GOD's Task force

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them,because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. (Deuteronomy:20:1)

Someone once said "The battlefield is in between our ears". Yes, it's very true indeed. Before we do something it is conceived in our minds and then we execute it. It's in our mind that the real battle takes place and that's the reason the Bible talks about having our mind renewed to the truth daily, so that we would be able to fend off any thoughts that's raising against the truth in our minds.

In Deuteronomy chapter 20, the Lord gives the people of Israel instructions on how to go about a war, a physical war in those days. He says that they needn't fear an army who are stronger than them in all fronts. The simple reason being that the Lord Himself will go with the Israelites and fill the lack they may have in weaponry, intelligence, power, panache etc. thereby crushing their foes to death. What the Israelites lacked in the natural, the Lord would fill it in a supernatural manner causing them to easily defeat their enemies. All that the Lord expected from them was to trust Him (not any other king from a neighboring kingdom) and to step out in faith.

We see in Judges:6:14 "The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”" What the Angel of the Lord meant to Gideon was that he should go with his strength and the missing amount of strength will be filled by the Lord Himself. But first, Gideon should be courageous enough to trust His word and step out to fight by faith, which he did and the Lord helped him and his men route the Midianites. Whatever an uphill battle you may be facing right now, is nothing, when you join forces with GOD. Go in the strength you have and GOD will make up what you don't have and will set you up for victory.

Blessings!

Ride By Faith

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew:14:32&33)

This is a well known incident from the Bible (Matthew:14:22-34) where Jesus walks on water. This wasn't new for the disciples since they already had encountered such a turbulent boat ride not long ago. (Matthew:8:23-27) But the only difference between the two incidents is that Jesus wasn't on the boat this time unlike the other day. Just imagine yourselves in the shoes of the disciples. The disciples would have thought "If only we hadn't taken this boat or if only we had stayed and waited for Jesus or if only the sea was't rough". At some point they certainly would have also thought to themselves or even said to each other "If only Jesus had been here like the other day" and Viola! They didn't have to wait long as Jesus appears and brings the situation under control. What are we thinking about when we are in a storm? We tend to think that things would have been better if we had done this or that, if someone had been there etc. But it wouldn't be of any good. We should always think "Jesus had calmed storms before and this isn't any bigger than what I have faced before. He will come through for me just like He did with the previous one".

We may be caught up in a storm and looking for a breakthrough very badly in our lives. Jesus, "the miracle, the breakthrough" is walking on water and coming towards you. All you have to do is take a leap of faith just like Peter did. He said "Lord, command me to walk on water, if it's really You". How do we do that in our lives? Wait for His word and when it comes, don't hesitate to step out of the boat. So, Peter reached out to "the miracle" and when they climbed into the boat the wind died down. Amazing! Jesus never rebuked the wind or sea like He did the other day. The breakthrough arrived through the act of faith of one man - Peter!

Blessings!

Kingdom's To Do Duties

The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria. (Isaiah:7:17)

Ahaz, the king who ruled over Judah is facing a tough battle with the king of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria coming up against his kingdom. Now, instead of seeking the Lord for help, he seeks help from the king of Assyria. Then the Word of the Lord comes to Ahaz through prophet Isaiah saying that it won't be long before the king of Assyria would betray him and take Judah into captivity. We can read about all these events in the book of 2 Kings.

In today's world, we all are called to be kings in the kingdom of GOD. Every born again believer is a ruler of his own kingdom. Our kingdom's domain extends from the place where we live and everywhere we go, because the kingdom of GOD is within us. Everything that we are responsible for in our lives must be under the domain of the kingdom of GOD. So, when our kingdom (things that we are responsible for like family, community, workplace etc.) is under threat from the forces of darkness, for we all have a common enemy, it's our duty to protect it with the help of the Lord and not with any other man's help. If we seek the help of man, like King Ahaz, it will not only add even more misery but won't resolve the problem in the first place.

Wherever Jesus went, He established the kingdom of GOD by driving out the darkness that was ruling in that place or region. We need to do the same, firstly by establishing it within our family and then around us.

Blessings!

Mary learns her lesson

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”But they did not understand what he was saying to them. (Luke:2:49&50)

When we read about the boy Jesus at the temple in Luke:2:41-50, we get a question in our hearts about Jesus' reply to their parents when they find Him after He had gone missing for three days. It kind of sounds rude and puzzling. It also looks like Jesus disobeyed His parents. But, just to make sure no one questions Jesus' obedience, the next verse speaks about it. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. (Luke:2:51)

Lets study the reply that Jesus gives when His parents found Him in the company of teachers listening to them and asking them questions at the temple court. Mary and Joseph had known Jesus for twelve years now and you would expect them to know the things that Jesus had a real liking for. No wonder it would be about His Father. Jesus expected His parents to be aware of it and if they had been, they wouldn't have searched for Him in vain everywhere for three days but would have come straight to the temple where His Father kind of things can be found. Now, when you look at Jesus' response with this in mind, it doesn't sound rude and He certainly didn't disobey His parents. How long have we known Jesus and are we looking for Him at the right place when things go wrong? If not, let's make sure we do. He is found in the temple and we are His temple. He is found within us. So, let's get to a quiet place and find Him, when we don't feel like He is with us.

Mary learnt her lesson at the end of this episode. "But his mother treasured all these things in her heart." (Luke:2:51) We see Mary applying this in real life scenario at the wedding of Cana in John chapter 2. When they ran out of wine, she didn't go to anyone looking for a miracle, but went straight to Jesus. Mind you, Jesus hasn't performed a miracle yet in His earthly life since His birth and that's 30 years. But, Mary knew Him now as her Savior and Messiah, unlike the time at the temple when she knew Jesus as just her son. When Jesus after hearing Mary's request told her that His time had not yet come, she didn't panic. She just told the servants to do what He says and left, knowing very well that He wouldn't let her down. That's the trust you and me are expected to have in Jesus.

Blessings!

Word of GOD in action

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah:7:14)

I was meditating this verse and then shifted my attention to the incident where the angel Gabriel visits Mary in Luke:1:26-38 to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. Mary understandably was taken aback hearing Gabriel speak and asked him how can a virgin give birth to a son? Gabriel after explaining the details goes on to say in verse 36&37 "And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment." Now, why didn't Gabriel refer Isaiah:7:14 to Mary when she had trouble believing what she had just heard, but talked about Elizabeth being pregnant in her old age?

Here is the revelation that the Lord wants us to see. What has been foretold about Mary in Isaiah:7:14 is the Word of GOD but what had happened to her relative Elizabeth is the Word of GOD in action!! Let's read verse 37 again "For with God nothing is ever impossible". Yes, Elizabeth getting pregnant at such an old age is a living proof of GOD's word that nothing is impossible with GOD. It is GOD's word in live action. Immediately, after hearing this news, Mary's faith got build up and she accepted the Word from the Lord as it was. I doubt if the angel would have convinced Mary by quoting Isaiah:7:14.

Even in our lives, reading the Word of GOD as a routine or just for the sake of fulfilling a tradition won't be of any use. We have to see the Word of GOD in action - when GOD's promises gets fulfilled in our lives or someone else's, it should build up our faith and push us on to bigger and greater things. Jesus, the Word of GOD, became flesh - His life is another example of Word of GOD in action. Now, Jesus wants us to represent Him in the same way He lived, by demonstrating the Word of GOD in action.

Blessings!

Signtific Knowledge of GOD

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah:7:10-14)

So many times, when we are in a dilemma over a certain decision we always like to have a sign from the Lord. Is it the right thing to do? Let's see a few instances in the Bible where the servants of GOD requested for a sign from Him. We read in Judges:6:36-40 Gideon, not just once but twice requests for a specific sign from the Lord, so He could go to war with the Midianites. The Lord too obliges Gideon's request and gives him the sign on both occasions. Now, we must understand that Gideon just had an encounter with the Lord and is taking his first few steps of faith. As long as you believe in the Lord and want a confirmation from Him on a specific thing, when you are at an infant stage of your relationship with GOD, He obliges. 

Now, let's look at Zachariah in Luke:1:18-20 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Zachariah is a priest and someone who knows the Lord very well (Luke:1:6) and certainly He isn't at an infant stage when it comes to his relationship with GOD. Not only that, he had been praying for a child and when Gabriel says that the Lord is going to answer his prayers, he requests for a sign. Gabriel wasn't impressed and he makes Zachariah go speechless until the promise gets fulfilled. As a priest, the Lord expected Zachariah to have faith that doesn't require a sign to believe. After all, the Lord is promising about doing something which He had done before. Letting an old couple, who were well past their child bearing age, have a child - Abraham and Sara! But, what was going to happen to Mary, a virgin having a child, has never happened before and that's why we see Gabriel explaining and not rebuking Mary when she asked how is that possible? She is the first, in fact the only one who went through such an unique experience and hence she was reprieved.

The passage that we have taken from Isaiah talks about the Lord willing to show Ahaz a sign, whatever it maybe, so that he will believe. To summarize, the Lord behaves differently with each individual and it varies according to the level of faith He/she is living with. It includes getting a clear sign from Him. It varies from person to person and there is no rule book on it. We have to be sharp enough to see His signs and follow it. (Matthew:24). Don't ask for a sign if you are not going to follow it. While He may give you a sign when you are at the beginning of your relationship with Him, don't expect it from Him every now and then as you grow in Him. There is an element of trust that He expects us to have in Him. When trust is involved we will do what He says without waiting for a clear sign.

Blessings!

His Glory: Our Story

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. (I Kings:18:36-38)

One of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament comes up against the prophets of Baal and defeats them in a public demonstration of GOD's mighty power. With that single act of faith he turned the hearts of the people of Israel towards the Lord. We all know the story and it's the heart of Elijah which wanted to glorify the Lord made the difference. Just having faith is good, but the motive behind our requests should always be about glorifying the Lord. Elijah didn't ask the Lord to show up to prove his credentials as a prophet but to show that there is only one GOD and it's the Lord Almighty.

Not only our faith in action brings glory to GOD but also our total surrender to GOD's will. Jesus demonstrated this in His journey towards the cross. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” (John:12:27&28) Jesus very well knew the pain and agony that He was going to go through at the cross. Though His heart was troubled just like it would for any man, He surrendered to the will of GOD so that the Lord's name would be glorified in the end. By faith you can glorify the Lord, by bringing down the fire like Elijah or surrender to His will like Jesus and create history.

Blessings!

Thou Not Doubt GOD

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” (Luke:4:1-4)

We read in the previous chapter Luke:3:22 GOD calling Jesus as His Son, whom He loves and He is well pleased. After 40 days of Jesus' fasting in the wilderness, the devil encounters Him. He takes the words exactly spoken by GOD just like he did with Eve in Genesis:3:1 "He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”. Here he tells to Jesus, "If you are the Son of GOD". Jesus didn't fall for his trick unlike Eve who fell.

Many times, we too face the same questions arising in our mind or put forth to us by the devil. If GOD is really in control, why all these things happening to me?. He causes us to doubt the existence of GOD and His love for us. We must do what Jesus did in such situations of uncertainty. Trust what GOD has said about us and don't deviate from the truth. Jesus is the Son of GOD and GOD Himself had declared it. Jesus needn't prove it by making a bread out of stone but by living as the Son of GOD. That's why Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD. The word that proceeded from the mouth of GOD was that Jesus is His beloved Son and He will live by that. He need not have to prove by doing certain acts as the devil requested. If He did so, then it's like doubting what GOD has just said about Him. We too are not called to prove GOD's existence but to live as His children.

Always remember that when we receive a word from the Lord, it could be a promise or a prophecy, the devil attacks us with something that contradicts to what we have just heard from GOD. We should be careful with our discernment and rebuke the devil instead of doubting the word of GOD.

Blessings!