Worry & Concern: Pastor Rajiv

Read: MATTHEW 6:25-34;1 PETER 5:5-11

While worry and anxiousness are somewhat negative emotions, concern is a legitimate one. Because if we did not have concerns, we would be apathetic individuals with no ability to focus on real problems.

While concern and worry are related, and worry uses concern to enter our lives, the truth of the matter is that concern provides spiritual energy to respond to problems with Godly solutions. No so worry. And that is why, today, we need to make that distinction.

Now without any exceptions all of us humans worry even those who say they do not worry about anything also worry about something or the other at some point in time. And the truth is that these days there is a lot to worry about.

We worry about the rising cost of living in this volatile economic environment we worry about our jobs. We worry about our kids irrespective of how grown up they may be we worry about their well-being. And the list goes on.

So, since worry is such an integral part of our lives the question is how do we deal with it?

First let's be clear that WORRY is a disabling faith. How? it makes the present poorer by borrowing from the future’s imagined troubles. (We talked about the meaning of FEAR in an earlier post – False Evidence Appearing Real). Then where is the question of trusting God? If we trust God implicitly, he will give us the grace and the means to face each day’s troubles as they come.

Our two bible passages today give us a very clear perspective on dealing with worry. Our first passage today is Jesus’ words on worry from his sermon on the mount. In these 10 verses Jesus is talking about true trust. Jesus is saying that if we trust God implicitly, we need not worry about necessary food, drink or clothing.

Worry and anxiousness have always been a perennial problem of humanity. And the root cause is – our arrogance and pride! We think we know all the answers and we are competent to provide all the solutions. Wrong. We know nothing. And that is why we sit and worry. 

Peter says – in VERSES 5 TO 7 - 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Humility, mutual submission and concern for the interest of others are the essence of Cristian love.

So, summing up, if we don’t trust the very person who can address our needs and solve all problems, simply because we are too proud to admit weakness and failure, the only thing left to do is to sit in a comer and worry.

When in Trouble - Stand still!

"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord". — Exodus 14:13

When the believer finds themselves hemmed in by immense trials—unable to move forward or retreat, pressed on every side—what are they to do? In that moment of crisis, God’s command rings clear: "Stand still."

It is in this pause, not in panic, that wisdom dwells. Despair whispers, “Give up—there’s no way out.” But the Lord calls for strength wrapped in joy, even in the darkest hour, and for faith rooted in His unwavering love.

Cowardice urges retreat: “Return to your former ways; this path is too hard.” But if you are truly a child of God, this is not an option. His sovereign word compels you forward—from strength to strength—unstoppable even by death or the forces of hell.

Standing still is not surrender, but preparation. It is the gathering of strength for the next leap. Precipitancy demands action: “Do anything—just don’t wait!” Yet rushing often blinds us to the true work God is already orchestrating.

Presumption cries, “Walk into the storm and expect a miracle!” But Faith listens to none of these voices. Faith hears one command: “Stand still.” And like a mountain unmoved, it obeys.

To stand still is not to idle, but to hold oneself upright, alert, and ready—for the next divine instruction. It is a posture of patience, confidence, and expectation. And soon enough, the voice will come, as unmistakable as it did to Moses: "Go forward."

Pastor Rajiv: Reliving Jonah

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 know Jonah’s story. But what is the big take away?

Jonah's story isn’t just about a man and a fish; it’s about the tension between calling and reluctance, mercy and judgment, obedience and fear.

We all have our Jonah moments where we wrestle with obedience, fear, and the unsettling reach of grace. A very common example is when you're asked to forgive or show kindness to someone who deeply hurt you, and every instinct says, “they don’t deserve it.”

So today, Jonah is alive and well in each one of us. Every time we ignore Gods calling or His direction, we replicate Jonah. Every time we are judgmental, we replicate Jonah. Every time we think we know better than God, we create Jonah again.

Jonah’s story is in the Bible with a purpose: Make us realize and remember a few things -

One, God never has a plan B! If God has chosen you for a specific purpose, He will achieve that purpose and he will achieve through you as he has planned it.

Second, in spite of our high intellect, we DO NOT know better than God.

Three, judgement belongs to God. Jonah struggled with God's mercy toward Nineveh. We too sometimes question how grace works—who “deserves” it and who doesn’t. It’s humbling to remember that we’re recipients of grace, not gatekeepers.

So, do not ignore or disobey god’s calling and purpose, even if you think you know better. Christ has given spiritual gifts to all believers, and each gift has a specific purpose. It could be music, singing, preaching, supporting the sick, praying, feeding the hungry – there is plenty of work to be done in God’s world, and even though we are all sinners we are to do His work. 

The Last Resort

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 getting stuck. The wall would not magically disappear, but the way would be shown.

As John Bown says (in the Upper Room), "Prayer should be the steering wheel that guides our life, not the spare tire we pull out in emergencies".

Silent Battles

"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 than our fear, in the name of Jesus.

The Tzitzit

In Numbers 15:39, the word "fringe" (Hebrew: tzitzit) refers to tassels that the Israelites were commanded by God to wear on the corners of their garments.

The primary meaning and purpose of these fringes are clearly stated in the verse itself:

"It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot."

Just like the Israelites, we too can become easily distracted by the things around us. We can get caught up in our own wants and desires, leading us down a path away from Gods will for our lives. That’s is why t is important for us to have reminders of gods commandments so that we can stay on track with His plan for us.

We can find these reminders in different ways such as reading our Bible daily, praying or even wearing jewelry with across or other religious symbols. Whatever works the best for us. The important thing is that we have an tangible reminder of Gods word, truth and call.

But like all morning alarms, the reminder is not important. What is important is the action that follows that reminder. Gods will or our own selfish desires. Simple thing like when its time to pray or read the bible, we get overcome by something (we feel is) more important. Remembering to read His word, pray or do our devotions is not important: It is critical. If we don’t we will never understand His will and if we don’t understand that we will go on following our own selfish desires and chasing our pipe dreams.

The Touch

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 asking for God's forgiveness. This is seen as the point where the Holy Spirit begins to indwell a believer. It need not manifest in speaking in “tongues” but in the exhibiting of the “fruits of the Spirit”. Persistent and sincere prayer is considered key.

2. Experiencing the Holy Spirit:

Inner Peace and Joy: A common experience is a deep sense of peace, comfort, and joy that transcends circumstances.

Conviction and Guidance: The Holy Spirit often brings conviction of sin, guiding individuals towards repentance and righteousness. He also provides discernment and direction in decision-making.

Spiritual Awakening: This can manifest as a heightened awareness of God, a deeper understanding of scripture, and a renewed desire for spiritual things.

Physical Sensations (for some): While not universal or the primary focus, some people report feeling sensations like warmth, tingling, or a sense of electricity in their bodies when they experience the Holy Spirit's presence.

3. Evidencing the "Touch": How do we know when we are touched? 

Obedience to God's Word & Will: The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live in obedience to God's commands and to resist sin. We place Gods desire above our own. 

Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit: The Bible describes the "fruit of the Spirit" as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As you "touch" the Holy Spirit more, these qualities are increasingly evident in your life.

Desire for Fellowship and Worship: A genuine desire to connect with other believers and to worship God is often a sign of the Spirit's work. Connecting with other Christians provides encouragement, accountability, and opportunities to grow together in the Spirit.

Living for Others: The Holy Spirit prompts believers to live selflessly and to have compassion for the lost and needy.

It's important to remember that experiencing the Holy Spirit is a journey, not a one-time event. It involves a continuous relationship of seeking, surrendering, and living in obedience to God. While feelings can be part of the experience, the true measure of "touching" the Holy Spirit is the transformation of our character and our increasing alignment with God's will.

Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt

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 to worry and feel afraid. But when these doubts are sown and we allow them to grow deep, it is disastrous.

What can we do about it? Look at the past and present evidence. Right from your birth to the present. What has God done for you? Has He not protected you? Has He not healed you? Has He not provided for every need (don't count desires) ? Think of every situation where He has come through. And then simply think - if He had to desert you in your suffering, why would He have brought you thus far? Does it not defy logic? Does God change? If you think you are being punished then was Jesus death in vain?

Every help from God in the past and present point to the fact that He holds our future in His hands and does not wish us any harm. We don't have to go to an astrologer to know our future. We know from His past and present faithfulness of His future security and protection. But we do need to keep Him in the loop. Not to inform Him but ask for His help in the calm assurance that He will provide. He is Jehovah Rapha and Jehovah Jireh. As humans that is our confidence. If God be with us, who can be against us?

God of Small Things

"Learn in the little daily things of life to delay action until you get my guidance.

So many lives lack poise. For in the momentous decisions a d the big things of life, they ask My help but into the small things they rush alone. By what you do in small things those around you are most often antagonized or attracted". (God Calling)

When we think of God, we picturize the word awesome - which conveys something grand and unimaginable, so psychologically we associate everything big with God and tend not to bother Him for smaller, everyday life things. But the fact is that not only is God not limited to the extraordinary, but He also wants to be part of and help in everyday small issues and activities of life. For example- when we pray for an important meeting, do we also mention that we need His help to reach on time? Or choice of clothes? Or when we want to buy a home item, do we ask His opinion? A good way to start could be to discuss the days plan with Him when we pray first thing in the morning. 

This does not mean every time some small ordinary decision needs to be taken we fall to our knees and pray. Here is where the concept of arrow prayers comes in, a subject we talked about in an earlier post here.

God is extraordinary and awesome, not because He limits Himself to the extraordinary, but because He addresses, and likes to be involved in the ordinary as well.

While the Bible is famous for its grand and dramatic miracles like the parting of the Red Sea or the raising of Lazarus, it also contains numerous "smaller" or "subtle" miracles. These often highlight God's everyday provision, care, and intervention in the lives of individuals, reminding us that His presence isn't limited to the extraordinary.

Here are some examples of smaller miracles in the Bible:

Old Testament Examples:

1. The Widow's Unending Flour and Oil (1 Kings 17:8-16): During a severe famine, God miraculously provided for the prophet Elijah, a widow, and her son by ensuring that their small jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out. This wasn't a grand display of power, but a consistent, daily provision that sustained them.

2. Detoxification of the Stew (2 Kings 4:38-41): When a pot of stew became poisonous, Elisha simply added some flour, and the stew was made safe to eat. This was a practical, life-saving miracle without much fanfare.

3. Feeding of One Hundred Men with Twenty Loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44): Elisha fed a large group of men with a very small amount of bread, with leftovers to spare. While similar to Jesus's feeding miracles, it's often overlooked due to its smaller scale.

4. The Cloud "as small as a man's hand" (1 Kings 18:43-45): After a long drought, Elijah's servant reported seeing a tiny cloud. This seemingly insignificant cloud was the sign of a massive rain to come, ending the drought and demonstrating God's faithfulness in a small, yet impactful, way.

New Testament Examples:

1. Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law (Mark 1:30-31): Jesus simply took her hand and the fever left her. It was a straightforward, compassionate healing, without the dramatic exorcisms or public pronouncements often associated with other miracles.

2. The Coin in the Fish's Mouth (Matthew 17:24-27): When challenged about paying the temple tax, Jesus instructed Peter to cast a line, promising he would find a coin in the mouth of the first fish caught. This was a specific, unusual provision for a particular need.

3. God's Daily Provision: Beyond specific instances, the New Testament often speaks of God's consistent provision for our daily needs, a constant "smaller miracle" that we often take for granted (Matthew 6:25-34).

4. Changed Hearts and Lives: Perhaps the most significant "smaller miracles" are the internal transformations that occur when individuals encounter God. These are not always outwardly visible, but they represent a profound shift in a person's character, beliefs, and direction, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

5. Changing of Water to Wine - saved the honor of the host. 

These "smaller" miracles are significant because they demonstrate God's consistent involvement in the details of life, His compassion for individual needs, and His power working in less dramatic, yet equally profound, ways. They remind us that miracles aren't always about grand spectacles, but often about God's intimate and faithful presence.

God provides for our every need - big or small. When you look back in your life, you will find it full of small things God provided. Small miracles - unasked yet provided.

Stand Up For Jesus!

(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 modern folk call it, diversity. We can even justify it by the love commands Jesus gave. Such actions slowly help us to turn a blind eye to actions which corrode our faith and our loyalty. It could be the economic environment, cultural environment as well as the social environment we frequent. It could also be sheer desperation, when our individual faith is not strong enough.

To be sure, there is nothing wrong with diversity and respect for one another, but the danger is we could be integrating with alien customs and beliefs which actually contradict what God wants from us.

But we question: is God happy? Is that standing up for Jesus? No. Such actions shut the gate to God.

Pastor Rajiv in his sermons on the 7 Churches in Revelations pointed out Churches which had the same issues we face today as individuals.

Pergamum – This church was located in a city known for emperor worship and pagan practices and worship. Revelation accuses it of holding to the “teaching of Balaam,” References to Balaam's sins and malpractices can be found in 2 Peter 2:15, Revelation 2:14 and Jude 1:11 in the New Testament.

Thyatira – The church tolerated a figure called “Jezebel,” (maybe symbolic) who led believers into immoral practices and other pagan practices. This likely reflects the influence of trade and business in the Thytira, involving feasts and rituals dedicated to pagan deities (Sounds familiar isn't it?) For a detailed understanding of these seven churches please refer to posts by Pastor Rajiv on “The Church That Should Be” in this blog.

Coming back to the question – How can we stand up for Jesus:

Standing up for Jesus today means living boldly and authentically in a world that often pulls in all different directions. It’s not always about grand gestures, or sermons or bold statements—it’s about daily choices that reflect His love, truth, and grace and above all, obedience and following His commands, in the face of adversity, public opinion and public advice. Let us not be ashamed to be who we are but acknowledge our identity and our loyalty to Him, overtly as well as in practice. By bending over and compromising we are actually denying Him.

Remember….

Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). "Acknowledges" means not denying and not compromising Him.

That’s not just a promise—it’s a call to action.