False sense of satisfaction!

It is vital to revisit the purpose and mission of God in our lives and check where we are in the journey. It is usually assumed that it lies with the first part of the first commandment alone in the Bible where Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”. Mark 12:30. And then all our efforts goes toward the same by meeting the spiritual schedule by using and emphasizing the commonly used term “more”, more reading of the Bible, more praying, more tarrying for the Holy Spirit and more of knowing Him. The word “more” in most cases confines to private faith with God alone. Sadly, the second part of the Great commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, remains as a philosophy to preach to others and creating a Christian identity.

An article on Church discipline by “IX Marks” pens down the role and definition of Christian beautifully and it goes like this, “A Christian is someone who wears the name of God on earth, who declares His gospel, and who is united to His people. In essence, the Christian is an ambassador, someone whose identity and work meld together. Everything that an ambassador is, says, and does represents his or her king. So, it is with Christian and Christ.”.

The existence of social media (technical revolution) to a larger extent has marred the Christian identity gravely. At times, I regret the commonly used WhatsApp which is often used as a trash can where people tend to post all that they receive to others by means of forwarding to another Christian friend. I have quite often addressed this issue in my earlier blogs. In another terms it gives Christians a strong sense of satisfaction of inspiring other Christian as they keep forwarding things to one another. But all along, people rarely take serious initiative to connect to the Non-Christian world. Many do not have a message customized for Non-Christian world at all. Christians calling and imploring (begging) each other to join their meetings. 

Take any Christian WhatsApp group, it will be flooded with invitation links, preaching clips and Christian YouTube links, but for heavens sake who needs it? Don't we feel the urgency to write and customize video clips that can be sent to any common citizen or Non-Christian crowds? Unlike the early Christians you will notice most of the so called Christians and leaders today are limiting themselves and flocking with Christians friends bragging about who they are or want to see their meetings have a considerable number. Either they are too timed and lack boldness to reach out to the outside world, or they are interested to only focus on drawing the attention of another Christian/leaders to make their living better. Can we please give some thought to this?

Jesus said He Came to call sinners for repentance, not the righteous (Luke 5:32), but we never seem to get the message. Jesus did not come to earth to impress religious leaders. He came to mingle with people who were considered the most vile of sinners. In fact, for this He was severely criticized by the religious leaders of His day. He replied, “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. And then makes this fascinating statement less understood by Christians today which says, ‘But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13). It is high time we make adjustments in our approaches and ensure that we reach out to the world out there and the same time equip those who are with us to take up the divine call and fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ.

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Is Salvation a one time grand event?

"Being a Christian does not mean we’re any better than unbelievers. We are still just as sick as anyone — we just have found the doctor. Remember, Christianity is not about morality. It’s about grace.”.

It is great to narrate the salvation experience and inspire others and draw them close to Jesus. For some it can be decade before and for some two or three years ago, based on when they received Christ. But the story does not end there, after the experience we are expected to keep growing in His love and absorb His image and display to the world. In the book of Romans, Paul reminds us once again of the salvation, but this time in Romans 12:11 Paul says “Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”.

Paul is cautioning all of us to wake up from sleep, because for the simple reason that we do not become complacent and think salvation as one-time grand event and not conscious enough today about how we are keeping ourselves holy and displaying Christ to others. For the ones who has lost the savor of the grand experience it is time to know that the salvation is nearer yet again than you first believed.

Paul to the Philippians in (2:12) NIV says “..as you have always obeyed… continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling.”. Salvation does not stop after the first great event, we ought to continue in working out the salvation and keeping it lively and fresh. In (2:13) of Philippians it says “For it is God who works in you...”. It is a journey where we are assured that God is working too in us to get our salvation completed. Now let me make a point here, if you held on to only verse 12 you will be Armenian and if you held on to verse 13 alone you will be Calvinist and if you held on to both then you will be Christian.  

Christians should be distinct from the world in how we live. Sanctification can be painfully slow. What we speak of is not perfection but a new power, a new purpose, and a new direction. We have a mantle to carry on. Our Savior has worked a mighty change in us.  Ask God to help us live more boldly and be the salt of the earth, and shine more brightly. May the distance to salvation be nearer and closer to us always. Continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling.

      

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Fighting the deception- Great men of God and small men of God

Present day Churches and Ministries' have classified the servants of God based on popularity, familiarity and power. As clothes of Jesus were divided among the people by casting lot (Matthew 27:35) today the glory of God is forcefully divided among common people. This stolen glory has elevated some to think they have descended from heaven and are angels. A quote so aptly puts the intention - "In the Christian world, leaders are in danger of using their callings as a cover-up for self-actualization or “wish fulfillment”. In those places, our dreams become our rights; our popularity determines our success; our needs can become our necessities; and our celebrity is interpreted like it’s an anointing,” Saxton.

If you notice, the Bible records a little summary of Jesus' intention while he narrated the parable of tax collector. "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:" (Luke 18:9 CSB). We know in the parable, who was accepted at the end. Actually, the whole Bible focuses its attention on the ones who are humble at heart, despised and insignificant. It is the people today, who exalt some on the throne and make them God and lower others to a doormat. Paul questions in his book to Romans this way, "So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God." (Romans 14:10 NLT). These are some of the ethical issues that Church and His children need to fight against. And mind, we all will have to stand before the Judgement seat. All glory belongs to Him alone while it is said, “I will not give my glory to another.” (Isaiah 48:11 CSB).

People of God and people in the ministry, do not rob the glory of God. Remember Barnabas and Paul when they were treated as God after they healed a man who never walked (Acts 18:9), they immediately responded and reacted. In fact, the Bible records, "The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:" (Acts 14:14 CSB). How many are willing to deny for themselves the royal treatment and advocate for the ones who do the ministry in difficult areas and are surviving with much difficulty? 

Jesus when talking about John puts this so beautifully- "I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28 CSB. Though John was counted so special but even the least will be greater in the kingdom of God.

Today, it is so sad to see how even certain ministries and preachers are given extra importance over some who do a great ministry. They impact people yet are not accepted and supported because they do not hold a high status. Stop displaying partiality, drawing importance one over another. Sometimes these ordinary people are making a significant impact through their ministries.

These are some hard truths no one dares to address. James in his book articulates it blatantly, especially when he points out how we treat someone who is rich and someone who is from a low status. "haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" James 2:4 CSB.

Find out the ones who are making the best opportunity to impact the people with the gospel and extend your support rather than giving all your resources to the one who is already obscenely rich always strategizing to attract more support. Let me make a point here. Some are given a false hope that they can fulfill the Great commission by solely supporting financially. This is not true at all. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:16 "For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach  — and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16 CSB). Each one of us are responsible to preach the gospel and make disciples. Join hands and be a partner with whichever ministry or individuals who stand to fulfill this mandate.

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What is your message for Non Christians?

In recent times YouTube channels, Vimeo, social media, Podcasts and many other platforms are filled with Christian messages for Christians. There is no dearth of Christian messages to hear from your favorite platform based on your choice. I have debated on this topic in my previous posts. Every day, thousands and thousands of new videos, posts are put up by people from all over the world. We are blessed with innumerable Christian messages and Christian resources but we need to ask some serious questions before we are too excited about this fact.

In all that we hear and actively involved, how has all this impacted us? What are the outcomes? The ready answers are, that people are growing spiritually, they are getting close to the Lord. But is that all there is to it? People forget that there are two sides of Holiness for example James 1:27 says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”. Keeping pure and holy definitely yes, but then reaching out by your acts of kindness and gospel is not made obsolete just because we are incapacitated in many ways.

Let me draw your attention to the book of Corinthians. The apostle Paul founded the Church in Corinth. A few years after leaving the Church the apostle Paul heard some disturbing reports about the Corinthians Church. They were full of pride excusing sexual immorality. Spiritual gifts were being used improperly, and there was a huge misunderstanding of key Christian doctrines. Therefore, he poses this pertinent question on the ways the gifts of the Holy Spirit were used. 1 Corinthians 14:14, “what is the outcome then?”.

Generally, the final outcome of individuals and Churches in most cases is to obtain the spiritual gifts, example the gift of prophecy, or speaking tongues etc. and keep growing in the Lord. But here Paul makes it very clear that exercising spiritual gifts per se is not the final outcome or an end goal in itself. If you carefully read in I Corinthians 14:12 he says, “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of Church.”. The early Church was more active in creating an impact in the lives of each other, edifying one another, stimulating one another, exhorting one another. The gifts of the Holy Spirit did not operate in isolation. We are by all means to use our gifting to draw people closer to God and to the mission Christ has given to us.

Now, how are we impacting the Non-Christian world? How are all the spiritual gifts, great worship, persistent prayer translated in taking the mission to the outside world? Let us be reminded as the Bible uses Christians to these metaphors, “You are the salt of the earth”, (Mat 5:13) “You are the light of the world” (Matt 5:14) “you are the fragrance” (2 Cor 2:15). Have we forgotten that there is a mission given to us, other than to preach Gospel and attract people to Christ? Then why are so many people today unable to reach out to the Non-Christians irrespective of all their spiritual gifts? Do you see the chasm? Let us not forget that each one of us are responsible to edify Christians and remind them of Christ's mandate; the Great Commission and simultaneously spend a considerable part of our time to reach out and connect to the Non-Christian friends.

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Are you also going to leave?

Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” John 6:67 NLT

I was wondering how could people leave the most expected person in history they had an opportunity to see, the Messiah who was predicted thousands of years ago by the prophets. The same Jesus came in flesh, dwelt among the people and did so many miracles like never before, yet people chose not to follow Him after a point of time, and the Bible says, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.". John 6:66 KJV.

If you observe most of the people in the Bible came to Jesus when they realized He could heal them from all their sickness,  provide them with good food, and most importantly had a wrong view that Jesus is going to overthrow the Roman empire and form His own government. When their assumptions were not becoming a reality, people walked with Jesus no more. For some, when their needs were met, they failed to come back like in the case of ten lepers being healed by Jesus but only one returned to thank him (Luke 17:17). Some thought Jesus can be used to solve the property issue among the brothers and when Jesus hit back saying 'who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?' I am sure they might have been disappointed too.

Don't you think such reasons are so real even today? People come for all of their personal reasons, basically they want to be made happy, in their language blessed with good money, to live in abundance materialistically, all their suffering to disappear immediately, sickness to go away immediately and want to live long on this earth. And yes, they don't want their illusion about who they are to fade. Most of us want to be good Christians without being reminded about the responsibilities in the mission. Some are willing to throw some offering and expect you to go happy. Is it all about Christ and His Mission?

In addition to this I have listed some reasons why Christians are not revolutionary and why they are like a season:

> They are simply born in Christian family and become part of the system.

> Being a Christian is just a compliance to meet Christian schedule which makes them happy.

> For some, the parents and others whom they respect were not able to model an exemplary life and in some cases their lives have not challenged them to be an effective witness. 

> Visiting God when there is a need and for personal blessings.

> Many come for healing, once it is taken care they are gone. (Like in the case of 10 lepers, 9 left)

> Church going is only a ritual.

If you heard this let me remind you once again, "For our forefather Church was a commitment, for our father Church was an inheritance, for us Church is a compliance, for our children Church is a nuisance." We all want our situation to change - Receive healing, get a new job, persecution to end, lockdown to be lifted. We all forget, God does not take these sufferings away, He transforms them. Even Jesus wanted the cup of suffering (the cross) to be removed, but God used it to transform the world. Many are used to visit God for being blessed, with wrong connotation.

In your journey to lead people some will just come with so much of excitement, some with great commitment, some with dedication to serve along with you, soon to realize all of their excitement has disappeared and they are done with you. Today with modern social platform people have a better way of showing their response. Some would ignore your message and some would never read it nor respond. We have an option to follow and unfollow based on our convenience and we use the same to follow Christ.

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Presenting Gospel was never a choice but mandate- 2

I am desperate to see a revival in my time and in my generation. I am sure there are many who feel the same too. How do we make it a reality is a million-dollar question? Many parts of the world including our country. we have already heard about the sweep of the Gospel in their villages and county, but the big question remains, are we personally swept with the revival? If it is so, does it make us restless, and are we desperately reaching out with the Gospel to our Non-Christian friends and in our sphere of influence.

The Gospel is not an occasional message reserved for the Christian festive seasons but it is a daily business, do we realize that? Martin Luther states, “We need to hear the Gospel every day, because we forget it every day.”. We need to be reminded that since we have heard the Gospel it is time now, that we carry it faithfully to the people outside who have no clue as to what it means to have Christ in their life. Paul in Colossians 1:5-6 CSB Says, "…You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, *the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.”. Paul emphasizes on the effect of the Gospel. When the true Gospel invades a person, it keeps bearing fruits and grows all over the world. After your salvation experience you don't just become a good believer, you grow to an extent that people all over will get Gospel through you, in other words you become a revolutionary.  Does this describe your current status?

 It is said wherever Paul went there was a revolution, the ones who heard and responded too were revolutionaries.  In Acts 17:4 it says, “Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.”. And it is recorded that the people from outside were jealous to see how the work of the Lord was manifested and growing (Acts 17:5). The wicked men from market place formed a mob and started a riot, thus attacking Jason’s house and hurting him and the people with them. Interestingly this is how they tagged the men, Acts 17 6, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”. Wow, I think it is a compliment.

Today Christians and Christian leaders have created multiple choices around them. If they want, they respond or just shut themselves and mute from all communication if they have someone with the strong passion urging them to share gospel. It can be as simple as that. Christians don’t want to be disturbed, they don’t want to be told, they don’t want to be reminded. You ask them to pray for their cities and for their country, they will send a Big “thumbs up” and “folding hand” symbol assuring of their prayers. But are people honest to the salvation they have received? Are Christians in true sense obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and being a witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). Can we seriously rise up and sweep the nation with the Gospel? May we all pray this prayer seriously, a prayer of Wesley L Duewel written on 24^th September 1964, taken from Malachi 3:1

Come suddenly again, O Lord; Your temple waits for You today.

Come in accordance to Your Word; come suddenly even while we pray.

O blessed, blessed Holy Ghost, bring the revival we need most.

Most graciously our hearts prepare for Your great work in this our day.

Help each of us to do our share; remove each hindrance from Your way.

O Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire; descend in all Your holy fire.

We need You more than we can tell; we need You more than we can say.

Our worldliness and sin dispel; come, cleanse and fill us all, we pray.

O Holy Ghost, come on us now as we in need before You bow.

We pray, Lord, light the flame once more of Holy Ghost revival fire.

Come now as in the days of yore; for You we wait with great desire.

Come suddenly upon Your own and make Your holy presence known.

Come suddenly and do much more than we can do in months and years.

We plead Your mercy o’er and o’er; we praise You that revival nears!

Come, Holy Ghost, descend today! Come suddenly on us, we pray. 

You can check the first part Here

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Presenting Gospel never a Choice, but a mandate- 1

The excitement and satisfaction after experiencing the gift of salvation does not become a revolution in most cases because somehow that experience gets boxed under a self-contentment and with a personal spiritual framework; either self-imposed or under a denominational barrier. The experience becomes too personal and rarely finds motivation to make it public.

Experiencing the gift of salvation isn’t passive in nature, or never too personal. If you recollect the amazing incident mentioned in Luke 7:36-40 about a sinful lady finding Jesus while He was dining in the house of Pharisees who invited to eat with him. Note, she is not an invitee, but probably Christ discourse and her earlier encounter with Jesus had induced conviction of sin in her, she couldn’t hold any longer private. It is told that the sinful lady barged into the house and demonstrated confession in an unusual way and was transformed with a new mission identity. Jesus declares in V48 “..Your sins are forgiven”, And Matthew records Christ said about her in Matthew 26:13 “Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed In the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

So, what am I trying to say here? When you encounter true real Salvation, you will not be able to cage it in, but you will actually become desperate to make it public and become a source of inspiration irrespective of any threats. Paul for example, after he encountered Christ, stayed with the disciples for some time (Acts 9:19), and then it is recorded this way, “immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the son of God.”. And further it records in Acts 9:22, “Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. “.  Be aware of this fact, your Commitment to Christ can never force you to stay passive.

Sharing the good news is never a choice, it is a mandate and a serious business. Peter in His discourse says in the book of Acts, that God has appointed him (and all disciples) as witnesses and commanded to preach to the people about salvation and Judgement (Acts 10: 41-42).  Sadly, today people are satisfied with their personal worship which is extended and settled to corporate worshiping and fellowshipping in their Churches alone. I am assuming people are engaging in active fellowshipping, because nowadays visiting Church building per se, has become more important than the need to actively engage with each other. The powerful question to Isaiah is still echoing strongly today, “Who shall I send? Who will go for us?...” Isaiah 6: 8.

In the powerful words of E Stanley Jones, “Let it be noted that if Christianity isn’t worth exporting, it isn’t worth keeping, if we cannot share it, we cannot keep it.”. The great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19, has not migrated to a suggestion. Just because the people aren’t taking it up seriously, does not mean it is suggesting you to stay at home comfortably and pray for the salvation of people. It’s time to break your religious boundary and denominational barriers. Enough of rest my fellow-people. Mark the words of Horatius Bonar, a Scottish clergyman and songwriter of the nineteenth century. ‘The world is still sleeping its “sleep of death.” It has a slumber for many generations; -sometimes deeper, sometimes lighter,- yet still a slumber like that of the tomb, as if destined to continue till the last trumpet sound; and there shall be no more sleep.’.  This is so real in the case of so called Christians today. Can you seriously think over it?

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