Friday, October 16, 2015

There is power in the name of Jesus


There is power in the name of Jesus.

Is it just by pronouncing it? or by believing in it?

what is the power? when is it required?

These are the questions comes when we come across mentioning the name of Jesus at the time of trials, sufferings or even devil. But Jesus when commissioned the Disciples commanded them:

In Jesus name we cast out demons
In Jesus name we speak in new tongues
In Jesus name we will not be hurt even if we pick up serpents and drink any deadly poison
In Jesus name we will recover the sick by laying hands on them.


It is very much important to know the power of the word Jesus, not just by pronouncing it, but by believing in it. To believe in it is also to pronounce it, but mere pronouncing will do no benefit. So, we are to call up on his name with faith.

Hebrews 11:6New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

demons will shake and tremble at his name - Jesus.

John 14:30New American Standard Bible (NASB)

30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;






Mark 16:14-19New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Disciples Commissioned

14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17 These [a]signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Why Does God Allow Sufferings?

God being the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Why does he allow sufferings? When an evil doer suffer or when someone who does sin suffers we can understand it is the reward for the the evil that person does, but why does bad things happen to Good - Godly people?

We consider sufferings in the way that a person experiences or expresses his feelings towards life. Ex: When the disciples asked about the blind man, When Job was confronted by his friends, When David was confronted with the prophet Nathen.

John 9:1-12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Healing the Man Born Blind

9 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” 9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” [a]He kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.”


For his Glory:



For we know what it is to sin. The reward of Sin is suffering, but not all sufferings are because of Sin. Job's case.


Testing:


God's Sovereignty:


Sufferings are a result of differences in what happens in one's life. The fear of the future, the torcher of the present - The presence of pain.






1 Corinthians 10:13New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Matthew 6:26 NIV Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Jesus is one of the best example of how a person should look at this differently, when at the time of sufferings, confusion, doubt, pain, difficulties. He never gave up, even at the time of at most confusion, he called upon God - The Father, Luke 22:42 NIV "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

His confidence in stating that the Heavenly Father will take care of everything is very clear when he says - Matthew 6:26 NIV Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Jesus walked through all the possible difficulties any man could go through, but yet remained faithful to the Father. His obedience to the point of death (Philippians 2:8 NIV And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross!,) His power of resurrection -

John 10:17-18(NASB) For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:25-34New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Cure for Anxiety

25 “For this reason I say to you, [a]do not be worried about your [b]life, as towhat you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the [c]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, andyet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?27 And who of you by being worried can add a single [d]hour to his [e]life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But [f]seek first [g]His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [h]added to you.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [i]care for itself. [j]Each day has enough trouble of its own.



Jesus' observation on the nature is very significant, no one could have ever thought the way he thought about it. He created everything, he was there in the beginning, everything created is to his glory.

John 1:1-5 (NASB)

The Deity of Jesus Christ

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.



The Fig Tree -


The Mustard Seed -





The Lost Sheep -




The White tomb -
The Cup -



Living Bread, Water




Love, Care, Affection.




Women at the Well, The Offering of the Widow, The Woman who Anoint Jesus' feet with the Alabaster Oil,


In his miracles, Water turned into Wine,


In God's Covenants:

Stars and Sands
Rainbow



Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Know them by their fruits

It is very important to know why we believe in what we believe. God of the Bible is gracious to let us know that his attributes is true and through his love he has made know everything that we wanted to know to trust in him. This is not the same in many other world views, there are revelations that are particular for a group or ethnicity or for a particular personal benefits. This is why Jesus warned the people of his time to be aware of the hypocrisy, false religion, false humility, wrong deeds and motives.

Other Prophets after Christ
Jesus clearly says that there will be many other claiming that "I am he". But we need to be aware of the things that Jesus told us about these false prophets. They not only deny the Power of God, but by their cunning nature turn the people who are easy to be deceived to believe in what they say as true. They deny the very deity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that he is the only way to God and he is the God himself.

The Word of God
Say for example many other books which are not in the Bible claim to be the word of God. But these very books deny the Bible or contradict the Bible stating that Christ did not die on Cross or he is not God in human flesh etc., but they claim to be Jesus as prophet. How can it be? But Bible clearly states that these books are mere human interpretations and not the inspiration of God. If it were from God it cannot contradict the Bible, which is the Word of God. So, either way claiming that the other books are word of God falsifies their statement (because it denies the deity of Jesus Christ), nor does it make word of God (Just because it recognizes only part of Bible to be true). But what matters is that Bible, which is the Word of God. Because the very words in this books is written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - God, conforming what has been done and what is happening and what is coming.



Jesus said


Matthew 7:15-20New King James Version (NKJV)

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.


James after telling us about the power of tongue, he tells about cursing our fellow beings. 

James 3:8-12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both [a]fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce [b]fresh.g

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Looking unto Jesus

In Hebrews chapter 12, it starts with the encouragement for everyone, having said about great faith from Abel to Moses, then for those who received their dead raised to life again. "Women received their dead raised to life again."

Then about the people, how they endured and suffered having not received the promises, but yet awaiting for a better reward - The Resurrection, The Heavenly gift.

These were the people the writer of Hebrews says that we should look into, When we are tempted to sin, we can overcome those temptations just by putting our faith in God.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.


When we look at Jesus on the Cross

When you look at Jesus on the cross, remember that he forgave the sins: - Sins of the murderer who was crucified next to him, Forgave the sins of those who tore his clothes, who beat, rebuked and mocked him, insulted him and cast lots.


Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.




When we look at Jesus as the Son of God

We see obedience to the point of death. When we see him as a Master he washes the feet of the disciples, When we see him as the God - He is the God of Love.

When we look at Jesus as the God, the Messiah.
That God became flesh and live among us.


When we look at Jesus as One person in Trinity.
We see that he obeyed the Father, The Spirit was with him. He is God and The Father God and The Holy Spirit.


Even as we look at Jesus as the Great Human.
We see how he suffered for our sins.


Even as we look at Jesus as Judge.
He did not condemn us for our sins, nor did he punish, but gave mercy upon mercy and grace over grace.

















Sunday, September 13, 2015

The Concept of Trinity

The God head is three persons -The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. though the three persons are different they are the same. Though they are three persons, but yet they are one person only. This is a mystery. Why should he be three? and not more?

The divine love - The relationship between the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit is seen from the beginning. As we see the act creation to creating the Man in the image of God. The God says, Genesis 1:26 NIV Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Why it is so much important in believing the Trinity God?
In the Gospel and the Bible throughout the scriptures, God is represented in the Trinity. The beginning of the verse in the Genesis. When it says, "In the beginning God Created Heavens and the Earth". The God here is the Greek work Elohim, Which means plural "Gods". The Holy Spirit is also mentioned in the first few verses of the Bible, Genesis 1:2 NIV Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. and it is mostly mentioned as the Spirit of God. Understanding the Trinity is important because God wants us to understand it. Jesus himself said, John 16:7 NIV But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. God in his Divine order of creation and events, planned and purposed that he would be coming as the form of Man (In human flesh) taking up a servant's place to obey the Father, rejected by men but highly exalted by the Father that he was allowed to sit at the right hand of the Father - Jesus Christ.


Jesus confirms about the Trinity when he said about Baptism, "Baptiste them in the Name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit".

Why they have to be different, yet they are the same?
Jesus confirms that there is only one God and he claimed to be God himself. He said in Mark 12:29 NIV "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.


Thursday, September 10, 2015

Prayer

Prayer:

We believe that God can help us to overcome our hunger. But, that does not stop us from having food. Prayer is asking God's will for our life, doing according to his will. In the process we cannot and will not be given something which we can get it our self. But, we should not be overwhelmed by the things that God can do in prayer. Elijah was fed by a crow, The whole Isralites were fed by the manna. Jesus says he is the manna from the heaven for us today. He is the bread of life, eat him means to do as according to his will, as Jesus says, my food is to do the will of my father.


Prayer should be like breathing:
Righteousness - Hunger and thirst for it...

Man Shall not live by bread alone.

Matthew 4:4 (NASB)

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”


Why some prayers are not answered?
Because of Faith
Because of Sin
Because of wrong motives


James 4:3 (NASB)

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask [a]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it [b]on your pleasures.


Pray like Jesus
Early Morning - Mark 1:35
In Solitude - 
In Faith -
Asking according to the will of the Father - Prayer at the garden of Gethsemane. 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Significance of Baptism

Baptism (from the Greek noun βάπτισμα baptisma; see below) is a Christian sacrament of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also a particular church.


Romans 6:4 NIV

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.


Colossians 2:12 NIV

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.


The Baptism is the confirmation or acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Savior. Its significance goes way back to the period of Noah's. The Baptism symbolizes the same manner in which God submerged the entire world in water, cleansing everything. Now through the Blood of Jesus Christ. We are dead along with him on the cross, our sinful nature has been put to death and we are a new creation resurrected with him and alive.

1 Peter 3:17-22English Standard Version (ESV)

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered[a] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which[b] he went and proclaimed[c] to the spirits in prison,20 because[d] they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

We are to be Born Again:
John 3:3 NIV

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."



Galatians 2:20English Standard Version (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.

Acts of the Apostles

Acts 1 English Standard Version The Promise of the Holy Spirit 1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to ...