The Judas Within

 

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 included, betraying their trust for a fleeting sense of belonging. It's the temptation to take credit for someone else's idea at work to get ahead, sacrificing honesty for ambition. Have you ever been happy when something bad happened to a person that you didn't like? "They got what they deserved. " This is not love. This is EVIL. This, is betrayal. 

These small betrayals, though they may seem insignificant, are the training ground for larger ones. They erode our self-respect and create a dissonance between who we are and who we pretend to be.

​Acknowledging the Judas within is not an act of self-condemnation but one of profound self-awareness. It requires us to look honestly at our motives and understand the fear, insecurity, or greed that drives us to act against our better judgment. It is only by recognizing this shadow side that we can begin to wrestle with it. We can choose to resist the temptation to betray ourselves and others, instead opting for the harder but more rewarding path of integrity. This internal struggle is a defining part of the human experience, and our ability to overcome the Judas in us is a measure of our true character.

 

Living Our Legacy

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

​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.

"I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become."

​These words are a powerful reminder that our past does not define our future. Life throws curveballs—illness, injury, and misfortune—that can make us stray from the path we know we should be on. Our memories of the straight and narrow can become blurred, and the voices we listen to may lead us in directions we never intended to go. In these moments, we can begin to forget who we are in Christ.

​But God never forgets us. Even when our own memories fail or our sense of self is stolen by hardship, God's love remains. We may feel lost and disconnected, but we are always seen and known by our Creator. We may feel He has let us down, but He is still with us, working for our good. 

​Often, our own desire for control and our limited imagination hold us back. We get so focused on being the "driver" of our own lives that we forget it's God who is meant to lead the way. We can only see the road directly in front of us, but God sees the entire journey. He knows every twist, turn, and beautiful vista along the way. His plan for us is bigger and more beautiful than anything we could ever imagine on our own.

​So, let's stop allowing life's hardships to beat us down and make us into someone we are not. Let's not let the challenges of this world strip us of our identity as children of God.

​Today, let's choose to be who we were meant to be—Christians, followers of Jesus, living out the legacy of faith we have been given. Let us surrender our lives to God's guidance and care, trusting that He will lead us down roads we've never seen before. It is only when we release our grip on the steering wheel that we can truly begin to live the life we were created for.

​What part of your journey are you ready to surrender to God's guidance today?

Reckless Faith

Psalm 125 ver 1

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Man by nature is associated with careful consideration, prudent planning, and a sensible approach. Recklessness is irresponsible. But when it comes to trusting God, we'll, a reckless faith is what God wants! Complete and total dependence on Him alone. That does not mean a person needing medicines should not take them.

But what about "reckless faith"? It sounds almost irresponsible, doesn't it? Yet, when we look at the lives of many biblical heroes, we see a striking pattern of audacious, seemingly reckless trust in God.

Consider Abraham, who left everything familiar to go to a land he'd never seen, simply because God told him to. Or Moses, confronting the most powerful ruler of his time with nothing but a staff and God's promise. Think of David, a young shepherd boy, facing a giant with just a sling and five smooth stones. These weren't calculated risks; they were acts of radical, reckless faith.

Reckless faith isn't about being foolish or ignoring wisdom. It's about being so utterly convinced of God's character and His promises that we are willing to step out into the unknown, even when it defies all logical explanation. It's trusting that His whispered word is louder than the world's loudest doubts. It's choosing to believe in His provision even when our cupboards are bare, in His healing when the doctors have given up, and in His way when all other paths seem blocked.

Perhaps there's an area in your life today where God is inviting you to practice a little "reckless faith." Is He calling you to forgive someone when it feels impossible? To pursue a dream that seems too big? To give generously when your resources feel scarce?

It takes courage to embrace reckless faith, because it often means letting go of our need for control and certainty. It means being willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world, for the sake of God's glory. But the reward? A front-row seat to witness God's incredible power at work, and a deepening of our intimacy with the One who calls us to step out of the boat and walk on water.

Don't be afraid to be a little "reckless" in your faith today. God isn't looking for perfect plans; He's looking for trusting hearts.

The Hedge Of Protection

Expanding further on the concept of a trouble filled world and Gods hedge of protection,

A core tension in Christian faith is acknowledging a fallen, broken world while still believing in a God who is both powerful and loving. That is quite a dichotomy.

​The answer lies in understanding the difference between God guaranteeing a trouble-free life and Him providing a hedge of protection within a troubled world.

​Praying for a "hedge of protection" is a powerful act of faith that is rooted in several key theological concepts:

​1. Acknowledging God's Sovereignty and Power

​The phrase "hedge of protection" comes directly from the book of Job. In Job 1:10, Satan complains to God about Job, saying, "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?"

​This passage teaches us that God's protection is not a passive force; it is an active, deliberate, and sovereign act. When we pray for a hedge of protection, we are not demanding that God act on our behalf. Instead, we are acknowledging that He alone has the power to place a barrier between us and the forces of evil and harm. It is an act of submission and dependence, a recognition that our safety ultimately rests in His hands.

​2. Acknowledging the Reality of Spiritual Warfare

​The Bible teaches that there is a real, unseen spiritual battle taking place. The "disaster and death" that came into the world through Adam's sin are not just random events; they are often the result of spiritual forces of evil seeking to harm humanity and thwart God's purposes.

​Praying for a hedge of protection is a recognition of this reality. It is a specific prayer for divine intervention against spiritual attacks, temptations, and the schemes of the enemy. It's an appeal for God to restrain the influence of evil in our lives, our families, and our communities.

​3. God's Promise to Intervene and Provide in the Midst of Trouble

​While God does not promise to remove all suffering from our lives, He does promise to be with us, strengthen us, and often intervene on our behalf. The prayer for a hedge of protection is a way of appealing to this aspect of God's character. It is a prayer for:

• ​Physical Safety: Averting accidents, protecting us from violence, and providing healing.

• ​Emotional and Mental Health: Guarding our minds and hearts from despair, anxiety, and fear.

• ​Spiritual Protection: Shielding us from temptations and attacks on our faith.

​In this way, the prayer is not an escape from reality, but an act of hope within it. It's a statement that while the world is broken, God is still a loving Father who actively cares for His children and is willing to intervene in their lives.

​Summary:

​The prayer for a "hedge of protection" is not a contradiction of the reality of a fallen world. Rather, it is an essential part of living in it. It acknowledges that the world is dangerous due to sin but affirms that God is greater than the danger. It is a prayer that seeks God's active intervention and provision in a world where trouble is inevitable, trusting that His presence and power can and will shield us from harm according to His sovereign will.

A Broken Life

                                          

Many people, including Christians, often ask - "when God loves us why does He allow bad things to happen to us? Why is there so much suffering, death and disaster in the world, affecting mostly everyone?"

The answer lies in the fall of Adam and Eve, a fact we gloss over as a story in Sunday school but is in fact the very foundation of our lives today. It highlights the seriousness of thier act of disobedience and rebellion. It all comes down to choices - what we choose to do as opposed to what God would like us to do.

Christianity teaches that God created humanity with free will—the genuine ability to choose between good and evil. This freedom is considered a necessary component for true love and a meaningful relationship with God. However, with the gift of free will comes the possibility of choosing sin, which introduced evil, pain, and suffering into the world. How?

Human Choice: Many theologians argue that a significant portion of the suffering in the world is a direct result of human choices, both on an individual and a collective level. God could intervene to prevent every instance of harm, but doing so would essentially negate free will and turn humanity into robots, incapable of genuine love, morality, or relationship with Him.

The biblical story of the Fall in Genesis describes how humanity's first choice to disobey God brought about a brokenness that affects all of creation. This is the origin of a world we made - where natural disasters, disease, and other forms of suffering are present, not because God wills them, but because of the consequences of that one act of rebellion.

God did not remove His hedge of perfect protection: we chose to walk out of it. Reason: curiosity, ambition, selfishness, greed,

So now we have to prove ourselves

As a consequence of Adam's disobedience, God "cursed" the ground (Genesis 3:17). This is a metaphorical way of saying that the world was no longer in its pristine, perfect state. It became subject to futility, decay, and disorder.

​Think of Adam as the CEO of a company. When he makes a disastrous decision (his act of disobedience), the entire company (the human race) suffers the consequences. The company's future is ruined, and the effects of that decision (like bankruptcy) affect every employee, even if they had no say in the choice. In this analogy, the "bankruptcy" is the reality of spiritual death, physical decay, and suffering that now defines the human experience.

​In summary, Adam's act of disobedience brought disaster and death into the world not as a simple, individual punishment, but as a fundamental, corporate change in the state of humanity and the world itself. His one choice corrupted the nature of all people and the world they inhabit, making all of us vulnerable to sin, suffering, and death

Then why do we pray for His hedge of protection?

The answer lies in understanding the difference between God guaranteeing a trouble-free life and Him providing a hedge of protection within a troubled world.

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

Word Power

Words hold immense power. They can build up or tear down, comfort or hurt, heal or harm. In Mark 11:21, we see the power of Jesus's words when He cursed the fig tree and it withered away.

Similarly in our daily lives, the words we speak to ourselves and others hold the power to shape our reality. We must be mindful of the words we use and the impact they have on others.

Its easy to cover our "rude" words by terms like, "I call a spade a spade" or "I say it like it is"; by all means speak the truth but the truth can also be spoken gently, mindfully, empathetically. Its also easy to get caught up in negative self talk or gossip about others, but this brings only negativity into our lives. Instead, let us choose to speak words of encouragement, love and positivity. For example, instead of saying - "Don't lie" to someone, we can say - "it may be better to tell the truth". Small change, same meaning but positive words. Let us lift others up and bring encouragement into their lives.

We must also be mindful of the words we speak to ourselves as well. we often hold ourselves back with negative self talk, or be overly critical of ourselves. But we must remember we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Let us speak words of affirmation and believe in our ability to overcome and accomplish great things through Him who gives us strength. Try and see us and others as God sees us and speak words of affirmation over our lives.

(Based on a KJV Devotional)

Changing Reality: Power Prayers

Prayer is more than just words—it’s a spiritual invitation for heaven to intervene in earthly circumstances. Here's a deeper look at what it means:

✨ What Is Power Prayer?

• Divine Intervention: It’s when you call on God’s unlimited resources to act in your situation—whether for healing, guidance, protection, or transformation.
• Spiritual Authority: You’re not just asking; you’re declaring, binding, and loosing as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:18–20. It’s prayer with conviction and alignment to God’s will.
• Faith-Fueled Action: Power prayer is rooted in faith, not self-reliance. It acknowledges that only God can truly change hearts, circumstances, and outcomes2.

🔥 Why Is It So Powerful?

• It Connects You to God’s Power: The power isn’t in the prayer itself—it’s in the God who hears and responds.
• It Transforms the Pray-er: Who you become is shaped by how you pray. It’s a refining process that aligns your heart with God’s.
• It Impacts the World: From calming storms (Psalm 107) to healing the sick and raising the dead (Acts 4), Scripture is full of examples where prayer changed reality.

Priscilla Shirer calls prayer “kryptonite to the enemy,” and Mark Batterson says, “Prayers are prophecies.” That’s the kind of bold, expectant posture power prayer invites.

Here is an example of a Power Prayer for healing- 

Almighty God, Jehovah Rapha—my Healer and Restorer—

I come before You not in weakness, but in the authority of Christ, who bore my sickness and carried my pain. By His stripes, I declare healing over every cell, every organ, every thought, and every emotion. Let Your resurrection power flow through me now.

I renounce every lie of the enemy that says I must remain broken. I reject fear, anxiety, and infirmity. I declare that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and it shall function in divine order.

Let healing rise like the sun—swift, complete, and undeniable. Restore what was lost. Renew what was worn. Revive what was dormant. I speak life to dry bones, strength to weary limbs, and peace to troubled thoughts.

I thank You, Lord, that healing is not just possible—it is promised. I receive it by faith, and I walk in it by grace. Let this testimony bring glory to Your name and hope to others.

In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray—Amen.

🙏 Verses on Power Prayer

• Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” → Faith is the fuel of power prayer.

• John 14:13 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” → Prayer glorifies God when aligned with Christ.

• Luke 18:1 “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” → Persistence in prayer is a mark of spiritual strength.

• Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” → God draws near to sincere hearts in prayer.

• John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” → Abiding in God empowers our prayers.

• James 5:15 “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up…” → Prayer can bring healing and restoration.

• Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” → Prayer sustains us through every season.

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

The Legacy of Tabitha

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, Tabitha stood out. She wasn't seeking applause or personal gain. Her focus was on those in need. She didn't just feel compassion; she acted on it. She didn't just wish things were better; she rolled up her sleeves and made them better.

We learn that her particular ministry was making clothing – tunics and other garments for the widows and the poor. Imagine the chill of a winter night, the shame of torn clothes, the despair of having nothing. And then, a warm garment, beautifully made, a tangible expression of love and care. Each stitch Tabitha sewed was a thread of compassion, each garment a blanket of dignity. These weren't just clothes; they were messages of hope.

Her impact was so profound that when she fell ill and died, the community was devastated. The widows, in particular, wept openly, showing Peter the very tunics and cloaks that Tabitha had made while she was with them. Their tears weren't just for a friend lost, but for a vital source of comfort and provision gone.

And then comes the miraculous intervention. Peter, called to Joppa, enters the room where Tabitha lies. He prays, and with a simple command, "Tabitha, get up!" she opens her eyes, takes his hand, and stands. A life woven with love, cut short by death, is miraculously restored.

But the story doesn't end there. Acts 9:42 tells us, "This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord." Tabitha's life, and her miraculous resurrection, served as a powerful testament to God's love and power.

What can we learn from Tabitha's story today?

Firstly, the power of practical love. Tabitha didn't preach long sermons or lead great crusades. Her ministry was simple, practical, and deeply impactful. Sometimes, the most profound acts of faith are found in the everyday, seemingly small gestures of kindness and service. What "garments" can we make for those around us? What practical needs can we meet?

Secondly, the lasting legacy of a life lived for others. Even in death, Tabitha's good works spoke for her. Her legacy wasn't wealth or fame, but the tangible difference she made in the lives of those less fortunate. When our time comes, what will be said of our lives? Will our "garments" of love and service be on display?

Finally, God notices and values our service. While Tabitha served without seeking recognition, God saw her heart and her hands. Her story is included in the inspired Word of God, a testament to the value He places on a life dedicated to "doing good and helping the poor."

Friends, let us be inspired by Tabitha, the disciple who was "always doing good and helping the poor." Let us not underestimate the power of a kind word, a helping hand, a selfless act. May our lives, like hers, be woven with threads of love, bringing comfort, dignity, and hope to a world so desperately in need. And may our good deeds point others to the loving God who enables us to do them.

Amen.