Posts

Showing posts from October, 2017

Obey!

Daily Word 25th October 2017 - Himalay Sharma Though He was a Son , yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. -Hebrews 5:8 Majority of the obstacles which we face in our day to day lives is because of our lack of obedience towards God. Sometimes when we choose our own plans and try to do things in our own way we suffer defeat and shame. Not one time but everytime whenever we bypass the word of God and disobey him. Eventually we come to a point where we understand that the only good and better way in which there are no regrets or mistakes is the Way of God which can be unlocked by an simple act of Obedience and everything that we'll try to do by ourself in our own ways will fail. As it's written in Hebrews, Jesus learned Obedience by the things which he suffered. You're suffering is a process through which you are learning obedience towards God. And immediately the next verse illuminates the Glory behind the obedience. And having been perfected ,

Virtue of the Selfless.

Daily Word 24th October 2017 - Himalay Sharma He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. -John 1:10 The World did not know Jesus, He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Yet we desire to be treated better than him. Why? Lets examine our daily walk with God. Everyone has a desire to be known by people for Good things. Passion for Fame and Popularity eventually leads to an Hunger that can never be satisfied. There are some believers who wants to be popularity and fame from the world "through" Jesus and not "for" Jesus. They don't want to be used by God they want to use God. Selfish intentions are the fuel behind their service for Christ. There's just one sentence that can be used to describe such situation "Vanity of vanities". But a person who really follows Christ knows His word and always pursues Christ likeness above everything else. He Denies himself, takes up his cross a

Poverty in the Spirit.

Daily word 23rd October 2017 - Himalay Sharma "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.-Matthew 5:3 There was something mystical and beautiful about Jesus' teachings. His profound words and acts always showcased the beauty of his character wrapped in Humbleness. The most famous words of Jesus also known as the beatitudes proclaims the mysteries to bridge the gap between us and His Kingdom. Jesus opened his mouth and taught them saying : Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. As humble as it sounds, it speaks to our inner beings and our depth of the soul must grasp the wisdom that our spirit needs to be lowly and poor to be accepted in the kingdom of Heaven. God uses the beggarly elements of the world to carry out some of His greatest purposes. Moses was Honored as a Friend of God and there's a saying in Israel : "From Moses to Moses there's none like Moses". So what was so special about Mo

The Supernatural Miracles of Jesus -Part 1

Sunday, 8th October, 2017 Speaker : Pst. Manoj Arunkumar Summarization : Shruti Vanjare THE SUPERNATURAL MIRACLES OF JESUS CHRIST.  Jesus turning water into wine “I will turn your emptiness into fullness of Joy.”-Jesus.  John 2:1-12 On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana (Tuesday) When we go back to Genesis 1:9, the third day was the only place where God said “It is Good” twice. The marriage of Cana was conducted on the third day because it was a ‘good day.’ Cana of Galilee was the hometown of Jesus Christ and He and his family we're invited to the wedding. Jesus came to the wedding after defeating the devil in the wilderness as the Son of God. If you know the Word, you can defeat the devil. The marriage of Cana signifies turning your failures into blessing. There's a shortage of wine amidst the excitement of the marriage and there's a huge ceremony going on. According to the Jewish customs, wine symbolizes joy and happiness. The mother of Jesus

Glorify Him.

Daily Word 16th Oct. 2017 - Shruti Vanjare “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16 All glory, on Heaven and on Earth belongs to God. He created us so that the people recognize His glory through our behavior and standard of living. In the above verse, Jesus explains how you need to let your light shine before men. By this, He means that your walk with God should be according to His standard so they glorify our Father in Heaven. The world may carry on doing things monotonously without keeping in mind the God of all creation, but that shouldn't be the case with us, who believe. When they see the good works in you, they start glorifying the God who is within you because it's certain that nothing can else bring such a transformation, but Jesus Himself. “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may,

Deceitful Self-love.

Daily Word 14th Oct. 2017 - Shruti Vanjare  “It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.”-Proverbs 25:27 As we discussed in the previous devotion, another kind of self love is conceited and arrogant. Pride is the most dangerous form of self love.This kind of love makes you believe that you're better than anyone else and makes you proud and boastful. This is the kind of self-love that God hates and it's clearly a sin. Proverbs 16:5 “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” At the same time, we need to be careful and beware of self worship. This is the negative form of self love which is purely deception. The enemy leads you to believe that you're better than everyone, even God himself. This is exactly why Lucifer was thrown down from heaven; because of his pride. He was convinced that he is better than the God who created him and God's wrath is still tramplin

Love Yourself.

Daily Word 13th Oct. 2017- Shruti Vanjare. “To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.” -Proverbs 19:8 When it comes to loving yourself, there are two kinds. First is self-conceited and arrogant love. This kind of love makes you believe that you're better than anyone else and makes you proud and boastful. This is the kind of self-love that God hates and it's clearly a sin. We shall discuss this kind of love in the next devotion. Moving further, this brings us to the another kind of self-love, which is natural. It's thanking God for creating you in His image and His image is nothing but perfection. It's being aware that God has made you fearfully and wonderfully, but not letting it get to your head and becoming proud about it. It's thanking God for making you beautiful (irrespective of your perception of beauty) The scriptures never ask us to not love ourselves, because it's natural. Ephesians 5:29 “For no one

Serve the people who can't repay you.

Daily Word 12th Oct. 2017 - Sis. Nancy Manoj. Then He also said to him who invited Him ,  "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers , your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be   blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."  -Luke 14:12-14 Jesus' meaning is this: If we do things only to be paid back or rewarded in this life, we will receive our reward: but we shall receive no reward from God in heaven (Mt 6:1-4). So it is better to receive reward from God than from man because God's rewards last forever. So when we invite those who are poor, crippled etc. we are inviting Jesus Christ himself and He will not leave us unrewarded. Understanding two things here is important. 1) It is not wrong to invite rich friends and neighbours. The

What does the Lord require of you?

Daily Word 11th October 2017 - Himalay Sharma He has shown you, O man, what is good;  And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? -Micah 6:8 A Good Good God has shown us his invisible attributes in Jesus Christ by his Character which is filled with Love, Compassion and unfailing Mercy. While we were still sinners and without strength, Christ took our place and died for us so that we might be Righteous before God. Such type of Love doesn't require anything from us but to walk worthy of the cross and His Sacrifice by living a Righteous life which is set before us by our Loving God. The love which we never deserved is finally ours by the blood of Jesus Christ. In John 14:15, Jesus says "If you love Me, keep My commandments", God's love is an unconditional love so is it a condition that Jesus has put forth to follow his Commandments? Certainly not, If a father is telling his son " Not to t

The Blood of the Lamb.

Sunday, October 1st, 2017 Speaker : Pst. Manoj Arunkumar Summarization : Shruti Vanjare These are the days to wake and pray. God's Mercy and salvation are new every morning. To maintain the righteousness, holiness and faith, you need to work out your salvation everyday. You need a fresh anointing everyday! When you're committed to God, you'll experience His presence. Exodus 12:8 - Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. The significance of Moses leaving his sandals behind, is God telling him that his past is now left behind. He left Egypt and His wandering was finally over. When Moses’ thoughts left, he got the presence of God's thoughts and Moses was divinely changed on the inside. Moses saw the inner being of God in the burning bush. When Moses saw the fire of God, it entered inside Moses in a supernatural way and he was never the same again. God wants you to be a seeke

Be Silent!

Daily Word 10th October 2017- Himalay Sharma. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. -Proverbs 17:28 Sometimes it's better to be silent than to open our mouths in unbelief. God told the Children of Israel to march  around the Wall of Jericho silently without saying a word for 6 days because God knew that if one of the Israelite would have opened their mouth in doubt and disbelief, the wall of Jericho would have never collapsed. Even it happened with Zacharias But behold , you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place , because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." -Luke 1:20 Because If Zacharias would have spoken doubt or disbelief, John the Baptist would have never been Born. Have you ever wondered how many blessings you have delayed and stopped because of your foolish confessions and vain talks ! Be still and know that he is God. He who

Grow through Afflictions.

Daily Word 9th October 2017 - Himalay Sharma But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel.  -Exodus 1:12 Children of the Most high possess an unique quality. Affliction and Troubles are just a feeding force for the Children of God to Grow bigger and better in the kingdom of God. When Children of Israel were afflicted, they multiplied and grew even stronger. God always sees the afflictions of his Children and he never ever let them fade away in vain, He repays them in such a way that a believer learns to Rejoice in afflictions.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. -Psalms 34:19 If you are facing any affliction or troubles remember that our Lord is a God who keeps his promises, he is not a man to break his promises. But remember there's a purpose behind every affliction that is inflicted upon you. And when the purpose is fulfilled the Lord will del

Secured Salvation.

Daily Word 7th October 2017 - Shruti Vanjare “He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.” -Isaiah 33:15-16 Here, Isaiah is talking about the transforming power of God’s grace. God has a wonderful promise for you, when you walk in the way that He has appointed and directed; salvation is completely yours. God has given us a few simple, but powerful tips which is going to be of great help on the road to salvation. 1) You need to walk righteously and speak uprightly. It's not only an outer change (walk), but God performs inner healing on us too. This is shown by the way we talk because, “What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, th

I Am....

Daily Word 6th October 2017 - Victor Mendonca He(Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" -Matthew 16:15 Jesus didn't ask the disciples this question because he had an identity crisis. Nor did Jesus forgot who he was. He asked the disciples this question because he wanted them to discover the revelation of who he actually is. From the very beginning of the world, God has always been a revealer of his great plans, love, grace, mercy, compassion, provision, protection etc. God reveals Himself in the Old Testament: - Abraham got a revelation of God as Jehovah Jireh - God who provides in Genesis 22:13-14 - Exodus 3:2-8 Moses got a revelation of God as the deliverer at the burning bush, which was later fulfilled in Exodus 12:41-42 - Elijah got a revelation of God who answers by Fire in 1 Kings 18:24. God didn't put Elijah to shame in front of the prophets of Baal. - David the shepherd boy in his younger days got a revelation of God as His

Live the Word!

Daily Word 5th October 2017 - Himalay Sharma But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. -James 1:23 The most common question which is asked to a believer is "Are you reading your bible?" While the question should be "Are you living the bible?, Most of us read the word and feel Good about the works of God and his wisdom through the Gospels but few of us implement the word in real life. The explicit dogma of modern Christianity is that people confess Jesus with their mouth and deny him with their lifestyle. Are we really implementing the biblical principles in our daily lives? Bible says let not any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth (Eph 4:29), But are we really following what the word says? God says " Be holy as I am holy", It's not a request but a command. A heavenly treasure is unlocked for us if we discipline ourselves to live according to the word. Psalmist says "I Rejoice at your word As one who finds gr

Like a Child!

Daily word ‌4th October 2017 - Himalay Sharma Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. -Mark 10:15 Qualities of a little child 1) Submissive and dependent. A little child is submissive and dependent on his father for his daily needs. With a stubborn heart he keeps on asking his father for the things he want yet he is too innocent to trust the world and to let go off Daddy's finger. He keeps holding his father's hand wherever he goes because he trusts his Father's protection much more than his own sense of direction. If we address our God as "Father", then its important for us to behave like His children. In John 13:33 Jesus calls his disciples as Little children, not just children but little Children. Because little Children are not at all confident about their will and plans but their Confidence is in the Father's Will and Plan. 2) Obedience without Questioning. A child

Set Apart!

Daily Word 3rd October 2017 Shruti Vanjare “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 Conformation with the world means to behave according to socially acceptable norms of present times, in the society we live in. As believers we have a certain standard that God has set for us. We serve the King of Glory; seas part and storms cease just by hearing His voice. How much more should we be boasting in Him, humbly on our knees? We cannot be conformed to the world because the standard of the world is way beneath the standard of Heaven. We were created in the image of Christ (Genesis 1:26) and we were called to be Holy, just as He is. This comes through edification and renewing of our hearts and minds, a way in which God transforms us. “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting i

Do not Worry.

Daily Word 2nd October 2017 - Shruti Vanjare "Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.” -Isaiah 49:15 Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Worry and anxiety is something we experience almost on a daily basis. As humans, one of our basic instincts is to have control over things and it's natural for us to worry about things which are not under our control, or beyond our control. Worry is a sign that we don't have complete faith in God in that specific area. There are two keys to lead a life free from worry and anxiety. 1 Peter 5:7  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”  The first key to leading a worry free life is the simple act of Surrendering. The word of God says that you need to cast all your worries to Jesus because He's a loving God. When you think that things are not under you

A Believer's Lifestyle : Part 1

A Believer's Lifestyle However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" the things God has prepared for those who love him -1 Corinthians 2:9 Imagine the lifestyle of a Millionaire's Son. A lavish and a glamorous glimpse passes through our mind. What about a Billionaire's Son? Beyond our Dreams! Everything that we have ever desired. If these things fascinates our heart than there's one unspoken truth that conveys a lifestyle and happiness which is greater than these. You are a Child of the Most high God. The One who is the Creator of the silver and gold and millionaires and billionaires, the Maker and the Waker. But we go on with our lives ignoring this truth just like the Tolstoy's fabled beggar who spent his life sitting on a pot of gold, under him the whole time. Just because we don't live our lives according to the biblical standards we aren't qualified to receive the heaven