Month: May 2014

Dear All,

“We are either in the process of resisting God’s truth or in the process of being shaped and moulded by his truth.” Charles Stanley

Truth Will Set You Free

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:31-32

Sometimes people have continuing battles with different types of addiction and struggle to live without them. They often say, “We have prayed and broken all the bondages but we are not able to give it up.” Our question for them would be, “How can the truth set you free?”

The word says that if we abide in God’s word, we become His disciples. This is an ongoing process, meaning we are to continually abide in His word so that it becomes a part of us, taking root in every area of our lives.

We are all created with a spirit, soul and body. The soul encompasses our mind, our will and our emotions. Although we may know the truth in our minds, that is not enough to set us free. It is important for us to first hear the truth, but then we need to activate our will and choose to continue in that truth. The choice that we make will determine our destiny as our feelings and emotions follow our will. As the truth of God’s word brings our soul in line with our spirit, our bodies will be released to act upon that truth and we will be set free from the bondage of sin.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for Your word. May Your word abide and grow in me so that I will be set free from all bondages. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Isaiah 43: 2

Trusting In God When Afraid

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Psalm 56:3

Adam and Eve were afraid when they ate the forbidden fruit and so they hid from the Lord. This wonderful couple, who were created in God’s own image, resorted to hiding from the very presence of God because their disobedience led to guilt and fear.
People fear different things and bring upon themselves anxieties and worries that can affect their health, as well as their relationship with others. People also worry about many different issues, such as their finances, job security or losing someone who is very dear to them.

Some people hide away from others while others, due to their fear of confrontation and losing their peace of mind, choose to remain quiet in order to avoid confrontation. They may be fearful that their difference of opinions will negatively affect their relationships and consequently, bottle up ill feelings and resentment.

As Adam and Eve covered themselves with leaves to hide themselves from God, people hide their fears behind masks, building up a defensive wall that becomes a stronghold in their lives.

How do we then overcome these fears? The first step is that we need to understand that fear is not from the Lord but from the enemy. Our heavenly Father says “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31

Our God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (1 Timothy 1:7) God wants us to be strong and courageous, without giving in to the spirit of fear or discouragement, as the Lord our God is with us in every difficult situation of our life.

The second step is that we need to confront the situation with the power of love. As stated in John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.“

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day and the promises that You have given me. I thank You for Your perfect love that casts out all my fears. I cast all my anxieties and fears on You, because I know You care for me and will perfect me in Your love. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

“God speaks to you and me through every situation, but hearing Him is dependent upon our anticipating and paying attention to His instruction.” Charles Stanley

Unbelief

Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord. So He swore to them with uplifted hand that He would make them fall in the desert.
Psalms 106:24-26

The crossing from Egypt, through the desert to the Promised Land, would have taken the people of Israel a couple of weeks or maybe a maximum of about a month because of the children and livestock travelling with them.

It took a great amount of courage for the Israelites to leave Egypt. Having lived in that foreign land for centuries, they considered their slavery to the Egyptians a normal part of their lives. When they moved out of that life of bondage, their hope was for a new life of freedom in the Promised Land. Unfortunately, their repeated inability to see beyond their present circumstances made them doubt and even despise the goodness of God’s promise. In addition to their unbelief, they also grumbled and disobeyed the Lord continuously, angering Him by preferring to stay in the desert rather than moving on to the appointed land.

Are we in a similar situation today? Walking out of Egypt is the first step for all of us but we need to continue to walk through the wilderness and reach our destination. Most of the time, the wilderness period is very short but we prolong it because of our unbelief and our murmuring.

We will not walk in the fullness of God’s Spirit until we have accomplished God’s will for us in the wilderness. Let us remember that the period in the wilderness is not long. If we truly believe and walk in the assurance of this hope, we will be able to rejoice in the fulfillment promise given to us.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day and the promises that You have given me. Please give me Your strength to walk through the wilderness with patience and endurance so that I may receive your promise. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

“The bottom line in the Christian life is obedience and most people don’t even like the word.” Charles Stanley

“Obedience to God is the pathway to the life you really want to live.” Joyce Meyer

Our Call to Obedience

“Surely I have taught you statutes and judgements, just as the Lord my God commanded me that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

Deuteronomy 4:5-6

Moses was a great leader who was called by God from the burning bush to lead God’s chosen people. Even though he had seen many miracles and spent forty days with the Lord on Mount Sinai, in the end he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land.

Moses was a gracious man and full of humility. He addressed the people before they crossed over to the Promised Land, instructing them not to depart from the Lord’s statutes and judgements. He told them to be careful to observe and obey God’s commandments, for in doing so, they would find wisdom and understanding. Moses was teaching the people of Israel a life lesson learnt from his own grave failure to obey God’s command at Kadesh, which ultimately prohibited him from entering the Promised Land. Moses had learnt the importance of being obedient to God’s voice and so he placed great emphasis on teaching the children of Israel this important lesson.

A second aspect of Moses’ teaching was the call for the Israelites to live a life worthy of the Lord so that they would be a witness to the other nations who, seeing the blessings on Israel, would themselves, seek to learn more about the God of Israel.
So how can we apply this to our lives this morning? Some of us may be leaders and others may be like the people of Israel. Whatever we are, the call is the same for all of us. The passage says that our lives should reflect the Lord so let our lives shine before men so that they may see our good works and glorify God.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your son, Jesus, through whom I am saved by Your grace and mercy. Help me, Lord, to understand the value of Your grace and love for me, so that I may truly love You by walking in Your ways. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

“He found him in a desert land and in the howling waste of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions.”
Deuteronomy 32:10-11

A story is told of the sacrificial love of a young mother from Running Springs in California. She was driving her two children to be dropped off at the babysitter’s but she never reached their destination as she met with a tragic accident. After an intense search for several hours, her husband found both his wife and daughter dead in their wrecked car that had turned upside down in a cold mountain stream. Her two-year-old son was barely alive as the mother had held her little boy’s head just above the water in the submerged car for eight and a half hours before she finally died.

Her self-giving love reveals the character of a mother and her love that gave her life so that her child might live. That is the essence of a mother’s love.
And it is the same essence and extent of Christ Jesus’ love for us. He died so that we might live. We may go through very dark phases of life, feeling as if there is no one who cares, there is no peace, the burden is too heavy and the trials are too severe. We need to know that we have a God who loves us so much that He demonstrated His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

God never gives up on us. He remains steadfast in His love, just like a mother who is devoted to her child. Even though we deny Him by murmuring, questioning and doubting His love, He is the reason that we have a relationship with Christ Jesus who died for us. He has given us the ‘gift of life’ through His sacrificial death.

Let not the enemy rob the blessings that have been freely given to us but let us rise in confidence knowing that we are His beloved children, chosen by Him and loved beyond any words can ever express.
Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your love that surpasses human understanding, Your love that held Jesus to the cross, Your love that covers all our sins. Help us, through Your Holy Spirit, to love You more and to reflect more of Your love to others as we seek to glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.

God bless you,

Theo and Manju

Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen.

– Oswald Chambers

The Nature of Jesus – Perseverance

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

When Joseph was still a young teenager, his brothers ganged up on him and sold him. He was then purchased as a slave by Potiphar, was wrongly accused and then put in jail. Despite these trials, he did not give up because his assurance was in God.

Many of us face difficulties in our lives. We should not be quick to be discouraged when situations bring conflict and disorder because Jesus faced His difficulties with perseverance. God may sometimes permit these situations in our life so that we will grow in the quality of perseverance.

There are some keys which will help us to open the door of perseverance. The first is that all of us will experience some kind of failure and we must learn to get up and move on. Second, it is important not to live in the past like the Israelites who always thought of the past. These are both choices that we need to make in order to grow in perseverance.

Third, when you are going through a situation, we may not see the light at the end of the tunnel. In those times remember that God is building a foundation. Lastly, trust God and that His strength is available to us. Call upon Him in trouble and He will answer.

Dear Lord,
Oh Lord help me to be steadfast under trial, for when I have stood the test I will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

A man’s car stalled in heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to start the engine failed, and a chorus of honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to get my car started. If you’ll go up there and give it a try, I’ll stay here and blow your horn for you.”

– Jeffery Anselmi

The Nature of Jesus – Patience

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Exodus 3:5

Sometimes our patience can be tested when we are moving slowly in traffic and the car in front of us has come to a halt.

The Lord was grieved with His people because of their wickedness and wanted to destroy them by bringing a great flood. However the Lord waited almost one hundred years for the completion of the Ark. Through the period Noah was building the ark, the people were given an opportunity to turn away from their wicked ways but they did not.

The patience of God continues in the same manner where He is still waiting for us to turn from our wicked ways. The Bible says it this way: ‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come’ (Matthew 24:14).

The Lord was also patient with Jonah and rescued him from the belly of the fish because He cared for those who were perishing in Nineveh. As in the story of Jonah, He cares for you and is patiently waiting for you to turn towards Him.

Would we then exercise patience towards our fellow men not only when we drive but at all times. When we lose our patience it is often because of our own selfish desires. Therefore let us seek Him today for His nature, and be patient at all situations and when bearing intense tribulation.

Dear Lord, 

Thy word says that if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.  Please help me to live by this word and endure to live by Your nature. Amen.
God bless you,
Theo & Manju

“Holiness, as taught in the Scriptures, is not based upon knowledge on our part. Rather, it is based upon the resurrected Christ in-dwelling us and changing us into His likeness.”
A W Tozer

The Nature of Jesus – Holiness

Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
Exodus 3:5

Our God is a holy God and both His nature and character is Holy. We read in Revelation as follows:

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8

The God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush was with him when he brought the people of Israel out of slavery. In the wilderness, when the Israelites became thirsty and grumbled for water, the Lord told Moses to strike the rock and He provided water from the rock. However, when the Israelites grumbled a second time for water, God asked Moses to only speak to the rock but Moses, being angry with the people, disobeyed God and struck the rock twice.

We could assume that Moses sinned merely by striking the rock, like the burning bush which was a manifestation of the presence of God. However, the root sin was irreverence and that irreverence was the cause of Moses’ disobedience in striking the rock. Moses’ anger with the people overcame his fear of God. His fear of God should have been greater than his anger with the Israelites. God took Moses’ irreverence most seriously and therefore he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

Let not our emotions overcome the fear of God, causing us to be irreverent toward His holiness.

Dear Lord,
I thank You that You have made me aware of Your holiness. I will now worship You in reverence and Godly fear. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

Hebrews 13:20-21

The Nature of Jesus – Supportive

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6

David did not fear when he encountered Goliath. The enemy was armed and had a spear and a javelin, but David faced the giant with the support and strength of the Lord of Hosts, proclaiming, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you…Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:46-47).

Sometimes our situations can be like giants waiting to attack us, but the key is to face it with courage knowing that the God who helped and supported a  mere shepherd boy to defeat a mighty giant is also with us.

Fear does not allow us to move forward. Saul and the army looked at the enemy and confined themselves to the barracks, but David looked beyond the enemy to God and received His support.

Today,  be assured that Jesus  desires to stand by and support those who have placed their confidence and trust in Him. Having experienced the wonderful support and strength of Jesus, Peter says, ‘After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you’ (1 Peter 5:10).

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day and seek Your hand of support to strengthen me to overcome my fears so that I will have the courage of David to face the Goliaths of the day. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

Sacrifice involves choice. Love is a choice. Choose to love outside of yourself.

The Nature of Jesus – Sacrificial

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
Ephesians 5:2
A story is told of a fire that burnt down a farmhouse in western Canada. As the embers cooled, the devastated farmer was walking over the ruins and noticed a burnt lump on the ground. He prodded it with his stick and saw that it was a hen, burned to death. The farmer turned the hen over and to his surprise, out ran three chirping baby chicks. The hen had died in the flames even as it saved the lives of her helpless brood.

The above story can be compared to the sacrificial love of Jesus that is so contrary to human nature. The way of the world is all about gratifying self, it is an attitude of ‘do what you want’ which has no care or consideration for other.

We say that we want to be like Jesus. Practising a lifestyle of sacrifice and reflecting Christ, is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. This requires denying ourselves and not caring what we may have to go through for His sake.

Today we may have trouble loving some people. It might be a husband, wife, brother, sister, a close friend, a colleague or a neighbour. Instead of asking them to sacrifice themselves to please us, is it possible for us to demonstrate the sacrificial love of Christ to them? The only way we can do this is by allowing the cross to become our focus, and finding our identity in His death and resurrection. Then the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead; the same Spirit who also lives within us, will give life to our mortal bodies and transform our hearts with His sacrificial love to love the unlovable.

Dear Lord,

I come to You in Jesus’ name. I thank You for Your sacrificial love and great compassion for me. Thank You for softening my heart and taking away the hardness to help me walk in obedience in loving others the way You have loved me. Amen.

God bless you,

Theo & Manju