Pray more!

2 Spend a lot of time in prayer. Always be watchful and thankful. colossians 4

 

Let us devote ourselves to prayer and pray more and more .Let us pray for everything and let us pray for everyone we know. Let there be lots of thanksgiving in prayer. Let us be watchful , lest we sleep off physically and let us be spiritually  aware of the things and people we are praying for.

If you want to see things happen ,lives changed , you need to start praying for yourself and for others.If you want to grow spiritually ,you need to pray.

LET’S PRAY AND ASK GOD TO HELP US PRAY MORE!!!! DON’T NEGLECT PRAYER!! IF YOU EAT DAILY ,ALSO PRAY DAILY.

When did you last ask God to forgive your offenders. 

Ambassadors of Christ – Hank Hannegraffe

The moment you accepted Jesus, you gained many new titles: child of the King, heir of the eternal Kingdom, Christ’s ambassador . . .

Do you ever think of yourself that way? As an ambassador to a culture based on an entirely separate foundation from our own? Because that’s just what you are!

It’s a dangerous assignment. Ambassadors to war-torn countries can become casualties, and we are nothing if not spiritually at war with the prince of this world. Millions of our brothers and sisters have already fallen victim, becoming conformers who have forgotten how to think biblically, imitating the soulless and superficial culture around them.

It’s safer to stay at home, within our own little Christian world, preaching to the choir. We can read only Christian books, watch only Christian media, make only Christian friends…and betray the One who touched lepers, ate with tax-collectors, and called us to follow in His footsteps.

Or we can equip ourselves to be in the world while refusing to be of it. We can steep ourselves in God’s Word so that everywhere we look, we discern the lies of our culture against a backdrop of Truth. Then we can use what we know to speak to the lost in a language they will understand.

“let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, ESV).

Hank hannegraffe, CRI http://equip.org/

ANGER , MURDER , RECONCILIATION AND JUDGEMENT

5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law ²² and the Pharisees, ²³ you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.5:21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ²⁴ ‘Do not murder,’ ²⁵ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ 5:22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother ²⁶ will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults ²⁷ a brother will be brought before ²⁸ the council, ²⁹ and whoever says ‘Fool’ ³⁰ will be sent ³¹ to fiery hell. ³² 5:23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. 5:25 Reach agreement ³³ quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, ³⁴ or he ³⁵ may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. 5:26 I tell you the truth, ³⁶ you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! ³⁷

From matthew 5: 21 to 6:21 Jesus deals with how to deal with issue of being righteous from the inside out as opposed to the pharisees and teachers of the law who were righteous only externally.

He deals with Anger , Lust , Divorce , oaths , retaliation , love for enemies , prayer , fasting and giving and explains how those who follow Him should be different from others both the self righteous (pharisees and teachers of the law)and the blatantly unrighteous(Tax collectors and sinners).

In this blog post we will see what he says about Anger .

The command, “Do not murder ” , is a universally accepted law even in pagan societies. The ten commandments also teaches that murder is wrong and sinful.So it went without saying that anger , a leading cause of murder is not a sin and that anyone  can think they  are not wrong for being  angry with anyone else.

But Jesus wanting to reveal true heart righteousness says ,” 5:22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother ²⁶ will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults ²⁷ a brother will be brought before ²⁸ the council, ²⁹ and whoever says ‘Fool’ ³⁰ will be sent ³¹ to fiery hell. ^32“

This is the deep inner issue which everyone faces . Anger & insult were not considered sinful in a self righteous society. But God doesn’t think so . Whenever we are angry and  whenever it is expressed even in words which insult and demean somebody, it is sin God’s eye who has created that person in His Own image.

They will be dealt with on par with murderers . God will judge them and sentence them to hell .

“whoever says ‘Fool’ ³⁰ will be sent ³¹ to fiery hell. ^“

This is the sequence of thought – They said ” Do not murder ” ….BUT I say ” Do not even be angry, it will be punished with hell fire” and next, SO reconcile, restitute and make peace with your adversary.

The solution to the problem of anger or hatred which is considered equal to murder is reconciliation , setting relationships right and  uprooting the root of bitterness as early as possible.

He says do these before coming to worship God . And if anyone of you sees yourself lodging bitterness or anger in your heart , i implore you on Christ’s behalf to reconcile , to forgive , to seek forgiveness , to reach agreement and establish peace. Failure to do so will have you face the consequences of both earthly authority and heavenly authority.

Anger is a practical problem we face in a fallen world filled with sinners.How we should deal with it has been  clearly taught by Christ . Now the important issue in Christianity is not just knowledge but doing what you know ,expressed in familiar terms as ” obedience to known truth”.

Practicing forgiveness , reconciliation , peacemaking is very essential. And we start by accepting our inability , mourning our lacking of intent and ability , receiving the strength by  the Holy Spirit and then obeying what Christ has explicitly taught us, which is the only way we can practice anything Jesus taught.

May God help you and empower you to overcome  anger and establish peace through reconciliation and be salt and light in this dark world.

HAPPINESS – SEARCH N SOLUTION – DR.RAMESH RICHARD

A GOOD PRESENTATION ON SEARCH N SOLUTION FOR HAPPINESS.

PART 1 :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg5wbLlW2HY

PART 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XvW9jq6VcA

PART 3:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4S4gA8D9tM

PART 4:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK8V6u6is84

PART 5:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auFl7fhkl8o

PART 6:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a29Arub54Uk

PART 7:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DEL8frXttM

PART 8:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UCyEry1XBk

PART 9:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5GPX5THjc0

PART 10:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EW5zAVfHuY

On law,prophets and righteousness

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus here after stating the important truths concerning the kingdom of God,speaks to them about the law and the prophets.The law and the prophets included the mosaic law and all the prophetic writings of the old testament.Jesus states explicitly that he has not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them.These teachings which he has started giving are not meant to abolish the law,but in themselves are the fulfilment of the law.Jesus has come to fulfill all the requirements of the mosaic law,this he perfectly did.He also came to fulfill all the prophesies that were made about him.

When believers in Christ live by these teachings  of the sermon on the mount, they will fulfill the law and the prophets.For he shortens all the law and the prophets into one verse in matthew 7:12 and says “Do unto others,what you want others to do unto you;on this hangs all the law and the prophets.”

By living according to the teachings of Christ which are based on the law stated above,  we will in no way miss fulfilling the requirements of God.

In gal 5 :20 -23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self control.Against such things there is no law.

Notice how the list ends.There is no law against the fruit of the spirit.The fruit of the spirit is the requirement of the law,so it fulfils the law.What the law tries to bring out is the same as the fruit of the spirit.It cannot bring it out.It can only inform.But the Holy spirit, enables and empowers and helps the believers to bring out the fruit of the Spirit.

That is how the law is fulfilled in a believer’s life.

Till the end of time all the laws of God stand.None of them can be annuled.Remember the crowd was Jewish,people to whom the law and the prophets were given.The time of the law and prophets was coming to an end and the time of the Gospel has come.Still the law and the prophets are not abolished but rather have been  fulfilled by Jesus.

Wesley explains briefly how it applies to the life of the believer.

“For the law has its effect, when the rewards are given, and the punishments annexed to it inflicted, as well as when its precepts are obeyed” JohnWesley

He talks in terms of law and it’s effect i.e judgement ,rewrds and punishments which will be accorded at the end of time .Till then the law stands ,even though this heaven and earth will pass away.

Whoever obeys these laws of God and teaches them ,will be considered great in the kingdom of God.

Whoever annuls the laws of God ,even one  and teaches others to do the same will be called least.So whoever does not obey the Law of God and teaches others also to take a deviant way from the law will be called least in the kingdom of God.Jesus goes on further and states that if the righteousness of anyone does not exceed the external traditionalism and the self righteousness of the pharisees, which is a result of adherence to a twisted interpretation of the law,which annuls the real law ,then ,they cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Adam clark explains the pharisaical system best.

“The Pharisees were remarkable for making a distinction between weightier and lighter matters in the law, and between what has been called, in a corrupt part of the Christian Church, mortal and venial sins.”

Jesus elsewhere staes that the pharisees annul the laws of God by their tradition.They observed the letter of the law without it’s spirit.The people never knew the problem with the religious system.

Jesus wants them to know the real way of being righteous.Jesus does not want us to be followers of a superficial religious system,to be like the pharisees.Jesus wants us to surpass the religious system with the true spirituality of the Gospel which can only make a person trulyright with God.Those who do not obey and teach others to disobey the laws of God,by wrongly interpreting it and applying it will be called least – cannot enter the kingdom of God.Adam clarke in his commentry explains it well.

“Except your righteousness shall exceed] perisseush, Unless your righteousness abound more-unless it take in, not only the letter, but the spirit and design of the moral and ritual precept; the one directing you how to walk so as to please God; the other pointing out Christ, the great Atonement, through and by which a sinner is enabled to do so- more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, who only attend to the letter of the law, and had indeed made even that of no effect by their traditions-ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Being Witnesses for Christ

¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Jesus adressing his disciples tells them that they who live according to his teachings which he has delivered so far are the salt of the earth and light of the world.

Salt of the earth refers to the salt deposits which were found in the dead sea area.These were not used in foods ,rather they were used as fertilizers to grow plants.Jesus calls of them salt indicating their potential to effect growth of good things in the society.Best example would be William Wilberforce who worked for the emancipation of the slave trade in England.When people live by the dictates of the Gospel ,they will surely have a positive impact , an effect which will enhance the moral and spiritual atmosphere of society.How can this be achieved? Only when a disciple lives according to the teachings of Christ;when he adorns himself with the beattitudes and fruit the Spirit.

Jesus also talks about salt losing it’s saltiness.When disciples stop living or don’t live according to the techings of the Christ,they become good for nothing like the salt which cannot be used because it has lost it’s saltiness.So it is very mandatory for the disciples to take Christ at his word and restructure their livs in accordance with his teachings.They God can use them to produce the effect he desires in the world.

Light of the world stands for the lamp used to give light ,which prevents darkness from taking over so that we know what is what.Imagine a dark room.There a snake can be mistken for a rope ,truth cannot be known.Only guesses are possible , certainty of what is what is not possible.More accidents occur in the dark.Imagine walking through  a dark lane wth no treet lights.If there is a open gutter in that lane ,then think what all can happen.Imagine the same street with good street lights.Then the open gutter can be negotiated and we can carry on safely. Light basically brings revelation about what lies around.

So when Jesus says ,you are the light of the world he wants us to live such lives which will reveal Christ to the world.If our lives are in accordance with the teachings of Christ,in accordance with the beattitudes ,if our lives are adorned with

1.Humility

2.meekness

3.Peacemaking

4.Purity of heart

5.Hungering and thirsting after righteousness

6.Persecution for righteousness and Christ’s sake

If the world see the Christ like love and holiness ,flowing through us then we can be light of the world.

Jesus does not want the change he has wrought in our lives  to be a secret.He wants the world around us to see the change he has brough in us , the different principles and value systems we hold and praise our Father in heaven.

The motive behind testifying ,witnessing for Christ ,of being a positive influence in society, of our lives oozing out with Christ likeness is so that the Father in heaven will be glorified.

The right motive for witnessing is to glorify God.

But how am i going to live according to Christ’s teachings?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.(acts 1:8)

SALT OF THE EARTH

Witnessing is not possible without the empowerment of the Holy spirit.With God nothing is impossible.

Beattitude 8 & 9

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The 8th and 9th beattitude talk about the same subject,PERSECUTION.They give two reasons that make persecution a blessing.

1.Persecution for being  righteousness .eg: Abel in old testament

2.Persecuted for Christ’s sake i.e as the word says taking insults , persecution and false accusations for Christ’s sake.

Eg: Paul , other apostles ,stephen,thessalonian church,Luther by catholic church etc.

Ofcourse both are interrelated.You cannot follow christ without being righteous.

Paul reminds timothy in 2 tim 3: 12 , ”In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”

Jesus remionded his disciples before his departure in John 15:20 ”Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

” All that are resolved to live godly – Therefore count the cost. Art thou resolved? In Christ – Out of Christ there is no godliness. Shall suffer persecution – More or less. There is no exception. Either the truth of scripture fails, or those that think they are religious, and are not persecuted, in some shape or other, on that very account, deceive themselves.” -John Wesley.

Persecution will separate the true follower of Christ from the false.Persecution is test which will show us where our true loyalties lie.Persecution for righteousness sake and christ’s sake  is a blessing .Persecuton for righteousness sake is a sign of  assurance of belonging to the kingdom of God for the scripture in this beattitude says ,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We should not try to ward off persecution by compromising our obedience to Christ.We should not be surprised either.We should continue to live for Christ no matter what.If God allows persecution,then as the word says ,let us be joyful and rejoice for that is how the prophets were treated by their contemporaries.

1 Peter 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

1 Peter 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

A good example is provided by the apostles themselves in acts 5 : 41 it says,

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Are you persecuted for righteousness sake?

Are you persecuted for Christ’s sake?

Do you rejoice and are glad that you were counted worthy to suffer for him? What is your attitude?

The scripture does ask us to count the cost before we decide to follow Christ.The scripture clearly says that perscution is inevitable.You start doing what Jesus said and it will surely come.Since it is a certaint in the life of a follower of Christ, it is good if right attitude and expectation are developed in line with the word given to us.

orrisa persecution

burning church,orissa

houses burnt for being christians

Beattitude 7

Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called children of God.

Peace making is synonymous with reconciliation.
Peace making has three sides.
1.Peace making between myself and God
2.Peace making between myself and another person
3.Peace making between groups or two people other than yourself.

For children of the kingdom of God,peace making is a command.It is their calling to establish peace between individuals and God by evangelism.As Paul says in ii corinthians 5 ,God has reconciled the world through Jesus and has given us the ministry of reconciliation whereby we plead with people to be reconciled to God.He calls it the ministry of reconciliation.
Followers of Christ are commanded to deal peaceful with everyone.That’s why in the matthew chapter 5 Jesus says, 23″Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Peace making and reconciliation are mandatory things which God expects from his children.
Followers of Christ are also commanded to make peace between two fighting factions,nations ,groups or individuals.
Disciples of Christ who do not make peace cannot remain his disciple or children of God.
The first thing that happens when a believer is born again is peace with God.
God forgives and accepts an offender as his Children.Th right response God expect of his children is extending that same forgiveness and rconciliation to people who have offended them.
Only then shall they really be his children.

Beattitude 6

Blessed are the pure in heart ; for they shall see God. Mathew 5:8
Pure in heart as opposed to external purity alone.The Jewish system emphasised and demanded ritualistic cleansing or purification before entering the temple to meet God.
God does not demand external purity.He demands only internal purity or holiness of heart.The pure heart is one which is washed of it’s filth and dirt ,which is nothing but sin.
A pure heart is one which is cleansed of it’s sin by the blood of christ.A pure heart is one which is imputed with righteousness.This gives us a position,in christ.This process is called justification.
Then God actually purifies us from our sinful inclinations,sinful habits,sinful desires ,sinful deeds so that we become more like him.This process is called sanctification.
Only people who are justified by Christ and are growing in sanctification can know God .
God is the purifier and it is God who sanctifies and justifies us.

Beattitude 5

Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy.

Mercy has two aspects giving and forgiving.
Both these are give and you will have it.Normally ,if you give you will lose. But in the kingdom of Christ.You get by giving to others.There are othes ways othe things are obtained ,by searching,seeking,knocking etc.
Remember these things?
Give and it will be given unto you….With
the measure you use it will be measured to you.
Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

There is also another approach to the call to be merciful.
Be merciful as your heavely father is merciful.This comes straight after the parable of the unforgiving servant.The unforgiving servant seeks mercy from his master but is not ready to dispense mercy his fellow servants.To that servant God withdraws his mercy and send him to hell.
Those belonging to th kingdom of christ have received mercy and thus are expected to show mercy without which they cannot obtain further mercy.
Be merciful.Give and forgive as the lord gave himself for us and also forgave us.Then you will receive mercy.