Hacking Fear: Each1-Reach1 Led by Pastor Rajiv.

How often have you woken up in the middle of the night with a big fear or worry about something that’s happening or not happening in your life?

I know I have though my time is 3.00 am. So what do you do?

Worry, anxiety, panic, fear are all killers. So how do we avoid it or address it so that we are not slaves to worry ? Well the good news is that there is a way!

1. Lean on God. We all love that Hymn what a friend we have in Jesus, don’t we? And when we are under worry and pressure do we not go to our friends and ask their advice or help? So why not go to your bestie, Jesus, and talk to Him?

Psalm 94:19 says, When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul. Lean on Him and be consoled with His help.

2. Change the perspective and let go of idols. Our natural inclination is to look at stuff from a worldly or a cultural perspective. That is our reference point. Try changing that reference point from a cultural perspective to a Biblical perspective. We will have challenges, but God will also provide a way out. For example, one maybe short on finance to meet some obligation. It can happen to anyone. So what can be done? Lean on God for starters, and through prayer ask for the answer, with an open mind, not a predetermined mind based on a world perspective. From my own experience I can assure you the answer will come. Maybe not in terms of suddenly giving us a bounty, but a relief from our immediate pressure.

Psalm 139:23-24 says, Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. 

Hurtful way refers to things or people we have placed above God – or idols. Let go. Change the perspective.

3. Remember your past. Think of all the times you have faced a challenge or danger. Did it not square out finally? Were all your fears not in vain? “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us, ” and He will help us to the end [1.Samuel 7:12]. Let us look to the monumental pillars, in our life. They are reminders of what the Lord has done to comfort us and to save us from trouble.

4. Thank God. Psalm 105:1,2 says - O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 

How often we forget once the excitement of relief has died down. How often we tend to minimize God’s role when we overcome. How often when we are blessed we put it down to our own singular abilities? Don’t you think that hurts God? An India Saint, Kabir Das wrote –

"Dukh me Simran sab karay, Dukh mein karey na koi, 

Joh Sukh mein Simran karey, toh dukh kahan se hoey"

(Every one remembers God when they are in trouble, and no one does when they are joyous. If everyone remembered God when they are joyous, then why would trouble come upon us?)

Note: Today's post draws on the post -  21 Life Lessons by Carlo Cruz. 

Investing in Jesus: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Important Notice : Announcing our new initiative - 

Each1-Reach1

One of the serious and long term as well as dangerous effects of COVID Lockdowns and other associated problems, worldwide, has been the growth of mental health issues, depression, job losses, life losses, and so much more. We, each of us, would know at least one person who maybe suffering from such issues and may need support. 

Therefore from tomorrow we are starting an initiative we call EACH1-REACH1 where each of our readers can get involved and invest a little bit of time. 

We will ask you to think of one person, with whom you think our post of the day, or our mid week messages, may resonate and bring some peace. Share that post with them and reach out to people who need you. God will Bless you for your thoughts and prayers.

Now, to Today's Post ......

1 Timothy 6:19

"...storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

Our human minds are conditioned to draw mental pictures of certain words and phrases. And I am sure that the word "invest" conjures up visions of money and wealth, whether in terms of a currency or other assets.

But do you know what is the most valuable asset we have? It is our mind, our heart and our time. So the subject line does not refer to money but to our god given gifts and their use. How do we invest in Jesus?

We need to deposit our life in Christ. This involves knowledge and trust. We need to invest into growing our knowledge of Christ, His word and His life. As we grow that knowledge, we will see God's hand in our own life and which will build our trust in Him. When we have trust, we will depend on Him more and more, love him more and more and because we love Him, we will follow His commands and His guidance.

This also means we increase our own understanding of God, of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit, so that we can see and understand their work in our lives, which also enables us to share that experience so that others can benefit as well. It helps us to build a four dimensional relationship - With God our creator, with Jesus Christ our savior, with the Holy Spirit - our sanctifier and with our fellow men.

people may ask why should we do this? what's in it for me? Well there is plenty in it for each one of us. To know what it is, please read yesterday's post.

Meanwhile, start investing!

Watch Your Step! - A Saturday Reflection

Ephesians 5 15- 17 - So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. (5:15–17 MSG)

Watch your step! This statement is so familiar isn't it? . Parents say that to children, people use that as a warning to others and so on. This is a life warning.

But read further, it is also guideline for every Christian.

As we travel a path carefully chosen according to His will, word and purpose, God presents us with so many opportunities. Opportunities to flourish and prosper, and also opportunities to say NO. Opportunities to lead an exemplary life. Opportunities to use our gifts for others.

We cannot pass our time mindlessly, but realize every second we live is an investment we make into life, a life after our physical death. 

Just to be clear, our first death, or our physical death, is the separation of  our body from our spirit. The second death, is the separation of our spirit from God and God's plan. 

Generally, people don't think much about their second death too seriously, specially young people. We are all pre- occupied with our physical death and how to prolong our physical life. But think this - if physical death is so fearsome to us, how much more horrible and painful the second death will be?

The question is can we save ourselves from this second death? The answer is YES! If we invest our life here in believing in,  and following, Jesus Christ, truly and earnestly, we can save ourselves. 

Why should we believe this? Because it is a promise from Christ - 

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:11.

That Serious Offence: Our Daily Reflection

If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. — Exodus 20:25

(Note: Todays reflection is adapted from the KJV Devotional, with some thoughts of our own). 

In an earlier  post, we had talked about "helping God". In our reflection today, we see how much a serious offence it can be !

Consider the quoted verse. Short. But with so much meaning and learning. God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labor might be seen upon it. What that tells us is this: Let not man add to God's Glory with his/her own understanding (tools) and human interpretation (wisdom). 

Our KJV study says - "  Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all" 

Essentially what it means is that we bend the law of God to suit ourselves or the world. Suit our beliefs, or our thoughts or our situations. Just as David may have done and all of us do. 

But: Isn't that fantastic to realize? All alterations and amendments of the Lord’s own Word are defilements and pollutions. And...attract a huge penalty!

Do our so called preachers really know this or understand this? Some advertise the Holy Spirit. Some Advertise the Word. Worst, some advertise the meaning. 

So many people are tring to make a business model 

The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man’s chisel or hammer will be endured. 

I may say today, I am a man/woman of God. I don't know if that is right. I may say today, I carry the Holy Spirit, that I know is correct,: but so do all of us. I may think, being a man/woman of God, in our understanding, we are different. Wrong again. If we think "I have converted/ baptized so many (husbands/wives/friends/others) therefore I am Holy - wrong again. God converts the Heart, we only follow a ritual). 

If some one has achieved sanctification, it is not our doing.  What Jesus declared to be finished is indeed finished. We cannot add or subtract. We cannot restart the process. Yet we do, don't we?  We add our own interpretations, our own understanding (in spite of being warned by the Lord - Lean not on your own understanding) and our own "Holiness" or spirituality.  

Do we know that there is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. 

Friends, lets put away our tools, our minds, our own interpretations and stick to what God has said. Yes, delve into His word, find original meaning through the original text or language, but for His and yours , do not "help" Him by spreading our own interpretation of His word. It has a deep and horrible consequence.  

KJV says this - 

"Many professors may take warning from this morning’s text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord." 

Majestic words. And a majestic direction. 

God's word can ONLY have ONE interpretation and ONE meaning. Let's pray for wisdom to understand His meaning and direction,  rather than apply our own understanding while we spread His Word. 

The Greatest Commandment: Pastor Rajiv's Mid Week Message

Since Biblical times, there has been discussion and great interest by scholars on the question : What is the greatest commandment. Pastor Rajiv's talks about this in his message today. 

Finding the Good in Evil : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

 Todays Reflection: Forgiving evil. 

Genesis 37: 26-28

Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. 28So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Forgiveness is not blind. It's does not happen at the spur of the moment. It's a process.
I take example and inspiration from Joseph. Why and how did he forgive his brothers?
His brothers had sinned against Joseph and God. But God had a different plan. He wanted to use Joseph for ensuring continuity of his family.

Joseph forgave his brothers, after their true repentance. The Agape Bible study explains this so well and the following points are taken from here https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Genesis/Lesson_18.htm

Joseph put his brothers through three tests -
"The first test was the brothers' three day imprisonment which was intended to cause them to come to terms with their sin against him.
The second was a test of their willingness to rescue their brother Simeon by bringing their brother Benjamin to Egypt and retuning the money Joseph put in the sacks of their pack animals.
The third was a test of their willingness to sacrifice their freedom for the life of their youngest brother, Benjamin".

Only after these were successfully completed, did real forgiveness set in because Joseph was sure that true repentance had set in. 

Forgiveness, while being at the core of the Christian faith, is not to be given away like bread. It is to be nurtured so that all ill feeling is got rid of completely, from both sides. True forgiveness happens after true repentance. 

Evil will happen. But if we look , and ask for Gods help, we can find good in evil. And when we do that we can either continue to hate the perpetuator of that evil or choose to find the good, praise God and forgive, after we are sure that there is true repentance and sorrow. If we don't find repentance,  it is still possible not to hate since we derived good from their evil act.  

Time and Opportunity: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." Ecclesiastes 9:11

God is good and great. He created the heavens and the earth and everything therein. He also created time to govern the earth. When Adam was created, God gave him the chance to practice his supremacy over the all earth and name the plans and animals. Yet, he blew it! 

Like God did with Adam, He does with all. He gives each of us time and opportunity. How we use them is up to us, because we have freedom of choice. The difference between the poor and the rich, the great and the not so great or small is simply this: The use of the time and opportunity available to them. 

Therefore, we must be  conscious of the time God has given to us  and alert to opportunities that He may present. And then, we must choose wisely on how to use them to become wiser and profitable, rather than corrupt that time and opportunity by using them for something contrary to God's laws or His will. 

For with the  time afforded to us and every opportunity presented to us, there is a corresponding responsibility as well. Choose responsibly. And live well.