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Article on Faith and Hope in Punjabi
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Jesus: The Cause of division
Sushma Singh
Jesus says in Matthew 10:34-36 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law”.
Jesus was described in Isaiah 9:6 as the “Prince of Peace”. He was the one who said to his disciples in John 14:27 “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” If you compare these verses, you might find them contrary in nature.
Is Jesus causing division as he said that I have come to bring a sword?
In order to understand what the Lord is saying to his Church through these verses, we should try to understand first How the Lord has defined Peace, Sword and Division in his Holy Word.
Peace as described in John14:27 is Jesus’ own peace which is different from the peace that this world gives. The peace that this world gives is conditional and dependent upon worldly possession and blessings. For instance, worldly people say that everything is at peace when their lives run smoothly, their children are in good jobs and are happily married, their grand children are obedient, they have good health, etc. The list is endless, if somehow one thing goes missing, the peace runs away from their lives.
The Peace that Jesus gives is unconditional, independent and permanent. It stays despite adverse situations and circumstances. Jesus’ peace fills the heart and mind of the believer with a special joy that comes out of him/her at a time when there is no reason to rejoice. It all happens so that the true nature of Jesus’ peace may be reflected to others and brings glory to the heavenly father.
Have you ever felt a very special peace in your heart despite storms in your life? Know that this is the same peace that Jesus offered to his disciples and is still inviting people to receive it.
Sword and Division: Jesus has indeed come with a sword to divide. The sword as described in Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and alive, sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Jesus is the word of most high God that became flesh. Being the WORD in FLESH, Jesus and the Word of God carry the same nature that is to penetrate and divide. Have you ever experienced being convicted after reading or hearing the word of God. That was the moment when the word was exercising its penetrating power to bring the thoughts or habits out of you that were blocking your closeness to God. Not only so, once you accept and submit to the penetrating process of the word, it is powerful enough to separate those thought/habits out of your life forever.
Jesus has indeed come with a sword to divide. Wherever Jesus is, there is light. In light things become clear and show their true nature and colour. In a family, where Jesus comes, light appears and separation follows. In the same manner as father created light by his word and then separated light from darkness. This happens because not everyone accepts the Lord at the same time, as is written in John 1:11 “He came to his own but his own did not receive him.” That brings a great responsibility to those who have accepted Christ. John 1:5 says “Light shines in the darkness.” When God separated the light from darkness, he didn’t take the light away from darkness but left it to shine in the darkness, likewise those who have come to know the Lord should intercede for the other family members who have not yet received the Lord. If you are in a family where there are people who have not yet accepted the Lord, the Lord is speaking to you to SHINE EVEN WHEN ITS HARD TO SHINE and pray so that the whole household may come to know the Lord.
Father, how deep are your thoughts and who has known your ways. Thank you my father that you have been made known to us by Jesus Christ, our sun of righteousness
Biblical Questions & Answers in English
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Interpretation of John 8:12
Sushma Singh
Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
”Jesus is talking about two lights, Light of the world and the light of life. He is stressing the need to follow one light to receive the other. One without the other is not possible. Light of the world is different from the light of life. And both are available to us today.
Bible says in John 1:14 ”The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Psalmist says in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” When the word of most high God came into this world in flesh as Jesus, Light came through HIM to those who try to live their lives according to God’s word. But that doesn’t deny the fact that darkness is ever present in this world. The moment we receive Christ as our King and make a commitment in our hearts to follow HIM, we open a door for the light of the world to come to us. The light of the world is the active force of the most high God that opens our understanding and enables us to distinguish between light and darkness. Without receiving Christ, we can’t even acknowledge the fact that we are in darkness and need the light of the World.
Having received Jesus as the light of the world and equipped with the power of discernment to see the true state of this world. We feel drawn more and more towards this light, which is Jesus, for the desire to get rid of darkness makes us want more to follow Christ. In response to our desire, the Lord blesses us with the light of life. That is, He makes His dwelling among HIS people. The presence of the son of most High God counsels us when we need it. The light of life flows from Christ to us and from us to others.
What an honour and favour the Lord has granted to His people. Let us make good use of this favour and glorify our father by letting this light shine onto others through our words and deeds.
Marching in the multiplied blessings of God - (3 Part Series)
Part 1 - Marching in the multiplied mercy of God
Pastor Warris Masih (warrismasih@gmail.com)
Jude1.2: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
God’s dear people, aforesaid words of Apostle Jude were written to the Jews converts Who had received Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior? In verse 1 he says that you have three great favors of God, “called by God, sanctified by God and preserved in the Lord Jesus Christ”. But in verse 2 he says that you have three more spiritual blessings of God, which are His mercy, peace and love and these three blessings have the ability and the anointing of fertility to be multiplied unto you.
On the basis of the word of God I believe that if you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior, you have God’s three favors and three spiritual blessings which are waiting to be multiplied in your life.
Let us take the 1st one: MERCY.
Let us define Mercy. Mercy means, kindness, loving kindness, goodness. An act of kindness done to a wrongdoer. And this a characteristic of God.Ex.34.6,the the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, Merciful and Gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness and truth. And when God sent His son Jesus Christ into the world. He too had this Devine characteristic. We read in Matthew 9.36, “and seeing the multitudes He felt compassion(mercy) for them---..Matth 14.14, when He saw people carrying their sick people He showed mercy and healed them all.Even from the cross forgave them who were crucifying Him. Mercy is not only the characteristic of God the Father and the Son)Jesus Christ) but also the fruit of God the Holy Spirit Gal.5.22). And the goodnews is that when a person is bornagain, this characteristic of God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is placed inside of him. Apostle Paul confirms it in Titus 3.1-6,---he saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. So if you are bornagain believer in Jesus Christ, you have this spiritual blessing of God inside of your Jar,in your Alabaster box, in your belly, in your soul and in your spirit. You don’t need to feel, suppose or doubt about it but just believe it that you have it, just as you believe that you have a heart, mind, soul, spirit and body.
The reason why God has put it inside of you is recorded in 1 Tim 1.16, “And yet for this reason I obtained mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life”. Just consider this great gift of God that He has marked you to give eternal life to those who are doomed to perish eternally. But have you ever notice that when God brings any object of mercy (anyone in affliction, bondage or helplessness), instead of showing mercy you harden your heart as written in 1 Jn.3.17. A voice comes from within you, Oh No, this person deserves this. Why I should spend my time and my money, why me and not somebody else ?. You know what, by this God showed you that the mercy inside of you needs to be multiplied and He gave you this opportunity to get it multiplied but again you missed it and your mercy remained as it was. God never gives up on you, it so happens that you are coughtup in an accident, injustice, illness or surrounded by evil people. You stand in the dire necessity of mercy. You cry seeking someone’s mercy but no one pitties on you. And you complain unto God, saying, God have you forgotten to show mercy ?. God says no my child, it is not me, but you. Have you not read Hosea.10.12 which says, “sow to yourself in righteousness and reap in mercy---“.Do you know why we behave so, because of the lack of the knowledge of the word of God. When you read Eph.2.8, which says, “you are save by GRACE” we think that GRACE and MERCY is the same thing, which is not. There is difference between Grace and Mercy. Grace means, “God does give us what we don’t deserve”, such as His son Jesus Christ on the Cross, Forgiveness of sins, Salvation, Reconciliation, Justification, Adoption as His sons and daughters, Eternal life, Heaven and all other blessings. Mercy means, “ God does not give us what we deserve”, such as wages of the sin(death) Rom.6.23 and does not send us to hell. Ps.103.10 says, “ He does not deal with us according to our sins nor rewards us according to our iniquities”.Ps.130.3,”If Thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand “ ?. Instead Isa.53.5 and 11 say, “ He was crushed for our iniquities and He will bear their iniquities”. This is His mercy
Well, if you read Matthew.18.21-35,there you find a servant who owed to his master 10000 talents = more than $10,000,000. But because he showed his inability to pay, his master showed both GRACE and MERCY and forgave him all his debt. He showed Grace by giving his servant what he did not deserve, like writing off his complete debt and freed him. And as far as MERCY is concerned, he did not give his servant what he deserved, like selling him, his wife, his children, all that he had and imprisonment till he pays off all. But another man owed this forgiven servant 100 denarii (one day’ wage). That poor man begged him to have patience, but this man did not forgive him but put him in the prison. Why, because he did not understand what is Grace and what is Mercy. The result was again in debt and in prison, because he did not get his mercy multiplied. Dears, Lamentations.3.22-23, “For His compassion fail not—every morning His mercies are new, means multiplied mercies, which we need everyday but we can only get the new when use the yesterday’s. God does not keep dumping if we are not using. Devil will always tell you not to show mercy, but Proverbs.11.17 says, the merciful man does good to his soul but a cruel man does harm to himself.
HOW MERCY CAN BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU ?.
Matth.5.7, Show mercy it will be shown to you. Hos.10.12, Sow mercy and reap mercy. For sowing you need field.Matth.25.31-46 shows us plenty of fields, such as hungry, thirsty, strangers, sick, naked, prisoners and etc. Widows, orphans, afflicted, Jews and God’s workers. Borrow vessels like widow of 2 Kings 4, and pour in them your mercy and discover how quickly God multiplies your mercy. If you need mercy of God, it comes through Jesus Christ from His Cross and His blood. Receive Jesus Christ as your saviour and be flooded with the mercy of God. Proverbs 3.3 says, let not mercy leave you ---. Who will you show mercy today ?.
Part 2 - Marching in the multiplied peace of God
Dear brothers and sisters, let us read Jude 1.2 and 2 Peter 1.2. Jude 1.2 says, may --- peace---be multiplied to you. 2 Peter 1.2. says, --- peace be multiplied to you. In both of these verses we find two blessings of God. One is “Peace” and the other is “Multiplication”. Before I speak on Peace, I will speak on Multiplication. You know that no one hates multiplication, even God Himself. In Ps.35.27 we read, “The Lord takes pleasures in the prosperity (Multiplication) of His saints”. That is why when God created the creation He blessed the birds, beasts, reptiles, insects, human and even vegetations to be fruitful and be multiplied. And this blessing of multiplication is so good that if a born again believer will understand and apply it in his or her life as God intends to, it is will start operating in that person, will energize his inner man , expand his inner understandings, break his chains and yokes, open the cage of captivity, give him new vision and new wings to fly high in the spiritual sky. The present world and the things thereof, pleasures, prosperity and peace that seem to him so good and glamorous will appear to be so pale and perishing. Not only this but whenever he will read the Bible and hear the small and still voice of the Holy Spirit that the blessings of the multiplication are on the way, he will not sit idle, sleep or slumber but will make preparations to get them. That person will start acting like Joseph as we read in Gen.41. He will break the old and small barns and stores and will make the new and bigger. In Lk.12 we read about a Farmer who was a fool, but when he saw that I have so much of produce, that multiplication gave him the understanding to break the old and small barns and make the larger. So should every Christian do when he sees that the Bible is full of God’s blessings of multiplication?
PEACE
But we see most of the Christians do not enjoy this blessing .When they see others enjoying it, they envy them or blame God for being partial or they will think falsely I am very righteous person that is why I suffer. No, that is not the case. The reason why that man does not have the multiplied blessings of God is that multiplication does not show up where the Peace is not seen first. Peace is like a soil on which the multiplication grows. Peace is a foundational stone on which the mansion of multiplication is built Peace is that axle on which the abundance rotates. If there is no peace underneath, there is no multiplication above. See Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis, as along as they were in peace with God and peace of God, multiplication was in their menu everyday. But when they sinned, the peace parted from them and the mansion of their multiplication melted down. When Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden without the peace with God and Peace of God they left also without God’s blessing of multiplication. Then they invented their own peace in their own labor and efforts (cultivation) which is termed as the “peace of the world” (Jn.14.27), which is another peace. Today the world without Jesus Christ is pursuing this peace and is shattered in pieces. There was a time when the western world was blessed with multiplication because it had peace with God and peace of God, but ever since it has come out of the peace of God, it no more is a land of multiplication. Because if a person will reject the “Prince of Peace”, The Lord Jesus Christ, multiplication will move away from him, that is why Isa.57.21 says, “There is no peace for the Wicked. Dear people of God, the message is straight, if the wicked does not have the peace of God then we the people of God should not desire the peace of the world. Do you have the peace of God and peace with God? One may say yes I do, that is great, but you have to be sure whether your peace is being multiplied or not?. You may again say, yes it is. Congratulation. But you know 12 disciples of Jesus Christ were with the Prince of peace for more that 3 years, yet when their peace was put to trial, it showed that their peace needed to be multiplied. Lk.8.22-25, when there was a storm on the sea the disciples were in the boat and the Christ was sleeping. Struggling with the storm, how they were found panic because they did not have the multiplied peace. And in Matthew 14, when they in the desolate place with Jesus Christ and the multitudes, where there was nothing to eat and the money was not enough to feed the thousands, how they got upset and helpless, why because their peace was not multiplied. In Mark.14, when Judas and the soldiers and the religious leaders came to lay hands on Jesus Christ and take Him away and when they found that Jesus is not showing His power to escape the trouble, they all left Him and fled away, why, because their peace was not the multiplied peace. And down the cross, except His disciple John, no one was there. If you have multiplied peace, then it should stand the test as is written in Ps.46.1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains should slip into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride”
HOW TO GET THE PEACE MULTIPLIED?
1. Love the Word of God. Ps.119.165, Those who love Thy law have great peace---. The result of loving the law (word) of God is multiplied peace. I resigned from the Indian Army at the word of God. Devil began to speak to me through my officers and co-workers and tried to discourage me and thus rob me of my peace. But I decided to love the commandment of God come what may, and it started multiplying my peace. And this multiplied peace started fetching me the multiplied blessings. God wants to do the same in your life. Just let Him do.
2. Pray. Phiil.4.6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hears and minds in Christ Jesus. Peace that surpasses all understanding means, multiplied peace. Don’t worry for anything. Worry is blessing blocker. Only the prayer gives God the license to war with your worries and multiply your peace. Will you do that?.
3. Participate in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Lk.10.5-6, And whatever house your enter, first say, peace be to this house and if a man of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him(the man of peace) but if not it will return to you. See how God gives us opportunities to get our peace multiplied. Whenever a preacher of the Gospel (Isa.52.7 publisher of the peace) comes to your house with the gospel, if you receive him, his spoken peace adds to your peace and it is multiplied, if you reject, it is not. But had you participated in the gospel work as Phill. 1.5 demands, Isa.48.18 says by this time your peace would have been like a river. If you want peace and the blessings of multiplication, “be at peace with God (Job.22.21) the good will come upon you. Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE.
Christmas Gift catalogue 2008
Molly Benerjei
As we are heading into Christmas season, it is time for us to decide what gift/gifts we would like to give to the Jesus for His Birthday. During this wonderful and most celebrated holiday, most people are busy buying or receiving gifts from others while the person who’s birthday we commemorate gets forgotten in all the business. This is reason for us to pause and think about the real cause of festivity. Therefore, since it is His birthday celebration, I think it is fitting that Jesus not only be invited to each party but that we bring gifts to Him as well.
This is not a new tradition. The Wiseman of the old brought Jesus Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense. These are some of the gifts mentioned in the Bible. I am positive there were others that may have brought other offerings. Perhaps these were too many to mention and thus have been left out of the Bible. I do not know. What I do know is that this is certainly a forgotten tradition that deserves to be revived.
So for your convenience we have included a catalogue. You can select one or a combination of any of the items listed below or all of the gifts depending on your personal preference. It all depends on your individual needs and what kind of spiritual returns that you are looking for. We strongly recommend that you pick at least one present.
Requirements:
1. Prayer; ask what you can give Jesus as a birthday gift. Specifically, what gift would he like from you for Christmas?
2. A sense of fun and adventure; to enjoy the light-hearted aspect of the reality of how to give Jesus a birthday gift.
3. A listening heart; to make sure you understand what he wants from you and how you can give Jesus a birthday gift that will please him.
Gift 1
Give him your daily burdens. This is an excellent gift choice because Jesus makes it clear that He wants to give us rest. Matthew 11:28-30 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Gift 2
Extend forgiveness. Another way to give Jesus a birthday gift is to forgive ourselves and forgive others. When we extend forgiveness to ourselves and others, Jesus forgives us and we position ourselves to receive the promises of his blessings. In other words, He will answer our prayers. Mark 11:25-26And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Gift 3
Give him your fears. Jesus does not want us to be afraid. On the contrary, he wants us to live in power, love and a sound mind. But fear is a “thief” of those of those qualities. 2 Timothy 1:7 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Gift4
Give him our ignorance. Study the bible to learn what Jesus thinks and how to please him. Next, don’t waver in what we have learned but be prepared to follow through in obedience. James 1:5-8 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavered is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Gift 5
Love our God and our fellow humans: It is important to God that we understand and agree to love him first and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. When we “get” this and live by it, God encourages us that we are pleasing him and on the right tract on doing the things that matter, because love works no ill to its neighbour. Matthew 22:36-39 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with your entire mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. * Romans 13:10 10Love works no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Gift 6
Give Him Time: God is our father and a friend. Like any other friend, He earns to spend time with us. He wants to take a walk with us and talk with us.
Gift 7
Give Him all your hopelessness: "Give Him all your worries. Whenever you go through a difficult time, be confident that The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles."Psalms 34:17. "He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds."Psalms 147:3
Have a blessed Christmas. Do let me know if you have any other gifts that you would like to give to Jesus this Christmas.
Molly Banerjei
molly1@rogers.com
Have you seen the mirror today?
There is hardly any day when we forget to see the mirror though it depends how much time we tend to spend before the mirror. Even though being one of those ordinary objects at our home “Mirror” is perhaps the only lifeless object that dares to be honest with us at all times.
When I look in the mirror in the morning, the first thing I observe is, myself. My rugged look and untidy appearance is something that my mirror points to me very plainly and without any fear. I wonder why a small trivial thing like mirror finds its place in Word of God, Bible.
Bible Says:
If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like. - James 1:23, 24
How wonderfully Apostle James compares, the Word of God with a mirror and draws a conclusion worth seeking our attention. Apostle says when we listen to word of God and fail to bring it into practice we deceive ourselves as a Christian. The quality of mirror is that it speaks honestly to us. If we are looking untidy it never says that we are looking good instead it brings our true picture in front of us. Our trust and subsequent reaction on the mirror decides how we are going to impact others.
The more time we spend with the mirror the more it helps us to identify the scars, flaws and filth surrounding us.
Holy Bible for a Christian is indeed a true mirror. When a Christian spends his time with Bible, it reveals the spiritual blindness, moral deficiencies and sometimes his fake righteousness too. Most of the contemporary Christians have built around themselves a cocoon of worldly thoughts and a layer of disguised spirituality that stops them to rise and act according to word of God. Their inability to mend their ways after encountering the Word of God, further deteriorate their spiritual conscious. The moment we see mirror we tend to organize our physical appearance just because we want to present ourselves to the world in a pleasing manner. As long as we are in front of mirror the process of self adjustment and correction continues but the moment we look away from mirror, slowly and steadily we tend to forget how we looked. We continue to assume that there is nothing wrong with us and that others are comfortable with us. One day while I was getting ready for office I forgot to see the mirror and went to office being unaware that my hairs were uncombed. When I came back home and saw myself in the mirror, I found that how untidy were my hairs. I wondered what everyone in the office might have thought about me. I felt bit embarrassed too. Sometimes though people around us won’t complain or comment about our shortcomings directly but they do note them.
Bible Says
“Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his Word; instead, put it into practice.” - James 1:22.
Notice the use of word “just” by apostle. He admits that listening to the Word of God is important but he also suggests that just listening alone is not sufficient. We must act according to the Word of God and try to follow it sincerely in our day to day lives and practice it diligently.
Do we remember, when was the last time we followed that timid voice of Holy Spirit?
When was the last time we acknowledged our sins and filthy ways in front of God and sought His help?
Let’s learn from David when he cries to God:
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. - Psalms 51:4
When word of God reaches us and convicts us of our sins and unrighteousness, we can say it’s a mirror that is being honest with us. And when we being the true child of God listen to that true voice, admit to God that we are indeed weak and ask for God’s forgiveness and help of Holy Spirit to combat our sins, trust me, we are acting honestly to our Almighty Father in Heaven.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, how long will we continue to deceive ourselves? Its time to seek Lord’s Help and His Grace to follow what Holy Spirit is telling us to do? Jesus himself has said:
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." - Mark 14:38
So let’s pray to God to do His good will and let’s not forget to gaze our true mirror (Holy Bible) daily.
God Bless You,
Brother in Christ,
Santosh Thankachan,
New Delhi, India
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