Angels of the Morning

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

    in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:3 

There is something magical about early mornings. The sun is still deciding whether it really wants to come out and we have a soft awakening to a new day., no matter how hard we expect it to be. However the previous day went, we will have a lot to look forward to in the new day. 

In these early, dawn hours, it's a blessing to be able to connect with the one who created the morning and the day, the evening and the nights. created us and all that surrounds us. Our worries can be laid on Him and our joys can be shared with thanksgiving. No matter how hopeless we think a situation maybe, a new day will always bring hope - because the one above all, still rules. We only have to be silent, in mind and body. 

As the sun slowly peeps over the horizon, a sense of unworthiness overtakes. How can we ever live up to the one who created all this? His perfection, His love and His power? 

And the biggest wonder of it all? In a world of 8 billion people, 200 million square miles of land, 3 trillion trees, 7.7 million animal species and much much more, He still has the time and the inclination to listen to me in these still hours. To care for me. To protect me. To provide for me. And for each one of His creations! 

Of course, In such a vast world, things can and will go wrong - sometimes engineered by us and sometimes by spiritual forces working against creation. Like they did Job, they can attack us and try to destroy our lives through hardship and heartbreak - but we have one who reigns above all and He listens. He saves. He does not want us to suffer but live a beautiful life, so He is our last resort. 

As the darkness lightens, we talk to Him, share everything thank Him for another day, for the past day, put our problems at His feet and ask Him to be with us through the day, ask His spirit for discernment, for wisdom for guidance, for we are foolish people, led astray by the world and its ways of thinking and acting. Ask Him for help to solve our problems, for healing, for help, for means to help others who need. We ask Him to make us instruments of His purpose, of His work and of His will. Each of us have a role to play in His world. 

Thoughts then roll over to people who brought us to Him. Parents, Pastors, friends, situations; and we thank Him for sending them into our lives. 

We mess up. That is a given. But we also know that every sunrise is God's way of saying, 'I haven't given up on you yet". This simple fact of a new day breaking is a profound testament to God's persistent hope and unwavering belief in our potential. It's His daily promise that He's still with us.

And so, begins a new day.

 

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

Daily Bread & Eternal Trust

We are so like the Israelites. Just when we get what we want, we decide that we want more. The Israelites have been saved from slavery and then God brought them through the sea, and now they're complaining again. God again provided what they need, but they do have to follow some rules. They were only to gather what they needed for the day and on the sixth day they collected enough for the Sabbath. What they gathered was measured so that each had what they needed and no one had more. They were instructed not to save some for the next day and, of course, there were those who didn't follow instructions and what they saved became foul. On the sixth day, they could prepare enough for the next day so that the Sabbath could be a holy day dedicated to Yahweh.

Let's think deeply about this: can we call it greed? Some may call it wisdom, saving up for a rainy day. What we call it, it reflects doubt on Gods ability to provide. It also reflects more trust in ourselves over God and in fact the continuous tension between human self-sufficiency and divine dependence.

In Psalm 91 ver 4 we read about God's truth. Those words have become jargon now - we recite them without understanding what they mean and therefore not practising them

Psalm 91:4 states: "He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler."

The phrase "His truth" in this verse refers to God's faithfulness and reliability. It's not just about propositional truths or facts, but about the consistent and unwavering nature of God's character and His promises.

Here's a breakdown of what "God's truth" signifies in this context:

- God's Faithfulness (Ammittô): Many translations, like the NIV, NLT, and ESV, render "truth" as "faithfulness" or "faithful promises." The Hebrew word for "truth" here, 'ămittô, can indeed encompass the idea of dependability and constancy. It means that God is true to His word, true to His nature, and true to His covenant with His people. He can be trusted completely.

- God's Word and Promises: His truth is embodied in His declarations, His commands, and the promises He has made to those who trust in Him. These promises are not empty words but are firm and reliable.

- A Protective Force: The verse uses the imagery of a "shield and buckler." A shield (a large defensive weapon) and a buckler (a smaller, round shield) were used for protection in battle. In this metaphor, God's faithfulness acts as a strong, impenetrable defense against all dangers, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It's His consistent character that provides security.

In essence, "God's truth" in Psalm 91:4 means that because God is utterly faithful and true to His promises, He will consistently provide protection and refuge for those who trust in Him. Just as a bird shelters its young under its wings, God's unwavering faithfulness is our ultimate defense and source of security.

In God's equation, greed and total dependence on our own abilities, riches or provisions, does not fit, and our life choices and actions need to bear out that truth.

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.