Grace by Faith

John 8:34,35 - Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. And the
bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for
ever.

The Covenant of God given unto man states that any person that sins is
a sinner and slave unto sin. Such a sinner has no place in the House
of God which is Heaven.

Covenants were made from Noah unto Jesus. The Law of punishment for a
sinner remained the same and did not change even in Jesus, but there
is a clause which was added in the Covenant of Jesus Christ. The
clause states that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ is saved. It is
this clause of grace by faith which saves mankind.

It is through faith that we tap in the grace available through Jesus
Christ and it is this grace which covers us and redeems us.

Having faith does not mean acknowledging Jesus as Christ as our Savior
and Son of God just verbally. What we profess by mouth does hold but
more loud is what our actions speak. Thus if in our actions do not
profess our faith then it drowns what we speak by mouth.

So to really profess Jesus Christ and be saved, our words and our
actions should profess the same.

[Prayer]
Lord Jesus, we believe in You as our redeemer and Savior. We were
without hope and You alone became the hope of all. It is by You and in
You alone that mankind can be saved. You are the way, the Truth and
Light. Lord Jesus help us to profess You not only in our words but
also in our actions...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scripture]

Acts 15:11
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 16:27-33
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing
the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed
himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for
we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and
fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were
in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their
stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Romans 10:9-13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the
same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Standing in the Power of God

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 

1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 

2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 

3  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 

5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.   

There are many in this world who call themselves Men / Women of God.  Are they all Men / Women of the God? If not, how can one discern them?  Paul says in today's message that like himself you can identify a Man of God not from the nice words he speaks, nor by the knowledge he holds or I will add even by his hard work. The only way one can be identified as a Person of God by the working of the Power of God working in and through that person.  

Does that mean only those who do miracles and healings are Men / Women of God?  From the time I started growing in the Lord I kept an eye on my spiritual growth. In the start when I was moving around (learning) with a ministry I was very encouraged by the many healings and miracles which the Lord did through me. But then as I started getting into the calling which the Lord called me into, I have to take the back seat and spend less time on the field and more time studying and writing. There were times I would think is the Spirit of the Lord still working in me?  During these times the Lord would show Himself in me by the great revelations which I knew from no other man, the Lord would reveal these to me. By His Spirit He would reveal to me such great and wonderful things which would overwhelm me by His Power working me.  That does not mean healings and miracles do not happen through me. For being blessed with some level with the Spirit of Knowledge and Wisdom I do not jump into prayer for each and every person around me or in my touch who is going through problems. To speak of it I too am going through problems in some areas of my life even though I see the great working of the Lord in me.  We need to discern problems or situations which the Lord initiates so that we overcome our flesh and those which Satan tries to advantage of, due our weakness in the flesh. 

Like in the case of Paul while writing this very letter he was going through the worst situation in his life. He was overcoming a problem area within himself which nearly bought him to his death bed. He begged of the Lord many times to help him but the Lord wanted Paul to overcome that weakness in him by His grace.  Let me share another case which happened a few days back. I was part of an outreach organized by a house Church for the very first time. Since a long time they were reaching out to people around the world to pray for this event and were prophesying great things for this event.  

It was not that there were not healings or miracles at that event. We saw a limited crowd (not as expected) and there were 4 to 5 healings and wonders which did happen right there itself.  This person who was leading the event has a high calling on her, but due to her problem area and the grace of God on her, the Power of God is working in limits. For I know of another person with a similar calling and similar problem but the Lord allowed to manifest His Power in her and today she has a great name and fame but lost from the Word. The Lord is letting her increase in fame and height do that the Lord can make an example of her due to her hardness of her heart.  Manifesting of Power does not mean only healings or miracle but changing of people. 

What is the use of healings if the person goes back into the worldly ways again? Can we count them as a part of our harvest?  Thus true Power of God is when people around you, given unto you grow and become vessels for the Lord. It may take time but by perseverance and persistence efforts the fruits will be seen.   

[Prayer Starter] 

Lord Jesus, You came as son of man and showed us the way to do our work in You. Lord, You gave us your Spirit Who works and manifests your Power in us. Holy Spirit, work in and through your people and let more and more stand out from the crowd as your Anointed Ones. Let those who are out to deceive be plugged out and made an example. Let your Power be manifested in your Church...  We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.   

[Reference Scriptures] 

1 Corinthians 2:6-11 

6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 

7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 

8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  

2 Corinthians 12:6-10 

6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 

7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  

Jeremiah 20:8-12 

8  For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. 

9  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. 

10  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. 

11  But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. 

12  But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. 

Problems are not a way of life

Joel 2:27 - And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

One big problem with so called Christians is that they think problems are a part and parcel of life. In directly to them problems are even a problem for God to handle and He can only encourage you to overcome it. The base of their argument is Jesus suffered therefore we too need to suffer.

The only place where Jesus suffered was when He became a sacrifice for us, else the glory of God
was always seen on Him. Also His going to the desert and fasting for 40 days was to weaken Him so that He could be tempted and by His overcoming the temptation He becomes a example for us.

Another silly argument - was everything about Jesus is not written (the Bible itself says so). True. But realize everything that was important is written especially in the Gospel of John because it is kind of an autobiography of Jesus. He was without blemish, thus perfect. If one does not believe this than one should not be a Christian for then there is no salvation.

The life of Jesus was such not because He was God who became man, nor because He was the Begotten Son of God, or a son of God (like Adam who was made perfect man with the image of God in him, but then blemish came in him) but only for one reason and that is because He was Christ - man with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit Who differentiated the life of Jesus from the
rest of us, but now since we too received the Holy Spirit by our faith in Jesus Christ, there is now suppose to be no difference between the man Jesus and us. All things that Jesus did and did not do is now possible for us. It is the Holy Spirit - the co-creator of creation and the Arm / Finger of God through Whom most things came into existence is now in us. If He can not do it then who can?

Let us glorify Him in us and we will standout among all nations. He is the Light we need to shine; the Living Water That quenches our thirst; the Rock on Whom we need to stand and on Whom the Church of God is build.

[Prayer]
Lord Jesus, we thank You for giving us the Living Water. We thank You for the Light to remove the darkness within us. We thank You for the Breathe which gives life unto our spirits. We thank You for revealing the Rock of our salvation. We thank You for the Rock on which your Church needs to be build. Holy Spirit, work in your people and show the world that You are our God and the true Living God.

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Imitate Christ - Start today and now

Colossians 3:14 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  

A sheep will not behave like a calf, or a lion cub like a house cat. Nor will a branch of an apple tree bear oranges.  

We, who were in Adam after being grafted into Jesus, tend to keep our Adam nature even while getting connected to Jesus. We want to continue being our old self and not loose our old identity. 

 If we need to really be born-again we need to connect to Christ right through our roots, which means right down to our thinking, our desires, our reactions, our work, our priorities, our relationship etc. all need to be Christ like.  

We may say it is impossible to be like Christ. But we forget the fact that the Spirit of God is within us, so nothing is impossible to Him Who is in us.  Let me get to the point, if a person has 1percent features like his father would anybody recognize he is his father's son? Even having 5 percent is not sufficient. 

Similarly we as Christians need to show Christ; 1 or 2 percent Christ and remaining us, how will anybody see Christ in us?  We need to be more and more like Christ so that we confirm we are connected to Christ and show Christ unto others. 

We may find it difficult to be like Christ but if we just surrender to Him Who is in us we will find all things very easy.  

Do not fight the flesh but over come the flesh by the Spirit.  Will you like to be one of the few? Start today and now.   

[Prayer] 

Lord Jesus, You came on earth as the First Christ, to show to us the perfect way of life. Being God, You became an example for man by being perfect man. 

You not only taught us through your words and your actions, by also empowered us to follow You by giving us your Spirit. 

It is not easy to be like You but we know that by your Spirit we surely can. Holy Spirit, help us in every area to be more like Jesus...  

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.  

The start of a new decade

Psalms 96:8, 9 - Give unto the LORD the glory (due unto) his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

The message we received today tells us to give God the glory and fame due to Him, the holiness and fear comes when we keep His reputation. This year and this decade that we have entered will see great action. Will it be good or bad depends on us. Are we going to give God the fame due to Him and are we upkeep His reputation - His Name. If we do not do it, the Lord will not sit back and let His Name perish, He will get the job done His other way.

If we want to have peace and goodness among us, let us step out this year and give the Name of God Its due fame by proclaiming the Name of Jesus Christ. This should not be just by words, but also in our actions, our doings, our separating ourselves from the ways of the world, standing out among the crowd, shining the Light unto this world.

If you are truly a soldier in heart, you will not like to be behind the lines but before the lines, in the front where the action is. Similarly if you are truly a soldier of God, this time is the best time to be in, the time of great action.

The favor of God and the glory of God are going to be upon us when we stand in His Name keeping His reputation and make it known to the world. So it is all in our hands, on the decision we that to have a glorious year or a disastrous year. Either way this year and decade is surely going to be one we will never forget.

[Prayer]
Lord God, You alone are worthy of all glory and all fame. You are Holy and will never allow your Name to be let down. We thank You Lord for bring us into this world at a time when your Name starts to shine among all mankind the time of harvest. We thank You for give us the opportunity to harvest the most...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.