What a relief…!
For some, it is back to hot spicy non-vegetarian food,
For some, it is back to their favorite bottles in the bar,

For some, it is back to telling lies, troubling others, watching peculiar films, unholy-deals anything and everything that was kept suspended for all those forty days of LENT.

Everything else is remembered and the Son of Man who died on the cross is forgotten at least for another year.

Remember – “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might die.   But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans. 5:7 & 8 NIV)

Yes, on that GOOD-Friday Jesus was crucified as per the plan of God to SAVE mankind from their sins and find eternal life through Him. (Those who argue that the crucifixion was not on Friday please excuse).  The day of crucifixion and his death, thus became a Good-day, for He paid the ransom for us to be delivered from sin and the clutches of Satan.  And the news of His death became the Good-News, the Gospel – to find salvation by believing in Him.

Jesus the most obedient and the only begotten Son of God, carried out the task given to Him and submitted Himself for the supreme sacrifice on the cross.

He was buried, but His disciples could not find Him in the sepulcher on the third day, and the Angels told them: “He has risen!”

Not finding Jesus in the sepulcher and not knowing where to find Him, Simon Peter decided: “well, it is all over.”  (His Lent days are over…!).

So, he told his friends Thomas (Didymus) and Nathanael: “I am going fishing.” (John21:3). Any way he went back, not to his sins but to his profession, to take care of himself and his family.

Peter even forgot what happened during the Last Supper….

That night, Jesus got up from the meal.   And then, like any other servant in the houses of Israel, “took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water

into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:4&5)

“No” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet”

Jesus answered: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (John 13:8)

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.   I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  (John 13:14 & 15)

And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you…” (Luke. 22:19 & 20)

“DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME…” said Jesus.

The disciples and the believers obeyed this instruction of love.

After he had ascended into Heaven,

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts.2:44, 46 & 47 NIV)

That is why we take part in the Lord’s Supper every now and then in the church.  This will remind us about His sacrifice on the cross.  It will remind us of all His sufferings, being obedient to the One who sent Him.  He was held on the cross not only by those three nails, but because of His love for you and me.  He obeyed His Father till He knew, “It is finished”.

We are saved by Him, so we love Him.
We love Him, so we obey Him,
We obey Him, by leading a holy life.

Obey Him till the end of your life like the ‘man-Friday’*
Be Holy, and take part in the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him.                            

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*Note: The name ‘man-Friday’ is an idiom used in English to indicate a totally obedient servant based on the novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’ by Daniel Defoe published in 1719.  Used here only in that context as the story is related to a Friday.  This fictitious character was saved from cannibals by Robinson Crusoe on a Friday and hence he named him ‘Friday’.

‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight …’(Ps. 19:14)
Author - C. Samuel Gift (Bethel Seniors Fellowship, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)
Read My Story

]]> http://bethelagindia.org/blog/2012/05/remember-and-be-his-man-friday/feed/ 0 http://bethelagindia.org/blog/2012/03/daybreak/ http://bethelagindia.org/blog/2012/03/daybreak/#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:32:12 +0000 CS Gift http://bethelagindia.org/blog/?p=550

GREAT   is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God,

his Holy Mountain.  (Ps.48:1)……So, Praise Him.

…Start your day with a prayer.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. (Ps.46:1)

On a day when there is no one around to help. You get timely help.

…Start your day with a prayer.

I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. (Ps.121:1)

Look up to Him and He will help you.

…Start your day with a prayer.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that

destroys at midday. (Ps.91:5)       …  To lose all your fears …

…Start your day with a prayer.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone

to devour.  Resist him standing firm in the faith. (1Pe.5:8&9)

…Start your day with a prayer.

The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you

will be defeated before you.  They will come at you from one direction

but flee from you in seven. (Deut.28:8)

To boldly face enemies or any eventuality

…Start your day with a prayer.

The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life;

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

(Ps.121:7&8)

Life is safe in His hands, so

…Start your day with a prayer.

You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. (Deut.28:3)

Yes, be confident – OUR GOD is a good God.  He will bless.

…Start your day with a prayer.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants

Sleep to those he loves. (Ps. 127:2)

Thank Him, his mercy endures forever.  To get a good night’s sleep,

…Start your day with a prayer.

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; (La.3:23)

GREAT is His faithfulness, therefore, my beloved, praise Him.

…Start your day with a prayer.

________________________________________________________________________

‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight …’
Author - C. Samuel Gift (Bethel Seniors Fellowship, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)
Read My Story

Yes, 38,000, it is a big number!  You know what? It is the number of denominations that we have in the Christian community as per the information on the internet.  Whether accurate or not, the number is astonishing. There should be only one type of Christian as per the Bible, having a second type is by itself ‘wrong’ and an ‘impossibility’ – then how can there be so many types of Christians?  The list runs into pages as per the information available on the net. They are grouped under major-denominations, yet there are very many in number within them.  Many of them exist around us.  We can see that they show different behaviors.

Rev. Dr. M.A.Varughese, Senior Pastor, Bethel AG Church, Hebbal, Bangalore, once said in his sermon, (on 10/12/11) that ‘No two churches in A CITY preach exactly the same Doctrine.’

This is really what is happening around us and the above number confirms that. The author had a discussion with him regarding this and he gave me a much bigger surprise when he said:  “The number you see in the net is the recorded or the known denominations.  If we account all those that are not recorded as well, the number may reach the six-digit figure“.

Oh! They are more in number than the sand!  Are they His Blessings?

This shouldn’t have happened.  According to the Gospel preached through the verses in the Bible, we learn that…..

There is only one Jesus Christ.

He is the only begotten Son of God.

He was sacrificed on the cross only once.

He rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven to prepare a place for His Bride – the church.

He and his disciples and apostles preached only one Gospel:

“Repent for your sins.  Cease from repeating it.

Believe in Jesus Christ, testify by water baptism.

Be born again.

Be anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Lead a holy life according to the Bible, till you are taken to heaven along with the church”

There is one and only Church, the body of Christ, which means the total of believers on the entire Globe.

Apostle Paul says: “But even if we or an Angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.”(Gal. 1:8).  Therefore there cannot be two doctrines for the church or in other words ‘no denominations.’

That means there is only one spotless bride (church), for the Lamb (Jesus), the Lamb who was sacrificed for our sins.

If so, who are all these 38,000+ different brides in different costumes (denominations)?  Jesus never called them.  And they will get rejected as in Matthew 7:23 (NIV): “I never knew you, away from me, you evildoers”

Denominations:  They are a problem on this earth.  They break the unity among believers and divide the church into fragments.  This diversity is a sad development through centuries. Differences are growing like cancer, and there is no cure.   These differences help Satan, our only enemy, and we are playing into his hands only to split us further.   One man or one particular congregation or one community cannot succeed in rectifying this or unite them. It is difficult, rather impossible, to do that at this stage.  Yet some people try for unity, God bless them.  Let us pray to God and let His will be done.

History has seen these denominations torturing, burning, and killing each other in many ways. Yet, they all worshiped the same God and preached about universal brotherhood, repentance, salvation through Jesus, baptism in water, baptism of the holy spirit, holy life, second coming of Jesus, Heaven or Hell after the Day of Judgment.

They should have remembered what is said in 1^st John:   ”… anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”(1 John.4:20).   Therefore you cannot, but love your brother of another denomination, if you really love your God.

Different procedures are adopted by these denominations to worship the same God.

Apostle Paul says: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all; …..” (1^st Timothy.2:5 & 6).  Therefore worship procedure can only be one – the one that would please the Lord.

Doctrines differ – Trinity is split according to their own requirements, some say Jehovah only, others Jesus only, yet another group wants to do away with Holy Spirit.  And some go beyond that and say: “only I” and “whatever I interpret is the right doctrine.”  This person keeps his little group secluded, making them his personal followers.   He has no friends in spiritual life, only competitors. He gives wrong idea about Christianity, to non-Christians.  Different interpretations are given for the same word or verses from the Bible.   Numerous versions of the Bible brought out by different groups add to this confusion.

So, which is the real church?

It is those who have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev.7:14)

That is the church which is “prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband” (Rev.21:2)

“Lord, unite all thy children with thy Word and with thy love”- Amen!

________________________________________________________________________

‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight …’
Author - C. Samuel Gift (Bethel Seniors Fellowship, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)
Read My Story

Ye have heard that it was said: Thou shalt not kill…
But I say unto you: Whoever is angry with his brother without
Cause shall be in danger of the judgment. …(Mt. 5:21-22)

Ye have heard that it was said: Thou shalt not commit adultery…
But I say unto you: whoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart. …(Mt. 5:27-28)

Ye have heard that it has been said: Thou shalt not forswear thyself,
But I say unto you: Swear not at all by Heaven, for it is God’s throne,
Nor by the Earth for it is His footstool. …(Mt. 5:33-35)

Ye have heard that it has been said: An eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth,
But I say unto you: Whoever shall smite thee on the right cheek,
Turn to him the other also. …(Mt. 5:38-39)

Ye have heard that it has been said: Thou shalt love thy neighbor.
But I say unto you:  Love your enemies. …(Mt. 5:43-44)

GOD SAID:

“If my people, who are called by My Name will humble themselves,
And pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then
I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. …(2 Ch.7:14)

JESUS SAID:

He who belongs to God hears what God says.  …(Jn.8:47)
He that hath ears, to hear, let him hear.  …(Mt. 11:15)

So, do not show a deaf EAR to God’s words,
Show an open (new) ear and an open heart,
Hear and obey everything God says,
And rejoice in the Lord in this blessed NEW YEAR.
________________________________________________________________________

‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight …’
Author - C. Samuel Gift (Bethel Seniors Fellowship, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)
Read My Story

Today, the people who call themselves as the children of God do, so much to work at, so much to accomplish…little do they realize what a toll it will have on their life, on their future. These are evil days indeed. The devil has conjured up all kinds of harmless and, yes, useful devices, interesting and even educational pastimes, that one simply can’t seem to dispense with all with very subtle purpose. It may not seem important to some people to spend time with the Lord in meditating on the Word of God, Praying, fellowship with children of God and so on and fill their heart and mind with things that are honest and just things that are pure and lovely things that are of good report, virtuous and praise worthy.

O child of God, do you at times hold back from joining people of God in prayer or ministry?  Its the devil who makes you argue “I’m not indulging in anything wrong, am I? ‘What’s wrong with chat-rooms and harmless SMS’. “Wouldn’t it be enough if I avoided profanity, blaspheming and things like that? You contend. You are unknowingly becoming weak; it’ll dawn on you only when you cannot withstand temptation.

The Bible has said quite a lot about chatting. The Book of Proverbs says, “The talk of the lips tendeth only to penury” (Prov 14:23) You’ll gradually lose all your spiritual ones also ‘vain babbling’ St Paul calls it and says it’ll increase ungodliness (2 Tim 2:16). It is put most strongly in Proverbs chapter 10:19. In the multitude of word there wanteth not sin? Which means something sinful is bound to ultimately slip in unawareness.

Note the ways looks okay to us doesn’t bring about ‘death’ at once; it leads to ways of death. Twice in the Book of Proverbs we read the warning “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end there of are the ways of death” (Prov 14:12’16:25).

Children of God cannot get along well for long in the companionship of worldlings – they’ll end up vexing themselves (2 peter 2:8) we need to be selective about our fellowship in the circle  of saints too. See then that ye walk circumspectly redeeming the time because the days are evil, teaches Bible.

God wants His children to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. We are the chosen soldiers of God. God is in need of someone who will change the present atmosphere of the world. So being a chosen soldier of God we should never entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life and waste our precious time which has been given by God.

Let us free these affairs of life and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness and fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life whereunto we are called. Amen.

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Author - Godlyn Christy (Bethel Youth, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)

ON the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.  Everyone in the camp trembled!

Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire (Ex.19:16, 17)

And GOD SPOKE all these words:  “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery… “(Ex. 20:1).   And He spoke out the first ever Laws to be followed by His people.

Gist of the… “TEN COMMANDMENTS:”

1.  You shall have no other Gods before me.   2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven or earth or waters … bow down to them or worship   3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…. 4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.   5. Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land of the Lord…..6.  You shall not murder.  7. You shall not commit adultery.   8. You shall not steal.   9. You shall not give false testimony against neighbor   10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, his wife or his man/maidservant. (Exodus 20:3 to 17 NIV)

They became the Basic Laws for man to adhere to, so that the community will not suffer due to an individual’s indiscipline, fault, crime or sin.  These basic rules, especially #5 to #10 and others told in latter chapters in Exodus are adopted by many countries.  Other laws were derived from them to give out the Philosophy of Law.  The Lord gave many more rules to the Israelites to follow which are told in detail from Exodus 20:1 to 31:17.  There is an elaborate list of laws and punishments for disobeying them.   Laws for protection of property, personal injuries, social responsibilities, justice and mercy, Sabbath laws, annual festivals etc. were given.   ”Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said.” (Ex. 24:4).  But God gave them written on his own creation, the stone, which will not decay or wither out due to climate.  The Israelites preserved them in the Ark of the Covenant and carried The Ark, wherever they went.  If they did not obey these laws, punishments were very severe.

“And when the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets OF STONE inscribed by the finger of GOD.” – (Exodus31:18).

II. ON THE WALL

“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN”

BELSHAZZAR, the King of the Babylonians was scared to the core, when he saw A HAND moving on the wall and its fingers writing something which he could not understand.

It was in the middle of a banquet thrown by him for one thousand of his nobles, his wives and his concubines.  While they were enjoying the party, the King came out with a novel idea. He ordered his men to bring the gold and silver goblets brought by his father Nebuchadnezzar from God’s temple in Jerusalem.  They all drank wine from them and praised their gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron and stone.  God did not approve of this and sent His judgment in the form of the ‘Writing on the Wall.’

He called all his wise men.  But the King’s wise men could not decipher the writing. All were puzzled. Then the Queen suggested to the King to call Daniel for she knew that he had correctly interpreted the meaning of a dream for his father. Immediately, he called in Daniel and offered him a purple robe and a gold necklace if he could explain.  Daniel refused the gifts but agreed to explain the meaning.  He said:

MENE -    God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

TEKEL –    You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

PARSIN-    Your Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple (the royal robe of those days), and a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the Kingdom.

‘That very night, Belshazzar, King of the Babylonians, was slain and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.’  (Read the story in Daniel Ch. 5 NIV).  God did not forgive him for his misdeed.  God had given the same laws to Moses to enact them strictly.  No mercy was shown even to the King.

The phrase, ‘The Writing on the Wall’ thus  became a Proverb.

III. ON THE GROUND

THERE WAS a large gathering in the Temple courts at Jerusalem.  Pharisees and many Teachers of Law were also present in the big crowd.  All of them were watching A WOMAN sitting in the middle of the crowd and another man silently writing something on the ground with his fingers, a little away from her.

Someone suddenly lost patience and shouted at the man: “Oh, Teacher!  How long will you be silent?  We brought this woman to you because she was caught in the act of adultery. (Read John.8:4)  In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such a woman.  Now, what do you say?” (Jn.8:5).   (Their intention was to find fault with him).

JESUS, the Teacher, who was writing on the dusty ground with his finger. …. now lifted up His head and said: “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn.8: 6, 7).

And He stooped down and went on writing on the ground.

Sins like murder, drunkenness, orgies, debauchery, jealousy, and robbing the poor etc. were listed by Him.  Those who went near to Him and read them were pricked by their conscience and left one after another, “for there is no one who does not sin.” (1 Kings 8:46).   Soon, only the Teacher and the woman remained there.   All those who accused her had left.  There was none to throw a stone.

Jesus lifted up his head and asked – “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you? (Jn. 8:10) She said: “No one, Sir”. “Then neither do I condemn you”-Jesus declared and told her: “Go now and leave your life of sin“   .  .  .  (John 8:11 NIV)

God bless the men who have consideration for the girl-child and for women and problems related to them.    The law of ‘Forgiveness’ – the Gospel of Jesus is the same for men as well as for women.   For the Word says:  ”In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life.” (1 Peter 3:7 NLT).   Even the First man tried to put all the blame on his woman for leading him into sin; let us avoid such temptation.  God made Woman to support Man.  She is not a servant or a slave to man.  Be gentle to her- provide for her needs, protect her, and respect her.

SHE was forgiven of her sins by JESUS…!

The manifestation of God’s mercythrough Jesus!

‘To throw the first stone ‘ – became a proverb.

________________________________________________________________________

‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight …’
Author - C. Samuel Gift (Bethel Seniors Fellowship, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)
Read My Story

His birth made Heaven and angels to rejoice,
He was greeted by the group of simple shepherds,
Lead by the twinkle, twinkle Big Eastern Star,
Magi came and presented Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh.

              The child grew up in knowledge of the scriptures,
              He came to this Earth, to transform us and the future,
              His Heavenly Father prepared him for a sacrifice,
              That will save men and women from all their sins.

At Bethlehem they found no place, except a place full of hay,
On that Christmas Night, for his parents to rest and stay,
Today, if you open your heart to Jesus and honestly say:
“Lord, come in,” you will be born again on this Right Christmas Day.
________________________________________________________________________

‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight …’
Author – C. Samuel Gift (Bethel Seniors Fellowship, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)
               Read My Story

This factor of God’s communication pattern with man gives a deep insight into the heart of God & the mind of God. This is a reflection of a working partnership between Almighty God & His servants.

Such pattern of communicating with the eye can be seen during performances among teams, particularly music bands.

The need for communication with the eye is:

• Essential when the work that needs to be done cannot be vocalized – On the stage during a performance vocal communication between band members has to be minimal. Coordination must be executed non-verbally. The need to gesture by the leader and for the members of the team to understand it is very crucial for proper functioning of the team.

• Crucial during transitions and change – When the musical band has to change together, coordination is needed, for example, to shift chords or pace, the leader communicates with the eye & coordinates.

• For correction – in the team, when one person is not in tune with the rest of the team, the leader has to signal so that there is correction without embarrassment to the defaulter.

For a better understanding of the reality of communicating with the eye, consider a music team performing on a platform. Consider these factors:

• Communication with the eye usually happens in a close working relationship – Each minute gesture with the eye is usually understood after adequate time has been spent together before the actual work begins. These gestures may be planned or unplanned but the understanding needs to grow and begins to grow as the team members start to spend sufficient time with each other. Spend more time with God.

• The working partners must be in close proximity – If the team members are scattered or are distanced, such communication cannot happen. The servants of God need to remain close to Him to notice His gestures.

• The team members must be observant – I have faced this frustrating feeling when I try to look at someone on stage suggesting what to do, but they are not even watching me. If someone is so focused on their work that they are not watching the leader, they can mess up the show! The scriptures command that we be diligent to observe the instructions of the Lord.

• The team must identify and acknowledge the leader – Sometimes in a group there is no team. All are stars on the stage doing their own work. This is very dangerous. We His servants must realize that in spite of the fact that our voice is heard and the advantage of visibility that is given to people handling the platform, there is a master who is the leader in building His Church. At the peak of the show in all its intensity, do not forget to seek the face of the master our leader. Watch out for His gestures. Do not forget that He is in control.

• Know the working culture – in any teamwork, there is a clear work culture that is defined and established. So is the Church in every people group. & God honors the culture of the people insomuch that even Jesus did not offend the culture of the people that he ministered to. He was sensitive to the culture and traditions of the people as long as it did not come against the ways, the works and the power of God. Understand the working culture and pay a price to follow it for the works of the ministry to be fruitful. Be sensitive to His gestures.

• Understand the leader who is talking to us – Acknowledging the leader first. Then understanding the mind and the heart of the person is very important for productive work. We can learn from the Book, His likes and dislikes. Learn His desires and plans as you spend with Him.

Hindrances to communication by the eye:

Callousness / Insensitivity – When a team member does not respond to the signal with the eyes due to callousness or insensitivity, the person who gives the signals can be very frustrated. In case the person does not change, he may be out of the team in spite of all skills! Teamwork demands sensitivity, understanding, dynamic working relationship and sometimes pre arranged understandings and planned executions.

It will be to our advantage if we learn to master the skill of reading the master’s eyes.

Two conditions to be in the master’s team *

• Fear Him – In the secret when no one is watching, do the right thing; Because He’s watching. That is the fear of the Lord.

  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy Psalm 33:18

• Inculcate meekness – weakness is not meekness. Meekness is strength under control. The stronger & more powerful you are, the meeker you can be! Moses was a man of great strength & power. With the training to be the next Pharaoh, he was well prepared in emotional, social & all strength and power. But Moses decided to keep it under control. God certified him as the meekest man on the earth. Moses got God’s guidance consistently.

  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way Psalm 25:9

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Author – Rev. Abraham Varghese (Pastor, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)

Tears, apart from being the indication of suffering, express a mother’s love, a father’s care, a child’s need, the affection towards parents, the sympathy of siblings, support for the spouse, the involvement of a friend, the concern of a teacher, and the kindness of an elder.

Love is the basic emotion which makes you shed tears. People have been consoled by their own tears when nobody was around to console them during their sorrowful times.

Look at the following tears of love:

CROCODILE TEARS:

A crocodile sheds tears whenever it eats its prey. It is not due to any emotion. It is due to the muscular pressure acting on its eyes while swallowing its food. ‘Shedding crocodile tears’ is a well-known proverb used to describe pretension of sympathy by someone who in reality is hurting the victim indirectly.

TEARS OF JOY:

Tears of joy make you forget the pains you have undergone to complete a task. Often we see our sportsmen shedding tears when they win a match or an athletic event.

Pain suffered during a child’s birth is forgotten by the mother on seeing the newborn, and she sheds tears of joy. (Jesus narrates this in John 16:21)

Joseph shed tears of joy when he finally told his brothers who he was. (Gen.45:1 to 15)

PRAYER OF LOVE

“LOVE thy neighbour as thyself” is one of the commandments in the BIBLE. (Lev.19:18, Mt.19:19)

When you love others, tears will roll down your cheeks on seeing their suffering. But only showing sympathy to the sufferer is not sufficient. Jesus wept, but later he called Lazarus out to life. Some action should support the sympathy. That is love. Do your best to restore the loss. Try to help in rectifying anything that went wrong, and bring back the original status if possible.

In case of serious losses or death, time is the only remedy. Read out consoling verses from the Bible. Pray and encourage the victim to stop shedding tears. Your prayer can bring back the cheer on his or her face very soon.

For “…..the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James. 5:16)
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‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight’
Author – C. Samuel Gift (Bethel Seniors Fellowship, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)
               Read My Story

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) Unrighteousness, stemming from corruption offers resistance and hindrance to the kingdom of God, insomuch that the kingdom of God suffers violence. Nevertheless, ‘Righteousness’ and ‘Peace’ at grass-root levels can open the highway for the kingdom of God to be ushered into a nation. Where corruption is rampant, the society is not prepared to receive the kingdom of God. The prophet Esaias in the Spirit saw the kingdom coming and announced the need of the one crying in the wilderness, the one who would prepare the way for the messiah (Luke 3:4).

We see Jesus preaching about the kingdom of God. He also very clearly decreed that He would build His Church. The Church is different from the kingdom. The Church is the body of Christ, the bride of Christ. The Church is not the kingdom.

The kingdom has to do with the government, the business and economy, the family, the education system, the entertainment industry, the media, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, etc.; all of the pillars that build up a nation.

The Lord Jesus will build His Church anyways. But the Church of the Lord Jesus thrives when the kingdom of God comes on earth.

The words and the works of Jesus initially were to usher in the kingdom of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. But the preparation of the way for the kingdom of God was not all about power of the Holy Spirit. How did John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus, the preacher & the initiator of the kingdom of God?

We find the voice of the one preparing the way in the wilderness addressing certain issues in Luke 3. It was primarily repentance and the fruits meet unto repentance. John the Baptist addresses three sections of people – the common people, the soldiers who wielded power, & the publicans who handled authority.

As he prepares the way to usher in the kingdom, John the Baptist insists on righteousness, peace and joy. The same is echoed in this silent protest throughout the nation. This is a new beginning that we see in the ‘August Kranthi’ as the media portrays. A new era has started in the history of our nation that needs to be complete with the light of the gospel.

The media reflects the unfolding of a ‘second independence’ – an attempt to fight corruption in a spectacular way! The person standing in the forefront may be Anna Hazare. God who used the gentile king Cyrus to rebuild the house of God at Jerusalem is no respecter of persons. God can use Daniel to a certain extend. He needs gentile kings for the fulfillment of His divine plans. The prayer of the Church can bring in the complete fruit.

Why should the Church wake up to pray? It is so that none should hijack the movement for ulterior motives or hidden agendas. This move should remain pure to fight unrighteousness that is endangering our nations accomplishment of the tryst with destiny; So that there will be a highway in this barren dessert of corruption… & so that the kingdom of God will be ushered in with power!

At Bethel, like all the like-minded Christian Indian Citizens, we too are still seeking God’s face for the kingdom of God to be ushered in with a move hitherto unparalleled in history. We have been praying for quite some long time that the kingdom of God be unfolded in India so that the glorious body of Christ will be built up and prosper with miracles, signs, wonders, power and might.

Is Daniel, in whom the spirit of God lives, listening? Let the real Daniels stand up!
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Author – Rev. Abraham Varghese (Pastor, Bethel AG Church, Bengaluru)