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,(D)
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God".

So five things -
1. Accept Gods word, through hearing or reading or listening, and above all having a teachable spirit.

2. Retain it / remember it.

3. Apply your heart to search for it. condition is: “Incline thine ear unto wisdom” (Pr 2:2). Hear submissively, by taking correction meekly. Learning and wisdom require you to admit you are wrong. Humble yourself; get down; soberly identify the faults in your life. Apply correction to yourself, not to others.

4. Apply your heart to understanding - don't sleep in class !

5. : “If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding” (Pr 2:3). Wisdom is applied knowledge and is the gift of God, and He will give it liberally to those who ask. But few truly cry out for wisdom. We need to ask and pray for it in complete intensity, as we would seek gold or silver, or as in our case, a job maybe. 

With these conditions given in verses 1- 4 , one can become completely reverential to God, work hard to get knowledge and the wisdom to apply that knowledge in our life.

The blessed Lord Jesus Christ, even as a child, applied himself in these very same steps (Luke 2:42-51). And by these He grew in wisdom and favor with God and men (Luke 2:52).

A.S.K : Pastor Rajiv's Mid Week Message

Ask, Seek and Knock. 

Matthew &:7 says - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you".

But how do we know if what we are asking for is the Will of God? Pastor Rajiv discusses this very important aspect of the ASK principle today in his message. 

 

 

Praemonitus, praemunitis: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Forewarned is forearmed


The definition of a proverb is a short saying that is widely used to express an obvious truth. Proverbs were used in ancient days to convey a truth in a picturesque form. They were used frequently in the Vedas as well as the Bible.

The Book of Proverbs is a book of the Bible that contains truths or words of wisdom from Solomon (considered the wisest King of Israel),  and other wise Israelis, or general sayings which are considered wise.

Given this we start today a daily series on the Book of Proverbs. We will draw extensively from the Aramaic and Greek versions so as to get to the true meaning of what is written, and not lost through translations.

So today we focus on what is wisdom.


Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”


The Greek word used in the original texts is "phobos" which means respect, reverence, awe. It's a combination of all three. It us the continual awareness that our loving heavenly Father is watching and evaluating everything we think, say, and do.

This link between fear and God means we cannot possess wisdom if we recreate God in our own image. He is not our buddy to bless us and help us and give us what we want.

The Lord God Almighty is far greater than that, and the fear of the Lord begins when we see Him in His majesty and power and judgement. And because of this fear as described above, we wish and try not to offend Him.

Wisdom therefore, is merely seeing life from God’s perspective and responding accordingly. Wisdom is a priority, and we are told to seek it above all else, so that the choices we make in life are choices which are in line with Gods plan and wish for us.

Choices- Our Daily Reflection

We are not Robots. We all have the ultimate freedom - the freedom of choice.

“Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee” (Moses 3:17).

We are also free to choose between good and bad and live our life the way we choose to.

God has given us this gift, the gift of free will, the freedom to choose. Why? Because He would have us as His children, not as His slaves. God created humanity in the image of God and called them to partner with him in expanding his creation. But partnership requires trust, so God gave humanity the freedom to make their own choices.

So we can either choose to work and live with God, following His ways or we can choose to live our life, according to our minds and heart. Sadly, humans often make the choice to trust their own wisdom over God’s.

What really influences our choices is our subconscious or conscious  belief, or non belief, that physical death is not  final. If we believe that physical death is not final and that our God awaits us after our life on earth is over, we will make sure our choices are based on Gods guidance and will. On the other hand if we don't believe that, then it really doesn't make a difference in what I do or choose. I could be a robber or a murderer and nothing to it.

So if we truly believe our souls live on, awaiting judgement, awaiting resurrection, we make careful choices, choices which go beyond physical life.

So the moot question is that while we follow Jesus, do we really believe Him? 

Do we believe when He said  -

John 11 ver 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;"

And if we do believe Him, then let's believe in This verse as well and make that choice.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" 

The καρπός: Fruit of the Spirit (Contd)

Yesterday we talked about Love and Joy, we continue today with the rest of the seven.

Peace - eirene

The Biblical concept of peace, εἰρήνη (eirene) in Greek, is:  inclusive of life without conflict, as well as wholeness and harmony with God and others. A life of peace is safe and secure both physically and mentally.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

“Peace is a result of allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and minds. When we have peace, we are from fear and worry about finances, our safety, our salvation, and our eternal life. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is seen in the peace that comes even when our circumstances are far from tranquil. (Penny Noyes)

Jesus encouraged his followers in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Forbearance - makrothumia

Makrothumia is used to express a slow human reaction toward another human being or of God waiting long to bring judgment against man. Makrothumia is a necessity in Christian fellowship, as well as in ministry. This is because successful fellowship and ministry among Christians happens only when human reactions are under control. People need the ministry of God's Spirit, not the human reaction and opinions of others. It is produced by God's Spirit alone. It is not an ability possessed by a human being, nor is it the result of human effort.

Makrothumia can also be described as long tempered as opposed to short tempered. The usual English words are patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, longsuffering, and slowness in avenging wrongs.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to withstand challenging situations with perseverance and endurance.

Kindness - chréstotés

Strong's Concordance states chréstotés as goodness, excellence, uprightness (Strong’s Lexicon). Again, these are characteristics of the heart rather than outward actions. In modern times we can represent all those words by “kindness” (KJV), which is a quality (Webster), not an action in itself. There “acts of kindness” or a “kind act” are based on the quality of kindness.

chréstotés conveys the meaning of moral goodness, integrity, usefulness, and benignity, all enabled by the Holy Spirit without getting trapped in self-righteousness judgement, but lead to repentance through the kindness of God.

Romans 2:4

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Goodness – agathosune

Agathosune describes a positive moral quality characterized especially by interest in the welfare of others. It is not only about being good but doing good as well, therefore “goodness” is seen in our actions.

So putting it simply and as per 2 Thessalonians 1:11,

“We pray for God's power to help you do all the good things you hope to do and your faith makes you want to do.” Through the Holy Spirit's work in Christians' lives, they are upright in heart, and they do good things.

Like any human action, first you need to want to do something; second you hope to be able to do it, which means that there is a passion to want to do it and lastly you actually do it. That is what Paul was talking about in this verse, that the Holy Spirit helps us in all three aspects of doing good – want, hope and action.

Faithfulness – pistis

Pistis means conviction of the truth of anything. In Biblical terms we know it as faith. However, we contrast it to faithfulness which is an ongoing practise of faith. Why do I say that? Because Faith is belief and faithfulness is belief in action, or faith in action. So the question is – is our salvation through belief in Christ or is it through our acts of faithfulness?

I think this question deserves personal thought and reading to understand since we are clear that salvation cannot be earned through action.

In the New Testament, faith is the belief in God and the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation. The reason we are highlighting this is because

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.”

Gentleness – prautes

The NKJV translates the Greek word prautes as "gentleness," while the KJV uses "meekness." II Corinthians 10:1 refers to Christ's meekness (prautes) and gentleness (epieikeia) as separate virtues. Prautes describes a condition of mind and heart—an internal attitude—whereas gentleness (mildness combined with tenderness) refers to actions—an external behavior. Although English has no direct equivalent words to prautes, "meekness" comes closest. The drawback to this is that in modern English "meekness" carries the stigma of weakness and cowardliness. In contrast, the meekness manifested by God and given to the saints is the fruit of power. It is enduring injury with patience and without resentment.

Self Control – egkrateia

According to Strong, egkrateia means mastery, self control which is the ability to control one’s body and its sensual appetites and desires – physically and mentally.

This kind of self control cannot be but 100%, meaning that either we have it or we don’t. And the only way to complete self control is though the power of the Holy Spirit. According to penny Noyes – “Self-control relates to both chastity and sobriety, particularly moderation in eating and drinking. Self-control is the opposite of the works of the flesh that indulge sensual desires.”

As Galatians 5:16 says “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

Conclusion

This discussion is mainly to help understand the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In a nutshell –

• It is the presence of God in our lives
• Indicates a strong relationship with Christ
• The fruit of the spirit are the inward and outward effects of the Holy Spirit in our life.

In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus warned his followers to be wary of false teachers, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

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Notes and Credits

This study was based on the article What Are the Fruits of the Spirit? Bible Meaning and Examples by Penny Noyes.

Other credits as stated. 

You can Download a free PDF for "Living By the Holy Spirit Power - A Prayer and Scripture Guide"  here.

The καρπός: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Yesterday we talked about the heavenly team of God the father, God the son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit of God. We also understood that once we have committed to Jesus and received our “saving” , we are left by Him with the Holy Spirit to change us. This change has also been defined in the Bible and known as the Fruits of the Spirit – meaning the inner and outer effect the Holy Spirit will have on us.

Today let’s look at the Fruit of the Spirit, with their original words in Greek, and see what they actually meant, in their original form. The Greek word καρπός  or Karpos that we translate  as “fruit” usually means fruit in the sense of edible fruits and vegetables, but it can also be translated as offspring, deed, action, result or  outcome. 

Galatians 5:22-23

22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love (ἀγὰπη - Strong's #26), joy, peace, longsuffering (μακροθυμὶα), kindness, goodness, faith,

23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

There is only ONE Fruit! 

What is amazing is that Paul has referred to fruit as in a singular form, but goes onto to name seven outcomes. The word for "fruit" is singular indicating that there is only one fruit of God's Spirit, with many parts making up the whole. That is to say that the one fruit of God's Spirit is comprised of the nine components described here in these verses. Just as there are many elements making up one piece of fruit, so there are many elements working together to make up the one fruit of God's Spirit. 

This tells us that one part of the fruit cannot be separated from the others. Now let's look at the different parts of that one fruit. 

Love – Agape.

The Bible mentions Love as the first fruit. We all know what Love means and there are difference forms of Love. However the original text defines it as “agape”, a Greek word. Agape’ is perfect love that only God can give. Note the difference as Greek defines love in multiple formats – eros or sexual love, philos or brotherly love. Agape is Godly love or the kind of love God has towards man who actually does not deserve it. According to Vine’s dictionary – “it expresses the deep and constant ‘love’ and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential ‘love’ in them towards the Giver, and a practical 'love’ towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver,”. We are to practise this kind of Love towards one another, because this is the love God has for us. This also indicates that we cannot and do not have to deserve this love from God. He has it for us in every situation. So as we receive from God, we share it with our fellow men and women.

This is the same kind of love Jesus has for us - “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Agape, then leads to Joy.

Joy – Chara (pronounced Khara)

Chara in Greek is noun which describes a feeling of inner gladness, delight or rejoicing. It is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart. It is a cheerful heart that leads to cheerful behaviour. Joy is not an experience that comes from favorable circumstances but is God’s gift to believers. Joy is a part of God’s very essence and His Spirit manifests this supernatural joy in His children (Galatians 5:22-note, Acts 13:52,).

Joy is the deep-down sense of well-being that abides in the heart of the person who knows all is well between himself and the Lord. (Percept Austin)

Let us internalize this today and discover the meanings of the rests of the parts tomorrow.