tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48605778179060590772024-03-05T00:47:36.260-08:00At Jesus' Feet, For His Words...I'm Sandeep, a medical doctor, Psychiatrist by specialization, now practicing at "Jyothis", West to HS Jn, Karunagappally, Kollam, Kerala. By the way, the most remarkable thing I want to share with you from my life, is about the tremendous joy and peace that fills my heart as a result of my encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can read the story of my transformation from a traditional Hindu into an ardent follower of Christ here: http://sandeeppsychiatry.blogspot.com/2007/06/about-me.htmlAt Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-79729504975266335112020-07-14T11:32:00.002-07:002020-07-14T11:32:40.227-07:00Why God Created You & Me? Part 1: Purpose: For Fellowship & Reflecting His Image<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://youtu.be/qZQBi5z5nCE" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/qZQBi5z5nCE</a><br />
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-66759829675076878382020-03-27T09:52:00.001-07:002020-03-27T09:52:23.050-07:00 കൊറോണക്കാലത്ത് ഒരു സ്വർഗ്ഗീയ കാഴ്ചപ്പാട് (A Heavenly Viewpoint In This Corona Pandemic)-A Video Message<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://youtu.be/hXuk3v93ri8" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">കൊറോണക്കാലത്ത് ഒരു സ്വർഗ്ഗീയ കാഴ്ചപ്പാട് (A Heavenly Viewpoint In This Corona Pandemic)</a></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-81190115087911442002020-03-26T10:47:00.000-07:002020-03-26T21:48:46.651-07:00Perfect love casts out fear (of Corona)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perfect love casts out
fear (of Corona)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">We live in
times where people </span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">faint from fear and the expectation of the things which
are coming upon the world” </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">as
the Lord Jesus prophesied in <i>Luke 21: 26</i>.</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> Of course, as responsible citizens, we need to take all the precautions
against this pestilence with all <b>caution, care, carefulness </b>and <b>concern</b>.
But unhealthy fear and panic would only weaken our immunity and thereby deteriorate
our mental and physical health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Word of
God says in </span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">1John
4: 18 </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">that </span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“Perfect love casts
out fear”. </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">A simple example of a cup can be used
to explain this verse even to little children. When you say a cup is empty, you
know there is air in it. That air is like the fears, anxieties, worry and
timidity in our hearts when our heart is empty. Lord Jesus warns in <i>Matthew 12: 43-45 </i>against our heart
being unoccupied or empty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">How can we simply dispel all the air
from the cup? Just pour water into the cup till it overflows. Like that, when
the love of God floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit <i>(Romans 5: 5)</i>,
<i>love is perfected (filled) in us (1John
4: 16, 17), </i>and that <i>perfect love
casts out </i>not only<i> fear (1John 4: 18), </i>but also all other negative
feelings and thoughts of anxiety, worry, low self esteem, low confidence,
bitterness or unforgiveness, anger, impurity, dishonesty, jealousy, laziness,
complacency, indiscipline and every other sin<i>.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
the question now is: how can the HOLY Spirit fill our impure hearts? Just like we clean a cup before we pour some
drinking water into it, our hearts need to be cleansed by the precious blood
which our Lord Jesus has shed on the Cross, taking the punishment of eternal hell
fire for our many sins. And only if we truly repent of (turn away from) all our
sins, the blood of Christ can cleanse our hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even
after being cleansed, the cup has to be yielded to be filled. Like that we need
to yield ourselves and surrender and open up every area of our whole being (like
our relationships, possessions, self-love, reputation, career, future etc –
what we are and what we have) to the Lord Jesus in simple, childlike faith and
thirst for His love to flood us <i>(John 7: 37, 38)</i>. Then He will <b>definitely</b> fill every part of our whole
being with His heavenly, indescribable <b>love, joy and peace </b>through the
Holy Spirit! <i>(Gal. 5: 22, 23).</i> <b>And that perfect love of the Lord
casts out all the anxiety and fears from our hearts in these uncertain times…</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
our hearts are filled with His love, we will be able to love Him with all our
heart, soul, mind and strength <i>(Mark 12: 30)</i>, which indeed is <b>His
greatest commandment, or in other words, His greatest longing</b> <b>for us. </b>And
that love for the Lord through the Holy Spirit will empower us to keep His commandments
<i>(John 14: 15, 23). <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“T</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">he yoke (or bondage or trap) will be destroyed because of the
anointing oil” (Isaiah 10: 27b NKJV) </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">of the Holy Spirit! And the trap and chains of the
fear of any kind will be broken off and we will be exalted (or safely set on
high - as we see in <i>Proverbs 29:25</i>). That means, we will fly high like
an eagle in the heavenlies with our Beloved Lord! <i>(Isaiah 40: 31; Song of
Songs 4: 8).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">And
that Holy Spirit will make us well aware of a <b>loving Abba Father</b> <i>(Romans
8: 15; </i></span><i><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;">Matthew 6: 25-
34</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">)</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> in heaven, <b>Who
is the sovereign, blessed Controller of this whole universe!!</b> The Holy
Spirit will witness in our hearts that nothing can happen in our lives without
His knowledge and permission. He will reassure us that the Lord has made a
hedge around our life, our family members and our property <i>(Job 1: 10), </i>and
that <b>without His knowledge and permission, no Corona virus can break that
hedge!</b> Nothing and no one can take our life until “our hour has come” <i>(John
8: 20), </i>if we live surrendering our own will to Him daily. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our
Lord has not just counted, but has given a number to each one of our hairs! <i>(Luke
12: 7)</i>. Such is His care for even the minutest detail of each one of our
lives, because <i>he who touches us, touches the apple of His very eye</i> <i>(Zechariah
2: 8)</i>…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Lord Jesus Christ</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"> says: <i>“</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in <b>My love</b>” (John 15: 9).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">These
things I have spoken to you so that <b>My
joy</b> may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15: 11).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Peace
I leave with you; <b>My peace</b> I give to
you; not as the world gives do I give to you. <b>Do not let your heart be
troubled, nor let it be fearful</b>” (John 14: 27).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Are not two
sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart
from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So <b>do
not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows</b>” (Matthew 10: 29-31).</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Come
to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you <b>rest</b>”
(Matthew 11: 28).</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Cast
your burdens unto Me, because <b>I care for you</b>” (1Peter 5: 7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<b>My
grace (My power) is sufficient for you</b> (for every situation you can ever
face)” (2 Cor. 12: 9).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<b>Be anxious for nothing</b>, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to Me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the <b>peace</b> of
God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Me” (Philippians 4: 6,7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“For I have not given you a spirit of timidity, but of power
and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you. </span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">So you can confidently say, “<b>The Lord is my helper, I
will not be afraid</b>. <b>What will man do to me</b>?”” (Hebrews 13: 5, 6).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“For I am the LORD your God, Who upholds your right hand, Who
says to you, <b>‘Do not fear, I will help you’</b>” (Isaiah
41:13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">“But now, thus says the LORD, <b>your Creator</b>, O
Jacob, and <b>He who formed you</b>, O Israel, “<b>Do not fear, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!</b></span></i><b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">When you pass <b>through the waters, I will be with you</b>;
And through <b>the rivers</b>, they <b>will not overflow you</b>. When you walk
through the <b>fire</b>, you will <b>not be scorched</b>, nor will the flame
burn you... <b>You are precious in My sight; you are honoured and I love you </b>(Isaiah
43: 1,2, 4).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no
compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but <b>I will not
forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands</b>; Your walls
are continually before Me” (Isaiah 49: 15, 16).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Behold, I extend <b>peace</b> to her <b>like a river</b>,
and <b>the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream</b>; and you will be
nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. As one whom
his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in
Jerusalem (the true Church) (Isaiah 66: 12, 13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">I have loved you with an everlasting love</span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness
(Jeremiah 31: 3). <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><span style="font-size: large;">For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD,
<b>'plans for welfare</b> and not for calamity <b>to give you a future and a
hope</b>. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen
to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart
(Jeremiah 29: 11- 13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">And
the Holy Spirit, the blessed Helper would remind us all that Jesus has taught
us </span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">(John 14: 26)</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">: </span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">And
we know that God causes ALL things to work together FOR GOOD to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8: 28).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><span style="font-size: large;">“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to
man; and <b>God is faithful, who</b> <b>will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able</b>, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape
also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10: 13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even after being filled, we can
lose the fullness of the Spirit with our own carelessness and pride, which are
like holes in a vessel. We need to repent and plug those holes daily and ask
the Lord to fill us with His Spirit again and again. That is the exhortation in
<i>Ephesians 5: 18</i> in the original language – to <i>be being (continually) filled with the Spirit. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">So,
let us look to the Lord Jesus like this continually <i>(Hebrews 12: 1, 2)</i>,
so that we can hear His voice <i>(like the sound of many waters – Rev. 1: 15)</i>-
which will fill our hearts again and again with His tender love beyond measure <i>(John
3: 34) </i>… </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the more we <b>humble</b> and yield ourselves and die to our
own reputation, name, ambitions and choices, the mightier would be the in-filling
and the out-flowing of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to dispel the
fears and anxieties not only from our hearts, but also from the trembling
hearts around us through our <i>words</i> and lives which <i>impart His <b>grace</b></i>
to others <i>(Eph. 4: 29).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">“You have anointed my head with oil; <b>my cup overflows</b>
(to bless others) (Psalm 23: 5). </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">Let it be so.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-46538595321831984412019-06-05T02:16:00.000-07:002019-06-05T02:38:52.274-07:00Judge, but don’t Judge!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMVvhwMyHI4ARBTrdxL3s_GWOOKPDm44s6yj6PjYFpV6H9tQrma9q6IJhq7QqvRKGA89i0OuN5EkrxYkYVn9_Uw3GHwHURgmWX0dm-z7DebCVOcjpjeiZFExuJAnocMfieW8a3Pg9FdSx/s1600/judging+or+discerning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMVvhwMyHI4ARBTrdxL3s_GWOOKPDm44s6yj6PjYFpV6H9tQrma9q6IJhq7QqvRKGA89i0OuN5EkrxYkYVn9_Uw3GHwHURgmWX0dm-z7DebCVOcjpjeiZFExuJAnocMfieW8a3Pg9FdSx/s640/judging+or+discerning.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Judge, but don’t
Judge!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The same Lord Jesus Who said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Do not judge”</i> in <i>Matthew 7:1</i>,
said in <i>John 7: 24</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: “Do not judge
according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Judging
(critically looking down upon others with contempt) as in <i>Matthew 7: 1</i>,
and discernment (righteous judgment) as in <i>John 7: 24</i> (where the Lord
Jesus Himself says to “judge with righteous judgement”) is totally different as
hell and heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In <i>John
8: 15, 16, </i>Jesus said:<i> “</i></span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do
judge, <b>My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father
who sent Me</b>”. </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">From this we
can understand that discernment is part of the wisdom the Lord gives us in d</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">ifferent situations, as we
helplessly cling on to Him as a branch to the vine <i>(John 15: 5) –</i> in order
to distinguish the true from the counterfeit. And the Lord gives us discernment
not to condemn anyone, but to intercede for the deceived and/or to warn others about
the counterfeit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">If you don’t discern the preachers whom you listen to, you will be
thoroughly deceived by many things that happen around us in the name of Christ!
That is why <i>1John 4: 1</i> says: <i>“</i></span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Beloved, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world”.</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">In <i>Matthew 7: 15</i>, Jesus
Himself tells us to be beware of false prophets and in verses 16 and 20, to
know them by their FRUITS (of the Holy Spirit) – that is, love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control <i>(Galatians
5: 22, 23)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus said in <i>Matthew 10:16:
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be SHREWD AS
SERPENTS and innocent as doves”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The apostle Paul says in <i>Philippians
1:9: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real
knowledge and all DISCERNMENT”.</i></span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need to see how much a preacher
reflects our Lord Jesus Christ in his humility as well as in his integrity to
the Lord, especially in money matters. Only such ones are worth to be listened.
May the Lord help us to judge righteously in everything!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-24791266921858462042019-06-05T01:40:00.000-07:002019-06-05T01:40:46.998-07:00True and Counterfeit Experiences of the Holy Spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lXrbpVTOZElepcc4D5Mktv9Ep7ngcYDpZWg2r_snkPCnIYEEHdDQzFQsxageXdLDmzJQc03Y2V0J20_zRcLm6tctl5kBSLcD7NZ_trkvkBVAG4YCVLifcmzkxwkNcy-QYNT08b8Y8lC3/s1600/Rivers+of+living+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lXrbpVTOZElepcc4D5Mktv9Ep7ngcYDpZWg2r_snkPCnIYEEHdDQzFQsxageXdLDmzJQc03Y2V0J20_zRcLm6tctl5kBSLcD7NZ_trkvkBVAG4YCVLifcmzkxwkNcy-QYNT08b8Y8lC3/s640/Rivers+of+living+water.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">True and Counterfeit Experiences of the
Holy Spirit</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beware of the
Counterfeit Fullness of the Spirit <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of
the parts of fruit of the Holy Spirit is self control (Gal.5: 22, 23). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">1
Cor.14:32, 33, 40 reads like this: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“ and
the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of
confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints... But all things
must be done properly and in an orderly manner”.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">From
the above verses, it is crystal clear that if somebody loses control over himself
or herself, that can never be because of the Holy Spirit. Because Holy Spirit
helps us rather to control ourselves better – like controlling our thoughts,
tongue, eyes etc and makes us more like Christ Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like
Br Zac Poonen says Holy Spirit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fills</i>
people, but demons <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">possess</i> people.
The difference is that the Holy Spirit gives us more control over ourselves,
whereas the evil spirit takes away the control we have over our lives. That’s
why demon possessed people sometimes mutilate themselves (Mark 5: 5), for they
don’t have any control over what they think or do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Demon
can push somebody down. But Jesus and the Holy Spirit always lift people up
(See Luke 9: 42). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, and today, yes and forever” (Hebrews 13: 8). </i>Today soulish
“Christian” leaders push people down and call it the Holy Spirit! That is
really tragic! But actually when they do opposite to what Jesus did, know that
it is the spirit of antichrist! Beware of being part of all those Babylonian
tricks of the devil! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudden
shaking and shouting can also be a conscious attention-seeking behaviour, or it
can be a dissociative trance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever
that is, do not look down upon anybody, but rather discern what is of the Lord
and not of the Lord. Compare Matthew 7: 1 and John 7: 24. The same Lord who
said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Do not judge”</i> in Matthew 7:1,
said in John 7: 24<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: “Do not judge
according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment”.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">1
John 4:1 clearly warns us: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Beloved, do
not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from
God, because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">many false prophets</b>
have gone out into the world”. </i>If many false prophets were there in the
first century itself, how many more would there be in this 21<sup>st</sup>
century, which is so close to the second coming of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
first sign of the last days that the Lord told in Matthew 24:4 is: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“See to it that no one misleads you”.</i> He
further warns us of the same thing in verses 11 and 24. If you read verse 5
without the inverted comas as in the original language, you will understand
that the many false prophets will say that Jesus Himself is the Christ, and
holding the Bible in their hands they will deceive people (as given in 2 Cor.
11: 4) with <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">i)</span> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">another Jesus</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> (who does not say anything about
overcoming sin by the power of the Holy Spirit), <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">ii)</span> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">another spirit</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> (which pushes people down and induces
all kinds of “holy laughter, barking, vomiting etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">iii)</span> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">another gospel</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> (which is a health- wealth- prosperity
counterfeit, and begs for your money to build the preacher’s kingdom rather
than that of the Lord)!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">See Matthew 7:15- 23: "Beware of
the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are
ravenous wolves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">You
will know them by their fruits.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> Grapes are not
gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">So every good tree bears good fruit,
but the bad tree bears bad fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">A good tree cannot produce bad fruit,
nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">So then, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you will know them by their fruits.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord,
Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father
who is in heaven will enter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Many</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">
will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and
in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then I will declare to them, 'I
never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">So
discern a person by the fruit of the Holy Spirit, that is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control”(Galatians 5: 22, 23). </i>See how humble,
approachable and Christlike he is. See what his attitude towards money, women,
honour, the poor and the rich. Compare that with the attitude Jesus had towards
all these categories. Then you will understand whether he is a leader worthy to
be followed. Otherwise <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“if a blind man
leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15: 14).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The strong
commandment of the Lord in 2 Timothy 3: 5, especially for those living in the
last days (see verse 1), is to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">avoid
those who have a form of godliness (sheep’s clothing) but have denied its power</i>.
Instead, follow the Lord along <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with those
who call upon the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2: 22).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Receiving
the True Fullness of the Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
we surrender everything to the Lord as a burnt offering and a living sacrifice
(Romans 12: 1), the fire of the Holy Spirit will come and consume every part of
our being. And we will be flooded with the love, joy and peace of heaven!
(Romans 5: 5; Gal. 5: 22, 23). We will be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">endued
with power from on high to be a witness of the Lord </i>by our life and by our
words! (Luke 24: 49; Acts 1: 8; 4: 31). That is the true filling of the Holy
Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even
after being filled, we can lose the fullness of the Spirit with our own
carelessness and pride, which are like holes in a vessel. We need to repent and
plug those holes daily and ask the Lord to fill us with His Spirit again and
again. That is the exhortation in Eph 5: 18 in the original language – to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be being (continually) filled with the
Spirit. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Lord, in His sovereignty, will give us the gifts of the Holy Spirit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">as He chooses</b> (1 Cor. 12: 7, 11). Gifts
of the Spirit can be compared to vessels with which we can pour out the living
waters of the Holy Spirit and bless others. We are commanded to desire
earnestly for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophesying (that
is, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">edifying and exhorting and consoling</i>
others through the specific Word from the Lord from the Scriptures, that is
needed for the people at that particular point of time– 1Cor. 14: 3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">May
the Lord help us to strike the right balance in the experience and emphasis of
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fruit</b> as well as of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">gifts</b> of the Holy Spirit!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">May
the Good Shepherd Himself guide us into true springs of living water of the
Holy Spirit (Isaiah 49: 10; Rev. 7: 17)!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-62326060439740023062019-06-05T01:28:00.000-07:002019-06-05T02:00:05.775-07:00Beware of the Counterfeit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Drtxd8TlVU2AwOM4VtuNswT9SLt8Gk0F4zgpQOBiyWWo-JOuMSrlR2zpwGZx5pyCUymJ2eXMqCwxnbDviHQbt2kbp4IQGT6tGWox7iJMlwH0repXPYBNOPJbMld-lTcS6CrPTKq-EkeN/s1600/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1023" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Drtxd8TlVU2AwOM4VtuNswT9SLt8Gk0F4zgpQOBiyWWo-JOuMSrlR2zpwGZx5pyCUymJ2eXMqCwxnbDviHQbt2kbp4IQGT6tGWox7iJMlwH0repXPYBNOPJbMld-lTcS6CrPTKq-EkeN/s640/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
is a modified version of the reply I gave to a person who needed some
clarification on how we can keep ourselves safe from being not deceived by
those who pretend to be the Lord’s workers: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve
seen through these years after I have come to faith that many of those who take
Christ’s name are counterfeit! So, we have to be<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> ‘shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves’ (Matthew 10: 16). <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
have heard of a book circulated by apostles in the early centuries mentioning
as to how to discern a false teacher! What they say is that whoever comes to
you and asks you for money for themselves in Jesus’ name would be a false
teacher, whatever else he says! In those times when there was no printing, and
written manuscripts of the Bibles were not so much available as we have today,
that principle was very useful to those early Christians! But I’ve to say that
it is equally or rather more beneficial to today’s Christians also as they can
write off vast majority of so-called ‘pastors’ today with this single test!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">So,
if some money-loving counterfeit preacher approaches me for money, I do not
want to give him even a single paise! As somebody said: “What these people are
doing in Jesus’ name, is what Jesus Himself would never have done!” We are
accountable for each rupee God has entrusted us! So we need to ask Him before
we “help” others! I also have made many mistakes in the past in helping others
without discernment! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lord Jesus said in <i>Luke 16:13: “No
servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot
serve God and wealth.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;">True gospel frees you from the love
of money. Lord Jesus is with a whip today too, against those who are cheating
people and extracting their money in His name!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Lord has called only a few people to full-time Christian work and has given
them the faith to trust Him for their daily needs! But the tragedy is that so
many have ventured to do His work as a means of gain! <i>(1 Timothy 6: 5)</i>.
The Word of God clearly commands us to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“avoid
those who hold to form of godliness and deny its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).</i> I
never wish to be part of a church which is led by such covetous persons,
because otherwise I’ll be disobeying His Word! Jesus told many things to people
IN LOVE <i>(Ephesians 4: 15) </i>without caring whether they would get offended
and leave Him. We have to follow His example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The
commandment in the Scripture is: <i>“</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Do not participate in the <b>unfruitful
deeds of darkness</b>, but instead even <b>expose them</b>” (Ephesians 5: 11).</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">At
the same time, we need to be sensitive and generous to the needs of those who
are sacrificially and selflessly serving the Lord and those who are really
poor! Only the Lord can give us wisdom concerning these! So, though we have to
be strict against sin and hypocrisy, we have to be loving and compassionate as
well, because that’s the balance we see in our Lord Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-90310791239339208342019-05-22T01:02:00.000-07:002019-05-26T08:41:19.282-07:00Does the Word of God permit Sisters to Pray and to Share from the Word in the Church?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3vUVrJOrxIz47Zp3g7IWLkfec58FlYaAU8gCw_uLUXfm2i_cRbHQhG4kEFpxQT5rYZdqijeN09wYPFbW7-4tTfkIZvPXHEyJiIKO9lBRlWJ2TYpork0ekeve6aQVbMDHIOykts7B3ihd/s1600/Praying+hands+Bible.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3vUVrJOrxIz47Zp3g7IWLkfec58FlYaAU8gCw_uLUXfm2i_cRbHQhG4kEFpxQT5rYZdqijeN09wYPFbW7-4tTfkIZvPXHEyJiIKO9lBRlWJ2TYpork0ekeve6aQVbMDHIOykts7B3ihd/s640/Praying+hands+Bible.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am constrained by the love of the Lord to write this,
after having recently interacted with some dear brothers who deny the privilege
which the Word of God gives to sisters to pray and to share from the Word of
God in the church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even though it is crystal clear from 1 Corinthians 11: 5
that sisters can pray and prophesy with their heads covered, some argue that
the first 16 verses of the chapter is not an instruction for the church
meeting, but a common instruction. Then we will have to say that even the
commandment for sisters to cover the heads in the same passage also is not a
commandment to be obeyed during the church meetings! If so, will the brothers
with this argument teach that the sisters need not cover their heads in the
church meetings? No. Then, even a small child will be able to understand the hypocrisy
in this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">[Let me just mention at this point what prophesying in the
New Testament is. It is speaking to others for edification, exhortation and
consolation (1 Corinthians 14: 3) based on the Word of God, according to the
heart of God and according to the need of the people of God. And it is not some
kind of fortune telling as in many pentecostal and charismatic circles (like
one would go to the Gulf countries or to the United States, or that so and so
has done some black magic etc!)].</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another amazing, but hollow argument is that during the time
a sister is praying in the church, she is like leading the church, which is not
permissible! Then, brothers with such an argument will have to restrict sisters
from praying even in their family prayers, because woman is not permitted to
exercise authority over man at any point of time!! (1 Timothy 2: 12). Thus that
argument also fails!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We read in 1 Corinthians 14: 24, 31 that Apostle Paul is
encouraging everyone (including sisters) to prophesy one by one even in the
church meeting. Peter quotes from Joel’s prophecy in Acts 2: 17, 18 unambiguously
that both sons and daughters as well as male and female bond-slaves would
prophesy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then the next natural, relevant question is why it is
written in 1 </span><span style="font-size: large;">Corinthians 14: 34, 35 that women are to keep silent in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">churches and that they are not permitted to speak in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">churches. Anyhow, there
is no doubt that the Apostle who is </span><span style="font-size: large;">writing inspired by the Holy Spirit (2
Timothy 3: 16) would not </span><span style="font-size: large;">contradict himself in 14: 34, 35 what he had already
written in </span><span style="font-size: large;">11: 5 of the same letter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then let us examine a similar verse in 1Timothy 2: 12 about
women having to be quiet: “<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">But I do not
allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet”.<i>
</i>From this we can understand that the instruction for sisters to be silent
in 1 Corinthians 14: 34, 35 is just to clarify that the Lord has not entrusted
the sisters the ministry of teaching doctrinal matters in the church or to take
up the leadership of the church. 1 Corinthians 14: 26 which just comes before
these verses, mentions about teaching (and not about prophesying – that is,
sharing from the Word of God). That also supports this interpretation. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">Many people ask how sharing from the Word and teaching differs. </span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Sharing
from the Word refers to sharing what the Lord has spoken to us through the Word
and during different life situations. Teaching refers to teaching the doctrines
of the Word like water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism etc. Women can teach women
(Titus 2: 3-5) and children, though not men. But as we saw, they can share from
the Word and testify and pray even in church meetings with their heads covered
(1 Corinthians 11: 5).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The same Apostle Paul,
whom many allege to be against women’s ministry, is the one who unhesitatingly acknowledges
in his epistles the names of many sisters like Phoebe, Prisca (Romans 16: 1-4),
Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis (Romans 16: 12), Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians
4: 2, 3), who were active in the ministry of the Lord! Although the Lord has
not given sisters the role of leading the church in terms of position (1
Corinthians 11: 3), gender is immaterial to the Lord when it comes to one’s worth,
value, usefulness as well as eternal reward before the Lord! “</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;">There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave
nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus” (Galatians 3: 28).</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Suppose, a whole family
with parents and children are gathered </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">together in the house. And the father
says to the girl </span><span style="font-size: large;">children: “You are not supposed to utter a word”. How painful </span><span style="font-size: large;">it would be! Exactly same is the situation where sisters are </span><span style="font-size: large;">restricted from
praying or sharing from the Word of God in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">church! A real church is a
family. May the Lord use us to build </span><span style="font-size: large;">in all parts of our land such churches
where sisters are not </span><span style="font-size: large;">suppressed from fulfilling their call and ministry!</span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-62446492047965165422019-05-20T11:17:00.000-07:002019-05-26T08:46:32.154-07:00സഹോദരിമാർക്ക് സഭായോഗങ്ങളിൽ പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുവാനും, ദൈവവചനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പങ്കുവയ്ക്കാനും ദൈവവചനം അനുവദിക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWfg60ODOJNUon5kJrBjWXFd7UOmqjP1NHP4rxek3vj_JOJlR68j0KUTqjRlANJ6RhIpz4cIfZAuzJtT9oJAQ8kYoaWUMHfWUgRpk14ItiPp8hhTOATzMu0_VM53xuD9o5QNO6rcWohSi/s1600/bible-candle-praying-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1332" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWfg60ODOJNUon5kJrBjWXFd7UOmqjP1NHP4rxek3vj_JOJlR68j0KUTqjRlANJ6RhIpz4cIfZAuzJtT9oJAQ8kYoaWUMHfWUgRpk14ItiPp8hhTOATzMu0_VM53xuD9o5QNO6rcWohSi/s640/bible-candle-praying-hands.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഹോദരിമാർക്ക്</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഭായോഗങ്ങളിൽ പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുവാനും</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ദൈവവചനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പങ്കുവയ്ക്കാനും ദൈവവചനം<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>നൽകുന്ന അവകാശത്തെ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> (privilege-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">നെ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">) </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">നിഷേധിക്കുന്ന ചില</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പ്രിയ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഹോദരങ്ങളുമായി സംസാരിക്കുവാൻ ഈയടുത്ത് ഇടയായതിൽ നിന്ന് ഇത് കുറിക്കുവാൻ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ദൈവസ്നേഹത്താൽ ഞാൻ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">നിർബന്ധിതനാവുകയാണ്</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൊരിന്ത്യർ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> 11: 5-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ തലയിൽ മൂടുപടമിട്ടു കൊണ്ട്
സഹോദരിമാർക്ക് പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുകയും പ്രവചിക്കുകയും</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ചെയ്യാമെന്ന കാര്യം സുവ്യക്തമാണെങ്കിലും</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഒന്ന് മുതൽ പതിനാറ് വരെയുള്ള
വാക്യങ്ങൾ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഭായോഗത്തെ സംബന്ധിക്കുന്ന കാര്യമല്ലെന്നും പൊതുവിലുള്ള ഒരു നിർദ്ദേശം</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">മാത്രമാണെന്നുമാണ് ചിലരുടെ വാദം. അങ്ങനെയെങ്കിൽ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അതേ ഭാഗത്ത് പ്രതിപാദിക്കുന്ന സഹോദരിമാർ പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുമ്പോൾ
മൂടുപടമിടണമെന്നുള്ള കല്പനയും സഭായോഗത്തെ സംബന്ധിച്ചുള്ളതല്ലെന്ന് പറയേണ്ടി വരും.
അപ്പോൾ ഈ വാദമുള്ള സഹോദരങ്ങൾ സഭയിൽ സഹോദരിമാർ മൂടുപടമിടേണ്ടതില്ലെന്ന്
ഉപദേശിക്കുമോ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">? </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഇല്ല.</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അപ്പോൾത്തന്നെ ഇതിലുള്ള ഇരട്ടത്താപ്പ് ഏത് കൊച്ചുകുട്ടിക്കും<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>മനസ്സിലാകും</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">[</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ആത്മീയ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">വർദ്ധനയ്ക്കും പ്രബോധനത്തിനും ആശ്വാസത്തിനുമായി (</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൊരിന്ത്യർ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> 14: 3)</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> ദൈവ വചനത്തിൻറെ
അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">,</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> ദൈവജനത്തിൻറെ ആവശ്യത്തിന്
അനുസരിച്ചു</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ദൈവഹൃദയപ്രകാരം
സംസാരിക്കുന്നതാണ് പുതിയ ഉടമ്പടിയിലെ പ്രവചനം</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">എന്ന് ഓർപ്പിച്ചു കൊള്ളട്ടെ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">; </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അല്ലാതെ ചില പെന്തക്കൊസ്തു</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കരിസ്മാറ്റിക്</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൂട്ടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നതുപോലെ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഭാവിയിൽ ഗൾഫിലും അമേരിക്കയിലും പോകുമെന്നും ഇന്നയാൾ കൂടോത്രം
ചെയ്തിട്ടുണ്ടെന്നുള്ളതു പോലെയുള്ള പക്ഷിശാസ്ത്രസമാനമായ </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">“</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പ്രവചനങ്ങള</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">”</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ല്ല</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">].<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">വേറൊരു കൗതുകകരമായ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">എന്നാൽ പൊള്ളയായ വാദം
എന്തെന്നാൽ ഒരു സഭായോഗത്തിൽ ഒരു സഹോദരി പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുമ്പോൾ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ആ സമയത്ത് അവർ യോഗത്തെ നയിക്കുന്നതുപോലെയാണെന്നും അതുകൊണ്ടു അത്
അനുവദനീയമല്ലെന്നുള്ളതുമാണ്.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അങ്ങനെയെങ്കിൽ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഈ വാദമുഖമുള്ള സഹോദരങ്ങൾ തങ്ങളുടെ
കുടുംബപ്രാർത്ഥനയിൽപ്പോലും സഹോദരിമാരെ പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കാൻ അനുവദിക്കാതിരിക്കേണ്ടി വരും</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">!!!</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> എന്തെന്നാൽ ഒരു സമയത്തും
പുരുഷൻറെമേൽ അധികാരം ചെലത്തുവാൻ സ്ത്രീയ്ക്ക് അനുവാദമില്ലല്ലോ (</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">തിമോത്തിയോസ്</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">2: 12</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">)</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">. </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അങ്ങനെ ആ വാദമുനയും
ഒടിഞ്ഞുപോയി</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൊരിന്ത്യർ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> 14: 24-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ലും</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> 31-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ലും എല്ലാവരും
(സഹോദരിമാരുൾപ്പടെ) സഭായോഗത്തിൽത്തന്നെ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഓരോരുത്തരായി</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പ്രവചിക്കുന്നതിനായി പൗലോസ് അപ്പൊസ്തലൻ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഉത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നു</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">. </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അപ്പൊസ്തല പ്രവൃത്തികൾ </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">2: 17, 18-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>പുത്രന്മാരും പുത്രിമാരും
ദാസന്മാരും ദാസിമാരും പ്രവചിക്കുമെന്നും</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">യോവേൽ പ്രവാചകനെ ഉദ്ധരിച്ചു സംശയലേശമെന്യേ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നു.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അപ്പോൾ സ്വാഭാവികമായുള്ള അടുത്ത ചോദ്യം</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> 1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൊരിന്ത്യർ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> 14: 34, 35-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ സ്ത്രീകൾ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഭയിൽ</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">മിണ്ടാതെയിരിക്കട്ടെയെന്നും സംസാരിക്കുന്നത് അനുചിതമാണെന്നും എന്തുകൊണ്ട്
പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന പ്രസക്തമായ ചോദ്യമാണ്.</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവിനാൽ പ്രേരിതനായി </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">(2 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">തിമോത്തിയോസ് </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">3: 15) </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ദൈവവചനം എഴുതിയ അപ്പൊസ്തലന്
ഒരേ ലേഖനത്തിലെ </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">11: 5-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ പറഞ്ഞ ഒരു കാര്യത്തിൻറെ
വിപരീതമായ ഒരു കാര്യം </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">14 : 34 , 35 -</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ രേഖപ്പെടുത്തില്ലെന്ന കാര്യം<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>നമുക്ക് വ്യക്തമാണ്.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അപ്പോൾ ഇതേ പോലെ സഹോദരിമാർ മൗനമായിരിക്കട്ടെ എന്ന്
പറയുന്ന മറ്റൊരു വാക്യം </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">തിമോത്തിയോസ് </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">2: 12</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">നമുക്ക് പരിശോധിക്കാം:</span><span lang="ML" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">“</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">മൗനമായിരിപ്പാൻ അല്ലാതെ ഉപദേശിപ്പാനോ പുരുഷൻറെ മേൽ അധികാരം നടത്തുവാനോ ഞാൻ
സ്ത്രീയെ അനുവദിക്കുന്നില്ല</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">”. <span lang="ML">ഇതിൽ നിന്ന് സ്ത്രീകൾ
മിണ്ടാതെയിരിക്കട്ടെയെന്ന് </span></span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൊരിന്ത്യർ </span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">14: 34, 35-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ പറയുന്നതിൻറെ അർത്ഥം</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഭയിൽ പൊതുവായി ഉപദേശപരമായ കാര്യങ്ങൾ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനും സഭയുടെ നേതൃത്വം നൽകുന്നതിനുമുള്ള
ശുശ്രൂഷ കർത്താവ് സഹോദരിമാരെ ഏൽപിച്ചിട്ടില്ല എന്ന വ്യക്തമാക്കുവാൻ മാത്രമാണെന്ന്
മനസ്സിലാക്കാം. ഈ വചനങ്ങൾക്ക് തൊട്ടുമുൻപുള്ള </span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">1 </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൊരിന്ത്യർ </span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">14: 26-</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ ഉപദേശത്തെപ്പറ്റിയാണ് (പ്രവചനത്തെപ്പറ്റിയല്ല - അതായത് ദൈവവചനത്തിൽ നിന്നും
പങ്കുവയ്ക്കുന്നതിനെപ്പറ്റിയല്ല) പ്രതിപാദിക്കുന്നത് എന്നതും ഈ വ്യാഖ്യാനത്തെ
സാധൂകരിക്കുന്നു.</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">വചനത്തിൽ നിന്നു പങ്കുവയ്ക്കുന്നതും
ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നതും തമ്മിൽ എന്താണ് വ്യത്യാസം എന്നു പലരും ചോദിക്കാറുണ്ട്. വചനത്തിൽ
നിന്നു പങ്കുവയ്ക്കുക എന്നത് കർത്താവ് നമ്മോട് വചനത്തിലൂടെയും പല
ജീവിതസാഹചര്യങ്ങളിലൂടെയും സംസാരിച്ച കാര്യങ്ങൾ പങ്കുവയ്ക്കുന്നതിനെ
സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ജലസ്നാനം</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പരിശുദ്ധാത്മസ്നാനം തുടങ്ങിയ</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">വചനത്തിലുള്ള ഉപദേശങ്ങൾ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനെയാണ്<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ഉപദേശിക്കുക എന്നതു കൊണ്ട് അർത്ഥമാക്കുന്നത്. സ്ത്രീകൾക്ക്
പുരുഷന്മാരെയല്ലെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സ്ത്രീകളെയും</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> (<span lang="ML">തീത്തോസ് </span></span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">2: 3-5) </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളെയും പഠിപ്പിക്കാം. നാം കണ്ടതുപോലെ</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഭായോഗങ്ങളിൽപ്പോലും അവർക്ക് തലയിൽ മൂടുപടം ഇട്ടുകൊണ്ട് വചനത്തിൽ നിന്നും
പങ്കുവയ്ക്കാനും സാക്ഷ്യം പറയുവാനും പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുവാനും അനുവാദമുണ്ട്.</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സ്ത്രീകളുടെ ശുശ്രൂഷയ്ക്ക് എതിരാണെന്ന് അനേകർ
ആരോപിക്കുന്ന അപ്പൊസ്തലനായ പൗലോസ് തൻറെ ലേഖനങ്ങളിൽ കർത്താവിൻറെ ശുശ്രൂഷയിൽ
സജീവമായിരുന്ന അനേകം സഹോദരിമാരുടെ പേരുകൾ എടുത്ത് പരാമർശിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്: ഫേബ</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പ്രിസ്ക (റോമർ</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> 16: 1- 4), </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ത്രുഫൈനെ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ത്രുഫോസെ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പെർസിസ്</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> (<span lang="ML">റോമർ</span> 16: 12), </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">യുവൊദ്യ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">
സുന്തുക</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> (</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഫിലിപ്യർ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> 4: 2, 3)! </span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">സഭയിലെ
സ്ഥാനം വച്ചു നോക്കുമ്പോൾ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">,
</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കർത്താവ് സഹോദരിമാർക്ക് സഭയെ നയിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള ശുശ്രൂഷ
നല്കിയിട്ടില്ലെങ്കിലും</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">(1 </span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കൊരിന്ത്യർ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> 11: 3), </span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">കർത്താവിൻറെ മുൻപാകെയുള്ള വില</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">പ്രയോജനപരത</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">നിത്യതയിലുള്ള പ്രതിഫലം തുടങ്ങിയ
കാര്യങ്ങളിൽ ദൈവത്തിന് സ്ത്രീയെന്നോ പുരുഷനെന്നോ മുഖപക്ഷമില്ല.</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">"</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അതില്
യെഹൂദനും യവനനും എന്നില്ല</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">; </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ദാസനും
സ്വതന്ത്രനും എന്നില്ല</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ആണും
പെണ്ണും എന്നുമില്ല</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">; </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">നിങ്ങ</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൾ</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">എല്ലാവരും ക്രിസ്തു യേശുവി</span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ൽ</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"> ഒന്നത്രേ</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">” (</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഗലാത്യർ</span><span lang="ML" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">3: 28)</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">.</span><span style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">ഒരു വീട്ടിൽ അച്ഛനും അമ്മയും മക്കളും എല്ലാവരും
ഒന്നിച്ചു ചേരുമ്പോൾ</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">, </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അച്ഛൻ പെണ്മക്കളോട് "നിങ്ങൾ
ഒന്നും ശബ്ദിച്ചുപോയേക്കരുത്" എന്ന് നിഷ്കർഷിച്ചാൽ എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കും</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">? </span><span lang="ML" style="font-family: Kartika, serif; line-height: 150%;">അതുപോലെയാണ് സഭയിൽ സഹോദരിമാർ പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുകയോ ദൈവവചനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പങ്കു
വയ്ക്കുകയോ അരുത് എന്ന് പറയുന്നത്. യഥാർത്ഥ സഭ ഒരു കുടുംബമാണ്. സഹോദരിമാർ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>തങ്ങളുടെ വിളിയും ശുശ്രൂഷയും നിറവേറ്റുന്നത്<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>അടിച്ചമർത്താത്ത അങ്ങനെയുള്ള സഭകൾ എല്ലാ
പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലും പണിയുവാൻ കർത്താവ് നമ്മെ ഉപയോഗിക്കട്ടെ!</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-33944802490218878152018-07-05T08:17:00.004-07:002021-04-24T09:43:51.766-07:00How the Lord Led Me to Specialize in Psychiatry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltK9NoF8WjyuDL6gXKjCKdYs4akaZvF69OG2ka4u5VdNiuSojNRL_mbtKfW_U7vF8BDpYahITIgZYoHWpv_B9BDCMM5JZCl-gKny27EAR6qvfNOJLAwleEuKmNmA4XGKN02psWIRpAJQt/s1600/Landscape+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="700" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltK9NoF8WjyuDL6gXKjCKdYs4akaZvF69OG2ka4u5VdNiuSojNRL_mbtKfW_U7vF8BDpYahITIgZYoHWpv_B9BDCMM5JZCl-gKny27EAR6qvfNOJLAwleEuKmNmA4XGKN02psWIRpAJQt/s640/Landscape+1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">How the Lord Led
Me to Specialize in Psychiatry<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the questions many
people ask me, is why and how I chose to specialize in Psychiatry. During the
days of my training in MBBS, I did not have any interest in the field of
Psychiatry. But rather, I was averse to Psychiatry because I got the impression
from many spheres that this is a field for those who do not have any faith in
God and that psychiatrists are those who try to explain faith also as a mere
neurochemical phenomenon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, the
Lord Jesus had to intervene supernaturally in my life on 20th April 2009
through a vision in order to guide me to this fascinating and marvelous field
of Psychiatry! (I need to add a sentence here that although there are genuine
visions and dreams from the Lord, I am skeptical about the so many so-called
visions and dreams many people testify, extending the boundaries of their
imagination as well as trying to make up some meaning from their meaningless
dreams).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">On 2009 April
19th night I was taking casualty duty in one Aravind Hospital, Chavara, nearby
my native place. There were so many patients visiting casualty that time, that
I could have my dinner only at about 12: 30 am. And there were patients till
about 1: 15 am. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">By about 1:
15 am, I came to the duty room very much tired physically, but afresh spiritually
because that afternoon I had just finished a two and a half days’ Life Revision
Seminar by Dr Kuruvilla Varkey from Christian Fellowship Hospital, Oddanchatram,
Tamil Nadu. Though I thought of going to the bed soon (because one cannot
predict when the next patient will come), I was prompted by the Lord to spend a
little more time with Him, conversing with Him and worshipping Him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I was just
worshipping the Lord and delighting in His presence with my eyes closed. After
some time I was seeing a vision of multitude of poor, helpless, needy people,
sitting in darkness and pathetically crying out for help..... I saw two faces
more or less clearly: one that of a 60 – 70 year old man and another that of a
7 – 8 year old little girl. The Lord flooded my heart with compassion for all
of them, and I was convinced deeply in my heart that the Lord wanted to touch
them through me. Suddenly the thought of specializing in Psychiatry became very
much alive in my heart (because 12 hours ago, that is, around 1: 15 pm of April
19<sup>th</sup> afternoon, Dr. Kuruvilla Varkey had suggested to me the option
of specializing in Psychiatry, as I was speaking with him after the Life
Revision Seminar. But I had no interest in it when he told me about this option).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv43845006msonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.45pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 1.45pt 0cm 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">After I saw this vision, I was
telling the Lord: “Lord, if it is your will, I am willing to venture into
whatever field You choose for me. But You need to clarify to me the same,
because I do not want to drag a subject which I do not like all the rest of my
life”. Immediately I felt an inner urge to open the Bible which was lying near
me. I thought of turning the pages of the Bible to whatever portion the Lord was
prompting me to go. The page I opened from the Bible was starting with Isaiah
50: 2, which reads like: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Why was there no man when I came? When I <b>called</b>,
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">why</span> was there none to answer?
...”. </span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;">I understood that the Lord is indicating that He is <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">calling </i></b>me to something. The
subsequent part of verse 2 and verse 3 spoke of</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"> the Lord’s
almighty power. Verse 4 reads like this: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The Lord God has
given Me the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">tongue</b> of disciples,
that I may know <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>how to sustain the
weary one with a word</u></b>. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My
ear to listen as a disciple”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I read the word ‘tongue’ in the 4<sup>th</sup>
verse, I was shocked, because it was just 12 hours ago that Dr Kuruvilla Varkey
was speaking to me about Christian Counselling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The phrase <i>“how to sustain the weary one with a word” </i>confirmed to
me my calling to Psychiatry. And this is the best verse on true psychotherapy
(counselling) that I have found in the entire Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Another interesting thing is that
</span><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">even the rest of verse 4 about the Lord <i>‘awakening
me morning by morning, and awakening my ear to listen as a disciple’</i> was
literally fulfilled. It was the</span><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Lord Who literally woke me up
morning by morning those few days as it was mentioned in that verse. Far
earlier than the alarm clock rang, the Lord Jesus amazingly woke me up from
sleep in the early mornings of three days before and one day after this vision;
that is, 17<sup>th</sup>, 18<sup>th</sup>, 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup>
of April 2009. On some days, the Lord woke me up around 3 O’ clock and 5 O’
clock in the mornings although I had gone to bed very late in the preceding
nights. I was so fresh in my mind when I was woken up by the Lord, that even
though I tried to sleep after waking up, I was not able to do so. I could spend
quality time with the Lord those mornings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the subsequent portion of
Isaiah 50 was literally fulfilled. Verse 5 and 6 speaks about opposition, which
I initially faced from my parents because they initially did not like me
specializing in Psychiatry. Verse 7 to 9 speaks about the Lord helping me,
which was fulfilled when the Lord Himself suddenly changed their minds to
support me about my new decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Verse 10 speaks about trusting in
the Lord in the midst of uncertainty, which was fulfilled when there was a
period of one month of uncertainty when there was no vacancy for Non PG seat in
the department of Psychiatry in CMC, Vellore, where Dr Kuruvilla Varkey
suggested me to join. Soon the uncertainty was over since the Lord Himself
created a vacancy there when a doctor in the department chose to go for his
Sabbatical leave exactly at the ‘right’ time. Amazing are the Lord’s ways! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the evening that followed the
night I had the vision, I phoned up my mentor and spiritual father, Br Geoji T
Samuel, (who is the elder at Christian Fellowship Church, Kottayam – <a href="http://www.cfckottayam.org/" target="_blank">www.cfckottayam.org</a> and Senior Editor at
Malayala Manorama newspaper). He told me: <i>“Three times in the last one week I spoke at
three different occasions that ‘we need professional psychiatric help for this’
when different people approached us for different problems. So, brother, please
do the specialization, be competent in the field and come back. The church needs
your service. One more thing: usually when I hear testimonies about visions and
dreams, I feel a bit skeptical. But when I heard about your experience, I felt
so free in my spirit.” </i>These words encouraged, blessed and strengthened me
tremendously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, by the Lord’s grace, I joined in CMC, Vellore as Non PG, cleared
the entrance exams and did my DPM and MD in Psychiatry! Every day from April 20<sup>th</sup>
2009 proves to me my calling into this field! I can honestly say before the Lord
Jesus that I enjoy being a Psychiatrist, being an instrument in the Lord’s
hands to perceive the depths of agony and anguish in many minds, and to bring a
healing touch from the Lord in those numerous lives… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I am a witness to many miraculous recoveries, healings and deliverances
(including demons being cast out! <a href="https://sandeeppsychiatry.blogspot.com/2018/03/casting-out-of-demon-in-psychiatry-opd.html" target="_blank">https://sandeeppsychiatry.blogspot.com/2018/03/casting-out-of-demon-in-psychiatry-opd.html</a>) in my practice of Psychiatry. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">The very next day of my
receiving the <b>appointment </b>order and joining in the Department of Psychiatry
in CMC, Vellore, on May 23<sup>rd</sup>, 2009, Saturday morning, the Lord
paraphrased <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John 15: 16</i> from my daily
Bible meditation, like this: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You did not
choose Psychiatry, but I chose it for you and <b>appointed</b> you that you should
go and bear fruit, that your fruit may remain, that whatever you ask of the
Father in My name, He may give to you”</i>. Looking back I am seeing the fruit
that remains. And I am expecting all the more fruit in the days to come,
leaning on the Lord’s </span><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">marvelous mercies and abundant
grace! </span><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-14987198878417241712018-03-05T09:36:00.000-08:002018-03-05T09:36:29.740-08:00Casting out of a demon in the Psychiatry OPD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpem0WP1NGdayc4xbmOevJiDTLCPJpdJLEt9BgrjDFDpEzCuA-W0zLSf9A38DcbeHrM10L1gpZc24oHpYKznXX-nLyYNsW_TWJ1czzbueXCYtlhCz3p6Gmrwyms8HXuNiAjoTo7R9A32l_/s1600/deliverance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="999" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpem0WP1NGdayc4xbmOevJiDTLCPJpdJLEt9BgrjDFDpEzCuA-W0zLSf9A38DcbeHrM10L1gpZc24oHpYKznXX-nLyYNsW_TWJ1czzbueXCYtlhCz3p6Gmrwyms8HXuNiAjoTo7R9A32l_/s640/deliverance.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Casting out of a demon in the
Psychiatry OPD<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear friends, I just wanted to share an encouraging incident of a demon
being cast out in my Psychiatry OPD a few weeks ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">One man of more than 60 years, with history suggestive of Dysthymia and
Possession attacks, was the patient. After prescribing medicines, he requested
me to pray for him, since he knew about my faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I was praying binding the activities of the devil, I was hearing
noisy deep breaths. I opened my eyes to see the patient staring at me in fierce
anger, telling me “I will not leave, I will not leave”. I just commanded the
evil spirit to leave him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Who defeated the
devil on the Cross, and stated that the devil has no authority over him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was no need for any noise or clamour, that even patients waiting
outside the room, did not know what happened inside! There was no need for any
shouting or screaming characteristic of many similar so-called casting out of
demons, because demons, anyway, have no hearing deficits and they are not
afraid of our screaming, but rather scared of the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the patient fell on the floor, without resulting in any injury (as
we read in <i>Luke 4: 35</i>). His fast breathing slowed down, and he opened his eyes.
I told him to sit on the chair. He sat on the chair. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">I asked him whether he remembered what he told me. He said he did not
remember, but that he felt intense, fierce anger against me during prayer. I
smiled at him and explained what happened. (I refreshed a great spiritual
lesson that anger is the character of the devil, and that we are holding hands
with the devil when we become angry).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few similar encounters have occurred like this in my Psychiatry
practice. I just shared this to reinforce the fact that our faith is not based
on some old, historical mythology, but on the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Who is very real and ever present with us through the genuine fullness of the
Holy Spirit! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Praise be to the Lord Jesus alone, on Whose name alone the demons
tremble with fear! <i>(James 2: 19)</i>. And praise God for the authority the Lord has
given us in the name of Christ Jesus, over all the activities of the devil!
<i>(Luke 10: 19)</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-858761941482608062018-02-10T14:30:00.000-08:002018-02-18T10:00:16.824-08:00Worship and Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfbGgkLWFe0joFBxsoDocxIOBZy2k-fPyee85SFcayMHBAAMrPoBq048iqeuaaFf0ry6McSrGBvjsNJE_xIB0HLEFlJDkWlokWZx5KwFf37H_XipwKQZ6ffL0uK_OfKOnlHKcwaDC9zLm/s1600/34640-praise-and-worship-1200.1200w.tn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfbGgkLWFe0joFBxsoDocxIOBZy2k-fPyee85SFcayMHBAAMrPoBq048iqeuaaFf0ry6McSrGBvjsNJE_xIB0HLEFlJDkWlokWZx5KwFf37H_XipwKQZ6ffL0uK_OfKOnlHKcwaDC9zLm/s640/34640-praise-and-worship-1200.1200w.tn.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Worship and Work<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Question 1: “Work is
worship” is a common saying we hear everywhere. Is that true Biblically?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Answer 1: </b>Even
among the apparently good works, there are two types:</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">1)</span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Works done to earn money, honour, to satisfy our
conscience, done out of compulsion, pressure or obligation etc</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2)</span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Works done out of a </span><i style="text-indent: -18pt;">simple and pure devotion to the Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 11: 2, 3)</i><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">,
in a spirit of worship. We might earn money as a remuneration for such works as
in our regular job, but </span><i style="text-indent: -18pt;">we do that work
as unto the Lord (Colossians 3: 23, 24).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first type of works, even if they are
done under the name “Christian work or ministry” are <i>“dead works” </i>according to the standard of the Bible. <span style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">So a "good" work done to impress anyone other than
the Lord Jesus Christ, is a dead work! </span>See <i>Matthew 6: 1-17; 7: 21-23; 15: 13; 1 Corinthians 3: 12-15; Hebrews 9: 14;
Isaiah 64: 6</i>.<span style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The
second type of works only will have any value before the Lord and lasts for
eternity! Those are the works that are done by a person who is worshipping the
Lord in his heart. That is why Lord Jesus rightly quoted the order to the devil
in <i>Matthew 4: 10:</i> <span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“<i>You shall <b>worship</b> the Lord your God,
and <b>serve</b> Him only</i>”. First worship and then serve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The promptings and
motivation of such works originate <b>FROM</b>
the mind of the HEAVENLY FATHER. They are done <b>THROUGH</b> the power and strength of the HOLY SPIRIT. And they are
done <b>TO </b>the glory of the LORD JESUS
CHRIST! That is what <i>Romans 11: 36</i>
says: <i>“For from Him and through Him and
to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen”. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Such works are the <i>gold, silver and precious stones</i> described
in <i>1 Corinthians 3: 12-15, </i>that will
form the Bridal garment of the Bride of Christ <i>(Revelation 19: 8). </i>And such works alone will have any reward at
the judgement seat of Christ! <i>(Revelation
22:12).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is not
dichotomization of worship and work. But both would be integrated (that is, our
work can be an act of pure worship to the Lord), only if we are first a
worshipper! But beware: all work is not worship at all…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question</b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">2: How can we balance
worship and work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Answer
2: </span></b><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Genesis 1: 5 </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">says
<i>“…And there was <b>evening</b> and there was <b>morning</b>,
one day”. </i>That was the<i> </i>original
order of the Lord. Even today Jewish day begins at 6pm with evening and is
followed by the morning. This teaches us to rest with God (worship Him) first
and then go out to work for Him along with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When God created Adam and Eve at the end of
the sixth day of creation, for them the seventh day of Sabbath was their first
day, in which they rested with (worshipped) God <i>(Genesis 2: 2, 3). </i>From that energy derived from being with God,
they were supposed to work in the garden for the Lord <i>(Genesis 2: 15).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lord Jesus said: <i>“…he shall go <b>in</b> (worship)
and <b>out </b>(work) and find pasture”
(John 10: 9).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As Dr Kuruvilla Varkey says, this is the
balance we see even in our human body: there is <b>resting membrane potential </b>and <b>action
potential </b>in our cells. There is <b>diastole
(relaxation) </b>and <b>systole (contraction)
</b>in<b> </b>our heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If worship is the <b><i>root </i></b>of a tree, then work
is the <b><i>shoot</i></b>. If worship is <b><i>being</i></b>, then work is <b><i>doing</i></b>.
If worship is the <b><i>foundation</i></b> of the building of our life (hidden from all others
–<i>Matthew 6:6)</i>, then work is the <b><i>superstructure</i></b>,
our powerful external testimony like <i>the
city set on a hill which cannot be hidden (Matthew 5: 14)</i>. A tree without
deep roots and a building without a deep foundation will fall down when the
trials and temptations come <i>(Matthew 7:
24- 27). </i>And so will a life with much works and no or scanty worship!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If worship is the <b><i>oil </i></b>(love of God through
the Holy Spirit –<i>Romans 5: 5) </i>in the
lamp of the wise virgins in <i>Matthew 25:
1-13</i>, which nobody could see, then work is the <b><i>light</i></b> in the lamps. So
those who have only works and no or meagre worship, are like the foolish
virgins who did not have any extra oil in their lamps, who were not eventually
ready to meet the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So let worship be the driving force behind
all our work! And when we worship God, we will find God is working, and we will
also be prompted to do what He is showing us. That is what Jesus is saying in <i>John 5: 17, 19, 20: “</i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">My Father is working
until now, and I Myself am working… Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do
nothing of Himself, unless it is
<b>something He sees the Father doing</b>;
for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in <b>like manner</b>. For the Father loves the
Son, and shows Him <b>all things</b> that
He Himself is doing; and the Father
will show Him<b> greater works</b> than
these, so that you will marvel”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">These words were the
secret of how Jesus walked on this earth <i>(1John
2: 6)</i>, in helpless, childlike dependence on the Heavenly Father every
moment!<i> </i>His words remind me always of
a little child clinging on to his or her dad, saying <i>“I cannot do anything on my own. I just do what I see my papa doing. I
just do it exactly like how my papa does. I will do all that my papa is doing.
And my papa will show me greater works than these that you all will be amazed”.
<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Young, humble Solomon
at the beginning of his kingship was like this. He said: <i>“… I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in…
Give Thy servant an understanding (Hebrew word ‘shama’ means ‘listening’ heart”
(1Kings 3: 7, 9). </i>But when he became wise and great in his own eyes, he went
astray. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, let us follow the
bloodstained footsteps of our Master who always listened to every Word that
proceeded from the mouth of His Father for every decision <i>(Matthew 4: 4; John 5: 30; 8: 16; Isaiah 11: 3).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so, a true
worshiper would really be a very hard working person as God is <i>(2 Timothy 2: 6)</i>, and not a ‘hardly
working’ person as many people are!!<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question</b>
<b>3: What is true worship?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Answer
3: </b>As Br Zac Poonen teaches, worship is much beyond prayer, thanksgiving
and praise. True spiritual worship (worship in the spirit) starts with surrendering to the Lord Jesus every part of
body –tongue, eyes, ears, hands, feet etc, soul and spirit as a living
sacrifice (like the burnt offering in the Old Covenant) <i>(Romans 12: 1, 2, 11)</i>. There our self will is torn just like the
olives were beaten to yield oil for the temple <i>(Exodus 27: 20).</i> Then the fire of heaven, the Holy Spirit will fall
upon us and consume us with His love. The river of the water of life <i>(Revelation 22: 1)</i>, which is the same
Holy Spirit, will immerse us in His ocean of love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And we will join ourselves to the Lord and
will be one spirit with the Lord then <i>(1
Corinthians 6: 17),</i> delighting in the presence of the Lord <i>(Psalm 37: 4; 16: 11),</i> just like a
little child rejoices in his mother’s or father’s presence! <i>(Psalm 131: 1, 2). </i>We will be flooded
primarily with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, especially the love, joy and peace
of heaven <i>(Galatians 5: 22, 23). </i>It
will be a foretaste of heaven, being in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle
in the very presence of God! We will be seeing a glimpse of the glory of God in
our spirit and will be falling prostrate, giving all glory to Him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nothing and no one on earth matter to us
then. And we will be exclaiming like Asaph: <i>“Whom
have in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee I desire nothing on earth” (Psalm 73:
25). </i>Our desire would be like that of David who said: <i>“</i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">One thing I
have asked from the L</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">ORD</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">, that I shall seek: that
I may dwell in the house of the L</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">ORD</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> all the days of my
life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple” (Psalm
27: 4).</span> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And such true worshipers are the ones whom
the Heavenly Father is earnestly seeking for <i>(John 4: 23). </i>And that is the <b><i>worship in the (Holy) Spirit,</i></b> in
accordance with<b><i> the Truth (Word of God) </i></b><i>(John
4: 24). <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the worship in our human <b>spirit </b>(not just in our soul and body as
in the Old Covenant) (see <i>John 4: 23)</i>,
because our self-will or flesh (the veil –<i>Hebrews
10: 19, 20</i>) is surrendered, mortified and torn over there on the golden
altar of our will power <i>(Exodus 30: 6). <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And this worship is in <b>truth </b>or reality (the other meaning of the Greek word <i>aletheia </i>used in <i>John 4: 24), </i>because the<i> </i>worshiper
comes to the Lord just as he is, without any mask or hypocrisy or acting! And
this worship is not something that occurs just during some church meeting, but
something which should take place every moment in the life of a true worshiper
through the continuous flooding of the Holy Spirit in his life! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Such a true worshiper will see his own
unChristlikeness in the increasing light of the glory of the Lord Jesus,
especially in the mirror of the Word of God <i>(James
1: 23), </i>and will be continually cleansed by the blood of Christ as he repents
before the light of the Lord <i>(1John 1:
7). </i>And<i> </i>the same Holy Spirit who
showed Him the glory of the character of Christ, will transform him also into
that Christlikeness in an increasing measure from one degree of glory to
another <i>(2 Corinthians 3: 18; Proverbs 4:
18). <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, we will be beholding the blessed face
of the Lord Jesus in our spirit and will be reflecting His glory and nature in
our character more and more, - a miniature of eternity as we read in <i>Revelation 22: 4: “The bond-slaves shall see
His face and His name shall be on their foreheads”!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How different this true worship is from the
so-called worship in many churches with so much pomp and show and worldly music
and styles and fashions to impress mere mortals! <i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is why, A W Tozer
(1897-1963), a great man of God said: <i>“We're
here to be worshipers first and workers only second. We take a convert and
immediately make a worker out of him. God never meant it to be so. God meant
that a convert should learn to be a worshiper, and after that he can learn to
be a worker...<b>The work done by a
worshiper will have eternity in it</b>.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-55149132950044887262018-02-05T09:06:00.001-08:002018-02-18T10:03:30.575-08:00Loving, Hating and Disciplining Ourselves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4W_pDa28Wa0xCU9k1itiurFk7EbiuMpqiKpjv_5P3dKS9brQZ9NRL8WUNsWOtnsXw3bUJd4DAlQ2RBRkk2EQ__EbYuDg6dAvLNi-kM-wKlXaCcVdemW7SoFmtY30sjZ1hDAI3KVCQ3p8/s1600/Natural-landscape-background-79595-915x515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="915" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4W_pDa28Wa0xCU9k1itiurFk7EbiuMpqiKpjv_5P3dKS9brQZ9NRL8WUNsWOtnsXw3bUJd4DAlQ2RBRkk2EQ__EbYuDg6dAvLNi-kM-wKlXaCcVdemW7SoFmtY30sjZ1hDAI3KVCQ3p8/s640/Natural-landscape-background-79595-915x515.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">LOVING, HATING AND DISCIPLINING OURSELVES</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question:</b> “Jesus tells us to die to ourselves. Are we not supposed to love ourselves as the Bible commands us to love your neighbour as you love yourself? So how can we do both?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Answer:</b><i><span style="line-height: 36px;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">HOW TO LOVE OURSELVES?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 36px;">Actually we are NOT ASKED/ COMMANDED to love ourselves in the Word of God. But God expects us to LOVE OURSELVES AS HE LOVES US. And it becomes crystal clear when Jesus replaced the second commandment (</span><i>You shall love your neighbour as you love yourself –Mark 12: 31; Leviticus 19: 18) </i>with a new commandment after His last supper with His beloved disciples, just </span><span style="font-size: large;">before He got arrested to be crucified. We read that new </span><span style="font-size: large;">commandment in </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>John 13: 34</i>: <i>“A new commandment I give to </i><i>you, that you love one another, EVEN AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, </i><i>that you also love one another”.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So when we compare <i>Mark 12: 31</i> with <i>Leviticus 19: 18</i>, we </span><span style="font-size: large;">understand that THE WAY WE LOVE OURSELVES SHOULD </span><span style="font-size: large;">BE THE WAY IN WHICH CHRIST HAS LOVED US.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I<span style="line-height: 36px;">f we love ourselves as the Lord loves us, we will seek to come closest to the Lord here on earth as well as there in all eternity! So, when we love others as we love ourselves, we want others also to know the Lord and be closest to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 36px;">That is, if we love an unbeliever as we love ourselves, we want him to become genuinely born again. Also if we love a believer as we love ourselves, we want him to become a wholehearted disciple of the Lord who passionately loves Him and closely follows Him! </span>Of course, if they (believer or unbeliever) have any physical need also, </span><span style="font-size: large;">we would seek to meet that as the Lord leads us </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Galatians 6: 10; 1John 3: 17; James 2: 15, 16).</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we love ourselves as the Lord loves us, we would love and </span><span style="font-size: large;">take good care of our spirit, soul and body as well </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(1Thessalonians 5: 23)</i>.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In other words, we would be good </span><span style="font-size: large;">stewards of our spirit, soul and body, which the Lord has </span><span style="font-size: large;">entrusted us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ephesians 5: 29</i> says: <i>“</i><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">for no one ever hated his own flesh, but NOURISHES AND CHERISHES it, just as Christ also does the church</span>”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">1 Corinthians 6: 19, 20 </span></i><span style="line-height: 36px;">says:<i> “Or do you not know that YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?</i></span><i> </i><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">For you have been bought with a price: therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ASCETICISM<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christianity is not asceticism, where you live like a hermit all </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">alone, without mingling with anyone else. John, the Baptist </span><span style="font-size: large;">lived like that in the deserts </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Luke 1: 80),</span></i><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">clothed with </span><span style="font-size: large;">camel hair and a leather belt, eating locusts and wild honey </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Mark 1: 6).</span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But our Forerunner and Example, the Lord Jesus Christ </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">came </span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>eating and drinking</i> <i>(Matthew 11: 19)</i>, and <i>dwelt among us </i><i>(John 1: 14),</i></span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">earned His living as</span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">an ordinary carpenter </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(Mark 6: </i><i>3)</i>.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> When a cushion was available, He did not hesitate to use it to </span><span style="font-size: large;">sleep in the boat </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Mark 4: 38).</span></i><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">At the same time, He did not have </span><span style="font-size: large;">any complaining or murmuring against anyone when He had </span><span style="font-size: large;">to sleep at the Mount of Olives once </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(John 7: 53; 8:1).</span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When He was invited to feasts <i>(Luke 5: 29)</i>, He must have </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">definitely enjoyed the good food served </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(1 Timothy 6: 17)</i>. </span><span style="font-size: large;">That is why, the critical Pharisees called Him </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>a gluttonous man </i><i>and a drunkard (Matthew 11: 19),</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> without knowing that </span><span style="font-size: large;">though He feasted at times in public, He fasted a lot in secret </span><span style="font-size: large;">before His Father </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Matthew 4: 2).</span></i><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">It is so glorious to see how </span><span style="font-size: large;">our Lord had a healthy balance in everything in His life!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As somebody said, it is INSULATION, and not ISOLATION from </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">the world that is needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">Colossians 2: 18, 23 </span></i><span style="line-height: 36px;">says that <i>self abasement or severe treatment of the body</i> like those in heathen religions, have only <i>an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion, but have no value against fleshly indulgence. </i>That means, nobody can overcome sin just by harshly treating his body.<i> </i>That means, you can be a strict ascetic in a lone monastery cut off from the world and can still be bitter and impure in your heart!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In order to clean the inside of the cup, what can be done <i>(Matthew </i></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">23: 26).</span></i><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">Only the BLOOD OF CHRIST can clean </span><span style="font-size: large;">the guilt of our heart </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(1John 1: 7, 9)</i>.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> And only the HOLY </span><span style="font-size: large;">SPIRIT and WORD OF GOD can clean up all the garbage </span><span style="font-size: large;">of sin progressively from our lives!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, our love for ourselves should be the way the Lord loves us, and not in a selfish way.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">THEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HATE OURSELVES?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus said: <i>“</i><b><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">If anyone</span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 36px;"> comes to Me, and <b>does not hate</b> his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and <b>even his own life, he cannot be My disciple</b>” (</span>Luke 14: 26).</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">“And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after </span></span></i><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me, he must <b>deny himself, and take up his cross daily</b> and </span></span></i><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">follow Me” (Luke 9: 23).</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the Lord tells us to <i>hate our life</i> in <i>Luke 14: 26</i> and <i>deny </i><i>ourselves</i> in <i>Luke 9: 23</i>,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> what He says is to HATE AND </span><span style="font-size: large;">DENY OUR SELF-LIFE OR SELF-WILL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We need to love our spirit, soul and body. Our soul contains will </span><span style="font-size: large;">power (decision making capacity) in addition to our mind and </span><span style="font-size: large;">emotions. With this will power, we have the free will to choose </span><span style="font-size: large;">our own self-will (which the Bible calls ‘flesh’ in many </span><span style="font-size: large;">places – ‘sarcos’ in Greek) or the will of our Creator God. So </span><span style="font-size: large;">THE ONLY THING WE NEED TO HATE IN OURSELVES IS </span><span style="font-size: large;">THIS SELF-WILL OR FLESH, because </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Romans 7: 18</i> says that <i>nothing good dwells in this flesh! </i>Also <i>Galatians 5: 17 </i></span><span style="font-size: large;">says </span><span style="font-size: large;">that this flesh is always in opposition to the Holy Spirit of </span><span style="font-size: large;">God.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE IN EVERYTHING<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When Almighty God incarnated as a Man in Jesus Christ, He also came in the likeness of sinful flesh <i>(Romans 8: 3)</i>, (NOT in a sinful flesh, because <i>in Him there was no sin</i> <i>(1John 3: 5)</i>, but in the LIKENESS of sinful flesh), in order to be an Example and Forerunner for us (<i>Hebrews 6: 20</i>). So Lord Jesus also had a flesh or a self will which He had to deny every time to do the will of His Father in heaven. That is why, He says in <i>John 6: 38</i> that <i>“</i><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">For I have come down from heaven, NOT TO DO MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM who sent Me”. </span></i><span style="line-height: 36px;">That is why <i>Romans 15: 3 </i>says that <i>“even Christ did not please Himself”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">Acts 1:1 </span></i><span style="line-height: 36px;">teaches us that Jesus did first, and then only He taught (see the order <i>‘do and teach’</i> in the verse). So when Jesus tells us to </span>hate and deny our self-life or self-will, He did that first as a Man and learned obedience <i>(Hebrews 5: 8).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So let us follow our Beloved Master’s blood stained footsteps in hating and denying our self-life or self-will, by surrendering it to Him everyday <i>(Mark 14: 36b).</i> Then He will flood us with the power of the Holy Spirit and empower us to put this flesh to death <i>(Romans 8: 13)</i>. The Holy Spirit not only causes DEATH in the flesh, but also gives the power of RESURRECTION in our spirit <i>(2Corinthians 4: 10, 11)</i>. And that power of resurrection will bring us closer to Christ and transform us more into His image! <i>(2 Cor. 3: 18).<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">SO WHAT IS THE ROLE OF DISCIPLINE IN CHRISTIAN LIFE?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is by the power of the Holy Spirit, and not by the power of our self-will by gritting our teeth, that we need to <i>buffet our body and make it our slave (1 Corinthians 9: 27). </i>When asceticism is suppression of our flesh, true Christianity is mortification of our flesh (self-will) by the power of the Holy Spirit <i>(Romans 8: 13).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of power, love and DISCIPLINE <i>(2Timothy 1: 7)</i>. One aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is SELF-CONTROL <i>(Galatians 5: 22, 23).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, as we yield ourselves more and more to the Holy Spirit, He fills and floods our hearts all the more and helps us to discipline ourselves by changing our ATTITUDES <i>(Phil. 2: 5; Col. 3: 23, 24), </i>MOTIVES <i>(1 Cor. 10: 31) </i>and THOUGHTS <i>(2 Cor. 10: 5)</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Spirit also empowers us to control our TONGUE <i>(James 1: 26)</i> and EYES <i>(Matthew 5: 28 29)</i>, and use them as Christ would have used them. He helps us to discipline our APPETITE <i>(Phil. 3: 19)</i> and prompts us to fast secretly <i>(Matthew 6: 16- 18; Luke 5: 35).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Spirit encourages and reminds us to wisely redeem the TIME <i>(Ephesians 5: 16)</i> and use MONEY to buy only the needful, to give to the poor <i>(John 13: 29) </i>and for the Lord’s work <i>(2 Cor. 9: 7)</i>, and save the rest for the future <i>(Proverbs 6: 6-8) </i>and for the children <i>(2 Cor. 12: 14)</i>. He would not allow us to waste even fragments of time, money and other resources. He will remind us how the left over fragments of bread after feeding the five thousand was twelve full baskets <i>(Matthew 14: 20)</i>, enough for the families of the twelve disciples!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Spirit also helps us to use our NATURAL TALENTS (like singing, writing, good memory etc) and SPIRITUAL GIFTS <i>(1Cor. 12: 8- 10; Romans 12: 6- 8; 1Peter 4: 10, 11; Ephesians 4: 11)</i> for the edification of others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now it is clear that those who attempt suicide or other forms of self harm, hate themselves in a way that they love and hold on to their self-will (which is to harm themselves) in contrast to the Lord’s will (which is to protect and preserve themselves).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So let us hate our self will and love ourselves as Christ has loved us… <span style="line-height: 36px;">May the Lord continuously flood our hearts with such divine Agape love through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 5)…</span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-50282471936392874582018-02-03T10:28:00.001-08:002018-02-03T10:28:55.005-08:00Can the devil and others know your thoughts?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7CWaPdEKiXUpjfTkQpCllfyspGjnxgvio1TLIs5i_zptvp1uqAUfoGy6mxmi90G2lGn78Uf0v28UHRGFEewEd1lcnrJ-HiophkqgGqLVX6duX_Bpc8Ra9e4VOz02qCHw_HJWFTFfYSWl/s1600/IMG-20170306-WA0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7CWaPdEKiXUpjfTkQpCllfyspGjnxgvio1TLIs5i_zptvp1uqAUfoGy6mxmi90G2lGn78Uf0v28UHRGFEewEd1lcnrJ-HiophkqgGqLVX6duX_Bpc8Ra9e4VOz02qCHw_HJWFTFfYSWl/s640/IMG-20170306-WA0015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Can the devil and others know your thoughts?</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Question 1: Can the devil and
others know my thoughts? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Answer 1: </span></b><i>1 Corinthians 2:11</i> says: <i>“</i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">For
who among men knows the thoughts
(things) of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so
the thoughts (things) of God no
one knows except the Spirit of God”. </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">So the first
part of the verse clarifies that no other man can know our thoughts, not even a
Psychiatrist!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, when patients comes to me with
the psychotic symptom of </span><span style="font-size: large;">‘thought broadcasting’ (one of the first rank symptoms
of schizophrenia) or ‘thought diffusion’, (where they believe that all their
thoughts can be known to others), I point them to this verse and seek to
console them (according to their receptiveness) that it is not possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Devil is also a created being, and we
can infer that he also cannot </span><span style="font-size: large;">know our thoughts, but can at the most guess our
thoughts from our words, actions, facial expressions, gestures etc, just like
human beings also can guess!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Question
2:</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> <b>Why
has God kept our thought realm so private to us?<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Answer
2: </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Of course, thought realm is a
completely private area the Lord has entrusted us, which we as well as the Lord
only (not even the angels) can know. So, that is why, our faithfulness in the
thought realm is a real proof of our true devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ,
which is possible only through a continuous fullness of the Holy Spirit!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One day our Lord will bring to light
not only our thoughts, but also our whole private life hidden from other people
(that is, our private </span><span style="font-size: large;">deeds plus thoughts) (See </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>1Corinthians 4: 5; Revelation 20:</i><i>11</i>). <i>1Corinthians 4: 5</i></span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">also says that the Lord will expose even </span><span style="font-size: large;">our
motives (behind our apparently good deeds) also that day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This, if we believe, will instill a
healthy, reverential fear of the Lord in our hearts (See </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">2 Corinthians 5: 10, 11</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">). As Br Zac Poonen says, </span><span style="font-size: large;">that reverential
fear is not a fear whether the Lord will hurt </span><span style="font-size: large;">(punish) us, but rather a fear out
of love and respect, whether we will hurt the Lord with our attitudes, motives,
thoughts, words or deeds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only way to cleanse everything
unChristlike in our life instead </span><span style="font-size: large;">of being displayed that day at the judgement
seat of Christ, </span><span style="font-size: large;">is the blood of Christ, through genuine, deep repentance </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">1 John 1:9</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">)</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Question
3: </span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">If so, should we not verbalize
our doubts, worries, fears and feelings lest the devil hear them? <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Answer
3: </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We should not verbalize our fears,
doubts and worries to every Tom, Dick and Harry, but we can certainly verbalize
them to the Lord and to those people in whom we have confidence that they can
help us, like our spiritual mentors, counselors etc.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, as we verbalize to the right
people, we are unburdening and ventilating ourselves and can be significantly
relieved. We, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Psychiatrists, always encourage our clients to ventilate their </span><span style="font-size: large;">feelings by speaking out, crying out, drawing pictures, writing </span><span style="font-size: large;">diary, etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some people with closer walk with the
Lord, may not need this </span><span style="font-size: large;">kind of ventilation, as they have learned over the years
to cast </span><span style="font-size: large;">even their tiny burdens directly unto the Lord </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">1 Peter 5: 7</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">)</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-size: large;">But if we teach people not to verbalize their
feelings, that would </span><span style="font-size: large;">suffocate and pressurize and strain many innocent ones and </span><span style="font-size: large;">exacerbate their worries and anxieties eventually.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Question 4: Some people say:
“Speak positive. Speak life. </span></span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speak </span></span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">your destiny, whatever the situation is”.
What do </span></span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">you </span></span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">say?</span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Answer 4: </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We
need to confess words of faith and hope (See <i>Romans 10: 9, 10; Hebrews 10: 23</i>). We need to confess in faith the
eternal promises of God like:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“For sin shall
not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:
14); <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The Lord
Himself said: “I
will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13: 5);</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">“T</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">he Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">.
<i>What will man do to me</i><i>?” (Hebrews 13: 6); <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><i>“I can do all
things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4: 13) </i>etc<i>.</i></span><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">It is the Word of God that we should
confess in faith, not our selfish greed for more wealth and prosperity (unlike
what many TV preachers teach), for which there are no promises in the New
Testament. Truth, when it is taken to unbiblical extremes, becomes a heresy.
There comes the hollowness of the so-called “word of faith” movement (See </span><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Word-Faith.html"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">https://www.gotquestions.org/Word-Faith.html</span></a><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">
).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our words should build up others spiritually
and impart grace to </span><span style="font-size: large;">those who hear (See </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Ephesians
4: 29</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">). But such words can come </span><span style="font-size: large;">only from a heart filled with the grace of
God through the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Holy Spirit (</span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Matthew 12:
34, 35; Hebrews 13: 9</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">). The Lord </span><span style="font-size: large;">commands us to </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“do all things without grumbling or </i><i>complaining” (</i><i>Philippians 2: 14</i><i>)</i></span><i style="font-size: x-large;">. </i><span style="font-size: large;">But
grumbling and </span><span style="font-size: large;">complaining are different from verbalizing our feelings to the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Lord
and to our mentors and counselors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Question 5: Is there any
benefit if we just praise the Lord when we feel sad?</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Answer
5:</span></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Of course, praising the Lord even when
we don’t like </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">feel like, shifts our focus from ourselves to the Lord and help </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">us receive His grace all the more! But let that praise come not </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">just from our
lips, but from our hearts through the lips…</span></div>
</div>
At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-49103891984474367702018-02-03T07:11:00.000-08:002018-02-03T07:11:43.320-08:00Joy and Rest While Being Blamed and Misunderstood…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3GptQz90i6tDz0w6XoeW1YHlCok8cHRi5GQq1Jd7Hm0KZPZ7rid2DLv4UUpmsgn4-RW0riumdZ5US2NG-XvkNiLmJkKl7EYl0HBMjpMiTPzGQ-4xTDIe0e5ruL1nZ357DM2XsX2bcmzl/s1600/lake-waterfall-water-resort-paradise-trees-national-pretty-krka-quiet-calm-greenery-nature-park-lovely-serenity-summer-dalmatia-popular-nice-creek-winter-wallpaper-hd-1366x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3GptQz90i6tDz0w6XoeW1YHlCok8cHRi5GQq1Jd7Hm0KZPZ7rid2DLv4UUpmsgn4-RW0riumdZ5US2NG-XvkNiLmJkKl7EYl0HBMjpMiTPzGQ-4xTDIe0e5ruL1nZ357DM2XsX2bcmzl/s640/lake-waterfall-water-resort-paradise-trees-national-pretty-krka-quiet-calm-greenery-nature-park-lovely-serenity-summer-dalmatia-popular-nice-creek-winter-wallpaper-hd-1366x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Joy and Rest While Being Blamed and Misunderstood…</i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other day I posted a quote of Amy Carmichael (1867-1951),
to my Whatsapp contacts. This was the quote: <i>“If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me; if I
cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be
loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing
of Calvary love.”</i> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my colleagues asked me: “Isn't it normal to be happy
when appreciated, sad when criticised, defend self when accused? Aunt Amy's view
should also be seen in the light of cultural zeitgeist of her age”.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is the answer I gave him:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We can, of course, be happy and encouraged when appreciated,
giving all glory to Jesus. But what Amy Carmichael is saying, is about being
elated and puffed up and proud.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A disciple living in the presence of the Lord Jesus in the
Most Holy Place beyond the veil of the flesh (self will) (Hebrews 10: 19, 20),
need not be depressed when criticised, because there is FULLNESS OF JOY in His
presence (Psalm 16: 8, 11; Acts 2 : 25, 28). And nothing or no one of this
world can take away that joy! (John 16: 22).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What Amy is saying is that we need not lose our inner rest
of the soul when others misunderstand us, because when we cast our burdens unto
the Lord (1Peter 5: 7) and take His yoke upon us and walk in His footsteps, we
will find rest for our souls (Matthew 11: 28-30). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Without losing the inner rest, we can try to explain what
happened if the Lord leads us so. On the contrary, self justification is a
restless, agitated effort of the self to prove ourselves right in the sight of
men in order to get man’s honour and approval and applause.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And this is not a cultural zeitgeist, but rather something
countercultural, going against the tide and waves of the world and the
majority…. (Matthew 7: 13, 14). <span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I do not mean running
away from the culture around us, but rather transforming the unChristlike
aspects of the culture as Amy Carmichael did!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, we are called not to walk like mere men (1Corinthians
3: 3), but like the Lord Jesus Christ (1John 2: 6; 4: 17)!</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-17578156189174751052018-01-09T23:58:00.001-08:002018-02-03T07:13:49.389-08:00With Love & Grace, But Without Tattoos, Worldly Styles & Fashions...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9FJL7BbWTTUgYuPxw5fnxH3dfbVbH0PlTEZZhyY5Qnl5IAGYiBXnaglvJeBHQEGa7VeHaq_KL9b9ghKXWvsfUfIXBgWJL3y9LCmNo-ToHQQqTwd-tpPGAA1TEXtiSiHEGBx5S1uP5mAM/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1280" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9FJL7BbWTTUgYuPxw5fnxH3dfbVbH0PlTEZZhyY5Qnl5IAGYiBXnaglvJeBHQEGa7VeHaq_KL9b9ghKXWvsfUfIXBgWJL3y9LCmNo-ToHQQqTwd-tpPGAA1TEXtiSiHEGBx5S1uP5mAM/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With Love & Grace,
But Without Tattoos, Worldly Styles & Fashions...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question 1</b>: <b>Is it wrong to have a tattoo on our body?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Answer 1</b>: The
Word of God says in <i>1 Corinthians 6: 19,
20</i> like this: </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">“Or do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from
God, and that you are not your own?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">For you have been
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, how can we glorify God in our body by tattooing? Also <i>Leveticus 19: 28 </i>says: <i>“</i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">You
shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead <b>nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves</b>: I am the LORD”.</span></i></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Question 2: What if
we get a cross or a Bible verse?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><b>Answer
2: </b>I believe the best way to glorify the Lord Jesus, is to live a life
pleasing Him to the utmost, through the continuous fullness of the Holy Spirit!
At the same time, I am not here to judge or look down upon anybody who has a
tattoo. Some people would have put the tattoo in their unconverted days also.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Question 3: What
about ear studs, hair styles and fashionable clothes etc? </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Answer 3: </b>1
Timothy 2: 9 and 1Peter 3: 3 clearly instructs against wearing ornaments as
part of simple living, and emphasize the inner beauty of a meek and quiet
spirit (1Peter 3: 4) and the glorious adornment with good works (1 Timothy 2:
10).</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Although it is addressed to women in both contexts, the same
principle is applicable to men as well. The principle is to dress modestly and
discreetly, not with tight fitting clothes and worldly dress and hair styles and
fashions and tattoos to get the attention of others, especially those of the
opposite gender. These worldly styles will tempt many to sin and will result in
many following worldly models!</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This does not mean that we need to dress white and white to
be holy. But rather Jesus said that our Heavenly Father would clothe us much
better than the lilies of the field <i>(Matthew
6: 28- 30), </i>which, of course, are of varying colours! </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some people might quote <i>1
Samuel 16: 7</i> which says <i>“Man looks at
the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”</i>. Yes, He is
looking at your heart to see why you are wearing what you are wearing. He sees
your motives <i>(1 Corinthians 4: 5)</i>.
The worldliness is not, of course, in a dress or ornament or style, but in the
mind which is conformed to this world <i>(Romans
12: 2)</i> which craves for attention and adoration and popularity!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I believe, while on earth the Lord Jesus would have dressed
in such a manner that He would not stand out conspicuous in a group by His style
or dress. He appeared so ordinary among other people <i>(Isaiah 53: 2)</i>, that the Pharisees needed a Judas Iscariot to
identify Him clearly from among His disciples, to arrest Him <i>(Matthew 26: 48)</i>. Yes, our Lord did not
have a halo or even a special shawl!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There we see the glory of the humility of the Lord Jesus Who
always wanted to go down and never wanted to exalt Himself before others even
by His appearance! Let us follow the glorious, bloodstained footsteps of our
Beloved Lord in the midst of a generation of people, especially youngsters who
seek to exalt themselves! But at the same time, let us not look down upon and
judge anyone like the Pharisees <i>(Luke 18:
9)</i>, for God despises no one <i>(Job 36:
5)!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question 4: How can
we obey the Lord in everything and not become legalistic and judgmental in our
attitude towards others?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Answer 4: </b>It is a
matter of personal conviction in these <b>peripheral</b>
matters, and we are not here to judge or condemn others <i>(Matthew 7: 1)</i> because judging or condemning others is a greater
sin than the worldly dressing! That critical, unloving and judgmental attitude
is the log in your eye, which needs to be changed (removed) before you can see
clearly to remove (correct) the worldly dressing styles (the speck in the other
person’s eye) <i>(Matthew 7: 5)!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>central </b>thing
in our life is to love the Lord Jesus with all our hearts and to love others as
we love ourselves <i>(Mark 12: 28- 31)</i>.
And this is possible only by a continuous surrender to the Lord Jesus as
aliving sacrifice <i>(Romans 12: 1, 2)</i>
and thereby being continuously filled with the Holy Spirit <i>(Ephesians 5: 18; Romans 5: 5)!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Others, of course, will not have exactly our conviction in
all matters, because they may not have light in certain areas, but they might
have far greater light than us in many other areas! And the “light” we have
also is not always perfect! <i>“</i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">For now we see in a
mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know
fully just as I also have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13: 12). </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">So
let us not judge others who do not see eye to eye with us everything!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus said in <i>Matthew
5: 19</i>: <i>“</i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Whoever then annuls ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS,
and teaches others to do the
same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever KEEPS AND
TEACHES them, he shall be
called GREAT</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> (Greek word “megas”) <i>IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”</i>. </span>So let
us seek to keep and teach even the least of the Lord’s commandments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But do you know who is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven? See <i>Matthew 18: 4, </i>where
Jesus says<i>: “</i><i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Whoever then HUMBLES HIMSELF AS THIS CHILD, he is the
GREATEST </span></i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">(Greek word “meizon”) <i>IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So even while we seek to keep and teach even the least of
the Lord’s commandments, let us seek to be HUMBLEST and most CHILDLIKE like our
Saviour who did not judge or look down upon others! That is the beautiful and
subtle balance of the gracious, self-effacing CHILDLIKENESS and the uttermost,
joyful OBEDIENCE that we see in our Forerunner <i>(Hebrews 6: 20)</i>! Yes, He was full of GRACE and TRUTH <i>(John 1: 14, 17)</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of GRACE in <i>Hebrew 10: 29</i> and <i>Zechariah 12: 10</i>. And the same Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of
TRUTH in <i>John 14: 17</i> and <i>16: 13</i>. So when we yield to this Spirit
of GRACE and TRUTH to continuously fill us, He will make us more and more like
Jesus who had CHILDLIKE OBEDIENCE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And we will not major on the minors, but at the same time,
speak the TRUTH in LOVE <i>(Ephesians 4: 15)</i>
- like He did {compare <i>Luke 4: 17 -22</i>
(grace) with the next portion of verses <i>23
-28</i> (truth)}. It is like the fruit (grace) covering the seed (truth) <i>(Genesis 1: 11, 12)</i> and flesh (grace)
covering the bones (truth) <i>(Ezekiel 37:
7, 8)!</i></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-49143764791001677572018-01-06T02:20:00.001-08:002018-02-03T07:14:16.774-08:00A New Year Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dqNQFbFGM4USeKAYxSDwJ5unfE_6wkhmRzwga0p1Osvv3p8dWng5x3ZIxYp3lJ7dolAK5aOjVY_xbCGTkOAuJUuVkj5BiImz5O6eqluRIQKWZ4q1Ur3ka3RLj9yvbefa7Gcvi1cL5EEB/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dqNQFbFGM4USeKAYxSDwJ5unfE_6wkhmRzwga0p1Osvv3p8dWng5x3ZIxYp3lJ7dolAK5aOjVY_xbCGTkOAuJUuVkj5BiImz5O6eqluRIQKWZ4q1Ur3ka3RLj9yvbefa7Gcvi1cL5EEB/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Praying
that our LORD JESUS will bless us with a NEW YEAR 2018 where <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">we
always remain HUMBLEST AND MOST BROKEN before His throne of grace <i>(Hebrews 4:
16)</i>, so that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">He
can flood and immerse us with the RIVERS OF GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT from that
throne continuously <i>(Revelation 22: 1)</i>, and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">help
us to SEE HIS BLESSED FACE in our spirits in intimacy with Him <i>(Revelation 22:
4; Matthew 5: 8; Hebrews 12: 2)</i>, and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">LISTEN
TO EVERY SINGLE WORD that proceeds from His mouth <i>(Matthew 4: 4; Luke 10: 39,
42)</i>, and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">grow
evermore in that SIMPLE AND PURE FERVENT DEVOTION AND FIRST LOVE to Him <i>(2
Corinthians 11: 2, 3; Revelation 2: 4)</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">ILLUMINED
by His glorious Light,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">reflect
His NATURE and CHARACTER more and more,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">RULING
over sin, satan, world and the flesh, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">SERVING
Him wholeheartedly,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">bearing
abundant FRUITS unto Him in life and ministry <i>(Revelation 22: 1- 5)</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">doing
everything in exactly the same manner as the LORD SHOWS US DOING <i>(John 5: 19,
20)</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">FULFILLING
ALL THE PLANS He has in and through our lives <i>(Jeremiah 29: 11; Ephesians 2:
10)</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">bringing
ALL GLORY TO HIS NAME ALONE AND ALWAYS <i>(Romans 11: 36)</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">May the Lord Jesus fill and saturate every part of our whole being with
His Holy Spirit as we REPENT radically and SURRENDER totally and continually to
Him as a living sacrifice every moment of this new year! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">May we thereby constantly BEHOLD HIM in our spirit and NEVER BE SHAKEN
by any temptation or trial, but rather REJOICE IN HIS LOVING AND PEACEFUL
PRESENCE ALWAYS! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><i>[Acts 2:25] "For David says of Jesus, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><i>'I WAS ALWAYS BEHOLDING THE LORD IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT
HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN".</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;">Amen.</span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-47909109584638617292016-03-07T08:18:00.002-08:002018-02-03T07:14:47.419-08:00Who is Jesus Christ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjar-4D2e_qgtLqXD9ZSwUy5aDyn9SlXXm7DVqegRiwPihj_tLqY0Bxw9l6Xr0Hw3JmaC3sq7gk0f_FGJIJJdgjgxMm-SjRfP92cCeXKCeS-eV3qpGLVQH1DmXvMDKpZOOonyKtQLWx_p/s1600/Christ+Risen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjar-4D2e_qgtLqXD9ZSwUy5aDyn9SlXXm7DVqegRiwPihj_tLqY0Bxw9l6Xr0Hw3JmaC3sq7gk0f_FGJIJJdgjgxMm-SjRfP92cCeXKCeS-eV3qpGLVQH1DmXvMDKpZOOonyKtQLWx_p/s640/Christ+Risen.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">In one single sentence, the answer to the question above is: Jesus
Christ is the Almighty God who incarnated as a Man on this earth more than 2000
years ago. He is the only true incarnation or embodiment of God. He is the
omnipotent (all-powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing) God who created this
entire universe with His Word. He is the One Who created you and me. Jesus, and
Jesus alone, is worthy to be worshipped because He is the only true God.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is unique about Jesus, you might ask?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"> The only One Who
divided the history into BC and AD, which no historian can ever deny.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One Who was
born of a virgin through the Holy Spirit, which no medical science can ever
explain.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One Who
taught: <i>“Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”
(Luke 6: 27, 28).</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The One Who touched and
healed the ‘untouchable’ leper, opened the eyes of the blind, made the lame
walk and the deaf hear, and raised the dead, and preached the good news to the
poor (Matthew 11: 5).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The One who walked on
water, turned water into wine, fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish,
calmed the storms in the sea with the Word of His mouth, cast out demons from
people with a Word and healed all kinds of diseases (Matthew 4: 23; 8: 16).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The One who washed His
disciples’ feet, forgave the prostitutes and the worst of sinners, stood the
side of the poor, the helpless, the hopeless, the worthless and the weak, and
lashed out against the hollow, hypocritical religious leaders of the day which
exploited people and made money in the name of God.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One who said:
<i>“Which one of you convicts me of sin?” </i>(John
8: 46).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One who said:
<i>“I am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me”</i> (John 14:6).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One name given
under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:
12).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One name
above every name, at which every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and
on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord (Philippians 2: 9- 11).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One who <b>died</b> for your and my sins and <b>rose</b> again from the dead and is <b>alive</b> forever to hear and answer our
prayers, unlike all great men in the history who were born, did great things,
died one day and are no more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">The only One who has
promised that He will come back one of these days to reward His disciples and to
judge the world.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Jesus Cares For
You…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have you often wondered why the people around you many a time
do not understand you as you want them to? Nobody seems to really care for our
problems or worries… Yes, even our own family members, sometimes…after all,
everyone has one’s own limitations.... Is there then anyone in this whole
universe who can perfectly understand us, who can truly sense the unspoken
yearnings and longings of our heart? ....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes, there is… That is
none other than the God Who created you and me. Lord Jesus Christ says to YOU: <i>"Come to Me, all who are weary and
heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For
My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Are you weary and tired of your life? Are you heavily
burdened with all kinds of worries and guilt? Then it's YOU that the Lord is
calling... Come to Him... Jesus says: “</span><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the one who comes to Me I will certainly
not cast out</span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">” <i>(John 6: 37).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Yes, draw near to Him,
and He will draw near to you (James 4: 8). He's waiting for you... He says: </span><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Behold, I stand
at the door (of your heart) and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and will dine (have fellowship) with him, and he
with Me” (Rev 3:20).</span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "Is there anyone who really cares for
me?" you'd ask. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lord Jesus answers you</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">: “<i>Cast all your
burdens unto Me for I care for you</i>" <i>(1Peter 5: 7).</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He says: <i>“Can a woman forget her nursing child and
have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will
not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands...”
(Isaiah 49: 15,16).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Behold, I
extend peace to you like a river ... and you will be nursed, you will be
carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you...” (Isaiah 66:12,13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“How can I give
you up? My heart is turned over within Me. All My compassions are kindled”
(Hosea 11:8).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “I have loved you
with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness”
(Jeremiah 31: 3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“He who touches
you, touches the apple of My eye” (Zechariah 2: 8).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“…you are precious and honoured in My sight, and I love you…”
(Isaiah 43:4).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I will not
leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14: 18).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare
and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29: 11).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just tell the beloved
Lord whatever your problems are… He is there to listen to your every word with
utmost attention throughout.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus says:<i> “If you confess your
sins, I am faithful and righteous to forgive you your sins and to cleanse you
from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Though your
sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,
they will be like wool” (Isaiah 1: 18).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"For I will
be merciful to your iniquities, and I will remember your sins no more"
(Hebrews 8: 12).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I will cast all your sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah
7: 18, 19).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I will sprinkle
clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your
filthiness and from all your idols.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Moreover, I will
give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the
heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My
statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances” (Ezekiel 36: 25-
27).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You are altogether beautiful...there is no blemish in you”
(Song of Songs 4: 7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I rejoice
over you with shouts of joy, as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride” (Zephaniah
3: 17; Isaiah 62: 5).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I will make ALL
things (including your failures) to work together for your good, to make you
more like Me” (Romans 8: 28, 29).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<b>Do not fear</b>, for I am with you. Do not
anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Surely I
will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah
41: 10).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You can do ALL
things through Me Who strengthens you” (Philippians 4: 13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“And I will
supply ALL your needs according to My riches in glory” (Philippians 4: 19).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You might ask: <b><i>“If Jesus is so powerful, yet loving, can He
help me NOW practically?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, He can. This Jesus is calling YOU too… His eyes
full of love and compassion are even now gazing at you… All you need to do is
respond to His love in simple, childlike faith. That is, just like a little
child runs to his father or mother, you can come to the Lord Jesus in faith,
and give yourself to Him completely. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> If you believe that
this Lord Jesus alone is able to take away all your sins, burdens and
emptiness, then you can open your heart and say this prayer right now to Jesus:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“My
loving Lord Jesus, I am a wretched sinner. I deserve the punishment of hell
only. But I thank You for taking MY punishment and dying for MY sins, and
rising from the dead to give ME eternal life!
I want to turn away from ALL my sins. I am really sorry for grieving
Your loving heart. Cleanse my sins with Your blood that was shed on the Cross.
I surrender my whole life to You. Please come into my heart right now. Fill me,
Jesus, with Your love, joy and peace! Thank You for answering my prayer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes, continue speaking to the Lord everything you want to
tell Him. This is what is called true prayer! It is just a heartfelt conversation
with Jesus! And you can sense Him speaking to your heart as you meditate the
Word of God, the Bible daily. Nurture this love relationship by spending
quality time with Him all alone, and obeying Him daily, thereby bringing
delight to His heart. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Forgive everyone, and ask forgiveness from all you have hurt.
Give back what you have wrongfully taken. Pay back your debts as soon as you
can. And you will have a crystal clear conscience before God. Ask the Lord to
fill you again and again everyday with His love, joy and peace th</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">rough the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Holy Spirit. Then you can also overcome</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> temptations with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Even if you fall into any sin, run to Jesus immediately. He
will also run to embrace you into His loving arms. He will again cleanse you
from your </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">sins. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">He can gradually lead you
to a higher life where you do not fall into any sin.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> Seek for fellowship with other like-minded people who will
really encourage y</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">ou to love and obey the Lord Jesus all the more fervently. Be
bold enough to tell about the Lord Jesus to others because they also need the
joy and peace that you experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Yes, let us live for Jesus with our hearts filled with His
love, leaving behind all discouragement and emptiness forever! Please feel free
to write to me (</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:sandeeppsychiatry@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">sandeeppsychiatry@gmail.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">) for any further help. May the Lord bless you richly!</span></span></div>
</div>
At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-53692614835519598542016-03-07T07:53:00.000-08:002016-08-25T09:04:14.412-07:00No Peace Of Mind?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad40FXzDCztAnxlYz7BYScTx_fNUuWn-syYRDUEk86KBtc385oiN1LNSeqoeSHxUxHAmLZCtWCbx6AaE46BOHs09nPo1-Fdhg3IHIO-X3x0hFcA4tuZQjNBNbc2lx9WsAmUS0KDqmMDfR/s1600/Peace+of+mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad40FXzDCztAnxlYz7BYScTx_fNUuWn-syYRDUEk86KBtc385oiN1LNSeqoeSHxUxHAmLZCtWCbx6AaE46BOHs09nPo1-Fdhg3IHIO-X3x0hFcA4tuZQjNBNbc2lx9WsAmUS0KDqmMDfR/s640/Peace+of+mind.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">Someone once said that if peace of mind could be purchased in the market,
it would be the first one that people would be queuing up to buy. How true it
is? People commonly think that if they get some earthly thing or goal that they
want, they will be happy and peaceful.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For example, they think that if they get the degree or job or house or
marriage partner that they want, they will be happy. Once they get what they
craved for, they find that the happiness was so short lasting! And they again
pursue some other thing that they imagine will make them ‘successful’. Where is
an end to all these?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Struggling For Peace?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rakesh (name changed) is a
27 year old unmarried gentleman who came to the Psychiatry OPD saying: “I don’t
have any peace of mind. I am not able to sleep properly. I am confused. Doctor,
please help me”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What Rakesh told is not a rare complaint. Many people - young or old,
male or female, learned or unlearned, rich or poor- all alike echo the same
words. They live with guilt about their past, worry about the future and not
knowing what to do in the present. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are traumatic, haunting memories of physical, verbal, emotional and
sexual abuse from childhood, which many are not able to shake off and come out.
Many feel they were cheated and used for the selfish gains and pleasures of
others. Many live with embittered hearts, not being able to forgive others.
Many feel that even God cannot forgive the sins they have committed in the
past. And they wonder why they should live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many live in fear of what others will think or say about them or do
against them. Many fear whether they will get some disease or land up in some
financial loss. Many are worried that they already have sickness and financial
difficulties. Many are insecure about their positions which they have grabbed
from others by stamping them down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is the solution to this elusive peace of mind?<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Love, Joy And Peace Direct From Heaven…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">It
was Blaise Pascal, the world famous scientist who said about</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> a God-shaped vacuum inside each of our hearts that can be
filled only by God. How true it is; isn’t it? Whether we admit it or not, that
sense of emptiness deep inside our very being, an indescribable yearning...!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Often we try to fill this vacuum with wealth, love from
others, comforts, sensual pleasures and so on, but all in vain! And it is even
more surprising that no religious ritual, philosophy or even good works can
fill this vacuum! Even film stars with immense wealth, fame, popularity, influence
and beauty commit suicide!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Yes, the Almighty Creator alone can fill this emptiness; He
alone can fill our innermost being with inexpressible <b><i>love, joy and peace</i></b>! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Lord
Jesus Christ</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> says: </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.85pt;"><i>“</i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.85pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Just as the Father has
loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in <b>My
love</b>” (John 15: 9).</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">These
things I have spoken to you so that <b>My
joy</b> may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15: 11).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Peace I leave with
you; <b>My peace</b> I give to you; not as
the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it
be fearful” (John 14: 27).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“For I am the LORD your
God, Who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, <b>'Do not fear</b>, I will help you'” (Isaiah 41:13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to Me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And the <b>peace</b> of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Me” (Philippians 4: 6,7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“For I have not given you
a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“There is <b>no fear</b> in love; but perfect love casts
out fear…” (1John 4:18).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes, Lord Jesus is waiting for YOU to come to Him, repent of all your
sins and entrust your entire life to Him, so that He can fill you with <b><i>His
love, joy and peace</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many people ask: <b><i>“Why do I not have any peace of mind even
though I believe in the Lord Jesus?” <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have to understand that what prevents the Lord Jesus from filling our
hearts with His love, joy and peace is the sin in our lives. So, what is sin?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If we are honest to ourselves, we will agree on this one
thing: we all have disobeyed our conscience knowingly or unknowingly many a
time in our thoughts, words and deeds! It is this falling away from the
character of God that the Bible calls ‘sin’: <i>“…for there is no distinction; for <b>all
</b>have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”</i> (Romans 3:23).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 7.1pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 29.75pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do you know what the punishment of sin is, in the eyes of the
infinitely holy God? The punishment is that anyone who has committed even the
smallest sin should suffer in hell — an eternal separation from God! But how
can this loving God cast us, His dear creation, away into hell eternally? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 7.1pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 29.75pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That is why the Almighty God incarnated as a human being in
Jesus Christ about 2000 years ago! In fulfillment of the prophecies of the
Bible, Jesus was cruelly crucified on the Cross of Calvary… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 7.1pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 29.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">It was the endless misery of hell-fire which you and I would
have to suffer for endless ages </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">that</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jesus endured for our sake during those three dark hours on
the Cross with deep pain and agony …! And Jesus rose again, conquering death,
which is man’s greatest enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 7.1pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 29.75pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can be cleansed from sin only if <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">(i)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">you want
to turn away from all your sins as you see how much the Lord Jesus loves YOU
personally (This is repentance), and<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">(ii)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">you
believe deep inside your heart that Jesus bore the punishment of hell for YOU
on the Cross, died and rose again. And then you will entrust your life fully to
Him (This is faith). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If
you genuinely repent and believe as above, then the blood of Christ will
cleanse your heart. As you surrender every area of your life to the Lord Jesus,
He will <b>definitely</b> fill every part
of your being with His heavenly, indescribable love, joy and peace!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="TextEng" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If
you have any further questions or need further help, please feel free to write
to me: <a href="mailto:sandeeppsychiatry@gmail.com">sandeeppsychiatry@gmail.com</a>
. May the Lord bless you in abundance!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-70116899542244505362016-02-05T04:42:00.000-08:002016-02-05T05:10:51.315-08:00Some Thoughts Against Calvinism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXNFInBpkxXI8cvG3ayGSnLiYB6jFb0XoqCxzBmjSZy00PBZ2aaFQlvfEucOSEKEYqBS3Wo7Jqz6VvviOX2DKGch3kz0C8dEktqWJ8Wr1knmycirHqBaSSvc0itBcwSiu-udqj4JJvCvS/s1600/Natural+Landscape+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXNFInBpkxXI8cvG3ayGSnLiYB6jFb0XoqCxzBmjSZy00PBZ2aaFQlvfEucOSEKEYqBS3Wo7Jqz6VvviOX2DKGch3kz0C8dEktqWJ8Wr1knmycirHqBaSSvc0itBcwSiu-udqj4JJvCvS/s640/Natural+Landscape+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Some Thoughts Against Calvinism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Calvinism is a set of teachings held on to by a
lot of Christians, which I believe, is contrary to the Word of God. Here I am
trying to show from the Scriptures how those teachings are contrary to the
Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">God
loves everyone, not just the elect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">When Calvinists say that God does not love
everyone but only the elect (that is, those who believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ), the Bible says God loves everyone. Here are some verses to prove that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">1John 2: 2 clearly says <i>Jesus died not only for the sins of the church, but for the sins of the
whole world</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">John 3:16 </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">says<i> "For God so loved <u>the
world</u>, that He gave His only begotten Son, that <u>whoever</u> believes
in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. </i>Obviously ‘the world’
includes believers and unbelievers.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Jesus loved the rich young ruler (Mark 10: 21),
although he turned away from Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Jesus taught us to <i>love our neighbours as ourselves (Mark 12: 31)</i> and to <i>love even our enemies</i> (Luke 6: 27, 28).
Of course, our neighbours and enemies include unbelievers as well. If God wants
us to love unbelievers, how can we allege that God Himself does not love them?!
Jesus taught only what He already did
(Acts 1:1). So if Jesus taught us to <i>love
our neighbours as ourselves </i>and to <i>love
even our enemies, </i>it is clear that before He taught us to do that, Jesus
loved all including unbelievers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">We read in Matthew 9: 36 and Mark 6: 34 that Jesus
had compassion (which is an attribute of love) for the multitude which, of
course, included many who never came to true salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Calvinists say that God has plans of welfare
for the elect only. But we read in Luke 7:30 says <i>the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves</i>,
which makes it clear that God had a good purpose for them also which they
rejected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Calvinists say that God desires only the elect to
be saved. But <i>1 Tim 2:4 </i>says that He<i> desires <u>all men</u> to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth. </i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Calvinists then cleverly interpret that the
term ‘</span><i><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">all men’</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> denotes only the elect. To nullify that argument,
let us look at another verse written by the apostle Paul (who also wrote
1Timothy) in Romans 5: 18. There the Word </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">says that <i>“So
then as through one transgression, there resulted condemnation to <u>all men</u>,
even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life
to <u>all men”</u>.</i> No Calvinist can
say the condemnation of sin came only on the elect, but it is obvious that it
came on the whole world which includes believers and unbelievers. So if <i><u>all men</u></i> in the former part of the
verse denotes the whole world, it means the same thing when the term <i><u>all men</u></i> occurs in the latter part
of the same verse. That means that justification of life also is open to the
whole world, and not just to the elect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Another verse which
Calvinists misinterpret is <i>2 Pet 3:9:
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient
toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for <u>all</u> to come
to repentance”.</i> If "all"
in this verse refers to only the believers, about whom the Calvinists say that
they will never perish, then why should apostle Peter warn them of perishing if
they don't repent?? It is crystal clear from the verse that the Lord wants
everybody to repent and come to Himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Man
has Freedom of Choice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Calvinists say that if God wants to save
somebody, that person will definitely be saved because no one has a free will.
But we read in Matthew 23: 37 that although Jesus wanted to save the Jews, they
were not willing, and obviously they were not saved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Calvinists
argue that Rom 9: 13 says that God hated Esau to send him to hell. But it does
not say like that. If you read the verse in the context, verses 11 and 12 just
say that God, in His sovereignty, chose Jacob to inherit the blessing of
Abraham, before they did anything good or bad. God hated Esau because He
foreknew Esau’s attitude and choices even before he did anything good or bad. It
was a divine hatred towards Esau’s sins. God does not send anybody to hell, but
rather people choose to go there despite the numerous warnings by the God of
love.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Calvinists take <i>Rom 9:16 </i>and argue
that man has no free will. Let us look at what that verse really says: <i>“So then it does not depend on the man who
wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy”.</i> What it implies is
that by our self efforts we can never please or come to God, but we, sinners,
are dependent on God’s mercy. But we need to respond to God’s mercy when it is
available. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">And on whom does God have mercy? <i>Rom
9:18 </i>says <i>“So then He has mercy on
whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”</i> Then one will ask whom
does God desire to have mercy? The answer is that He desires to have mercy on ALL,
including the Pharaoh. See <i>Acts 13:47: "For so the Lord has
commanded us, 'I have placed you as a <u>light for the Gentiles</u>, that you
may bring <u>salvation to the end of the earth</u>.'"</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">But Pharaoh rejected the mercy of God and hardened his heart. And so God
also hardened his heart, but <i>‘raised him
up to demonstrate God’s power’</i> (Romans 9: 17) even through such a hardened
man by sending plagues in the land of Egypt and finally turning his heart (Proverbs
21: 1) to send the Israelites to the promised land of Canaan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">One another
verse that Calvinists misinterpret is Romans 9: 22 by alleging that God prepared
the vessels of wrath for destruction. Let us look at Romans 9: 22, 23 without
any preconceived ideas: <i>“</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His
power known, endured with much patience <u>vessels of wrath prepared for
destruction</u>? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon <u>vessels
of mercy, which He prepared beforehand</u> for glory”. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The contrast here is pretty
clear. When it is about vessels of wrath, the Word does not say who prepared
them for destruction. But it is about vessels of mercy, the Word clearly says
that they were prepared beforehand by God Himself. So we can infer that the
vessels of wrath prepared themselves for destruction by their own sinful
choices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">God’s grace <b><i><u>works on</u></i></b> the hearts of all unbelievers also by Jesus
knocking at the door of their hearts (Revelation 3: 20) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">a)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">through “<i>His invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature</i>” (Romans 1: 20) evident in the nature
and the creation, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">b)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">through their conscience which has the Law of God (Romans 2: 15), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">c)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">through various circumstances, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">d)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">through seeing the lives of godly Christians, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">e)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">through hearing of the gospel etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">But one person <b><i><u>works</u></i></b> it <b><i><u>out</u></i></b> and receives
salvation as a free gift and another person hardens his heart. (Compare this
with the <b><i><u>working in</u></i></b> of God and <b><i><u>working out</u></i></b> of man
in Philippians 2: 12, 13). As he hardens his heart, God also hardens his heart
and allows him to be deceived till he loves the truth. See 2 Thessalonians 2:
10,11 which reads “<i>and with all the
deception of wickedness for those who <u>perish, because they did not receive
the love of the truth so as to be saved</u>. For this reason God will send upon
them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Calvinists say that sinners
cannot come to a holy God. But the Bible says sinners can, of course, can come
to God because He is the One who is calling. Jesus says: “</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">I have not come to call the righteous but <b><i>sinners</i></b> to repentance”
(Luke 5: 32). Again He</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> says: "<i>Come to Me, <u>all
who are weary and heavy-laden</u>, </i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">and</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> I will give you rest (Matt 11:28)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">. He is the One who has given them <i>the power of choice</i> to choose Him or
not, even while there is nothing good that dwells in the flesh (Romans 7: 18). </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Power of choice is either to choose God or not. So
power of choice in itself is not good or bad, but is something neutral which
God has given us in our will power (decision making capacity).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Some people ask
that if the Lord Jesus has died for the sins of the whole world, why there is
judgment. The answer is although Jesus has died for the sins of the whole world
(which includes believers and unbelievers), one can receive forgiveness only if
one repents of his sins and believes in the Lord. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">If somebody offers me ten million rupees freely,
and I go and just receive it, I will not go around boasting that it was earned
by my work of ‘receiving’! Of course, it was a free gift. Likewise, salvation
is a free gift offered to everybody, but received by some. With the same power
of choice given to everyone, some receive and vast majority do not (Matthew 7:
13, 14). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Receiving the
free gift of salvation is not a work, because it is the Lord who has given us
the power of choice to receive it or not. He does not barge into anyone's life.
He gently knocks at the door of our heart and comes in only if we open the door
of our heart (Rev 3: 20). If we human beings are courteous enough not to barge
into anyone's room or house, how much more gracious our Saviour would be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Salvation
Can Be Lost<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">Calvinists say that once somebody is born
again, he cannot lose his salvation. But the Word of God repeatedly says that
we are eternally secure only if we hold on to the Lord till the end:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">“For we have become
partakers of Christ, <b>IF</b> we hold fast
the beginning of our assurance firm until the end” (Hebrews 3: 14).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">“yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, … <b>IF </b>indeed you continue in the faith
firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the
gospel that you have heard…” (Col 1:23).</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">"But the one who
endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matthew 24: 13).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">“The master of that slave
will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,
and will cut him in pieces, and assign him <u>a place with the unbelievers</u>”
(Luke 12:46).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Many quote John 10: 28, 29 to try to prove that the salvation cannot be
lost. But if you read the full sentence from verse 27, it is pretty clear that
eternal security is for only those who hear and know and follow the Lord. Even
when no one can snatch us away from the hand of the Lord (as is promised in
John 10: 28, 29), one can choose to jump away from His hand, because He never
takes away our free will. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">If He takes away our free will, we will be like robots. Just as a man
will any day prefer to have a living child (who has a choice to obey him or
not) to a robot (which is programmed to always obey him), our heavenly Father
also does not want any robots in heaven but only those who have chosen to receive
Him and obey Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Hebrews 6: 4-6; 10: 26-29; 1Timothy 1: 19, 20; John 15: 6 and 2Thess 2:
3 are some of the clear warnings in the Scriptures that salvation can be lost
if one continues in sin without repentance. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Sans Serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Just read <i>2 Pet 2:1- “But <u>false
prophets</u> also arose among the people, just as there will also be <u>false
teachers among you</u>, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even <u>denying
the Master who bought them</u>, bringing swift destruction upon themselves”. </i>The
false prophets described here were once children of God who were <b><i>bought
by the Master</i></b>, but now they have <b><i>denied that Master</i></b> and have <b><i>secretly
introduced destructive heresies</i></b> and will finally end up in <b><i>swift
destruction</i></b> eternally. So it is clear that somebody, who has once been
bought by the Lord, can perish eternally if he does not continue in the Lord
till his death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">It is true that God's <i>love never fails (1 Cor. 13: 8).</i> But it
is the vast majority of people who have failed the love of God. His love
involves His strictness and justice in punishing an unrepentant sinner (Romans
11: 22).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If a believer dies without repentance, that
means he has fallen away from faith (because true faith is associated with
repentance (Mark 1: 15; Acts 20: 21)– faith without works is dead –James 2:
26), and he will have to face the eternal punishment for his sins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the sovereignty and mercy and justice of
God, He allows a time period after a conscious sin in a person’s life for him
to repent. God in His mercy has a long rope, and at the end of the rope, the
person has to face the eternal consequences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Predestination According To
God’s Foreknowledge<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">God predestined those whom He foreknew would choose Him (Romans 8: 29; 1
Peter 1: 1, 2). Otherwise He would have to be blamed as partial. But the Bible
says: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> “Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most
certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every
nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts
10:34, 35).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">“For there is no partiality
with God” (Rom 2:11).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">“…God shows no partiality…”
(Gal 2:6).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">God is sovereign in election,
but His <i>election is according to His foreknowledge
(1 Peter 1: 1, 2)</i>. 'Prognosis' is the Greek word used there for
‘foreknowledge’. 'Proginosko' (meaning ‘knew beforehand’), the related word is
used in Romans 8: 29 for 'foreknew'. Both verses clearly tell us that His
choice was not random, but that He chose some people because He knew beforehand
that they would choose Him at some points in their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The Bible does not say that
God predestined anybody to go to heaven or hell. But the Bible does say that
God predestined (set the destination beforehand for) His children to become
totally like Jesus Christ (Romans 8: 29). So our destination is not heaven, but
it is ‘total Christlikeness’, to which we need to press on every day (Heb. 6:
1) by the power of His grace, as Br Zac Poonen elucidates (<a href="http://www.cfcindia.com/">www.cfcindia.com</a>) . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Some people ask since the
Bible says in Acts 2: 23 that Jesus’ crucifixion was according to the
predetermined plan of God whether it was God the Father or man who crucified
Jesus on the Cross. For the answer, let us look at </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Acts 2:23 itself: "this Man, delivered over by the
predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, <u>YOU</u> nailed to a cross by
the hands of godless men and put Him to death". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">See, it is clear from
the underlined part that it was the people who nailed Him, and not </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">. Of course, God knew
it even before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13: 8). Of course, Pilate
could have no power over Jesus unless he was permitted by the Father (John 19:
11). So, of course, there is the overarching sovereignty of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">But what we have to
understand is that those who crucified Him were instigated by the devil and not
by God. But they could do to Him only what the Father in heaven permitted them
to do. God knew it beforehand, but He didn’t make them do that. That is why
Acts 2: 23 says it was according to the foreknowledge of God that Jesus was
crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The Balance In The
Scriptures<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The devil quoted to Jesus saying: "It is written". Jesus
answered him back saying "It is also written". You'll get the whole
truth when you compare Scripture with Scripture. One sided truth is like a bird
with one wing which can fly only in circles and finally it will fall off to the
ground. And even then, only when you humble yourself like a child and
passionately want to do the will of God, will the Lord reveal the truth of the
Scripture to you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">See <i>Matt 11:25: "At that time
Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have
hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have <b><u>revealed them to infants</u></b>".</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">John 7:17: "If anyone
is <b><u>willing to do His will, he will
know of the teaching</u>, </b>whether it is of God or whether I speak from
Myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Of course, there is the
overarching sovereignty of God even while He allows the freedom of choice to
man. But that does not mean that God is a sadistic drama director who directs
the ‘drama’ by making man a robot without any choice, to result in millions
going to hell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">And let me quote from one
article: "God is more sovereign this way because He can still work through
and do what He wants in spite of all oppositions. God's sovereignty is not
undermined because of the demonstration of His power in creating man who can
exercise the power of choice".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Having written all these, let me add that the doctrines
about the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man are <u>not</u> THE
foremost teaching of the Bible. The most important thing is to truly repent of
all our sins, trust in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, love God
with all our heart, die to yourself and let the Lord live through you and thus
to become like Christ more and more, and to be a pure testimony for the Lord in
our land as part of a local church which is a pillar and support of the truth
of God. Doctrinal purity is, of course, important (Titus 2: 7), but is only secondary
to the supreme importance of a Christlike victorious life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I wrote this article just because of the pain and concern
after seeing numerous young believers around me being deceived by a 'one sided
coin which is nothing but counterfeit'. So let us not waste time majoring on the
minors, but fix our eyes on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and run this race
with endurance so that we can finish it by the end of our lives and be closest
to the Lord Jesus all throughout the eternity!....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">May the Lord bless you and guide you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-8851385740381187712008-12-16T12:55:00.000-08:002016-02-05T06:19:52.401-08:00Addressing Some Issues in the ‘Churches’<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">This is a modified letter of reply which I had written to a friend of mine, addressing some issues in the ‘churches’, both the traditional as well as the ‘separated’ ones. I’m enclosing the substance of the letter below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“My dear friend, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus never founded any religion or organization. He always stood against man-made traditions and systems! Please read Mark 7: 5- 13, where Jesus tells the Pharisees that they <b>neglect</b> (verse 8), <b>set aside</b> (verse 9) and finally <b>invalidate</b> the word of God (verse 13) by their tradition which they had handed down. He always exposed the hollowness and hypocrisy of those who earn money, man’s honour and fame in the name of God (even in the name of Jesus)!! So it is Christ, not the religion of Christianity, that we should follow! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">History tells us that Christianity degenerated into a religion around AD 300, when the Roman emperor Constantine accepted Christianity as a religion without any repentance, and the people of his empire imitated him in order to please him, thereby beginning to bring numerous nauseating traditions and rituals (in “Christian whitewash”), which are not at all found in the New Testament. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 14;">Mediation</span></b><span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My very dear brother, please do not feel bad when I’m quoting these verses from the very Bible you and I are reading everyday: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“For there is one God, and ONE mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“… If anyone sins, we have AN advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous” (1 John 2: 1).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Dear brother, Mary was, of course, a very humble and holy woman of God, worthy to be chosen to be the mother of the Lord <b>on this earth</b>. But she herself said: “Whatever He (Jesus) says to you, do it” (John 2: 5). She always pointed others to Christ and not to herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus Himself always paid more importance for spiritual relationships, rather than for physical relationships. For example, see Luke 8: 21: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Also in Luke 11: 27, 28, we read: “And it came about that when Jesus said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed”. But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Jeremiah 7: 18 and 44: 17 refers to a heathen goddess as the ‘queen of heaven’. Then how dare one call Mary the queen of heaven? When the Almighty Creator God expects us to pray only to Him, how are rosary and mediation to innumerous saints ever justifiable? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Doctrines like mediation to Mary and other saints, rosary, idol worship, infant baptism etc. were not in the Church in the early days. They came in the later days when people began to follow this as a mere religion without having any personal relationship with the Lord Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Idolatry<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Word of God unambiguously exhorts us “not to be idolaters” (1 Cor. 10: 7, and to “flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10: 14). Apostle John, at the very end of his first epistle, says: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5: 21). And do not be shocked, dear brother, when I say that 1 Cor. 10: 20 makes it crystal clear that the things that the Gentiles sacrifice to idols, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It should be thought- provoking for all idolaters to see that the Word of God clearly categorizes them along with fornicators, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers and swindlers in the list of those who shall not inherit the kingdom of God !(1 Cor. 6: 9, 10). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Galatians 5: 19, 20 includes idolatry along with immorality, impurity, sensuality, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness and carousing among the deeds of the flesh, and warns us that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God!! Ephesians 5: 5 says: “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an <b>idolater</b>, has an inheritance in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Christ</st1:placename></st1:place> and God”! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Again Revelation 21: 8 includes idolaters along with the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, immoral persons, sorcerers and liars among those whose part is in “the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death”! And it is amazing to see this verse of warning even in the very last page of the Bible: “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the <b>idolaters</b>, and everyone who loves and practices lying”! (Rev. 22: 15).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you know what the second one of the Ten Commandments God gave Moses in the Old Testament is? Here it is: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Exodus 20: 4 – 7; Deut. 5: 8 – 10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> But it is literally shocking to see that some ‘churches’ conveniently omits this second commandment of Almighty God and cleverly splits up the tenth commandment into two commandments, so that there are somehow ‘ten’ commandments altogether!!! (See Exodus 20: 17). But they can deceive only those lazy, half- hearted people who never care, at least once in a blue moon, to open up their “precious” Bibles adored and adorned in the show- case!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Later in the Old Testament, the Lord used the king Hezekiah to break in pieces even the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the sons of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> had been burning incense to it! (2 Kings 18: 4). If you want to get a glimpse of how much the Lord abhors idolatry, just see these numerous verses in the Bible: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lev. 19: 4; 26: 1, 30; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Deut. 4: 16, 23, 25; 5: 8; 9: 12; 27:15; 29: 17; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Judges 17: 3, 4; 1 Samuel 15: 23;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">1 Kings 15: 12, 13; 21:26; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">2 Kings 17: 12; 21: 7, 11, 21; 23: 24; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">1 Chron. 16: 26; 2 Chron. 15:16; 24: 18; 33: 7, 15; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Psalm 73:20; 96: 5; 97: 7; 106: 19, 36, 38; 115: 4; 135:15; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Isaiah 2:8, 18; 2: 20; 10: 10, 11; 19: 1, 3; 31: 7; 40:19, 20; 44:9, 10, 15, 17; 45: 16, 20; 46: 1; 48: 5; 66: 3; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Jeremiah 10: 8, 14; 50: 2, 38; 51: 17; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Ezekiel 6: 4 – 6, 9, 13; 8: 3, 5, 10; 14:3, 4 – 7; 16: 36; 18: 6, 12, 15; 20: 7, 8, 16, 18, 24, 31, 39; 22: 3, 4; 23: 7, 30, 37, 39, 49; 30:13; 33:25. 36:18; 36:25; 37:23; 44:10; 44:12; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Daniel 2: 34, 35; 3:12, 18; Hosea 4:17; 8:4; 13:2; 14:8; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Micah 1:7; Nahum 1: 14; Hab 2:18; Zec 13:2; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Act 7:41; 15:20; 15:29; 17:16; 21:25; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Rom 1: 23; 2:22; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">1 Cor. 8:4, 7, 10; 10:14, 19; 12:2; 2Cor 6:16; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Gal 5:20; <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Col</st1:state></st1:place> 3:5; 1Th 1:9; 1Jn 5:21; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Rev 2:14, 20; 9:20; 13: 14; 14: 9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4, 21:8; 22: 15.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Some people tell that they keep idols and pictures of ‘Jesus’ only as reminders. But a truly born again person never needs such reminders because he has the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in him, “who will teach him all things and bring to his remembrance all that the Lord Jesus has told him” (John 14: 26). Anyway, there is no proof that the prevalent pictures of ‘Jesus’ are really of the Lord at all! The faces in different pictures themselves differ considerably!! Then how can they ever be genuine? A true disciple of the Lord will admit that these pictures are actually hindrances for him to come to the real Lord and behold His spiritual beauty with his inner eyes through the enlightening of the Spirit of God! (Matthew 5: 8; 2 Cor. 4: 6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Priesthood</span></b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 Peter 2: 9 clearly says to all believers that “you are a royal priesthood”. Though the priesthood was restricted to some section of the Jews in the Old Covenant, all the children of God in the new covenant are royal priests, as is evident from that verse as well as Rev. 1: 6 ! The Old Covenant (not the Old Testament) is made obsolete and is growing old and is ready to disappear, according to Hebrews 8: 7, 13! Does this not prove, dear brother, that the priesthood practised in most ‘churches’ is not at all Biblical!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, in Matthew 23: 9, the Lord Jesus forbids calling anyone on earth your ‘father’! The word ‘reverend’ is found only in one place in the whole Bible, where it is used to describe the Almighty God (Psalm 111: 9 KJV). The Word of God is always against using titles (even ‘pastor’ (= shepherd) which is a calling for service – Eph. 4: 11 -- and not a title) that would exalt one above others (See Matthew 23: 5 – 12). Jesus says: “… you are all brothers” (Matthew 23: 8). It is amazing that many of the Pentecostal ‘pastors’ also exalt themselves and lord over their flock just like the traditional ‘priests’! (1 Peter 5: 2, 3).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 14;">False Practices</span></b><span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 Timothy 4: 1-5 unequivocally says that forbidding marriage is a doctrine of the demons!! Yet marriage is forbidden to the ‘priests’ and nuns in some ‘churches’! How can this be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the Word of God says: “For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God…”, I wonder, dear brother, why many of these “Christian priests” take all pains to carefully cover their heads with fancy caps and crowns!!<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As one said, the New Testament states only one instance of a person confessing his sins before the priests, and that is none other than Judas Iscariot, the very betrayer of our Lord Jesus!! (See Matthew 27: 3- 5). The Bible very clearly teaches us to confess our sins to God alone (1 John 1: 9). And if we have hurt anybody by our words or deeds, we need to ask their forgiveness also (Matthew 5: 21 - 24). In an exceptional occasion of sickness due to some unconfessed sin, one has to confess one’s sins to the elders of the church who are to pray for his healing (James 5: 14 – 16). Then how can the tradition of confession of sins to ‘priests’ ever be justified?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our Lord Jesus instituted the covenant of “breaking of bread” among His disciples, and not in the midst of the multitude! The “holy mass” in many ‘churches’ is conducted by some ‘priest’ who is most probably not born again at all (and if at all born again, disobeying many of the commandments of the Lord described above and below). And this ‘mass’ is received by multitudes of people indulging in smoking, drinking, lying, immorality etc. Then how can this ritual be of any value before God?? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And how can any ritual, for that matter, conducted by such a ‘priest’ be of any value before God, say, baptism? Anyway, infant baptism has absolutely zero value before God, whosoever does it!!! Because the Greek word ‘bapto’ from which the word ‘baptism’ came, simply means ‘to immerse’, and not ‘to sprinkle’! And I have heard that the KJV translators coined the new word ‘baptism’ in English instead of using the simple English word ‘immersion’, in order that they can safely cover up the traditional infant baptism of sprinkling! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But suppose, even if an infant is immersed, it will not become the true water baptism! Because the water baptism is symbolically burying the ‘old man’ who became dead when one is born again (saved) and rising up of the ‘new man’ (Romans 6: 3 – 7). So all ‘baptisms’ before one is truly born again (whether as an infant or as an adult) are not more valuable to God than the bathroom shower we have everyday!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Further, it is to the disciples (and not to any Tom, Dick and Harry) that Jesus gave the commandment to baptize. And one who receives baptism must be a born again child of God, who is seeking to obey all the commandments of the Lord! (See Matthew 28: 16 – 20).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I have no words to say of those ‘believers’ involved in filing court cases against other ‘believers’ because the Word of God already uses enough words to depict their condition in 1 Cor. 6: 1 – 8 ! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus teaches us to fast in secret, so that whether alone or together with fellow believers, only those who are fasting need to know about it (Matthew 6: 16 – 18). And I am amazed at the public fasting of ‘believers’ after distributing even printed notices about it!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 14;">Miracles</span></b><span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Miracles, supernatural experiences, false visions and lying divination can be there in heathen religions too (Exodus 7: 8 – 13; Ezekiel 13: 6 – 9). One thing is sure: everything supernatural is not from God! Even the antichrist will do extraordinary miracles by Satanic power! (See Rev. 13: 11 – 15; 1 Thess. 2: 8 – 12). If anyone, no matter whichever church he or she attends, rather than seeking the Lord, goes seeking after supernatural miracles (even if they are ‘in the name of Jesus’), he or she is 100% destined to be deceived, especially in these end days! (See Matthew 7: 20 – 23; 24: 4, 11, 24).Of course, on the other hand, it is beyond doubt that the Lord also does numerous miracles even today out of concern for the needy people!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At one extreme, people call everything supernatural as the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and mistake emotional upheaval for the power of the Holy Spirit! At the other extreme, there are others who intellectually dissect the Word of God and come to the false conclusion that the gifts of the Holy Spirit do no longer exist today! But God is looking for those who adhere to the Word of God and at the same time continually seek for the genuine enduing of the power of the Holy Spirit from above (and not from any ‘gifted’ ‘pastor’ below)!! (See Luke 24: 49; John 3: 27; James 1: 17).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Any genuine disciple of the Lord will soon be disgusted with the worldliness and extreme chaos that take place supposedly in the name of the Holy Spirit in many ‘churches’! On the other hand, one will be bored with the monotony and legalistic bondage prevalent in many other churches! And I pray that the Lord will be able to see more churches in these last days with the true liberty as well as discipline of the Holy Spirit, which have the fruit as well as the gifts of the Spirit!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 14;">False Gospel</span></b><span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At one extreme, instead of exhorting the unbelievers to radically repent of their sins and trust in the Lord Jesus in order to be born again, many are just preaching methods of self improvement and reformation. (Even heathen religions teach these self-reformatory methods). At the other extreme, masses are brainwashed by a ‘health and wealth and prosperity gospel’, which is totally man-centered and ‘training’ people to be more and more covetous and greedy and selfish!! But God is looking for those who share the true gospel of “repentance (turning away from one’s sins) toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20: 21). It is this gospel which results in salvation (new birth) as a free gift from God through His grace, and not the good works or religious rituals that one has done (Eph. 2: 8 – 10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 14;">Money Matters</span></b><span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As one has pointed out, the Old Testament commandment of tithing (instead of the New Testament commandment of cheerfully giving – 2 Cor. 9: 7) is imposed by covetous ‘pastors’ on the undiscerning believers! Foreign funds are many a time misused for selfish interests by the corrupt leadership! As somebody said: “When it comes to such matters as dowry, almost all of these ‘churches’ seem to have exactly the same doctrine, because they also can receive some commission each time!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus clearly contrasted between the good shepherd who gives even his life for the flock and the “hireling” who works for his salary! (John 10: 10 – 13). The Christendom is unfortunately flooded by numerous “hirelings” who are working for their regular salary, rather than working for the Lord out of love for Him and earning their daily living as well! (Please read 1 Thess. 3: 6 – 15). Of course, genuine servants of the Lord are worthy of reward for their spiritual labour; but that should never be an excuse for the “hirelings” to cover up their covetousness! (See 1 Cor. 9: 9 – 18; Gal. 6: 6 and 1 Tim. 5: 17, 18).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Word of God clearly commands us in 2 Timothy 3: 5 to “avoid those who hold to a form of godliness, but have denied its power”. I never wish to be a part of a ‘church’ which is led by such covetous and unrighteous persons, because, otherwise, I’ll be disobeying His Word! Jesus told many “hard” truths to people IN LOVE (Eph.4: 15) without caring whether they will get offended and leave Him. We have to follow His example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please don’t misunderstand me, my dear brother. I am “not judging anyone according to appearance, but I judge with righteous judgment” just as Jesus commanded us to do in John 7: 24. In 1 John 4: 1 we read: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”. Jesus Himself has sternly warned us to “beware of the false prophets, who come to us in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves”, and to “know them by their fruits” (and not by their gifts)!! (Matthew 7: 15, 16).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do not despise or look down upon any human being; but I was just comparing what we see around us in Christendom ‘in the name of Jesus’, with what is written clearly in the Word of God, so that we can come to the true liberty which the truth of God alone can bring (John 8: 32). Just as Jesus did in His days, I was just trying to expose the futility of man-made traditions and interpretations, because ‘the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is being blasphemed among the non-Christians because of the so-called Christianity today’! (Romans 2: 24). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 14;">Be Separate</span></b><span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">May I just take the freedom to ask you this ‘strange’ question: Are you 100 % sure that even if you die at this very moment, you’ll reach the Lord’s presence in heaven the same moment? Are you sure, dear? If you are not sure, then repent of your sins and surrender your life to Christ Jesus so that you may be saved from the eternal wrath of God! But, if you are sure of your new birth, then you need to take these Words of God seriously:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 2 Corinthians 6: 14- 18 says: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? <b>Or what agreement has the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">temple</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> with idols?</b> For we are the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">temple</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. <b>Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate</b>”, says<b> </b>the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; <b>and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me</b>”, says the Lord Almighty”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Revelation 18: 4 says: “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Babylon</st1:place></st1:city> (the false ‘church’), my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> John 12: 42, 43 says: “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God”. So, whose approval, do you want, dear brother, -- man’s or God’s?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Read the example of the man born blind who was healed by Jesus in John 9. That poor man, unlike his diplomatic parents, did not care for the approval of the religious authorities of his time and was absolutely faithful to the light he had. And he confessed Jesus boldly before them and was put out of the synagogue. And read John 9: 35: “Jesus heard that they had put him out; and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”. And thus Jesus could reveal more of Himself to him, and the man worshiped Jesus (John 9: 38). So we have to pay a price to really worship Jesus in spirit and truth, dear brother! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> See what Peter and John, the uneducated and untrained fishermen, said before the religious authorities who asked them not to preach the gospel anymore: “But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4: 19, 20). Again in Acts 5: 29, we read: “But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “We must obey God rather than men”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So, What? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what’s the solution? Is it to leave the false ‘churches’ and to attend no church? Never. I have heard some people saying that they do not need any fellowship, but will obey the Bible on their own. But the very Word of God which they profess to follow, also exhorts us “not to forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10: 25). Just a few verses before the commandment in 2 Timothy 3: 5 to “avoid those who hold to a form of godliness, but have denied its power”, we are also commanded in 2 Timothy 2: 22 to “flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, <b>with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart</b>”, (and <b>not with </b>the unbelievers or ‘compromising, worldly and half-hearted believers’ of our “precious” age-old denomination, whichever it may be, the traditional or the so-called ‘separated’ ones)!! So the Lord’s perfect will for any born again child of God is that he/she should be built together in close fellowship and love with other whole-hearted children of God of his/her locality, “into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2: 19 – 22).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the epistles, we see many local expressions of the Body of Christ in various localities like <st1:city st="on">Rome</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Galatia</st1:country-region>, <st1:city st="on">Ephesus</st1:city>, Philippi, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Colossae</st1:city></st1:place>, Thessalonica etc. Likewise the Lord is building His true churches, though few in number, here and there, which seeks to obey and teach the whole counsel of God as revealed in His Word (Acts 20: 27). There the children of God will be strongly united as members of one Body, encouraging and correcting one another, with fervent love for each other, irrespective of their financial status, educational qualifications, occupation, culture, caste or colour or gender or whatever! (See John 13: 34, 35; 1 Cor. 12: 13; Eph. 4: 16; Col. 2: 18, 19).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, they would not be perfect churches because no human being is perfect. But a true <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> will have an uncorrupted leadership, which is “rooted and grounded in love” (Eph. 3: 17), and which is living before the face of God, and which is able to steer the church in the right direction of the Holy Spirit! They are the “shepherds after God’s own heart” who will help their flock to ‘know Him and understand His ways’. It is such true shepherds that the Lord has promised for those who come to <st1:city st="on">Zion</st1:city>, the true <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>! (Jeremiah 3: 14, 15).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As someone said, the God who helped the wise men from the east, the shepherds, the righteous and devout Simeon, and the old, pious widow, Anna to find the first and physical Body of Christ, will also help the genuine seekers even today to find the second and spiritual Body of Christ, the Church, near their locality. As is evident from the four types of above – mentioned people who found His earthly Body, God never shows partiality to anyone based on their wisdom, education, richness, occupation, knowledge of Scriptures, age or even gender; but He is looking for people with an honest and humble heart to stand for Him uncompromisingly in this land and in this generation! Just as everyone understood whom God was like through the first and physical Body of Christ, which walked through Israel about 2000 years ago (John 1: 18), it is through this second and spiritual Body of Christ, the Church, that the Lord wants to demonstrate to this world today whom the real Jesus of the Bible is like! (1 John 4: 12). And, dear brother, are you willing to be a part of that Body?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: rgb(255 , 102 , 0); font-size: 14;">My dear brother, I'm saying these not for any argument at all. But I'm saying the truth only in sincere love for you (Ephesians 4: 15). </span></b><span style="font-size: 14;">And dear brother, God Himself has given you freedom to disagree and throw away these truths! Because He never compels anybody!<span style="font-size: 14px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m neither a ‘Catholic’, nor a ‘Pentecostal’, nor a ‘Jacobite’, nor a ‘Brethren’, nor a ‘Baptist’, nor a ‘Marthomite’, nor a ‘CSIite’ and so on….. I belong to Jesus and attend church fellowships consisting of brothers who diligently seek to follow the Lord Jesus in everything. And I pray that the Lord may raise up true local churches – the genuine expressions of the Body of Christ – having the pure testimony of the Lord Jesus, in every part of the world so that the Lord’s name might be mightily exalted everywhere in these last days!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you’ve not been offended by this loving brother! I’ll pray for you, dear! May the Lord Jesus richly bless you and guide you in all things!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the warmest love of Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your loving brother,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sandeep.B.”</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-17372555657576656972007-11-09T10:47:00.000-08:002009-12-26T10:29:02.686-08:00The Love That Fills The Heart....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZNcKTG56Wuw3F_Th-mGrfWivNyS9LBZN6hmB8oF2Ibdvq0k5EzK8o1JUayVi7FEz3WSVigeh3echUthvrc3UVB9k0nBDRlO0rEX185rwFwx_uBZjfhh35EqIui8GontHTHj7mrTd1Kc/s1600-h/!cid__2_04DDCCF004DDC9A80012781D6525733D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130931648310105298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZNcKTG56Wuw3F_Th-mGrfWivNyS9LBZN6hmB8oF2Ibdvq0k5EzK8o1JUayVi7FEz3WSVigeh3echUthvrc3UVB9k0nBDRlO0rEX185rwFwx_uBZjfhh35EqIui8GontHTHj7mrTd1Kc/s400/!cid__2_04DDCCF004DDC9A80012781D6525733D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">The Love That Fills The Heart…..</span><br /></strong><br /> Someone once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum inside each of our hearts that can be filled only by God.” How true it is; isn’t it? Whether we admit it or not, that sense of emptiness deep inside our very being, an indescribable yearning...!</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div><br /> Often we try to fill this vacuum with wealth, love from others, comforts, sensual pleasures and so on, but all in vain! And it is even more surprising that no religious ritual, philosophy or even good works can fill this vacuum!</div><div><br /> Yes, the Almighty and loving God alone can fill this emptiness; He alone can fill our innermost being with inexpressible love, joy and peace! But we know that the true God is the One who created and controls the entire universe, and He alone is worthy to be worshipped! If so, how can this holy God come into our hearts?</div><div><br /> If we are honest to ourselves, we will agree on this one thing: we all have disobeyed our conscience knowingly or unknowingly many a time in our thoughts, words and deeds! It is this falling away from the character of God that the Bible calls ‘sin’: “…for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).</div><div><br /> Do you know what the punishment of sin is, in the eyes of the infinitely holy God? The punishment is that any one who has committed even the smallest sin should suffer in hell — an eternal separation from God! The Bible describes it in this way: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). Jesus Himself said, “… in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13).</div><div><br /> But how can this loving God cast us, His dear creation, away into hell eternally? Even as God is infinitely loving, He is also infinitely holy, just and righteous. It will not be an act of justice if a righteous God does not give punishment for our sins just because we regret them, or perform some religious rituals, or do some good deeds.</div><div><br /> Can a judge in a court of law avoid punishment, even if the culprit is his own son? No. But since he loves the son so much, that judge can declare a lawful penalty for the offence, then pay that penalty himself and thus free his son! This is exactly what God did for us.</div><div><br /> For that very purpose, the Almighty God incarnated as a human being in Jesus Christ about 2000 years ago! He lived for thirty-three and a half years, setting an example for us to live by. In fulfillment of the prophecies of the Bible, Jesus was cruelly crucified on the Cross of Calvary… It was the endless misery of hell-fire which you and I had to suffer for endless ages … that Jesus endured for our sake during those three hours on the Cross with deep pain and agony …! </div><div><br /> What we behold on the Cross is that tender heart full of love and compassion unwilling to cast us into hell!! The Word of God says: “… God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). And Jesus rose again, conquering death, which is man’s greatest enemy.</div><div><br /> Just as that judge did, the Lord Jesus also paid the penalty for our sins on the Cross! But the son in the court of law can become free only if he accepts the penalty paid by his father. Likewise we also can be free only if we believe deep inside our hearts that Jesus bore the punishment of hell for us! Otherwise we will be choosing to suffer the vacuum in this life and eternal hell-fire after death…</div><div><br /> If there was any other way for the forgiveness of sins, then there was no need for Jesus to undergo such a brutal and shameful death. Yes, “Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).</div><div><br /> Any person in any condition can freely and easily receive this salvation by repenting of his/her sins and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ who paid the penalty of sin! There is no need for religious conversion or to join any organization for this; because Jesus never founded any religion or organization. Jesus always stood against man-made traditions and systems! He always exposed the hollowness and hypocrisy of those who earn money, man’s honour and fame in the name of God (even in the name of Jesus)!! So it is Christ, not the religion of Christianity, that we should follow!</div><div><br /> Jesus says: “Come to Me, all who are weary and who are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).</div><div><br /> “…the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37).</div><div><br /> “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6).</div><div><br /> “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).</div><div><br /> “But seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things (material needs like food, clothing, healing etc.) shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).</div><div><br /> This Jesus is calling you too… His eyes full of love and compassion are even now gazing at you… If you believe that this Lord Jesus is able to take away all your sins, burdens and emptiness, then you can open your heart and say this prayer right now to Jesus:</div><div><br /> “My loving Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins, and rising from the dead to give me eternal life! Cleanse my sins with Your blood shed on the Cross, and come into my heart now. Fill me, Jesus, with Your love, joy and peace! Thank You for hearing my prayer.”</div><div><br /> Yes, let us live for Jesus with our hearts filled with His love, leaving behind all discouragement and emptiness forever! May the Lord bless you richly!<br /><br /></div></span>At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-37862960263694520782007-11-09T10:11:00.000-08:002009-12-26T10:29:02.636-08:00Jesus' Voice (Part 4)<span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1wgQRdz6GWuUJ5mRpdhXw_eIUPRRoFpCQFXswwZmNYshm1JeiDSa_CTw2deXGff9u-26RC0zNTxgQjOI4eMY8Dq4l3e8T1s703YWhMlxADCXIZB1HA-x4b1uhgGKw2stR5P5JxAPcnw/s1600-h/!cid_004e01c7f233%24db1f6470%2499c3fea9%40jgm.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130913433353802946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1wgQRdz6GWuUJ5mRpdhXw_eIUPRRoFpCQFXswwZmNYshm1JeiDSa_CTw2deXGff9u-26RC0zNTxgQjOI4eMY8Dq4l3e8T1s703YWhMlxADCXIZB1HA-x4b1uhgGKw2stR5P5JxAPcnw/s400/!cid_004e01c7f233%24db1f6470%2499c3fea9%40jgm.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Jesus’ Voice --Part 4<br /><br />1) “The strongest power of attraction in this universe is nothing other than the love of Jesus Christ. It is like a magnet; the closer you come to it, the stronger it binds you, and the farther you go, it just leaves you alone, but will, of course, seek to bind you all throughout your life!”<br /><br /><br />2) “Our Lord longs to flood our beings all the time with His love and freshness in such a way as to overflow and touch and transform others around us too.”<br /><br /><br />3) “Until Jesus alone becomes enough for us, we will continue to have complaining and murmuring”.<br /><br /><br />4) “The honour and money of this world are just like rubbish for a person who is truly taken up with the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ. The more you come closer to the Lord, the less you will be attracted by them!” (Phil. 3:8).<br /><br /><br />5) “Where do you first look to, when you suddenly come across a crisis or a need – to mere men or to the Lord Jesus Himself?”<br /><br /><br />6) “Blessed is the man who has learned to sense in his heart everything the Lord wants to communicate with him!”<br /><br /><br />7) “Deal kindly and compassionately with others as the Lord deals kindly and compassionately with you!”<br /><br /><br />8) “When we realize the sufferings and pain that our beloved Jesus has endured in order to reach out to us and win us, whatever hardships and inconveniences and losses we suffer in order to reach out to others and win them for the Lord, will count to absolutely nothing!”<br /><br /><br />9) “All the persons and circumstances we face in our daily life are actually different tools in the skilful hands of our loving Lord used for carving us out into His very image! And if we resist Him He will simply leave us alone….but with great grief in His heart!”<br /><br /><br />10)“Failure of any sort is a golden opportunity for us to once again realize our nothingness and become humbler”.<br /><br /><br />11)“The people around us are knowingly and unknowingly seeking for real, Christlike love, -- the love which can understand their deepest needs and accept them as they really are. Are we able to impart them the same quality of love through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit?”<br /><br /><br />12)“It is our Helper, the Holy Spirit who helps us to continually put to death our flesh with all its lusts and desires, and thus enables us to become smaller and smaller in own eyes!”<br /><br /><br />13)“When others look down upon us and ridicule us for our uncompromising stand for the Lord Jesus, we should always be able to sympathize with, have compassion on and pray for them, keeping in mind their eternal destiny!”<br /><br /><br />14)“The secret of faith in prayer is the awareness that we are talking to and hearing from our loving, caring Father in heaven, who knows all our needs and burdens, and who Himself is our omnipotent, omniscient Creator!”<br /><br /><br />15)“In spite of the busy schedule of daily life, it is in the secret chamber with the Lord Jesus, that we get to know Him personally and intimately, and get transformed to that measure of His likeness in which we know Him….!”<br /><br /><br />16)“Spiritually minded people will long to hear a man who hears God!”<br /><br /><br />17) “The Lord approves the life of that person who proceeds with the green signal of the Lord in everything!”<br /><br /><br />18)“How grieved the heart of the Lord Jesus is, when we have no time to hear Him or talk to Him! And how delighted His heart is when He finds one child of His eager to hear Him speak!!”<br /><br /><br />19)“You can accomplish the maximum for the Lord through this small life of yours, if you allow Him to direct every nook and corner of your life!”<br /><br /><br />20)“The reason why we are not able to rise up to the expectation of the Lord Jesus in our daily life, is that we have not become humble enough to receive His abundant grace for everything!”<br /><br /><br />21)“When you are really humble, you can receive true correction from even the youngest of believers and even from unbelievers!”<br /><br /><br />22)“When you are tempted to seek after the approval and honour of man, ask the Lord to reveal to you the emptiness and hollowness in it.”<br /><br /><br />23)“Our lives must be an example of how mightily the Lord can use a person completely surrendered and committed to Him!”<br /><br /><br />24)“Our Lord Jesus always wants to share the sweetness of His fellowship with us even in the little things in our daily life; but are we interested in the same?”<br /><br /><br />25)“Jesus could perfectly explain the Father to us because He remained spiritually in the bosom of the Father even when He lived on this earth (John 1: 18). So the best way for us to explain Jesus to others today is also to cling close to His bosom all the time!”<br /><br /><br />26) “When we humble ourselves before the Lord like a new-born baby, the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us, just like a mother who does not want to leave her new-born even for a moment!”<br /><br /><br />27)“It is a real worshiper who gets his mind transformed and thus gets to know the will of God for everything in his life!” (Rom. 12: 1, 2). <br /><br />28) “When we get irritated at somebody’s fault, just realize that we are also guilty of the same thing in some subtle manner. When we overcome that area, we will no longer be upset with that fault in anyone else!” (Rom. 2:1).<br /><br /><br />29) “In the midst of a world which shouts “Pleasure is only in sin”, the Lord wants living examples, especially among young people, who through their lives, can boldly proclaim “You cannot have a more vibrant and exciting and joyful life than in Jesus Christ”!”<br /><br /><br />30)The Lord Jesus is now asking you: “When most of my children approach Me only for their own personal and material gain, when many are gaining honour and money taking my name, are you willing to do everything in selfless love for Me and portray the real Jesus of the Bible through your life and words in front of this corrupt Christian world?....”<br /> =================================<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </span></div>At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-81751039452759449302007-09-27T15:10:00.000-07:002009-12-26T10:29:02.697-08:00Kristheeya Jeevithathinte Maadhuryam (Malayalam)<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERCYTnI2BKb5RQof-WJZwO5k9HGE8BYCYe3gmrbFruxVmVfErJbz3goU0J_336PJZxi6rD5uZLuxR5d_lewSJYTRM9AwMnSzZa5H9Xmd7R31pTiZQagbXhNUuehP6SQQxz8PDVvItAnY/s1600-h/!cid_image002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERCYTnI2BKb5RQof-WJZwO5k9HGE8BYCYe3gmrbFruxVmVfErJbz3goU0J_336PJZxi6rD5uZLuxR5d_lewSJYTRM9AwMnSzZa5H9Xmd7R31pTiZQagbXhNUuehP6SQQxz8PDVvItAnY/s400/!cid_image002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115012272296019026" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38); font-weight: bold;font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:24;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">{InkvXob PohnX¯nsâ am[pcyw</span></span><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:24;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:24;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tb</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >ip ]dªp: "" Fsâ \pIw arZphpw Fsâ NpaSv eLphpw BIp¶p'' (a¯mbn 11: 30)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tbiphnsâ amÀtÆmSv Nmcnbncp¶ tbml¶m³ As¸mkvXe³ ]dªp: ""Ahsâ Iev]\IÄ `mcapÅhbÃ''(1 tbml 5:3)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>F¶m ssZ\wZn\PohnX¯nte¡p hcpt¼mÄ, tbiphnsâ D¶X\nehmc§Ä ]men¡p¶Xv `mcapÅXpw Ibvt]dnbXpamsW¶v \ap¡p tXm¶mdpt-m?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >{InkvXobPohnXs¯ Hcp tI¡nt\mSv D]an¨psh¶ncn¡s«. Hcp hn`mKw hnizmknIÄ AXns\ Iodnapdn¨v AXneS§nbn«pÅ t]mjI§sf¡pdn¨v \nc´cw KthjWw \S¯pIbpw {]_豈 AhXcn¸n¡pIbpw sN¿pIbmWv. _p²nsIm-pw kz´w A²zm\w sIm-pw ssZhs¯ {]kmZn¸n¡m³ {ian¡p¶hcmWnhÀ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >asämcp hn`mKw AXnsâ `wKn {]ZÀin¸n¡m³ tI¡ns\ I®mSn¡p«n h¨v AXnsâ KpWKW§Ä \à hmIvNmXpcyt¯msS hÀ®n¡pIbmWv. `ànbpsS thjw [cn¨v ssZhiàn Fs´¶dnbm¯ I]ShnizmknIfmWnhÀ (2 Xnsam 3:5)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >thsd NneÀ Cu tI¡v ISn¨m s]m«m¯ Ft´m BsW¶v IcpXn AXns\ Bcpw ImWmsX Hfn¨p hbv¡pIbmWv. tbip ]dª D]abnÂ, X\n¡v In«nb Xme´v \ne¯v Ipgn¨n« Zmk\p XpeycmWnhÀ (a¯mbn 23: 18, 24). aaXm_Ô§fnepw AÔhnizmk§fnepw Zqcp]tZi§fnepw a\pjy]mc¼cy¯nepw IpSp§n ChÀ a\pjyam\w At\zjn¡p¶p.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >C\nbpw NneÀ¡v tI¡v Ign¨p t\m¡Wsa¶v B{Klap-s¦nepw AXn\I¯v Ipds¨¦nepw Ibv]pt-m F¶v i¦n¨p amdn\n¡p¶p. tbiphns\ ]n³]äWsa¶v B{Klap-s¦nepw th-{X hnizmktam kaÀ¸Wtam CÃm¯<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >I</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >q</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >«cmWnhÀ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >F¶m Npcp¡w NneÀ (a¯mbn 7: 13, 14), tbip Xsâ Xncp¡cw \o«n¯¶ B "tI¡v' ]qÀ® lrZbt¯msS hnizmk¯m \pWªnd¡n ssZhs¯ kvXpXn¡p¶p. aäpÅhscbpw AXn\mbn DÕmln¸n¡p¶p. tbiphns\ ]cn]qÀ®ambn ]n³]äp¶ (shfn 14: 4,5), ssZh¯n\p th-n \qdpta\n hnfhv \ÂIp¶ (a¯mbn 13: 23; 2 Xnsa 4: 7,8), ssZhnIkvt\lhpw kt´mjhpw kam[m\hpw A\pZn\PohnX¯n A\p`hn¡pIbpw BkzZn¡pIbpw sN¿p¶ (Kem 5:22,23), aäpÅhscbpw CXnte¡v hgn\S¯p¶ (Zm\otb 12:3) tbiphnsâ D¯a injycmWnhÀ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tbiphnsâ c-mw hchn\v GXm\pw \mfpIÄ am{XapÅ ImeL«¯n Pohn¡p¶ \mw \½psS PohnXs¯ F§s\bmWv t\m¡n¡mWp¶Xv? Xs¶ cpNn¨dnªv Xsâ Znhyamb kzm`mhapÅhcmbn¯ocphm³ ssZhw \ap¡p X¶ Hcp kphÀ®mhkcambn \ap¡v Cu PohnXs¯ ImWm³ XpS§mw. C¶v \mw tbiphpambn F{Xam{Xw ASp¯ Hcp lrZb_Ôw ]peÀ¯p¶pthm, AXn\\pkcn¨mbncn¡pw AhnSpt¯mSv ASp¯ Hcp Øm\w \nXyXbnepw \ap¡p e`n¡pI. ChnsS IÀ¯mhnt\mSv Gähpw ASp¯ncn¡p¶ Bfmbncn¡pw \nXyX apgph\pw AhnSpt¯mSv Gähpw ASp¯ncn¡p¶Xv. Cu `qanbn h¨v tbiphnt\mSv CÃm¯ Hcp ]cnNbw (ASp¸w) \ap¡p DS\Sn kzÀ¤¯n D-mhpIbnÃtÃm!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >{InkvXobPohnXsa¶m {InkvXphnt\mSv CgpInt¨À¶ PohnXw F¶ÃmsX asäm¶Ã. tbip{InkvXpsh¶ hyànbmWv AXnsâ tI{</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >_n-</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >p. AXv XpS§p¶Xpw ]qÀ¯nhcp¶Xpw AÂ^bpw HtaKbpamb \½psS Cu<o:p></o:p> IÀ¯mhv Xs¶bmWv (F{_m 12: 2; shfn 1:8). Cu IÀ¯mhns\ hyàn]cambn ASp¯dnbp¶XmWv \nXyPoh³ (tbml.17:3), AYhm {InkvXobPohnXw! At¸mÄ {]XnIqe§Ä¡pw {]tem`\§Ä¡pw \Sphnepw PohnXw \nd¨pw a[pcambn¯ocpw. ImcWw, Xs¶ kvt\ln¡p¶hÀ¡v FÃmw \·bv¡m¡n amäp¶ (tdma 8:28), amdmsb a[pcam¡p¶ (]pd. 15: 22þ25), kÀÆià\mb, kvt\lk¼qÀ®\mb ssZhamWsÃm \ap¡pÅXv!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tbiphnt\mSpÅ kvt\lw am{Xta AhnSps¯ Iev]\Isf bYmÀ°¯n A\pkcn¡phm³ \s½ {]m]vXcm¡pIbpÅq (tbml. 14:15) bYmÀ° BßobX Hcph\v tbiphnt\mSpÅ kvt\l¯nsâ AfhmWv. bYmÀ° {InkvXob PohnXw tbiphpambpÅ Hcp \nÀ½eamb {]Wb_ÔamWv (2 sImcn´yÀ 11: 2,3). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >F¶m \ap¡v Cu A\p`h¯nte¡v hcWsa¦n tbiphnsâ kvt\l¯m \½psS DÅw BZyw \ndtb-nbncn¡p¶p. AXn\mbn \mw efnXamb hnizmk¯m (</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-size:14;" >in simple faith</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >) tbip\mYt\mSv ASp¯p hcWw. AhnSps¯ kvt\lw \ndª lrZbs¯ \mw Adnªpw AdnbmsXbpw thZ\n¸n¨ At\I Ahkc§sftbmÀ¯v A\pX]n¡pIbpw, AhnSps¯ Xncpcà¯m IgpI {]m]n¡pIbpw thWw. £a tNmZnt¡-htcmSv £a tNmZn¨pw, \nc¸v {]m]nt¡-htcmSv \nc¸v {]m]n¨pw (a¯mbn 5:23, eqt¡mkv 19:8,9), Hcp ip²a\Êm£ntbmsS \mw tbiphnsâ<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >ap¼n sNÃp¶psh¦n AhnSp¶v \ap¡v Xsâ A\p]a kvt\ls¯ A[nIambn shfns¸Sp¯n¯cpw. tbiphnsâ Cu kvt\l¯n\p ap¶n \mw \s½¯s¶ kaÀ¸n¡p¶psh¦nÂ, B kvt\lw \½psS lrZb§<o:p></o:p>fn ]cnip²mßmhn\m h¶p \ndbpw.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tbiphnsâ kvt\l¯m \ndª Hcp lrZb¯n\v ]ns¶ Hcp B{Klta D-mbncn¡pIbpÅq þ AXv tbip Xs¶bmbncn¡pw! ZmhoZv ]mSnbXpt]mse: ""Rm³ IÀ¯mhnt\mSv Hcp Imcyw At]£n¨p; AXpXs¶ Rm³ B{Kln¡p¶p; IÀ¯mhnsâ at\mlcXzw Im¬am\pw Ahsâ a</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >nc¯n [ym\n¸m\pw Fsâ BbpjvImesams¡bpw Rm³ IÀ¯mhnsâ Beb¯n ]mÀt¡-Xn\pw Xs¶'' (k¦o 27: 4). Bkm^pw ]mSn: ""kzÀ¤¯n F\n¡p BcpÅq? `</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >q</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >anbnepw \ns¶bÃmsX Rm³ H¶pw B{Kln¡p¶nÃ'' (k¦o 73: 25).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tbiphns\ am{Xw lrZb¯n B{Kln¡p¶XnÂ]cw Hcp lrZbip²n thsdbnÃtÃm. ""lrZbip²nbpÅhÀ `mKyhm·mÀ Fs´¶m AhÀ ssZhs¯ ImWpw'' (a¯mbn 5:8) F¶ tbiphnsâ XncpsamgnIÄ \mw HmÀ¡p¶p-mIpw. AtX, tbiphnsâ kvt\l¯nsâbpw XmgvabpsSbpw kuayXbpsSbpw hnip²nbpsSbpsaÃmw Znhyku-</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >cyw ]cnip²mßmhv hN\¯neqsSbpw {]mÀ°\bneqsSbpw aäpw ImWn¨pXcm³ XpS§pw (tbml: 16:14). adpcq]aebn ssZhi_vZ¯n\p Iogvs¸« ]t{Xmkpw bmt¡m_pw tbml¶m\pw XebpbÀ¯n t\m¡nbt¸mÄ tbiphns\<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >am{Xw I-Xpt]mse (a¯mbn 17:8), \½psS lrZb¯nepw tbip am{Xw \ndªp \n¡pw. I®mSnbn ISsamgnsb¶h®w (1sImcn13:12) hnizmk¡®pIfm tbiphnsâ A\p]aku</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >cyw BkzZn¡p¶ \mapw ]dbpw:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >""Fsâ {]nb³ ]Xn\mbncw t]cn AXnkp</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >c³ Xs¶''(D¯aKoXw 5:10).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >"hben Hfn¨ph¨ \n[n' Is-¯nbXpt]mse, "Gähpw hnetbdnb ap¯v' Is-¯nbXpt]mse (a¯mbn 13:44þ46), \½psS DÅw kt´mj¯m \ndªp IhnbpIbpw (k¦o. 15:11) \½psS Cu sNdnb PohnXw tbiphnsâ<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >Xncp¡c§fn kvt\lt¯msS \mw `cta¸n¡pIbpw sN¿pw. Xsâ Im´sâ kzÀ¤obku</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >cyw ImWp¶ {InkvXpinjy\v Cu temIemhWyw Gähpw \n</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >yambncn¡pw. A§s\ PohnXw \ap¡v Gähpw am[pcyapÅ<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >Xmbn¯ocp¶p.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >F¶m tbiphnt\mSpÅ Cu \nÀ½ehpw GIm{Khpamb `ànbnÂ\n¶v \s½ ]n´ncn¸n¡m\mbncn¡pw km¯msâ \nc´c{iaw (2 sImcn´yÀ 11:3). ImcWw AXv km[yambm \s½ GXp \nÊmc]m]¯nepw hogv¯msa¶v Ah\dnbmw. tbiphnt\mSpÅ BZykvt\lw Ipdªpt]mIp¶XmWtÃm GXp ]n·mä¯nsâbpw BZyNphSv. shůn³aosX \S¶ ]s{Xmknsâ {i² tbiphn \n¶p amdn NpäpapÅ Imänte¡pw tImfnte¡pw Bbt¸mÄ, Ah³ F{]Imcw hogm³ XpS§ntbm, A{]Imcambncn¡pw \½psSbpw B´cnIZrjvSn tbiphn \n¶p<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >amdpt¼mÄ \mapw hogm³ t]mIp¶Xv (a¯mbn 14:29, 30). AXpsIm-v \½psS AI¡®pIÄ \nc´cw tbiphn¦te¡v Dd¸n¡m³ \mw ioent¡-nbncn¡p¶p (F{_m 12:2</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >). Ft¸mÄ \½psS lrZbZrjvSn IÀ¯mhnÂ<o:p></o:p> \n¶p amdnt¸msb¶p a\Êm£nbn t_m[ys¸Sp¶pthm, At¸mįs¶ ]s{Xmkv sNbvXXpt]mse ""tbipth, c£n¡tW''(a¯mbn 14:30) F¶v ]dª\pX]n¨v \mw Xncn¨p hcnItb \nhr¯nb</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >p</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >Åq. At¸mÄ BßnIhÀ²<o:p></o:p>\bv¡pXIp¶, {]t_m[n¸n¡p¶, Bizkn¸n¡p¶, DÕmln¸n¡p¶, imkn¨v Xncp¯p¶ tbiphnsâ kvt\lw \ndª hm¡pIÄ \mw Bßmhn {Kln¨dnbm³ XpS§pw. AtX, AXv tbip\mYsâ arZpkzcw Xs¶bmWv.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tbiphnsâ i_vZw \mw {]mYanIambpw Xncn¨dnbp¶Xv XncphN\¯neqsSbmWv. adnbw tbiphnsâ Im¡encp¶v tI«Xpt]mse (eqs¡mkv 10:38,42), \ap¡pw Hmtcm Znhkhpw Bß\ndhn hN\w [ym\n¡p¶XneqsS tbiphn\v \t½mSv A¶v F´mWv ]dbm\pÅsX¶v Bßmhn {Kln¡phm³ km[n¡pw. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >BSv Xsâ CSbsâ i_vZw ioe¯memWv Xncn¨dnbp¶Xv. AXpt]mse, \mw hN\¯n thcpd¨hcmsW¦n (AXmbXv hN\w \½psS lrZb§fn kw{Kln¨n«pÅhcmsW¦n þ k¦o. 119:11), {ItaW \ap¡pw \½psS \à CSbsâ i_vZw Znhk¯nsâ GXp kab¯pw Xncn¨dnbm³ Ignbpw (tbml. 10:4, 14, 27). A§s\ tbip \½psS lrZbt¯mSv ]e apJm´c§fneqsS kwkmcn¡p¶ Imcy§Ä am{Xta \½psS AIs¯ a\pjy\v bYmÀ° t]mjWambn¯ocp¶pÅq þ AXv hN\¯neqsStbm {]mÀ°\bneqsStbm {]kwK¯neqsStbm kw`mjW¯neqsStbm kw`h§fneqsStbm F§s\bpw BImw.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >tbiphns\ C{]Imcw \mw ]qÀ® lrZbt¯msS kvt\ln¡p¶hcmsW¦n AhnSps¯ hm¡pIÄ A\pkcn¡p¶Xv \ap¡v efnXhpw B\-</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >ZmbIhpambncn¡pw (tbml. 14:15). Xsâ {]mW{]nbt\mSpÅ AKm[kvt\lw \nan¯w, Xsâ B{Kl§fpw ]²XnIfpw ths-¶ph¨v ssZhlnXw sN¿p¶Xv Hcp {InkvXpinjys\ kw_Ôn¨nSt¯mfw hn`hkar²amb Hcp kZy Ign¡p¶Xpt]mse am[pcytadnbXmbncn¡pw. AXnitbmànbÃ: ssZhlnXw sN¿p¶Xv X\n¡v Blmcw Ign¡p¶Xpt]mse BkzmZyhpw Hgn¨pIqSm\mh¯XpamsW¶ tbip kqNn¸n¨Xv HmÀ¡p¶ntà (tbml. 4:34)? ssZhcmPys¯ tbip c-pXhW Hcp henb kZytbmSp _Ôs¸Sp¯n kwkmcn¡p¶Xpw {it²bamWv (a¯mbn 22:2; eqs¡mkv 14: 16). ssZhcmPyw \½fn hcpt¼mgpw þ AXmbXv ssZhw \½n cmPmhmbn hmgpt¼mgpw þ kw`hn¡p¶Xv asäm¶Ã!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >\msaÃmw tbiphnsâ k¶n[nbn ASp¯ph¶v, \½psS lrZb§fpw a\ÊpIfpw CÑmiànbpsaÃmw Xpd¶v, \½psS B{Kl§fpw hnImc§fpw Nn´Ifpw Xocpam\§fpsaÃmw XmgvatbmsSbpÅ Bcm[\bpw kvXpXnbpw \</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:TT22E4O00;font-size:14;" >μ</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >nItcäepambn AhnSpt¯¡v AÀ¸n¡Wsa¶XmWv AhnSps¯ AXnbmb hmRvO. \½psS _Ôpan{XmZnIsfbpw<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >hkvXphIIsfbpw \s½¯s¶bpw ssZhIc§fn kaÀ¸n¨v, kIehn[ aaXm_Ô§fn \n¶pw a\pjy]mc¼cy§fn \n¶pw AÔhnizmk§fn \n¶pw Zpcp]tZi§fn \n¶pw hnapàcmbn (eqs¡mkv 14: 26,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >27,33), \mtamtcmcp¯cpw tbiphnt\mSv kvt\l¨cSpIfm Ft¶¡pw _Ôn¡s¸SWsa¶pw Xt¶mSp tNÀ¶p \S¡Wsa¶pamWv AhnSp¶v B{Kln¡p¶Xv. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >\mw IÀ¯mhnt\mSv ]änt¨À¶v \S¡p¶Xn\\pkcn¨v AhnSp¶p Xs¶¯s¶ \ap¡v A[nIambn shfns¸Sp¯n¯cpw (tbml. 14:21). B shfn¸mSv aät\IÀ¡v adªncn¡p¶ kzÀ¤oba¶bmbn \ap¡p amdp¶p (shfn 2: 17). \mw AXp `£n¨v tbipthmfw hfÀ¶psImt-bncn¡pw (Ft^. 4:15). At¸mÄ \mw tbiphns\ Adnbp¶Xv, aämsc¦nepw ]dªXnsâ ASnØm\¯neÃ, adn¨v \mw Xs¶ AhnSps¯ hnizmk¡®pIfm ImWpIbpw Aßmhn kv]Àin¡pIbpw B kvt\lw cpNn¨v BkzZn¡pIbpw sNbvXXnsâ ASnØm\¯nembncn¡pw (tbml.4:42). At¸mÄ tbiphnsâ kvt\lkv]Àita¡p¶ \½psS A´ÀKXw C§s\bmbncn¡pw: ""Rm³ Fsâ {]nbtâXmWv, AhnSps¯ B{Klw Ft¶mSmWv'' (D¯a 7:10). At¸mÄ, kz´w CjvS{]Imcw H¶pw sN¿msX, A´cmßmhn tbip sNbvXpImWn¨p Xcp¶Xpam{Xw sN¿phm\pw , Ah tbip sN¿p¶Xpt]mseXs¶ sN¿phm\pw, tbip sNbvXpImWn¨p Xcp¶</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >s</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >XÃmw H¶nShnSmsX sN¿phm\papÅ AXy[nIamb hmRvO \½psS Dŧfn \ndªpXpfp¼pw (tbml. 5:19, 20).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >AXpsIm-v {]nbkplrt¯, tbiphns\ am{Xw B{Kln¡p¶, AhnSps¯ XncpapJ¯pam{Xw AI¡®pIfpd¸n¨, AhnSps¯ i_vZ¯n\mbn Ft¸mgpw ImtXmÀ¡p¶, AhnSps¯ ]qÀ®lrZbt¯msS kvt\ln¡pIbpw A\pkcn¡pIbpw, CShnSmsX ]änt¨cpIbpw sN¿p¶, Hcp \nanjhpw ]ncnbm¯ (1 sXÊ. 5:10), \nÀ½eamb {]Wb_</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" >Ô¯n\mbn \ap¡p Zmln¡mw! \½psS {]hr¯nIsf¡mfpw XymK§sf¡mfpw \s½¯s¶ B{Kln¡p¶ tbiphnsâ \nXykvt\l¯n apgpIn, \ap¡v Cu {InkvXob ku`mKy¯nsâ am[pcyw BkzZn¡mw; AXv aäpÅhcnte¡pw ]IÀ¶psImSp¯v Cu A´yIme¯v AhnSps¯ [oc km£nIfmImw!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(41, 37, 38);font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:ML-TTKarthika;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-69271017246051048232007-08-15T15:45:00.000-07:002009-12-26T10:29:02.735-08:00Jesus' Voice (Part 3)<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegJ-NFRrFMDEs_iGZlKQqcuVIaoMMEplJhiAa8R5y7q2WjwZfvzcOQfQYWrqNOiCcHgAu2-_fHhbpA_75xaiZ_S5Dx3HrLw4hSCdkmFNa46YqkPXjy9AikuRz3Ezyabnc49sHPDV5TFc/s1600-h/!cid_8E75C4E1-09B2-4937-83-0CC3@local.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegJ-NFRrFMDEs_iGZlKQqcuVIaoMMEplJhiAa8R5y7q2WjwZfvzcOQfQYWrqNOiCcHgAu2-_fHhbpA_75xaiZ_S5Dx3HrLw4hSCdkmFNa46YqkPXjy9AikuRz3Ezyabnc49sHPDV5TFc/s320/!cid_8E75C4E1-09B2-4937-83-0CC3@local.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099065101988621490" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"> </span></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span style="font-size:26;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Jesus’ Voice<span style=""> </span>--Part 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span style="font-size:24;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">1) “If we keep our hearts attuned to the voice of the Lord by being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Lord will always have a word of encouragement or guidance or correction or rebuke in our daily path of life”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">2) “When you are concentrated on bringing delight to the heart of the Lord Jesus alone through your one small life on this earth, the praises as well as the ridicule of men will count for nothing to you!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">3) “Only a man walking closely to the Lord can ‘nip’ even a small blemish of unChristlikeness ‘in the bud’in his life. Other people will realize the same sin in their own lives only when it has grown into a huge ‘tree’!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">4) “What greater privilege a mere creature can have than having a close two-way communion and fellowship with the Creator Himself!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>5) “A revelation of ‘how much the Lord has suffered literal <b style="">hell</b> as the punishment for ‘my’ sins on the cross of <st1:place st="on">Calvary</st1:place>’ can keep a person really humble.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">6) “Unfortunately the Lord often finds it easier to teach us some spiritual lessons after our failures, just because that is the time the Lord can find us humblest! But how sad if we cannot learn from the Lord even through failures because of our listening to the condemning voice of the devil!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">7) “When the Lord points out any unChristlikeness in our life, first acknowledge it before the Lord humbly and gratefully, instead of justifying it or struggling to overcome it ourselves. This simple honesty before the Lord is the way by which we can walk in the light and be cleansed from all sin (1 John 1: 7)”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">8) “The increasing spiritual growth of a child of God will delight the heart of a real spiritual father; then how much more the heart of his heavenly Father…..!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">9) “We will really begin to see the wretchedness and filthiness of the tremendous pride and self-centeredness in us, only when we really begin to walk with the Lord and value fellowship with Him above anything else!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">10) “Testifying what the Lord has done in us and through us is one thing; but doing the same without touching His glory is quite another thing; and here lies the test of our real humility!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">11) “You cannot ‘feed’ the ‘flock’ of the Lord with anything you like, because they are ‘the flock of <b style="">His</b> possession’ (Micah 7:14); so speak to them from the Word only what the Lord wants you to!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">12) “The more <b style="">mature</b> you become spiritually, the more <b style="">childlike </b>you will become in the purity of heart and innocence of character!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">13) “The more <b style="">rest </b>and <b style="">peace</b> you enjoy in your heart, the more effectively you will <b style="">fight</b> the spiritual <b style="">battle</b> against the devil and his forces!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">14) “The prouder we become, the more pitiably the Lord has to allow us to fall, so that we may realize our nothingness and become humble!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">15) “One of reasons why the Lord wants us to pray for others is that we become more and more selfless as a by-product of genuine intercession!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">16) “It is not in an easy chair, but in the busy circumstances of daily life that we discover whether we value the sweet fellowship with Jesus!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">17) “If you are more eager for the fellowship with your fellow brothers and sisters than having personal fellowship with Jesus, then there is something wrong with your spirituality!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">18) “When the Lord Jesus looks from heaven at our currency notes, He sees them as mere papers to be used. (That was how He considered money when He lived here on earth also). When the real Spirit of heaven, that is the Holy Spirit, fills our hearts, we will also likewise see money!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>19) “The reason why we get so easily irritated with people and circumstances even inwardly, is that we are so big in our own eyes and we think we deserve to be treated far better than how it is now!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">20) “When you are connected to Jesus Christ, you will always seek to connect others with Him; on the other hand, if you are more connected to an organization than to Jesus Christ, you will always seek to connect others with that organization than to Jesus Christ!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">21) “The secret behind having a fruit-bearing life is to fall before the Lord and die to oneself, especially to the desire for honour and money (John 12 : 24). God is all the more excited to bring really needy people in touch with such a person, because he/she dare not touch His glory through their ministry!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">22) “The more you are committed to the Lord, the more intimate you will be with Him; and the more intimate you are with the Lord, the more committed you need to be in order to retain that intimacy!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">23) “The world is full of people desperately thirsting for some words of love, encouragement, appreciation and comfort, or at least a smile of love and compassion…. When the Lord sends such people to you, would you be quenching their thirst or aggravating it?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">24) “The smaller we become in our own eyes, the larger will our heart become to love and forgive everyone!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">25) “Only a person who really knows the Lord personally and intimately can lead others also to such a relationship with Him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">26) “When high thoughts about yourselves <b style="">gush</b> into your mind, smell the danger of spiritual pride, and <b style="">rush</b> to the bosom of the beloved Lord Jesus to confess: ‘I am a nobody, Lord, but for Your <b style="">blood</b> which cleansed my wretched past by Your <b style="">mercy</b>, and for Your <b style="">Spirit </b>who transformed into Your likeness by Your <b style="">grace</b>!....’ ”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">27) “Blessed is the man who, even when he ascends to loftier and loftier spiritual heights, can still consider himself to be a wretched sinner saved by the grace of God alone! (1Tim.1: 15)”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">28) “The most effective and efficient way of doing a work, spiritual or secular, is simply doing it in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">29) “Greater patience has no one than that of the Lord Jesus who seeks to transform us, bearing up with all our innumerous infirmities and repeated failures! Hence what excuse do we have in being<span style=""> </span>not patient with our fellow-beings?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;">30) “Wisest is the man who does not depend on his own wisdom, but seeks the Lord’s guidance in each and everything; because “Christ Jesus has become to him wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:30)”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>---------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4860577817906059077.post-42811834970143435932007-08-01T15:01:00.000-07:002009-12-26T10:29:02.561-08:00Jesus' Voice (Part 2)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbuAu-eE1QAKIdvP_UPEag1CXAk9RymWCZJEH9szYx_tshZ8oGPYFuHNPUlUSbUqVY4grBfJcCArBrVrdeGZ0ipuiUvVrcHFtUXWKKCTn897Iffoj4QJdUwRw5PIVJZW-o9kX2YUECl4/s1600-h/25502.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093860739792202898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbuAu-eE1QAKIdvP_UPEag1CXAk9RymWCZJEH9szYx_tshZ8oGPYFuHNPUlUSbUqVY4grBfJcCArBrVrdeGZ0ipuiUvVrcHFtUXWKKCTn897Iffoj4QJdUwRw5PIVJZW-o9kX2YUECl4/s320/25502.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Jesus’ Voice (Part 2)<br /><br /><br />1) “Lord Jesus desires that our sole desire in life will always be for a deeper fellowship with Himself. Then whatever we think, say or do, even our service for the Lord will only be a part of that personal, intimate love relationship with Him – an ongoing quiet two-way conversation with Jesus all the time….. !”<br /><br /><br />2) “Our daily life can never be more exciting, thrilling, joyful and peaceful than when lived together with the Lord Jesus Christ!”<br /><br /><br />3) “How blessed it is if we can always be channels for Jesus’ love to flow out and bring blessing and healing to the surrounding ones!”<br /><br /><br />4) “If we value fellowship with the Lord Jesus as precious as ‘the merchant valued the finest pearl’ and ‘the man valued the hidden treasure in the field’ (Mtt. 13: 44-46), we would be so careful not to lose hold of the sweetness of His fellowship even for a moment!”<br /><br /><br />5) “It is the prayer of a man who is wholly set apart for Himself which the Lord always eagerly listens to” (Psalms 4: 3).<br /><br /><br />6) “The Lord always prospers all the endeavours of that man (Psalm 1:3), who, instead of receiving his inputs from the world (verse 1), always listens to the Lord Jesus (who is the Word which became flesh –verse 2) through the Holy Spirit (streams of living water --verse 3)”.<br /><br /><br />7) “Never seek to impose your views and opinions on any other person, but while sharing them with others, tell the Lord: “Reveal Yourself to them, Lord, through my words”.<br /><br /><br />8) “Jesus desires that even our sacrifices for Him must never be from a reluctant, struggling heart, but should be spontaneous, loving responses to His voice to do something or to do away with something that might otherwise hinder our deeper fellowship with Him”.<br /><br /><br />9) “If your delight is in the Lord alone, then He will fulfill the deepest longing of your heart to be completely His!” (Psalm 37: 4).<br /><br /><br />10) “Woe to you if you desire fame or popularity for your ‘godliness’!”<br /><br /><br />11) “If we are satisfied with something less than the Lord’s very best in anything, we are literally binding the Lord’s hands with our UNBELIEF”.<br /><br /><br />12) “Just as we would be taken up with the Lord Jesus alone in heaven, we should be taken up with Him alone and want to obey and please Him alone here on this earth --- this is the essence of praying ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10)”.<br /><br /><br />13) “The commandments of Jesus are all ‘a big fascinating, admirable, impractical theory’ for a person without the continual fullness of the Holy Spirit!”<br /><br />14) “The Lord wants us to be so weak in ourselves, that we can do nothing of our own. Then only can Jesus alone become our only strength and all in all!” (2 Cor. 12: 9, 10).<br /><br /><br />15) “Every time our open our mouth to share the Word of God, this must be our confidence: ‘Hear now what the Lord is saying’!” (Micah 6:1a).<br /><br /><br />16) “Encounter with a truly Christlike person will always be a potent stimulus for all sincere people to come close to the Lord!”<br /><br /><br />17) “Are you praying for a person to get saved so that you can boast later: ‘He/she was saved through ME’, or are you praying unselfishly just because you want him/her to be saved from eternal destruction and to enjoy the blessedness you are enjoying now as God’s child?”<br /><br /><br />18) “If we are taken up with anything or anyone other than the Lord Jesus Himself, even if it be something ‘spiritual’, that will blunt the sharpness of the sensitivity of our heart to sense what the Lord has to tell us”.<br /><br /><br />19) “It is not what we have done for the Lord that is of value in eternity, but what the Lord has done in us and through us!”<br /><br /><br />20) “The only real compulsion in the Christian life is the compulsion of the love of Christ” (2 Cor.5:14).<br /><br /><br />21) “Give yourselves totally to the Lord Jesus to be bound by the strong cords of His love, so that ‘you can no longer do anything apart from Him’!” (John 15:5).<br /><br /><br />22) “The Holy Spirit desires to fill us in such a way that we become more conscious of the presence of Jesus than the persons and surroundings around us!”<br /><br /><br />23) “If we really taste the Agape love of the Lord Jesus, we tend to tell Him, ‘Why do You love such an undeserving, wretched sinner like me so much, Lord?’ ”<br /><br /><br />24) “Is there anything more delightful to the heart of the Lord than one of His children so taken up with Him that he/she rejoices in Him alone and desires nothing and no one else?!!!.....”<br /><br /><br />25) “It is a person full of gratitude for the Lord for His undeserving mercy, compassion and grace, who will always seek to bring delight to the Lord through his/her life.”<br /><br /><br />26) “Even after the most wonderful spiritual experience, if we lose our sweet communion with Jesus, we will soon become dry!”<br /><br /><br />27) “We can always sympathize and have compassion with those who do not have the light we have and cannot agree with us, because, if they are not the children of God, they are spiritually blind, and if they are children of God, they might be spiritually short-sighted or they might have some ‘blind areas’ in their ‘spiritual visual fields’ that they are not able to see the things we see clearly!!”<br /><br /><br />28) “Instead of just asking the Lord to cleanse our unChristlikeness every time, also tell Him to reveal how exactly He would have behaved in such and such a situation so that we can follow Him like that in future.”<br /><br /><br />29) “Nothing or no one can shake a person who is living in living contact with the Lord Jesus, because he becomes humbler and humbler as he walks with the Lord and thus receives grace upon grace increasingly (John 1:16; James 4:6)”.<br /><br /><br />30) “Both Jesus and the devil will point to us the sins in us and in others, but there is as much difference in the manner each one does it, as there is between heaven and hell!<br />When the Lord points out a sin us, it brings deep conviction, but tremendous encouragement and hope that we can cleanse, correct and overcome it! But when the devil points out a sin in us, it brings only condemnation and discouragement and despair…..<br />When the Lord points out a sin of other person to us, we always seek to sympathize with and intercede for him/her, and if the Lord prompts us, to lovingly correct him/her also! But when the devil points out a sin of other person to us, he will always tempt us to look down upon, accuse and criticize him/her. Whose co-workers do we want to be…….?!!!<br /><br /><br />======================</span></p>At Jesus' Feet, For His Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342269077240026343noreply@blogger.com0