Are You a Visionary?

These days we honor some thinker or scientist or politician saying "she (or he)" is a visionary. The meaning of that erm is thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom and believes in it. They are full of knowledge which they apply and practice.

According to world norms, everyone is not a visionary. Only a few exceptional ones.

According to Christian terms, who are the visionaries? Well, everyone, has the opportunity. Few perhaps take it.

Visionaries are the people who look at the world as it is and see what it could be instead. A Christian visionary sees it as it is today, and what he will become beyond, and plans for it. S/He sees and believes that there is a life beyond death which they want to save and are ready to invest in it.

S/He researches, believes and plans. S/He shares. Christian visionaries are not afraid to pivot, and lead a life based on Christ's way. They believe there is a war out there, an unseen but not unfelt war. They pray for, and receive, discernment and wisdom from the Holy Spirit.

The question is can you and I become a visionary? Definitely so! WE WILL find that the knowledge we need to become one is in the Bible. We will read it, not out of duty or compulsion, or force of habit, but out of interest and belief to invest in our future. We will gain that knowledge, think about it and plan how to apply it. Pray for those plans or changes and go forward.

The Christian visionary will believe in the vision of a world shown in Revelations and want to be one of the 144000 or as close to one as possible. They will definitely want to be part of that world and have the courage and the will to invest in it. They will believe in discipline and obedience, correction and rewards. They will accept each as part of their training.

Not surprisingly, there is also a warning to the visionaries:

Revelations Chapter 22: 18-19 says 

18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Therefore, let us not try and give our human understanding or interpretation to these words of knowledge (as many do today), but become a visionary based on the uninterpreted word of God, not using its interpretations to justify our ends but pivoting our ends to the unadulterated word of God.

The Triple "P" Principle

Plan. Provide. Protect. Three things which the Lord freely offers us if we ask. All our life, we work for these three things: we try to plan for what we think is the best, we try to provide for ourselves, and our families and we need protection from evil days, evil ways and evil circumstances. Do we ask God? Or do we run to Him when everything is going wrong?

Plan
Jeremiah 29: 11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..."

If we ask, listen and do what God has planned for us, everything will work together for good.

Provide
What does the Bible say about provision? The provisions of God for his people are a common theme throughout scripture. Matthew 7:11 is a very popular verse - "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him"

 Another one is Matthewb14: 17-19, the famous story of the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

Protect
Remember Peter? In Matthew 14:29, Peter walks on water towards Jesus. However, afraid of the rough wind and waves, he starts to sink before the Son of God reaches out to save him. But notice one tbing: first Peter asked God if could and only did so after Jesus said to come. And then his desperate cry, "Lord save me". Do we recall how many times we have cried out exactly the same thing?

In the meeting point Levan Wee says "As Christians, we are often tempted to “do first, ask God later”, reacting to our flesh-bound impulses.

We might also be prone to think that every opportunity, task, open door, etc. is something that God wants us to do. But this isn’t always true."

Opportunities will present themselves, choices will come before us, but before we act, like the leper, we need to ask His will.

Jesus, "if you will" must be our prayer whether we want to plan or ask for some provision or need protection. We must make it a way of our daily life.

Paying it forward.

1 kings 17 verses 13-15

13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

One of the basic principles of Christianity is sharing. During the early days of the disciples recorded in the Acts, the principle of sharing and the activities around it is mentioned in detail.

This is especially true when we receive numerous blessings from God, not only in terms of material things but more importantly the blessing of peace offered by Jesus.

In the quoted verse the widow shared her last meal. At that point in time she did not know her food supply was going to be blessed and become never ending.

In some countries "Pay it forward" is implemented in contract law of loans in the concept of third-party beneficiaries. Specifically, the creditor offers the debtor the option of paying the debt forward by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. This contract may include the provision that the debtor may repay the debt in kind, lending the same amount to a similarly disadvantaged party once they have the means, and under the same conditions.

Today Pay it forward is a movement. Not an organized one but one based on our belief, wherein we share what numerous blessings we have with people less fortunate. Here is a quote from one of our readers which shows the effect of this principle in action -

"Every time we were lonely, especially on an important family day, someone would invite us to their home and lift our spirits; or they would come home and share our joy or sorrow. Every time we needed, someone would share. The gratitude we felt to that person was only superseded with our gratitude to God for placing that person in our life."

Transforming Sadness to Hope

Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. ESV

17 Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full MSG

In the quoted verse I believe that the thought is better represented by the word "needy" rather than the word "poor" as it is inclusive and refers to various needs of people.

Meeting those needs creates a transformation - From Sadness to hope. Such a transformation creates hope in the hopeless when their mental or physical needs are met.

This transformation can happen to anyone and everyone, who asks, as God is the author and the architect. But we too can participate in the transformation helping God with small things. 

It could be helping someone buy groceries, share time with someone who maybe lonely. Maybe chat with lonely elders and listen to their stories, which, by the way , are usually very interesting, entertaining and informative. Sometimes all we may need to invest is a smile; or time; God will never ask us to invest what we don't have.

Today, can you think of one person you can help transform?

On this first day of the week, may our prayer be:

Lord Jesus, I surrender to You my case! Help me to be an agent of transformation in someone's life. Open the eyes of my heart so that I can see the needs of people around me so that I can be your channel of comfort to them. In my own life, I too want to be made whole by You! I believe in Your ability to work powerfully in my life as well over all the difficulties I am facing. As I rise up and walk, towards being an agent of your transformation, thank You for transforming me because You walk with me on the journey in Jesus’ name! Amen!

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Miracles Are Not Magic

Exodus 7 -12 

Miracles are not magic. They are acts of God. So, let's not wonder as we do when we see a magic trick, but understand that God who created everything, manages it all and can use His creation and all the laws that accompany it, to accomplish anything He desires.

For years scientists, current and old, have researched the ways of God. Numerous research has gone into the Great Flood of Noah's time. Some try to prove it happened, some try to disprove it. No one tries to research why it happened, to achieve what, they only research the how.

The wondrous thing is the creation itself and how it becomes a tool to achieve Gods wishes. Take the miracles that God did to release the Jews from Egypt. The plagues, the angel of death, the parting of the Red sea etc. The wonderous thing is not how it was done but why... why God did it, which was to fulfil His purpose. The purpose was the objective and not the Miracle itself.

As to how God uses His creation to do miracles, here is a link to the scientific explanation of how the miracles in Egypt were done, ensuring the Jews were allowed to go.

A Prodigal Child

Luke 15:11-32

Apart from being Gods word, The Bible is a book of wisdom. It is a book of knowledge and teaches us a way, in our professional and personal lives. It teaches us human behavior, human fallibility and Gods reaction to us and what we do.

One such scenario is Rebellion. Rebellion is part of human nature, from the time of Adam and Eve. We too rebelled in our youth and our children will also do the same as will their children. As parents or elders, we sometimes take a tough stance and a high road, not remembering our own time.

This parable, of the prodigal son, not only teaches us about Gods love for each one of us, but it also teaches us how we should react when we face Rebellion or disappointment from our own children.

Like the father in the parable, we have to show patience, resilience, true love and understanding, tethered with God's word, to our children, guiding them and leading them. When they are unfaithful, we need to remain faithful. When they are unloving, we need to remain loving. 

After all, true love is all about being there for someone, no matter the toughest and direst of conditions. We need to restore broken relationships, not break them further in our ego. The servant cannot be bigger than the master and we cannot be bigger than our God. 

For Us: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

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God's Rival: You & Me!

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name". 

— Psalm 29:2

Are we Gods' rivals? Do we compete with Him?

Unfortunately, throughout the ages man has competed with God by glorifying ourselves in our ego and our belief that we are responsible for all the good in our life. We proudly claim to be "self-made".

Sounds familiar?

Lucifer too had similar thoughts. He too rivalled God. He led Eve to believe she could be God too! (“You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”). 

It seems to be inherent in man to try and rival God, even as we read and believe His word and even as we are strongly advised to humble ourselves. 

A small example: do we donate to the needy or do we pass it on? Think about it.

When God commanded "thou shall have no other Gods before me" - it included us!

How do you weather the Storm?

 

Based on the KJV devotional and Pastor Chuck Swindoll's Insight for Living. 

All things are possible to him that believeth. — Mark 9:23

"Many professed Christians are always doubting and fearing, and they forlornly think that this is the necessary state of believers. This is a mistake, for “all things are possible to him that believeth”

But I believe, that believing is not enough! Remember Moses? 

God works best when we give up. When we lose that last sense of independence, of control and the smallest iota of self dependence. 

Let me draw on Pastor Chuck Swindoll now, and see what he has to say about such times - 

"Moses felt as low as a slug's belly. Way down there. He still hadn't rid himself of the idea that he was supposed to be the deliverer, and that he was somehow failing. How many times had God explained it to him? Yet, like many of us, he had trouble keeping a grip on the Lord's assurances". Are we not like Moses? 

What was Moses to do now? ......(he may have thought)  I'm at the end of my rope. How in the world are You going to pull this off?"

Moses didn't know it at the moment, but he'd put before the Lord the best proposition yet. I'm at the end of my rope. How are you going to do it?" (don't we ask the same question?)

"Before we go any further, I'd like to underline a major truth in this world of ours that I don't pretend to understand. Here it is: the best framework for the Lord God to do His most ideal work is when things are absolutely impossible and we feel totally unqualified to handle it. That's His favorite circumstance. Those are His ideal working conditions".

"Time after time, He brings us to our absolute end and then proves Himself faithful. That, my friend, is not only the story of my life, it's the story of the Bible in a nutshell."

And that is how you weather the Storm! 

Shameless Audacity

                                    

 

*Image: Addicted to success

One key element of success in all aspects of life is persistence and or perseverance.

Perseverance separates the winners from the losers. Those who persevere understand that luck is something you dent depend on. 

Success in life depends on your willingness to never give up, even when the reward is delayed. Persistence is a force multiplier.

Let's look at what the Word Says about persistence in Luke 11 Ver 5-10

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Mostly everyone is familiar with the quoted verses where Jesus talks about asking and receiving. But we might be missing a very critical element of success - persistence. 

Persistence in efforts. Persistence in prayer. even when the answer is delayed. The gospel states that nothing can be impossible if someone is persistent enough to achieve it. The message is as simple as keep trying, persisting, and praying until you get the desirable result you ask for. We should keep on praying to God, because He never gets tired of hearing our thanksgiving and requests.

But persistence and perseverance is only possible when one has faith in two things-

A. That my desire is for achieving something is for my good and does not contradict any biblical instruction.

2. That God will consider my request in line with His will.

Such should be our faith in ourselves and God that we actually ask and pray with shameless audacity!