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ഹലോ, എന്റെ ചാർലിയെ ബഹുമാനിക്കാനും അനുസ്മരിക്കാനുമായി ലോകത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ ഭാഗത്തുനിന്നും ഇവിടെയെത്തിയ നിങ്ങൾക്ക് എല്ലാവർക്കും ദൈവാനുഗ്രഹം.

രണ്ട് വർഷം മുൻപ്, ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് ഏതാനും മൈലുകൾ അകലെ നടന്ന അമേരിക്ക ഫെസ്റ്റ് 2023-ൽ, ചാർളി ഞങ്ങളുടെ TPUSA വിശ്വാസ പരിപാടിയിൽ ഒരു പ്രസംഗം നടത്തി. ചാർളിക്ക് മുൻകൂട്ടി തയ്യാറാക്കാതെ സംസാരിക്കുന്നത് വളരെ ഇഷ്ടമായിരുന്നു, അതിൽ അദ്ദേഹം മിടുക്കനുമായിരുന്നു, ഒരു സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റില്ലാതെ. അതുകൊണ്ട് അദ്ദേഹം എന്ത് പറയും എന്ന് എനിക്ക് വ്യക്തിപരമായി അറിയില്ലായിരുന്നു. അന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം സംസാരിക്കാൻ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത വിഷയം ദൈവഹിതത്തിന് സ്വയം സമർപ്പിക്കുക എന്നതായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ഏറ്റവും ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട ബൈബിൾ വാക്യമായ യെശയ്യാവ് 6:8 ഉദ്ധരിച്ചു: “ഇതാ ഞാൻ, എന്നെ അയക്കുക“.

ചാർളി പ്രസംഗം പൂർത്തിയാക്കിയ ശേഷം ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ സ്റ്റേജിന് പിന്നിൽ വെച്ച് കണ്ടു. ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് സംസാരിച്ചു, അത് ഞാൻ ഒരിക്കലും മറക്കില്ല. ഞാൻ പറഞ്ഞു, ‘ചാർളി ബേബി, അടുത്ത തവണ അങ്ങനെയൊരു പ്രസ്താവന പറയുന്നതിന് മുൻപ് എന്നോട് സംസാരിക്കണേ’. കാരണം അങ്ങനെയൊന്ന് പറയുമ്പോൾ ആ വാക്യത്തിന് അത്രയധികം ശക്തിയുണ്ട്. നിങ്ങൾ ‘ഇതാ ഞാൻ കർത്താവേ, എന്നെ ഉപയോഗിക്കണമേ‘ എന്ന് പറയുമ്പോൾ, ദൈവം അത് സ്വീകരിക്കും, ചാർളിയുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ അത് സംഭവിച്ചു.

ദൈവഹിതത്തിന് ഒരു പൂർണ്ണ സമർപ്പണം

11 ദിവസങ്ങൾക്ക് മുൻപ്, എന്റെ ഭർത്താവിന്റെ ആ പൂർണ്ണ സമർപ്പണം ദൈവം സ്വീകരിച്ച് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തന്റെ അടുത്തേക്ക് വിളിച്ചു. ചാർളിക്ക് തൻ്റെ ഇഷ്ടമല്ല, ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ഇഷ്ടമാണ് ചെയ്യേണ്ടിയിരുന്നത്. ഈ കഴിഞ്ഞ 11 ദിവസങ്ങളിൽ, എല്ലാ വേദനകളിലൂടെയും ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോളനുഭവിക്കുന്നത്ര ആശ്വാസം എന്റെ കർത്താവിന്റെ പ്രാർത്ഥനയിലെ വാക്കുകളിൽ മുൻപെങ്ങും കണ്ടെത്തിയിട്ടില്ല: ‘നിന്റെ ഇഷ്ടം നടക്കട്ടെ‘.

എന്റെ ഭർത്താവ് കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ട അതേ ദിവസം തന്നെ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സ്നേഹം എനിക്ക് വെളിപ്പെട്ടു. സെപ്റ്റംബർ 10-ന് ഉച്ചയ്ക്ക്, യൂട്ടയിലെ ഒരു ആശുപത്രിയിൽ ഞാൻ ചിന്തിക്കാൻ പോലും കഴിയാത്ത ഒരു കാര്യത്തിനായി എത്തിച്ചേർന്നു: എന്റെ ഭർത്താവിന്റെ കൊലചെയ്യപ്പെട്ട ശരീരം നേരിട്ട് കാണാൻ. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ജീവൻ അവസാനിപ്പിച്ച മുറിവ് ഞാൻ കണ്ടു. നിങ്ങൾ പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുന്നതെല്ലാം എനിക്കനുഭവപ്പെട്ടു, എനിക്ക് ഞെട്ടലും ഭയവും, അതുപോലെ മുൻപ് അനുഭവിച്ചിട്ടില്ലാത്ത ഒരുതരം ഹൃദയവേദനയും തോന്നി.

എന്നാൽ മറ്റൊരു കാര്യമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു, മരണത്തിലും എനിക്ക് ഞാൻ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്ന ആ മനുഷ്യനെ കാണാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ തലയുടെ വശത്തുള്ള ഒരൊറ്റ നരച്ച മുടി ഞാൻ കണ്ടു, അത് ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് ഒരിക്കലും പറഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ലായിരുന്നു. ഇപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹമറിയുന്നു. ക്ഷമിക്കണം ബേബി, ഇപ്പോഴാണ് പറയുന്നത്, പക്ഷെ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് പറഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ലായിരുന്നു, പറയാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചില്ല. ഞാൻ ഇത് കൂടി കണ്ടു, അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ചുണ്ടിൽ ഒരു നേരിയ പുഞ്ചിരിയും ഞാൻ കണ്ടു. അത് എന്നോട് പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട ഒരു കാര്യം പറഞ്ഞു. ഈ ദുരന്തത്തിൽ ദൈവത്തിൽ നിന്നുള്ള വലിയൊരു കാരുണ്യം അത് എനിക്ക് വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി. അത് കണ്ടപ്പോൾ എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായി ചാർളി കഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടിട്ടില്ല എന്ന്. ഡോക്ടർ പോലും എന്നോട് പറഞ്ഞു, അത് അത്ര പെട്ടെന്ന് സംഭവിച്ച കാര്യമാണെന്നും, ചാർളിക്ക് ഓപ്പറേഷൻ റൂമിൽ വെച്ചാണ് വെടിയേറ്റതെങ്കിൽ പോലും ഒന്നും ചെയ്യാൻ കഴിയില്ലായിരുന്നു എന്നും. അവിടെ വേദനയോ ഭയമോ കഷ്ടപ്പാടോ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. ഒരു നിമിഷം ചാർളി തനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട കാര്യങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യുകയായിരുന്നു, കാമ്പസിൽ വാദപ്രതിവാദങ്ങളിൽ ഏർപ്പെടുകയായിരുന്നു, സുവിശേഷത്തിനും സത്യത്തിനും വേണ്ടി വലിയൊരു ജനക്കൂട്ടത്തിന് മുൻപിൽ പോരാടുകയായിരുന്നു, എന്നിട്ട് അദ്ദേഹം കണ്ണ് ചിമ്മി. അദ്ദേഹം കണ്ണ് ചിമ്മി സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ തന്റെ രക്ഷകനെ കണ്ടു, സ്വർഗ്ഗീയ രഹസ്യങ്ങളെല്ലാം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് വെളിപ്പെട്ടു.

ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സ്നേഹവും ഉഷ വാൻസിന്റെ വാക്കുകളും

ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സ്നേഹം തുടർന്നും വരുന്ന ദിവസങ്ങളിലും എനിക്ക് വെളിപ്പെട്ടു. അടുത്ത ദിവസം എയർഫോഴ്സ് 2-ലെ ടാർമാക്കിൽ വെച്ച് ഞാൻ ഉഷ വാൻസിനെ കണ്ടു, വിലയേറിയ സ്ത്രീ. ഞാൻ അവരുടെ കൈകളിൽ പിടിച്ച് സത്യസന്ധമായി പറഞ്ഞു, എനിക്കറിയില്ല ഞാൻ ഇത് എങ്ങനെ അതിജീവിക്കുമെന്ന്. അവർ എന്നോട് ഒരു കാര്യം പറഞ്ഞു. അവർ പറഞ്ഞു, ‘നിങ്ങൾ നിങ്ങളുടെ കുട്ടികളോടൊപ്പം ഒരു വിമാനത്തിൽ യാത്ര ചെയ്യുകയാണെന്ന് കരുതുക, ഫ്ലൈറ്റിന്റെ അവസാനത്തെ 15 മിനിറ്റാണ്, കാര്യങ്ങളെല്ലാം അലങ്കോലമാണ്, കുട്ടികൾ സഹകരിക്കുന്നില്ല, കളിപ്പാട്ടങ്ങൾ എല്ലായിടത്തും പറന്നു നടക്കുന്നു, എല്ലാവരും നിലവിളിക്കുന്നു, അപ്പോൾ നിങ്ങൾ സ്വയം ചിന്തിക്കും, ‘ഈ ഫ്ലൈറ്റ് എപ്പോൾ നിലത്തിറങ്ങുമെന്നറിയാൻ എനിക്ക് വയ്യ.’ വിമാനം നിലത്തിറങ്ങാൻ 15 മിനിറ്റ് മാത്രം ബാക്കിയുണ്ടായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ. അപ്പോൾ അവർ എന്നോട് പറഞ്ഞു, ‘ഈ 15 മിനിറ്റും അതിനുശേഷമുള്ള അടുത്ത 15 മിനിറ്റും നിങ്ങൾ അതിജീവിക്കും.’ റുഷാ, അന്ന് നിങ്ങൾക്കത് മനസ്സിലായില്ലായിരിക്കാം, പക്ഷെ ആ വാക്കുകളാണ് എനിക്ക് കേൾക്കേണ്ടിയിരുന്നത്.

രാജ്യത്തെ പുനരുജ്ജീവനം

എന്നാൽ എല്ലാറ്റിനുമുപരിയായി, ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കരുണയും സ്നേഹവും ഈ കഴിഞ്ഞ 10 ദിവസങ്ങളിൽ എന്നിൽ വെളിപ്പെട്ടു. ചാർളിയുടെ കൊലപാതകത്തിന് ശേഷം ഞങ്ങൾ അക്രമങ്ങളോ കലാപങ്ങളോ കണ്ടില്ല, ഒരു വിപ്ലവവും ഞങ്ങൾ കണ്ടില്ല. പകരം എന്റെ ഭർത്താവ് ഈ രാജ്യത്ത് കാണാൻ എപ്പോഴും പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ചിരുന്നത് ഞങ്ങൾ കണ്ടു: ഒരു പുനരുജ്ജീവനം. ഈ കഴിഞ്ഞ ആഴ്ച ഞങ്ങൾ കണ്ടത്, പത്ത് വർഷത്തിനിടെ ആദ്യമായി ആളുകൾ ബൈബിൾ തുറക്കുന്നത്, കുട്ടിക്കാലത്ത് ശേഷം ആദ്യമായി ആളുകൾ പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുന്നത്, അവരുടെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ ആദ്യമായി ആളുകൾ ഒരു പള്ളി ശുശ്രൂഷയിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നത്.

ചാർളിയുടെ ഡയറിയും വിശ്വാസത്തിന്റെ അടയാളവും

ചാർളി ഡയറി എഴുതാൻ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട നിമിഷങ്ങളും തന്നെ സ്വാധീനിച്ച വാക്കുകളും ഓർക്കാൻ വേണ്ടിയാണ് അദ്ദേഹം അത് ചെയ്തത്. അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ ഡയറിയിൽ എഴുതിയ ഒരു കാര്യമിതായിരുന്നു: ‘ഓരോ തവണ നിങ്ങൾ ഒരു തീരുമാനമെടുക്കുമ്പോഴും അത് നിങ്ങളുടെ ആത്മാവിൽ ഒരു അടയാളം രേഖപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു‘. ആ തീരുമാനം എടുക്കുകയും ആത്മീയ ജീവിതത്തിലേക്കുള്ള ആദ്യ ചുവടുവെപ്പ് നടത്തുകയും ചെയ്ത നിങ്ങൾക്ക് എല്ലാവർക്കും ഞാൻ നന്ദി പറയുന്നു, സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യുന്നു.

ഒരു ദിവസം ഇത് നിങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട തീരുമാനമായിരുന്നു എന്ന് നിങ്ങൾ തിരിഞ്ഞു നോക്കുമ്പോൾ മനസ്സിലാകുമെന്ന് ഞാൻ പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുന്നു, കാരണം ഇത് നിങ്ങളെല്ലാവരുമാണ്. ഇതിനകം വിശ്വാസികളായിട്ടുള്ള നിങ്ങളെല്ലാവരും ഈ ആളുകളെ നയിക്കേണ്ടത് നിങ്ങളുടെ ജോലിയാണ്, അതിനെ നിസ്സാരമായി കാണരുത്. അവരുടെ വിശ്വാസത്തിന്റെ വിത്ത് നനയ്ക്കുക, അതിനെ സംരക്ഷിക്കുക, അത് വളർത്താൻ സഹായിക്കുക. എല്ലാ ദിവസവും ചാർളി ഓഫീസിലേക്ക് പോകുമ്പോൾ തന്റെ കോൺടാക്റ്റ് ലിസ്റ്റ് പരിശോധിക്കുമായിരുന്നു, ഇത് പലരെയും സ്വാധീനിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട് എന്ന് എനിക്കറിയാം. അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ കോൺടാക്റ്റ് ലിസ്റ്റ് പരിശോധിച്ച് അന്നത്തെ ബൈബിൾ വാക്യങ്ങൾ അയക്കുമായിരുന്നു. വിശ്വാസം ഒരു ശീലമാണെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹത്തിനറിയാമായിരുന്നു, നിങ്ങൾ അത് എത്രത്തോളം ജീവിക്കുന്നുവോ അത്രത്തോളം അത് വളരും. പക്ഷെ ഇതും അറിയുക: വിത്ത് ഇപ്പോൾ മാത്രമേ നട്ടുപിടിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളൂ. ഇങ്ങനെയുള്ള സമയങ്ങളിലായിരിക്കും ശത്രു നിങ്ങളെ ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതൽ പ്രലോഭിപ്പിക്കുക. ദൈവം എപ്പോഴും നിങ്ങൾക്കുണ്ടാകും, പക്ഷെ ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ദിശയിലേക്ക് വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നിങ്ങളുടെ ആത്മാവിനെ അടയാളപ്പെടുത്താൻ നിങ്ങൾ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കണം.

വീണ്ടും പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുക, വീണ്ടും ബൈബിൾ വായിക്കുക, അടുത്ത ഞായറാഴ്ചയും അതിനുശേഷമുള്ള ഞായറാഴ്ചയും പള്ളിയിൽ പോകുക, ഈ ലോകത്തിന്റെ പ്രലോഭനങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നും കെട്ടുകളിൽ നിന്നും സ്വതന്ത്രരാകുക. ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ അനുയായിയാകുന്നത് എളുപ്പമല്ല, അങ്ങനെയായിരിക്കാനും പാടില്ല. യേശു പറഞ്ഞു, ‘ആരെങ്കിലും എന്റെ പിന്നാലെ വരാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നുവെങ്കിൽ, അവൻ തന്നെത്താൻ ത്യജിച്ച് തന്റെ കുരിശെടുത്ത് എന്നെ അനുഗമിക്കട്ടെ‘. താൻ പീഡിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുമെന്നും നമ്മൾ പീഡിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു, ചാർളിക്ക് അതറിയാമായിരുന്നു, സന്തോഷത്തോടെ അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ കുരിശ് അവസാനം വരെ വഹിച്ചു.

പൂർത്തിയാക്കാത്ത ജോലിയും ഖേദങ്ങളില്ലാത്ത ജീവിതവും

ചാർളി വളരെ നേരത്തെ മരിച്ചുവെങ്കിലും അദ്ദേഹം മരിക്കാൻ തയ്യാറായിരുന്നു എന്ന് നിങ്ങൾ എല്ലാവരും അറിയണമെന്ന് ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം മാറ്റിവെച്ച ഒന്നും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. വളരെ കഠിനമായതോ വേദനാജനകമായതോ, ചെയ്യാൻ ഇഷ്ടമില്ലാത്തതോ ആയ ഒന്നും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. അദ്ദേഹം ഈ ലോകം വിട്ടുപോയത് ഒരു ഖേദവും ഇല്ലാതെയാണ്. എല്ലാ ദിവസവും തനിക്ക് ചെയ്യാൻ കഴിയുന്നതിന്റെ 100% അദ്ദേഹം ചെയ്തു. പക്ഷെ നിങ്ങൾ ഒരു കാര്യം അറിയണമെന്ന് ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു: ചാർളി മരിച്ചത് പൂർത്തിയാക്കാത്ത ജോലിയോടെയാണ്, പക്ഷെ പൂർത്തിയാക്കാത്ത കാര്യങ്ങളൊന്നുമില്ലായിരുന്നു.

പക്ഷെ എനിക്ക് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ നഷ്ടമാകും. എനിക്ക് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ വല്ലാതെ നഷ്ടമാകും, കാരണം ഞങ്ങളുടെ വിവാഹവും കുടുംബവും മനോഹരമായിരുന്നു, ഇപ്പോളും അങ്ങനെ തന്നെ. ചാർളിയുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ലക്ഷ്യം അമേരിക്കൻ കുടുംബത്തെ പുനരുജ്ജീവിപ്പിക്കുക എന്നതായിരുന്നു. ചെറുപ്പക്കാരോട് സംസാരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, അദ്ദേഹം ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വിവാഹ കാഴ്ചപ്പാടിനെക്കുറിച്ചും, അത് ധൈര്യത്തോടെ ജീവിച്ചാൽ അത് ഞങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതത്തെ സമ്പന്നമാക്കിയതുപോലെ അവരുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഓരോ ഭാഗത്തെയും എങ്ങനെ സമ്പന്നമാക്കുമെന്നും പറയാൻ എപ്പോഴും ആകാംക്ഷയോടെ ഇരുന്നു. ഒരിക്കൽ ആരോ എന്നോട് ചോദിച്ചു, ചാർളി യാത്രയിലായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ ഞങ്ങൾ എങ്ങനെയാണ് ഞങ്ങളുടെ വിവാഹബന്ധം ശക്തമായി നിലനിർത്തിയതെന്ന്. ഞങ്ങളുടെ ചെറിയ രഹസ്യം: അത് പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങളായിരുന്നു. എല്ലാ ശനിയാഴ്ചയും ചാർളി എനിക്കൊരു കത്തെഴുതുമായിരുന്നു, ഒരു ശനിയാഴ്ച പോലും അദ്ദേഹം മുടക്കിയിട്ടില്ല. ഓരോ കത്തിലും അദ്ദേഹം ആ ആഴ്ചയിലെ പ്രധാന കാര്യങ്ങൾ, എന്നോടും ഞങ്ങളുടെ കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളോടുമുള്ള തന്റെ നന്ദി, എന്നിവയെല്ലാം പറയുമായിരുന്നു. എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും അവസാനം അദ്ദേഹം ഏറ്റവും മനോഹരമായ ചോദ്യം ചോദിക്കുമായിരുന്നു: ‘ഒരു ഭർത്താവെന്ന നിലയിൽ എനിക്ക് എങ്ങനെ നിങ്ങളെ കൂടുതൽ നന്നായി സേവിക്കാൻ കഴിയുമെന്ന് ദയവായി അറിയിക്കുമോ?‘ എന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും ചോദിച്ച് അവസാനിപ്പിക്കുമായിരുന്നു. ചാർളിക്ക് ക്രിസ്ത്യൻ ഭർത്താവിന്റെ ദൈവീക പങ്ക് പൂർണ്ണമായി മനസ്സിലായിരുന്നു, അതായത് സേവിക്കാൻ വേണ്ടി നയിക്കുന്ന ഒരു മനുഷ്യൻ.

പുരുഷന്മാരോടും സ്ത്രീകളോടുമുള്ള വെല്ലുവിളി

ലോകമെമ്പാടുമുള്ള പുരുഷന്മാരോട്: ചാർളിയുടെ വെല്ലുവിളി ഏറ്റെടുത്ത് യഥാർത്ഥ പുരുഷത്വത്തെ സ്വീകരിക്കുക. നിങ്ങളുടെ കുടുംബങ്ങൾക്ക് വേണ്ടി ശക്തരും ധീരരുമാകുക. നിങ്ങളുടെ ഭാര്യമാരെ സ്നേഹിക്കുകയും അവരെ നയിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുക, നിങ്ങളുടെ കുട്ടികളെ സ്നേഹിക്കുകയും സംരക്ഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുക. നിങ്ങളുടെ ഭവനത്തിന്റെ ആത്മീയ തലവനാകുക, പക്ഷെ ദയവായി അനുഗമിക്കാൻ യോഗ്യനായ ഒരു നേതാവാകുക. നിങ്ങളുടെ ഭാര്യ, നിങ്ങളുടെ ഭാര്യ നിങ്ങളുടെ ദാസിയല്ല. നിങ്ങളുടെ ഭാര്യ നിങ്ങളുടെ ജോലിക്കാരിയല്ല, നിങ്ങളുടെ ഭാര്യ നിങ്ങളുടെ അടിമയുമല്ല. അവൾ നിങ്ങളുടെ സഹായിയാണ്. നിങ്ങൾ എതിരാളികളല്ല, ദൈവമഹത്വത്തിനായി ഒരുമിച്ച് പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്ന ഒരു ശരീരമാണ് നിങ്ങൾ.

ഞാൻ ചാർളിയുടെ വിശ്വസ്തയായിരുന്നു. ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ വിശ്വസ്ഥയായിരുന്നു, അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഏറ്റവും അടുത്തതും വിശ്വസ്ഥനുമായ ഉപദേശക, അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തമ സുഹൃത്ത്. ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിൽ ആഴമായി സ്നേഹം ചൊരിഞ്ഞു, അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ശക്തയാക്കി, കാരണം എന്നോടുള്ള അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ സ്നേഹം എന്നെ ഒരു നല്ല ഭാര്യയാകാൻ പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ചു. എല്ലാ ദിവസവും അദ്ദേഹം എന്നെ ബഹുമാനിച്ചു, ദൈവത്തിന് ഞാൻ എന്റെ ഭർത്താവിന് വേണ്ടി ആകേണ്ടിയിരുന്ന ഭാര്യയാകാൻ എനിക്ക് കഴിയണമേ എന്ന് ഞാൻ പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ചു. സ്ത്രീകളേ, നിങ്ങൾക്കും ഒരു വെല്ലുവിളിയുണ്ട്: സദ്ഗുണമുള്ളവരായിരിക്കുക. നമ്മുടെ ശക്തി ദൈവത്തിന്റെ നമ്മുടെ പങ്കിനായുള്ള രൂപകൽപ്പനയിലാണ് കണ്ടെത്തുന്നത്. നമ്മൾ കാവൽക്കാരാണ്, നമ്മൾ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നവരാണ്, നമ്മൾ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നവരാണ്. നിങ്ങളുടെ ഹൃദയം കാക്കുക, നിങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യുന്നതെല്ലാം അതിൽ നിന്ന് ഒഴുകുന്നു. നിങ്ങൾ ഒരു അമ്മയാണെങ്കിൽ, അത് നിങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട ശുശ്രൂഷയാണെന്ന് ദയവായി തിരിച്ചറിയുക.

ചാർളിയുടെ ദൗത്യം തുടരുന്നു

ഞങ്ങളുടെ വീട്ടിൽ, ചാർളി ധാരാളം യാത്ര ചെയ്തിരുന്നതുകൊണ്ട്, ഞങ്ങൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തോടൊപ്പം യാത്ര ചെയ്യാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചു, പക്ഷെ ചാർളി ജോലി കഴിഞ്ഞ് തിരിച്ചെത്തുമ്പോൾ, അത് ലോകത്തിലെ ആശങ്കകളിൽ നിന്ന് അകന്ന അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ വിശുദ്ധമായ ഒരിടമാക്കി ഞാൻ മാറ്റി. അദ്ദേഹം കൂടുതൽ സമയം പുറത്തായതിനോ വൈകി വീട്ടിലെത്തിയതിനോ ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തിയില്ല. ഞാൻ എപ്പോഴും അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് പറയുമായിരുന്നു, ‘വീട്, വീട് നിങ്ങൾക്കായി ഇവിടെയുണ്ട്, അത് നിങ്ങൾക്കായി തയ്യാറായിരിക്കും.’ അദ്ദേഹം യാത്രയിലായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ എത്രയും പെട്ടെന്ന് തിരിച്ചെത്താൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ഒരിടമാക്കി ഞാൻ അത് മാറ്റി. ഞങ്ങൾക്കിടയിൽ കണക്കെടുപ്പുകളൊന്നും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. ഞങ്ങൾ ഒരേ ലക്ഷ്യത്തിനായി ഒരുമിച്ച് പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്ന ഒരു ടീമായിരുന്നു. ദൈവത്താൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനായി ഒരുക്കിയ ദൗത്യത്തിനും ചാർളിക്കും ഇടയിൽ നിൽക്കാൻ ഞാൻ ഒരിക്കലും ആഗ്രഹിച്ചില്ല. അതെനിക്കറിയാമായിരുന്നു, അതേപോലെ എന്നെ സഹായിക്കാൻ ചാർളിയും പരമാവധി ശ്രമിക്കുമെന്ന് എനിക്കറിയാമായിരുന്നു. ചാർളിയുമായുള്ള എന്റെ വിവാഹം എന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ സംഭവിച്ച ഏറ്റവും നല്ല കാര്യമായിരുന്നു, അത് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ സംഭവിച്ച ഏറ്റവും നല്ല കാര്യമായിരുന്നു എന്നും എനിക്കറിയാം. എല്ലാവർക്കും ആ സന്തോഷം അനുഭവിക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹം ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വിവാഹത്തിനായുള്ള രൂപകൽപ്പനയെക്കുറിച്ച് അതാണ് വളരെ മനോഹരമായ കാര്യം, അത് എല്ലാവർക്കും കഴിയുന്ന ഒന്നാണ്. വർഷങ്ങളോളം എനിക്കതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് സംസാരിക്കാം, ഭാവിയിൽ ഞാൻ സംസാരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. പക്ഷെ ചാർളിയുടെ ദൗത്യം എല്ലാറ്റിനുമുപരിയായി വിവാഹിതരല്ലാത്തവരെ ലക്ഷ്യം വെച്ചുള്ളതായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ സംഘടനയ്ക്ക് നല്ല പേര് നൽകി, അമേരിക്കയിൽ കാര്യങ്ങൾ ശരിയല്ലെന്നും, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ചെറുപ്പക്കാർക്കിടയിൽ, അവർക്ക് ഒരു പുതിയ ദിശ ആവശ്യമാണെന്നും അദ്ദേഹത്തിനറിയാമായിരുന്നു.

പടിഞ്ഞാറൻ ദേശത്തെ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട ആൺകുട്ടികളിലേക്ക് എത്താനും അവരെ രക്ഷിക്കാനും ചാർളി ആവേശത്തോടെ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു. ദിശാബോധമില്ലാത്തവരും, ലക്ഷ്യമില്ലാത്തവരും, വിശ്വാസമില്ലാത്തവരും, ജീവിക്കാൻ കാരണമില്ലാത്തവരുമായ ചെറുപ്പക്കാരെ, വിനോദങ്ങളിൽ ജീവിതം പാഴാക്കുന്നവരെ, അതൃപ്തിയിലും ദേഷ്യത്തിലും വെറുപ്പിലും മുഴുകിയിരിക്കുന്നവരെ, ചാർളിക്ക് സഹായിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ടേണിംഗ് പോയിൻ്റ് USA-യിൽ അവർക്കൊരു ഇടം നൽകാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ആഗ്രഹമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. കാമ്പസുകളിലേക്ക് പോയപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹം അവർക്ക് ഒരു മികച്ച പാതയും മികച്ച ജീവിതവും കാണിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചു, അത് അവിടെത്തന്നെയുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അത് അവർക്ക് കാണിച്ചുകൊടുക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹം ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു. എന്റെ ഭർത്താവ് ചാർളി, തന്റെ ജീവൻ എടുത്ത അതേ ചെറുപ്പക്കാരനെപ്പോലുള്ള ചെറുപ്പക്കാരെ രക്ഷിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു. ആ ചെറുപ്പക്കാരൻ, കുരിശിൽ വെച്ച് നമ്മുടെ രക്ഷകൻ പറഞ്ഞു: ‘പിതാവേ, അവർ ചെയ്യുന്നതെന്താണെന്ന് അവർക്കറിയാത്തതുകൊണ്ട് അവരോട് ക്ഷമിക്കണമേ‘. ആ മനുഷ്യനോട്, ആ ചെറുപ്പക്കാരനോട് ഞാൻ ക്ഷമിക്കുന്നു.

വെറുപ്പിനുള്ള ഉത്തരം വെറുപ്പല്ലെന്ന് ക്രിസ്തു ചെയ്തതുകൊണ്ടും ചാർളി ചെയ്യുമായിരുന്നതുകൊണ്ടും ഞാൻ ക്ഷമിക്കുന്നു. സുവിശേഷത്തിൽ നിന്ന് നമുക്കറിയാം, ഉത്തരം സ്നേഹമാണ്, എപ്പോഴും സ്നേഹമാണ്, നമ്മുടെ ശത്രുക്കളോടുള്ള സ്നേഹവും, നമ്മളെ ഉപദ്രവിക്കുന്നവരോടുള്ള സ്നേഹവും.

Turning Point USA-യുടെ ഭാവി

ലോകത്തിന് ടേണിംഗ് പോയിൻ്റ് USA ആവശ്യമാണ്. ചെറുപ്പക്കാരെ ദുരിതത്തിന്റെയും പാപത്തിന്റെയും പാതയിൽ നിന്ന് അകറ്റി നിർത്തുന്ന ഒരു കൂട്ടത്തെ അതിന് ആവശ്യമാണ്. ഈ ലോകത്തിലും അടുത്ത ലോകത്തിലും ആളുകളെ നരകത്തിൽ നിന്ന് അകറ്റുന്ന ഒന്ന് അതിന് ആവശ്യമാണ്. ചെറുപ്പക്കാരെ സത്യത്തിന്റെയും സൗന്ദര്യത്തിന്റെയും ദിശയിലേക്ക് നയിക്കാൻ അത് ആവശ്യമാണ്. അതിനാൽ ഇന്ന് ഞാൻ നിങ്ങൾക്ക് വാക്ക് നൽകുന്നു, ഞങ്ങളുടെ എല്ലാ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളും കൂടുതൽ വലുതാകും. ടേണിംഗ് പോയിൻ്റ് USA-യുടെ പുതിയ CEO ആയതിൽ ഞാൻ വളരെയധികം അഭിമാനിക്കുന്നു.

ഞാൻ അതിനെ നിസ്സാരമായി കാണുന്നില്ല. ചാർളിയും ഞാനും ലക്ഷ്യത്തിൽ ഒന്നായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അഭിനിവേശം എന്റെ അഭിനിവേശമായിരുന്നു, ഇപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ദൗത്യം എന്റെ ദൗത്യമാണ്. ചാർളിയുടെ ദർശനത്തിലൂടെയും കഠിനാധ്വാനത്തിലൂടെയും ടേണിംഗ് പോയിൻ്റ് USA കെട്ടിപ്പടുത്തതെല്ലാം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഓർമ്മയുടെ ശക്തിയിലൂടെ 10 മടങ്ങ് വലുതാക്കും. ചാപ്റ്ററുകൾ വളരും, ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് പുതിയവ സൃഷ്ടിക്കപ്പെടും. TPUSA വിശ്വാസം ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് പുതിയ പാസ്റ്റർമാരെയും സഭകളെയും ചേർക്കും. അതെ, കാമ്പസ് പരിപാടികൾ തുടരും, ഞങ്ങൾ സംവാദങ്ങളും സംഭാഷണങ്ങളും തുടരും.

നമ്മുടെ ഭരണഘടനയുടെ ഒന്നാം ഭേദഗതി ഏറ്റവും മാനുഷികമായ ഭേദഗതിയാണ്. നമ്മൾ സ്വാഭാവികമായും സംസാരിക്കുന്നവരും സ്വാഭാവികമായും വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നവരുമാണ്. ഒന്നാം ഭേദഗതി ഈ രണ്ട് കാര്യങ്ങളും ചെയ്യാനുള്ള നമ്മുടെ അവകാശത്തെ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നു. ആ അവകാശങ്ങളെ പ്രതിരോധിക്കുന്നതിൽ നിന്ന് ഒരു കൊലപാതകിക്കും നമ്മളെ തടയാൻ കഴിയില്ല, ഒരിക്കലും. കാരണം നിങ്ങൾ സംഭാഷണം നിർത്തുമ്പോൾ, നിങ്ങൾ സംവാദം നിർത്തുമ്പോൾ, ആശയവിനിമയം ചെയ്യാനുള്ള കഴിവുകളും മനസ്സും നമുക്ക് നഷ്ടപ്പെടുമ്പോൾ ഇതാണ് സംഭവിക്കുന്നത്, നമുക്ക് അക്രമം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

ചാർളിയുടെ പൈതൃകം: നിങ്ങളുടെ വഴിത്തിരിവാകട്ടെ

ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ ഇവിടെ നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ, എന്റെ ഭർത്താവിന്റെ മനോഹരമായ ഈ ചിത്രം എന്റെ മുന്നിൽ കാണുമ്പോൾ, സ്റ്റേഡിയത്തിൽ തൂക്കിയിട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന ഈ ചിത്രം, ഞാൻ 13 വർഷം മുൻപുള്ള എന്റെ ഭർത്താവിനെ ഓർക്കുന്നു. അന്ന് ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ കണ്ടുമുട്ടിയിട്ടില്ലായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് 18 വയസ്സായിരുന്നു, ഹൈസ്കൂൾ വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം കഴിഞ്ഞ് ഉടൻ തന്നെ RNC-യുടെ ഹാളുകളിലൂടെ ഓടി നടക്കുകയായിരുന്നു, പോക്കറ്റിൽ ഒരു ഡോളർ പോലും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല, ഫോണിൽ ഒരു കോൺടാക്റ്റ് പോലും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. അദ്ദേഹത്തെ കണ്ടവർ പറഞ്ഞു, അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് എന്തുചെയ്യണമെന്നറിയില്ലായിരുന്നു എന്ന്. പക്ഷെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് അറിയാമായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് എന്തുചെയ്യണമെന്നറിയാമായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് കൃത്യമായി എന്തുചെയ്യണമെന്നറിയാമായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം ലോകത്തെ മാറ്റാൻ പോവുകയായിരുന്നു, അദ്ദേഹം അത് ചെയ്തു. ചാർളിയുടെ ജീവിതം ഈ രാജ്യത്തിന് ഒരു വഴിത്തിരിവായിരുന്നു. അതൊരു അത്ഭുതമായിരുന്നു. ചാർളിയുടെ ജീവിതമായിരുന്ന ആ അത്ഭുതം നിങ്ങളുടെ വഴിത്തിരിവാകട്ടെ. പ്രാർത്ഥന തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക, ധൈര്യം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക, സൗന്ദര്യം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക, സാഹസികത തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക, കുടുംബം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക, വിശ്വാസത്തിന്റെ ജീവിതം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക. ഏറ്റവും പ്രധാനമായി, ക്രിസ്തുവിനെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക.

ചാർളി ബേബി, ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നു, ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളെ അഭിമാനിയാക്കും. നിങ്ങൾക്കെല്ലാവർക്കും ദൈവാനുഗ്രഹം ഉണ്ടാകട്ടെ, അമേരിക്കയ്ക്കും ദൈവാനുഗ്രഹം ഉണ്ടാകട്ടെ.

English Transcript

Her words introduced me to Charlie Kirk, a man I had never heard of or seen until that moment (thanks to her for introducing him). Since then, I’ve immersed myself in his YouTube videos and debates, discovering a vibrant, fearless soldier of Christ and a close ally of President Donald Trump, armed with the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the sword of God’s Word.

Though I never knew him personally, his tragic death on September 10, 2025, struck by a gunshot to the neck at Utah Valley University, has left a deep sorrow in my heart. As a brother in Christ, I mourn his loss on this earth, yet I rejoice knowing it is a gain for our Savior. Like Abel, whose blood cried out from the ground, Charlie’s faith still speaks

And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead (Hebrews 11:4)

Honored by a Nation

Charlie’s life was honored by President Donald J. Trump, who, in a proclamation on September 10, 2025, ordered the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset on September 14, 2025, at the White House, public buildings, military posts, and U.S. embassies worldwide as a mark of respect for his memory (White House Proclamation).

Short but Purpose Driven (Charlie & John the Baptist at 31)

Charlie Kirk, at just 31 years old, was taken from this world far too soon, leaving behind his wife, Erika, and two young children. As a father of two myself, I deeply resonate with the grief his family must bear. My heart aches for them, for the church, for America, and for the world that has lost such a bold voice for truth.

Many might ask, “How could this happen to someone so young?” It seems senseless—someone took his life. Yet, as believers, we know the truth that nothing happens to a child of God without His knowledge and permission. God knew the moment Charlie would be called home, and it was His appointed time.

It’s not the length of our life that matters, but the purpose we fulfill in it!

Look at John the Baptist, also around 31 years old when he was beheaded for proclaiming truth in the deserts of Israel. His life was short, yet he fulfilled his divine purpose, pointing the world to Jesus Christ before returning to his eternal home.

Likewise, Charlie’s life, though brief, was a blazing testimony to God’s calling. Gifted with boldness, he fearlessly proclaimed the truth of Jesus Christ on college campuses, engaging young people with diverse beliefs and intellectual vigor. He declared unashamedly that Jesus is the only way to salvation, encouraging questions and debates to make people think, wielding the sword of the Spirit—God’s Word—against the darkness of this world.

The death of a saint brings glory to God

The Bible affirms that the death of a saint is precious in God’s sight, as declared in Psalm 116:15:

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants” (NIV).

For believers, death is not a tragedy but a triumphant transition to eternal glory, where their faith is fully realized in the presence of God. Charlie’s passing, though marked by violence, glorified God, resonating through eternity as a testament to unwavering faith. Remember what Jesus foretold Peter about his death.

“This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God” (NIV) John 21:19

Charlie’s life and death, like Peter’s, reflect the profound truth that a saint’s departure from this world magnifies God’s glory, inspiring others to persevere in faith.

Great reward for those who are martyred in Christ

The shedding of innocent blood is not new. It began with Cain slaying his brother Abel, whose blood still speaks (Hebrews 11:4).

Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 5:12, promising a glorious reward for those who endure suffering for righteousness’ sake.

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (NIV)

Charlie, a modern-day martyr, stands among those who remained steadfast in faith. He awaits the crown of life, promised in Revelation 2:10:

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (NIV).

Through his sacrifice, Charlie’s legacy glorifies God, inspiring believers to persevere with hope in the eternal reward reserved for the faithful.

His wife says, “My husband’s mission will not end”

The bullet that struck Charlie Kirk did not silence his voice; instead, it amplified it, resonating far beyond his earthly life.

As his widow, Erika Kirk, powerfully declared in her September 12, 2025, address from The Charlie Kirk Show studio,

The enemy thought that bullet would silence Charlie’s voice, but instead it has unleashed it. … My husband’s mission will not end. Not even for a moment. My husband’s voice will remain, and it will ring out louder and more clearly than ever.

His unwavering boldness in proclaiming truth has ignited a fire, inspiring thousands—perhaps millions—to take up the shield of faith and stand resolute for righteousness.

Erika further vowed,

The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry. The evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done.

The enemy’s attempt to extinguish Charlie’s witness was overturned by God’s sovereign plan, transforming his voice into a clarion call that echoes louder than ever through the lives he touched.

Watch full video here

We will get the full story when we go to heaven

The enemy may have planned this tragedy, but God allowed it for His good purposes, which we may not fully understand until we reach eternity. We trust in God’s sovereignty, knowing that one day, the full story will be revealed. For now, we rest in the assurance that Charlie’s life and death fulfilled God’s divine plan.

Prayers for comfort

My prayers are with Charlie’s grieving family, his wife Erika, and their two children. May God envelop them with His strength and comfort, sustaining them through this profound loss. I pray also for the body of Christ, that we may be emboldened by Charlie’s example to proclaim the truth fearlessly, wielding the sword of the Spirit and praying in the Spirit for this world, as my wife so beautifully reminded me.

Quick links to some of his popular debates

His debates, grounded in faith, addressed tough topics like social issues, morality, and salvation, as seen in these powerful moments:

• Charlie Kirk Takes on Bible Challenging Oxford Student
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQYxnLqa0zs
• Charlie Kirk Debates Atheist on God’s Existence
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7def6p3am0
• Cambridge Student Tries to Disprove The Bible (Goes Horribly Wrong)
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZPWbpOnZ-8
• Charlie Kirk’s Martyrdom: A Call to Bold Faith and Revival
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYBcD-BOCPM

One evening, as the sun dipped low, Mia sat with her Grandma Rosa on the porch. Rosa, with her warm eyes and worn Bible, loved telling stories that stuck with you. “Mia,” she began, “did you know there’s an ancient teaching that says honoring your parents can bring you a good, long life?” Mia raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “What’s that about, Grandma?”

Rosa smiled and told her about a wisdom from the Bible, a book of stories and teachings about life and love. Long ago, a teacher named Paul wrote a letter to a group of people, sharing a special instruction: kids should listen to their parents and treat them with respect because it’s the right thing to do. This wasn’t just a rule—it came with a promise. “If you honor your mom and dad,” Paul said, “things will go well for you, and you’ll live a long, full life.” Mia leaned in, curious. “A promise? Like, what kind?”

Grandma Rosa explained it through a story about a boy named Joseph, who lived thousands of years ago. Joseph’s dad asked him to check on his brothers, who were far away tending sheep. Even though his brothers were mean to him, Joseph went because he trusted his dad. Life got tough—his brothers betrayed him, and he ended up far from home. But somehow, through all the hardship, Joseph’s respect for his dad kept him grounded.

He worked hard, stayed kind, and eventually became a leader in a far-off land, living a long life filled with purpose. “His story,” Rosa said, “shows that listening to your parents can open doors to unexpected blessings.”

Mia thought about her own life. She remembered times she’d ignored her mom’s advice or snapped at her dad. But she also recalled moments when she listened—like when she helped her mom with groceries or joined her dad for a walk. Those times felt good, like they were building something special. “So, honoring them isn’t just about following orders?” Mia asked.

“Exactly,” Rosa said. “It’s about valuing them. Your parents aren’t perfect, but they’re your guides, chosen to help you grow. Honoring them means showing love and respect, even when it’s hard.” She shared ways Mia could do this: spending time with her parents, thanking them for little things, or helping out when they needed her. “Even small acts,” Rosa said, “can bring peace to your heart and open the door to a good life.”

Mia decided to try it. The next day, she surprised her mom by washing the dishes without being asked. She noticed her mom’s tired face light up with a smile. Later, she joined her dad to work on a family project, planting flowers in the backyard, laughing as they got dirt on their hands. It wasn’t always easy—sometimes they argued—but Mia felt a new kind of joy when she showed them respect. Over time, her family grew closer, and Mia felt stronger, like she was on a path to something good.

Grandma Rosa’s story stuck with Mia. She learned that honoring her parents wasn’t just about rules; it was about building love and trust. The ancient promise—about a life that goes well and lasts long—felt real. Mia didn’t know what her future held, but she knew that small acts of kindness toward her parents were like seeds, growing into a life filled with hope.

Next section is a Bible study on the topic.Want to learn more about this commandment from the Lord? Read on..

The Bible, a collection of ancient writings about faith and life, offers timeless wisdom for building strong relationships. One of its most cherished teachings is about honoring parents. This instruction, found in both the Old and New Testaments, isn’t just a rule—it’s a guide to a fulfilling life, carrying a special promise of well-being and longevity. Let’s explore this teaching, its meaning, and how it applies to us today, even if you’re new to the Bible.

The Teaching: Obey and Honor Your Parents

In a letter to early Christians, a teacher named Paul wrote:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

This teaching echoes one of the Ten Commandments, a set of foundational rules given to the ancient Israelites:

“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).

What does this mean? The Bible says children should listen to their parents’ guidance (“obey”) and show them respect (“honor”).

Obedience means following their instructions, like doing chores or studying hard. Honoring goes deeper—it’s about valuing parents as important people in your life, even when you disagree. This teaching isn’t just for kids; it applies to adults too, as a way to strengthen family bonds.

Why It’s Special: The Promise of Blessings

This commandment stands out because it comes with a promise: if you honor your parents, “it may go well with you” and you’ll “enjoy long life.” In the Bible, promises are God’s assurances of good things, often tied to how we live. Here, the promise is twofold:

• Well-Being: Honoring parents invites God’s favor, leading to a life of purpose and peace, even through challenges.

• Long Life: While not a guarantee for everyone, respecting parents often fosters habits—like listening to wise advice—that contribute to a full, healthy life.

This is the first of the Ten Commandments with a clear promise attached, making it a cornerstone of family life in biblical teaching.

A Biblical Example: Joseph’s Story

To understand this promise, consider Joseph, a young man from the Bible’s book of Genesis. His father asked him to check on his brothers, who were tending sheep far away (Genesis 37:13-14). Despite knowing his brothers didn’t like him, Joseph obeyed. His life took a hard turn—his brothers betrayed him, and he was sold into slavery. Yet, Joseph’s respect for his father and his faith kept him strong. Over time, he rose to become a leader in Egypt, living to 110 years old and even caring for his parents in their old age (Genesis 50:26; 47:11-12). Joseph’s story shows how honoring parents, even in tough times, can lead to unexpected blessings.

What Does “In the Lord” Mean?

The phrase “obey your parents in the Lord” from Ephesians 6:1 means submitting to your parents’ guidance while keeping your faith in God at the center.

We are called first to obey God, as Jesus showed us an example in Philippians 2:8:

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Following this, we should honor and obey our parents. However, since parents are not perfect, if they ask you to do something contrary to God’s will—such as lying or causing harm—you can respectfully decline, choosing actions that align with love and truth.

For instance, if your father asks you to buy him cigarettes, knowing it harms his health, you might respond with wisdom and care: “Father, I love you and want what’s best for you, so please don’t ask me to do this.” This approach honors both God and your parent.

Even Jesus, who was perfect, submitted to his imperfect parents as a young child at the age of 12, as noted in Luke 2:51:

“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”

This balance shows respect for both your parents and your values.

Practical Ways to Honor Parents

Honoring parents isn’t just about following rules; it’s about building love and respect. Here are some ways to live this out:

• Spend Time Together: Join your mom for a walk or help your dad with a home project, like fixing a fence.

• Show Gratitude: Write a note thanking your parents for something specific, like their support during a tough time.

• Help When Needed: Offer to cook dinner or drive them to an appointment, especially if they’re unwell.

• Listen Respectfully: Even if you disagree, hear them out calmly to show you value their perspective.

• Celebrate Them: Surprise them with a small gift, like a favorite snack, on their birthday.

These actions, big or small, create strong bond with your parents and reflect the Bible’s call to honor.

Parents are God-given mentors

The Bible teaches that parents are God-given mentors, helping us navigate life. Honoring them builds trust and love in families, which benefits everyone. Even if your relationship with your parents is strained, small acts of kindness—like praying for them or helping from afar—can make a difference. The promise of a good, long life isn’t just about years; it’s about living with purpose, surrounded by meaningful connections.

Share your story!

Take a moment today to show your parents you care—perhaps by helping with a task or expressing your gratitude. If your parents have passed, honor them by sharing their wisdom with others. Start with a small gesture, and you may discover the joy this timeless act brings.

Share your ideas in the comments below—I’d love to hear them, along with our blog community. If your story inspires, we may feature it in an upcoming post, and I’ll reach out to let you know.

I still remember the eight hours of writing, editing, thinking, and praying I poured into my first blog post (Welcome, click here to read) for HisVoiceOnline.com, shared on July 21, 2015. Today I complete 10 years by His grace. Thank you Lord Jesus. It was the Lord who put this thought in my heart to write. Since then, I have been writing with the help of God.

A Divine Call to Write

Here is what I do whenever I post a new article. Some thoughts cross my mind, it might be while reading the Bible or preparing for a sermon or a life incident. Immediately something within me pushes me (I believe it is the Holy Spirit) to write it as an article so that others can also read and benefit out of it. I believe it is because of this divine call, that I am compelled to write. Many times, I was not that inspired to write. But the moment I seek God for help, I get all the inspiration from God. I praise God for the help. Here is one of my favorite verse,

“for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke 12:12.

So I trust God for new content from the Holy Spirit, and He has been my good teacher since I have met the Lord. This is amazing. Sometimes I cry out of joy when a word is revealed. Joy fills my heart. It may be a time after a long day, but this energy I get from above makes me forget all my tiredness and I want to somehow write it before I forget about it.

Seasons of dryness

Sometimes I have been lazy to write and keep it for later, which I would have forgotten many times. I regret about the lost content. Sometimes I make a note of it in my dairy or notepad or whatever paper is infront of me. Today when I look back, I feel I am so blessed to be able to write a lot of articles which are still ministering to people around the world. Even when I am sleeping, many articles are found useful for many people.

Do you feel less motivated? Just look at Christ, his light will cause you to shine.

Blog views & analytics

In the analytics of my dashboard, I can see what people often search in my blog, and what articles are read the most number of times. Some of the trending articles have been born from great pain and suffering. This is one article I wrote when I was going through a very tough time (https://hisvoiceonline.com/simple-steps-to-overcome-hurtful-words/). I was badly hurt and God helped me to get through those hurtful words spoken to me. Thank God I wrote all what I learned during those days, when I was hurting.

Bible says, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Cor 1:4)

Has God given you something? It is time to share!

Sometimes I write for myself

Many times I write for myself. Later when I am in trouble, I can go back to my notes online. I might be in a place, where I badly need some spiritual content. If those are already written by me, when I was going through certain situations or when God has already comforted me, it is very easy to navigate through my blog and get recharged. So even if the articles are not viewed by a lot of people, I am blessed if atleast one person is edified or built up. One soul is valuable!

“Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

Love you & Thank you!

During these 10 years, there were numerous people who have inspired me, blessed me, prayed for me and this ministry which I am doing. I am grateful to them, especially my wife, family, parents, my parents in law, relatives, friends, church members, colleagues and so on. Sometimes, I have even gone without writing for weeks and even months, many have asked me, about no content. But God was faithful, he keeps inspiring me, with new ideas, content and encouragement, which reminds me that, more than me, it is God who wants me to write about Him.

God wants to bless others through my content. Every time I look at His face, I keep on getting words to type. Thank you Jesus for your precious words and love. Help me Lord to continue writing and creating content as long as I am alive. I want to be a blessing to all the people God has placed in my life.

This blog opened many doors!

This is my prayer. I want to be blessing to all the people God would allow me to meet. This tool has been a channel of blessing. When I was in Malaysia, I even got an invitation to preach in a very old church.

This blog has helped the church team to know more about what I teach and preach. After the sermon, one uncle came to me and said, “I was really touched”, and he came to the Lord and got baptized after an year. Sometimes I was at owe when I see how God uses little things to do great things. Maybe one word or a small article inspires a person to come close to God. This is what inspires me to continue this blog. And I know it is a mission or an assignment given by God.

The More I Write, the More I Receive

One other thing I noticed is that, the more I write the more I get. Back then in 2015, I used to wait for hours or days to get a point or something to write, but eventually, I realized, when I am available, ready to write, God gives me more content instantly. Now, I just have to open the laptop, pray and keep writing, it comes and comes. Lord, thank you for the content.

I want to encourage you. Do you want to write or start a blog? Write to me. I will share with you resources to start a blog

Write an email to donny@hisvoiceonline.com

Here are the Top 10 viewed Articles from my blog

Here are the top ten viewed articles from HisVoiceOnline.com

1. Where is Melchizedek mentioned in the Bible? 10 times in Genesis, Psalms and Hebrews
   Want to know more about this Bible character?

2. 5 simple tips to deal with hurtful words
   If you are hurting from others words….

3. This is how gossip destroys relationships! (and 7 ways to put a FULL STOP to it)
   Gossip destroys!

4. How to fall in love with Jesus all over again
   Tips to get back to Jesus..

5. 12 exciting lessons from the life of Zachaeus who climbed a tree to see Jesus
   Simple lessons..

6. How to help a proud and arrogant person
   If you are dealing with someone who is arrogant

7. I have forgiven 490 times, what about 491st time? 7 times 70 redefined!
   Yes, you can learn how to forgive

8. A word of encouragement for PREACHERS
   Want to preach? This is a must read!

9. How to react when your close friend betrays you? – 7 Lessons from the life of Jesus
   Has anyone betrayed your trust?

10. 10 things you’d like to know, if Jesus is your best friend (#10 will challenge you)
    Jesus loves you

Other Resources

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Let’s Pray

I pray that God bless you and me in every area of life. Stay blessed. Do something for God in this generation. God has called you with a purpose. Each and every second counts. Let’s not imitate what others are doing, rather focus on what assignment God has uniquely entrusted to us.

Jesus said, “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

Can we say like this before we wind up our life on earth. Can we also resonate with Christ meaning the same words, I have completed the work “You” gave me to do. Do we know what God has entrusted us? Ask God, read Bible, pray and He will reveal step by step, one day at a time. He will walk with us and guide us.

Requesting your continued prayer and support

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“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1, NIV).

We become children of God when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord (John 1:12; Romans 10:9-10). But becoming dearly loved children goes beyond this initial step—it requires a life of obedience and devotion. Ephesians 5 offers seven exhortations that define the life of God’s dearly beloved: following God, sexual purity, verbal purity, a life filled with good deeds and more.

1. Follow God: Imitating God the Father in everything

A child of God naturally follows their parents. This is the first and foremost mark of a dearly beloved child of God. They always strive to imitate God and follow His example in every area of life.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1, NIV).

Following God means reflecting His character—His love, compassion, holiness, and truth—in our actions, decisions, and relationships. It’s a daily commitment to align our lives with His ways.

Reflect on one area of your life (e.g., relationships, work, or thoughts) where you can better imitate God’s character. Take a practical step today to follow His example in that area.

2. Sexual Purity: Keeping Ourselves Holy

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people” (Ephesians 5:3, NIV).

God’s dearly beloved stay away from all forms of sexual immorality—adultery, fornication, lust, and more. This is what is proper for God’s holy people. God is holy, and His children reflect His holiness by keeping themselves pure. In a world filled with lustful images, videos, and tempting situations, how do we maintain purity? Why do we strive for it? Because we are God’s dearly beloved, and our love for Him compels us to honor Him.

Purity stems from the love of God within us. Those who love God cannot continue hurting their Father in heaven. Job made a covenant with his eyes not to gaze lustfully at a woman (Job 31:1). Are you bold enough to make such a commitment? If you are married, stay faithful to your spouse. If you are single, keep yourself pure for the one you will marry.

Evaluate the media you consume and the situations you place yourself in. Are they leading you toward purity or temptation? Make a conscious decision to guard your eyes and heart, trusting God to give you strength.

3. Verbal Purity: Avoid double meaning jokes

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:4, NIV).

The words of God’s dearly beloved matter. We must avoid double-meaning jokes, crude language, or profanity. Such speech is unfit for God’s children. Instead, our hearts and mouths should overflow with thanksgiving. When upset, frustrated, or angry, practice saying, “Praise the Lord,” “Thank you, Jesus,” or “Glory to God” instead of cursing, complaining, or gossiping.

Pay attention to your words this week. Do not use F letter word anymore.When tempted to speak negatively, pause and replace those words with praise or gratitude. Let your speech reflect the heart of a child of God.

4. Good Deeds: Living as Children of Light

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, NIV).

The only way to cast out darkness is to shine light. Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) and then said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). He calls us to let our light shine through good deeds so others may see and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

When the centurion who crucified Jesus witnessed His final moments, he exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54, NIV). Similarly, when people see the light of good deeds in us, they should recognize the Source of that light—Jesus Himself.

Look for opportunities to serve others through acts of kindness, generosity, or compassion. Let your actions point others to God.

5. Seeking God’s will: Understanding what pleases the Lord

“And find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10, NIV).

God’s dearly beloved constantly seek to please Him. This genuine desire drives us to align our actions and words with His will. How do we discover what pleases God? By reading His Word, praying, and following the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the more our lives align with His ways.

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:17, NIV).

Set aside time daily to read the Bible and pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will and give you the courage to follow it.

6. Wisdom: Being Wise, Making Use of Every Opportunity

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV).

God’s dearly beloved live wisely, seizing every moment to reflect His love and truth in a world filled with evil.

Reflect on how you spend your time. Are you using it to grow closer to God and impact others positively? Make a plan to use your time intentionally for His glory.

7. Spirit-Filled Life: Overflowing with Songs, Praises & Worship

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20, NIV).

A Spirit-filled life is marked by:

• Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
• Singing and making music from the heart to the Lord.
• Always giving thanks for everything in Jesus’ name.

Incorporate worship into your daily routine. Sing a hymn, pray a psalm, or thank God throughout the day. Let the Holy Spirit fill your heart with joy and gratitude.

Which among these points have touched you the most and encouraged you to make a firm decision to live as dearly beloved child of God?

We question ourselves: How will I do it? Am I capable of this great task? Whether it’s preaching, teaching, leading a ministry, guiding a church, directing a choir, writing a book, or any task the Lord has entrusted to us, fear and self-doubt often hold us back. We focus on our limitations, our inadequacies, and our weaknesses.

But we need to shift our perspective.

It’s not about me; it’s about the Lord.

Self Centered Thoughts vs God Centered Thoughts

When we center our thoughts on ourselves, we lose sight of the One who called us.

The truth is, God equips those He calls. He doesn’t rely on our perfection but on His power working through us.

When God called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, Moses was quick to offer excuses. He said, “I can’t speak well. I have stammering lips” (Exodus 4:10). He focused on his own limitations, his self. But God redirected Moses’ attention to His divine power, saying,

“Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Exodus 4:11-12).

When Moses spoke about his own self, God reminded him of His Self—the Creator who is sovereign over all.

What is holding you back from stepping into the call God has given you? Is it fear, doubt, or a focus on your own limitations? The first step is to take our eyes off our self-centeredness and fix them on the greatness of God. When we recognize how mighty and faithful He is, our faith grows, and we find the courage to move forward.

God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Pastor Mark Driscoll

This truth reminds us that God’s calling comes with His provision.

I want to encourage you to step boldly into that calling (that “little” or “big” assignment God has given you).

Trust in God’s Strength and Take that Leap of Faith

Don’t look at yourself—your flaws, your fears, or your perceived inadequacies. Instead, look to God, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Trust in His strength, not your own. As the Apostle Paul declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). When we rely on Christ, no task is too great, no calling too daunting.

What’s that one step God is asking you to take today?

Take that step today. Yes, do it today. Shift your focus from self to the Savior. Trust that the One who called you will equip you, guide you, and strengthen you to accomplish His purpose and calling for you. When we see the greatness of God and surrender our fears, we can walk confidently in the path He has set before us.

The calling is great. Not many are called. You are one of the chosen ones.

What are you waiting for? It’s high time to step in.

3 Common Doubts about God’s Calling

Some of us know we are called, but certain doubts hold us back. Here are three common doubts about God’s calling.

Doubt #1: I’m not sure if God has “called” me!

The very reason you’re thinking about this is because you’ve heard God’s call. You’re reading this article not by chance—it’s because the Lord loves you and wants to clear your doubt.

You can trust the Lord’s Word.

The Bible says:

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV):
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

God called you out of darkness, meaning you are saved.

You are saved because God called you. The Holy Spirit worked in you, convicted you (John 16:8), and enabled you to say, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

So, be encouraged—God has called you! Cast all doubts and fears at His feet and respond to His call.

Say, “Lord, here I am!” — just as Samuel did (1 Samuel 3:4), Paul did (Acts 9:6), and Isaiah did (Isaiah 6:8).

Doubt #2: I’m not sure if I heard God right!

Sometimes, as we pursue God’s call, doubts creep in during low moments. Our mind wanders, and Satan sows doubts in our heart, causing us to question His call or doubt His voice.

John the Baptist was a powerful prophet. Jesus Himself said he was the greatest of all prophets (Matthew 11:11). John is the one who introduced Jesus to the people, witnessed the Holy Spirit descending on Him, and baptized Him.

But when he was shut in prison (for speaking the truth), he sent messengers to Jesus, asking, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:19).

Look how much he doubted the voice he once proclaimed! His voice had once echoed loudly in the desert about Jesus, but in a low state, he wavered. Read more: Confused about the will of God? Here is the key!

This happened to spiritual legends, and it’s a lesson for us.

As we pursue God’s call, there might be times when we may feel low. But the Lord’s call never changes. His Word never changes.

Matthew 24:35 (NIV):
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Dear brother or sister, even when you don’t feel it, rest assured—the God who called you is real. Feelings come and go, but His call remains unchanging!

Take courage. Step in faith.

Doubt #3: I’m not sure if “I” am the one!

Doubting your self!.

When God called Moses, he highlighted his weaknesses and incapabilities, saying:

Exodus 4:10 (NIV):
“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

God was patient with Moses, explaining about His own Self (God)

Exodus 4:11-12 (NIV):
“The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’”

God promised to help Moses and teach what to say, but Moses still hesitated, saying, “Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13).

Remember what God told Paul?

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

The same God lives in us and promises to teach us:

Luke 12:12 (NIV):
“For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

What more do we need?

God assures us He will help us in our weakness, be with us, teach us, and strengthen us.

Let’s not doubt God or His calling. Let’s Stop making excuses and be bold enough to take that first step.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV):
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

What’s holding you back?

Let’s Pray

Father, thank You for calling me. Forgive my doubts. Increase my faith. Help me step in. Be with me in my weakness, and I know You will strengthen me. I trust You. Here I am, Lord, please use me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

1. Ephesians 3:1 – “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—”
2. Ephesians 4:1 – “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
3. Philemon 1:9 – “yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—”
4. 2 Timothy 1:8 – “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.”

Note that the first three are during his first imprisonment at Rome. The last one during his second imprisonment at Rome.

Why did Paul not use the term “Prisoner of Caesar” or “Prisoner of Rome,” but intentionally used “Prisoner of Jesus Christ”? This means he is trying to convey a thought here.

Let’s meditate.

It has two meanings: one literal meaning and the other spiritual meaning. Let’s look at the literal meaning first.

Literal Meaning: Imprisoned for obeying Christ

Paul was not imprisoned due to a crime, for stealing, or for lawbreaking. He was put in prison for proclaiming the gospel or for the sake of obeying Christ in preaching the gospel. Hence, Paul was referring to his imprisonment as “Prisoner of Christ or for the sake of Christ.”

Five reasons why Paul was imprisoned:

In his own words, Paul attributes his imprisonment to the following reasons.

• For proclaiming the “mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3).
• For spreading the message of salvation to the Gentiles, which he describes as being “for the sake of you Gentiles” (Ephesians 3:1).
• For being an ambassador of Christ, “ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:20).
• For Christ, “in chains for Christ” (Philippians 1:13).
• For the gospel, “for the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:8).

This powerful testimony and Jesus-given mission provoked opposition from Jewish and Roman authorities, leading to his confinement.

Paul was called to “suffer”

When Paul was called for ministry, he was called to suffer for Jesus Christ. In Acts 9:15-16, where the Lord speaks to Ananias about Paul’s calling:

Acts 9:15-16 – “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'”

This “calling of Jesus” highlights that Paul’s calling to ministry included a specific purpose to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ’s name as part of his mission to spread the gospel.

So when Paul says he is a prisoner of Jesus, he was referring to the fulfillment of his calling to suffer for the sake of Christ Jesus. So he was proud to use this phrase “Prisoner of Christ Jesus.”

Spiritual Meaning

A prisoner is someone who is physically confined or imprisoned, typically by a governing authority, due to legal, political, or religious reasons. He cannot do what he wants; he doesn’t have freedom to go wherever he wants.

Bound to Christ

So, a prisoner of Jesus Christ means he is bound to Christ just like a chained experience—not by force, but with love. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14 – “For Christ’s love compels us.” His ministry, including his imprisonments, is driven by his devotion to Christ’s love and mission.

We are bound to Christ through love. We cannot do what our mind says or what our physical lust says; we have only one option: to obey Christ, if we are bound to Christ.

Bound by the Spirit

When Paul begins his third missionary journey, he says that he is bound by the Spirit:

Acts 20:22 – “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:” (KJV)

This means Paul was literally chained by the Holy Spirit, meaning Paul cannot go as he wishes; instead, he was literally pulled by the Holy Spirit as in chains.

So it is very clear that Paul was bound by the Spirit, and a prisoner of Jesus Christ, revealing how much Paul dedicated his life to live like a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Time to reflect

Are we led by the Spirit or bound by the Spirit in our decisions? Are we living for Christ, literally chained to the will of God? It’s a time to ponder and rededicate our lives to Jesus. Just like Paul submitted his life to Christ and Jesus used him mightily, God wants to use us too.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, thank for teaching us about the binding by the Spirit and binding to Christ. Help us to be completely surrendered to your will and obey you in every area of our lives. Today onwards I decide to live like a prisoner of Christ. Please help me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In a world flooded with tools, books, and trending topics, how do we craft a sermon that actually touches souls? What’s the biblical blueprint for preachers, pastors, evangelists, or anyone sharing God’s Word?

We often grab every resource we can—scouring books, picking a catchy theme, then prepping, praying, and stepping up to preach. But then I Corinthians 11:23 stops us cold:

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:”

Paul didn’t cook up a message. He got it straight from the Lord and handed it over, pure and simple. That’s what a real message is.

A speech turns into a “message” when it flows from God and lands in the hearts of listeners, untouched by our tinkering. You’re just the pipeline—God’s the source, and He sends it through you.

The strength of that message? It’s all in where it comes from. God’s the origin, always. We’re just couriers, not editors or authors. Whether it’s a single nugget of truth or a tiny spark of insight, it’s got to come from Him.

Scripture backs this up:

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Peter 4:11)

That word “oracles” isn’t casual—it’s from the Greek λόγια (logia), tied to λόγος (logos), meaning God’s own words, His sacred declarations. You see it in Romans 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12 too, a reminder to handle His truth with care. It’s not just Scripture on a page; it’s God speaking, live and direct. So if you’re teaching or preaching, do it with awe, precision, and loyalty to what He says—not your own spin.

Unlocking the Oracles of God

So how do we tap into this? Paul’s prison epistles—those four powerhouses (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)  from his Roman prison— gives us a major clue. One thread runs through them all: his deep prayers and love for God’s people.

Let’s have a look:

Ephesians 1:16:
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…”

Ephesians 3:14-16:
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, … that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man…”

Philippians 1:3-4:
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy…”

Colossians 1:9:
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding…”

How did Paul get these heaven-sent messages? Simple—he prayed for the people.

The Heart of a God-Given Sermon

Next time you’re set to preach or prep a sermon, don’t just dive into notes or trends. Pause. Pray for the folks you’re speaking to—the whole congregation, or if you’ve got names, lift up each one with real heart. That’s when God starts whispering insights just for them. Those are the messages you pull down from the Lord, molding them into something clear with the Holy Spirit’s nudge and the Word’s backbone.

That’s the moment lives shift—when you’re not just talking, but speaking for God. The pulpit’s no stage for random thoughts; it’s holy ground where you stand as His voice. So before you step up, ask yourself: Am I bringing my ideas, or His? Get on your knees, chase His words, and watch Him move.

“This is the captain of a naval battleship. You are on our course. Change your direction by 15 degrees to avoid collision.”

A response came back:

“No, you must change your direction by 15 degrees.”

The captain, irritated at the apparent defiance, responded with authority:

“I am a captain in the Navy. I demand that you change your direction immediately.”

The reply was calm but firm:

“Sir, with all due respect, you must change your course.”

By now, the captain was furious. He called in reinforcements and responded with a final warning:

“This is a heavily armed battleship. We are ordering you to move immediately!”

Then came the final reply:

“This is a lighthouse. We cannot move. You must change your course.”

The battleship represents our human reasoning, pride, and desire to control our direction in life. We often assume we know the right path, believing that we have the power to command circumstances according to our will.

However, the lighthouse represents God’s will—unchangeable, immovable, and guiding us toward the right path. No matter how much authority we think we have, we must submit to His direction to avoid disaster.

Letter to the Ephesians – A Call to God’s Will

The Book of Ephesians opens with a powerful theme—God’s will. Paul was appointed as an apostle by God’s will, sent to Ephesus according to His plan, and ultimately wrote this letter under divine guidance. This book is deeply rooted in the will of God.

How does His will shape our calling and purpose in life? As we study Ephesians, let’s seek to understand His divine purpose, realign our lives with His calling, and walk in His perfect will.

The Will of God in Ephesians

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
(Ephesians 1:1, KJV)

Paul identifies his apostleship as a calling appointed by the will of God. It was not man’s decision but God’s divine plan. To understand this better, let’s go back to when Jesus Himself called Paul into ministry.

Paul’s Calling by the Will of God

In Acts 9:6, Jesus speaks to Paul (then Saul):

“The Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

God then appoints Ananias to pray for Paul. When Ananias hesitates, God reassures him:

“Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” (Acts 9:15, KJV)

Paul was a chosen vessel of God. What a privilege!

But what about us? Do we know why God has called us? The Book of Ephesians speaks about the different callings we have.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11, KJV)

We must be sure of our calling and pursue the will of God. Paul reminds us in this epistle that he was chosen by the will of God.

God’s Will and the Ephesian Church

Paul first visited Ephesus during his second missionary journey. At that time, he was not permitted to stay long. He left Aquila and Priscilla behind and said:

“But I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.” (Acts 18:21, KJV)

Paul was driven by God’s will. Later, during his third missionary journey, God allowed him to stay in Ephesus for over two years (Acts 19). This time, it was God’s will that Paul would minister in Ephesus for a longer duration.

Are we allowing God’s will to guide our journeys and decisions?

While in Ephesus, Paul met some believers, laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit—speaking in tongues and prophesying (Acts 19:6). A revival started in Ephesus, and Paul continued teaching the Word for two years.

The Ephesian Church was established through God’s will, which is why Paul begins his letter with this powerful truth.

The Will of God in Ephesians – Key Verses

God’s will is a recurring theme throughout Ephesians, as seen in these verses:

Ephesians 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
Ephesians 1:5 – According to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:9 – The mystery of his will,
Ephesians 1:11 – The purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,
Ephesians 5:17 – Understanding what the will of the Lord is,
Ephesians 6:6 – Doing the will of God from the heart.

God chooses and predestines us according to His will. He reveals the mystery of His will to us. He works all things after the counsel of His will.

It is our responsibility to understand His will and do it from the heart.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord,
Show me Your will, so I may understand it and do it from the depth of my heart.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

As we enter 2025, we face a choice: we can either drift aimlessly like the kite in the wind, or we can stay connected to God, following His perfect plan.

The choice is ours!

The Bible says:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Here is an easy to remember acronym called Will, which explains the 4 steps to stay connected to Gods plan. Let’s break it down

1. W – WALK with God

Spend time daily in prayer and Bible reading. A close relationship with Him is the foundation for knowing His will.

2. I – INQUIRE of the Lord

Don’t rush ahead with your own plans. Take everything to God in prayer. David, one of the greatest kings, sought God’s guidance before every big decision.

In 1 Samuel 23:2, David asked,

“Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” And the Lord answered, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

Let us follow David’s example, making prayer and seeking God’s wisdom a daily habit.

3. L – LISTEN to His Voice

Hearing God’s voice requires quieting the noise around us. Spend time in stillness and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart. When Samuel was a boy, he responded to God’s call by saying:

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

Like Samuel, we need to be ready to listen when God speaks. Surround yourself with godly counsel and teachings that help you discern His voice.

Jesus said:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

4. L – LIVE in Obedience

Knowing God’s will is one thing; living it is another. Obedience often leads to blessings we cannot imagine.

At the wedding in Cana, Mary told the servants,

“Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).

Their obedience led to Jesus’ first miracle.

Your obedience in 2025 could be the key to unlocking God’s first miracle for you this year.

Let this acronym—WILL—be a daily reminder to align with God’s perfect plan.

When we walk in His will, 2025 will be a year of peace, purpose, and joy.

Shall we pray?

Heavenly Father, I surrender my life to your will. Show me your will, and lead me in your ways this year. In Jesus Name, Amen Blessed New Year!

In Isaiah 9:6, we read:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Let’s take a closer look at these seven attributes of Christ and what they mean for us today.

1. Jesus is the “Son of God”

From the beginning, Jesus existed as God Himself. Yet, out of immense love for humanity, He took on human form, born of a virgin named Mary. He became the Son of Man to live among us and offer salvation through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

2. “The government will be upon His shoulders.”

This means Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the ruler of all creation, sovereign and just. Surrendering to His rule brings order, purpose, and meaning to our lives.

3. His name is called “Wonderful”

A life with Jesus is a life of wonder. He transforms even the most ordinary moments into extraordinary blessings. Walking with Him brings beauty, joy, and fulfillment beyond measure.

4. Jesus is called “Counselor”

Are you seeking wisdom, clarity, or comfort? Jesus is the perfect guide. He provides direction for life’s uncertainties and offers counsel that brings peace to troubled hearts.

5. Jesus is called “Mighty God”

Do you believe in the one true God who reigns supreme? Jesus is the Mighty God, all-powerful and eternal, capable of doing what no one else can. He invites us to trust Him completely.

6. He is called “Everlasting Father”

Jesus isn’t just a temporary savior—He is our Everlasting Father. His love is eternal, and He gives life that lasts forever. Trusting Him means experiencing a relationship filled with unconditional love and care.

7. He is called “Prince of Peace”

When Jesus rules your heart, He brings peace—a peace that surpasses all understanding. No matter the challenges you face, His presence calms every storm and fills your soul with assurance.

Will You Open Your Heart to Jesus This Christmas?

This Christmas, take a moment to reflect on these seven attributes of Jesus. Will you surrender your heart to Him? When you do, He will be born in your life, bringing peace, joy, and a purpose that lasts forever.

A Prayer for Surrender

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming into this world to save us. Today, we open our hearts to You. Be our King, our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. Rule over our lives and fill us with Your joy and peace. Amen.

May this Christmas bring you closer to Jesus and fill your life with His blessings.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus explains how the devil employs strategies to steal the Word of God sowed in our hearts.  Although many people hear God’s Word, not all become fruitful. The reason is that satan steals the Word or distances us from the Word, because he knows if the Words gets inside of us, it will change us.

The parable describes four types of soil: the footpath, the rocky ground, the thorny ground, and the good soil. The seed represents the Word of God, and the soil symbolizes the condition of our hearts. The outcome depends on the type of soil; thus, the state of our hearts determines how fruitful we will be. To bear fruit, we must prepare our hearts to receive the Word and let it take root. Satan works tirelessly to keep us away from the Word, but by understanding his strategies, we can overcome them and allow God’s Word to transform our lives.

Strategies of the evil one

Here are the 3 strategies of the evil one, and the 3 ways to overcome them.

1.Passivity: Overcome with Prayerfulness

Passivity is the first strategy the devil uses to keep us from God’s Word. He will try his best to make sure the Word doesn’t get inside.

In the parable of the sower, some seeds fell on the pathway soil, and as soon as they were sown, birds came and took them away. Jesus explained that the devil (referred to as Satan or the evil one in other scriptures) snatches away the Word.

Matthew 13:19: “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.”

Mark 4:15: “Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.”

Luke 8:12: “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”

How does he do this? One method he uses is by distracting us from listening to the Word.

When we are passive while hearing the Word, we become easy targets. Whether we are attending a service or listening to a sermon, we must ask ourselves: Are we fully engaged with the Word of God? Do we listen carefully and pay attention? Satan is always at work, trying to distract us because he knows that once the Word takes root in us, we will begin to be blessed.

Have you noticed how distractions seem to arise whenever we are trying to focus on God’s Word? It could be a mobile notification, a call from work, or even sudden sleepiness. These are not mere coincidences; Satan is actively trying to divert our attention. We must be wise and handle such distractions, ensuring that we give the Word our full attention.

So, how can we counteract this strategy of Passivity?

The answer is Prayerfulness.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). We need to be prayerful while listening to the Word so that God’s Holy Spirit can help us, protect us, and aid our understanding. We should also do our best to eliminate distractions.

What else can we do?

Take a short nap before studying God’s Word, have a coffee, turn off all notifications, complete any pressing tasks, and set aside dedicated, undistracted time for the Word.

2. Persecution: Overcome with Perseverance

Satan’s second strategy is to make sure that the Word sowed doesn’t take root or last long.

To achieve this, he bring persecutions or troubles against us because we believe the Word. Jesus described the second type of soil, the rocky soil, where there isn’t much depth. The seeds are sown and start to grow, but without deep roots, they cannot withstand the heat of the sun or grow effectively. External factors like the sun’s heat affects the growth since the roots are shallow.

Matthew 13:20-21: “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

Mark 4:16-17: “Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

Luke 8:13: “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”

These verses highlight terms related to time: “at once,” “short time,” “quickly,” and “for a while.”

Notice Satan’s strategy: he ensures that the Word doesn’t last within us. He tries to destroy our faith by bringing troubles, confusion, and temptations that prompt us to give up. This is when we need to hold on to our faith, a practice known as perseverance.

Perseverance is the steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. The Bible repeatedly encourages us to persevere in our faith. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” Here, perseverance under trial is directly linked to receiving God’s blessings.

Romans 5:3-4 also teaches us about the value of perseverance:

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” This passage highlights a chain reaction: suffering leads to perseverance, which in turn builds character, ultimately resulting in hope.

In Hebrews 12:1, we are urged to

“run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This imagery of a race reminds us that perseverance is not a passive state but an active and continuous effort. Just as a runner must keep going despite fatigue and obstacles, we must persist in our faith despite the trials we face.

Finally, Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to give up:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This assurance reminds us that perseverance will ultimately lead to a fruitful outcome if we remain steadfast.

By holding on to these scriptures and holding on to them, we can counteract Satan’s strategy of persecution. When trouble and persecution come, we need to deepen our roots in faith, rely on God’s promises, and continue steadfastly, knowing that our perseverance will be rewarded.

3. Poverty or Prosperity: Overcome with Persistence

The third strategy Satan uses is to entangle us in the worries of poverty or the deceitfulness of prosperity, both of which can divert our focus from God’s Word. Jesus described this in the parable of the sower as seeds falling among thorns, where the plants get choked by worries, wealth, desires, and pleasures, rendering them unfruitful.

From these verses, we can identify at least four types of thorns: worries, wealth, desires, and pleasures.

Matthew 13:22: “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Mark 4:18-19: “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Luke 8:14: “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

Satan can make us worry about a lack of money (poverty), such as what we will eat and drink (Matthew 6:31). Or, he can make us anxious about managing wealth (prosperity), leading to unwanted troubles, or he can tempt us with ungodly desires and worldly pleasures that spoil our relationship with God, thus choking our spiritual growth.

Worries of Poverty:

Satan can make us anxious about our basic needs—what we will eat, drink, or wear—thus distracting us from trusting in God’s provision (Matthew 6:31). These worries can stifle our faith and spiritual growth.

Deceitfulness of Prosperity:

Conversely, wealth can lead to a false sense of security and independence from God. Prosperity can tempt us to prioritize material gains over spiritual health, causing us to neglect our relationship with God.

Desires & Pleasures

It could be an unhealthy relationship, or gazing into lustful videos, or wandering in the world of internet.

Overcoming with Persistence:

We must be aware of this strategy. How do we overcome this?

To overcome this strategy, we need to persistently focus on God’s Word, regardless of our financial situation. Persistence in God’s Word means continually prioritizing it over worldly concerns. It involves:

• Trusting in God’s Provision: Believing that God will meet our needs, as stated in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
• Maintaining Spiritual Discipline: Regular prayer, Bible study, and meditation on Scripture help us stay grounded and resist the temptations of wealth and the worries of poverty. We must cultivate our soil and ensure nothing ungodly is growing alongside. If there are sinful thoughts, lust, pride of life, or any tempting sinful pleasures, we need to recognize them as attempts to destroy our spiritual life. If we do not address them, these thorns will eventually choke us.
• Seeking First God’s Kingdom: Matthew 6:33 encourages us, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” By prioritizing God’s kingdom, we place our trust in Him to handle our earthly concerns.
• Eliminating Distractions: Actively removing or minimizing sources of worry and temptation, such as unnecessary financial pressures or materialistic pursuits, to focus on spiritual growth.

By persistently prioritizing God’s Word and maintaining a strong spiritual discipline, we can overcome the choking effects of both poverty and prosperity, ensuring that our faith remains fruitful and vibrant.

Finally: Nurture the Seed

When Jesus spoke about the fourth soil, He described it as good soil, ready to receive the seed. It had depth, and it grew well, bringing forth good results. God desires us to be in this category.

To be in this good soil category, we need to overcome the first three strategies of the devil.

• When Satan tries to distance us from the Word, we must draw closer to it.
• When he tries to ensure the Word doesn’t last within us, we must hold on to it.
• When the Word starts to grow, and he tries to hinder its growth, we must remove every obstacle and allow the seeds to flourish.

How can we grow?

Firstly, we must allow the seed to get in (defeating the first strategy). Then, we must let the Word take root (defeating the second strategy). Finally, we must allow the seed to grow without any hindrance (defeating the third strategy).

Then, nurture it until it produces fruit.

God causes it to grow.

As it is written in 1 Corinthians 3:7:

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

And in Isaiah 55:11:

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

By focusing on nurturing the seed, we align ourselves with God’s plan and allow His Word to accomplish its purpose in our lives.

Watch the whole sermon

“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”

Yes, you are given the ability to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is only for you!

First Step: Become a Disciple

Let’s derive the first step from this verse.

“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”

Who is this “you”?

“You” refers to the disciples of Jesus Christ.

Who is a disciple of Jesus Christ? One who has decided to follow Jesus Christ.

The first step to knowing the secrets of the Kingdom of God is to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)

How to be born again?

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

When you believe in Jesus and accept Jesus as your personal Savior, you are born again as a child of God. Have you given your life to Jesus? Let’s do it now. Say, “Lord Jesus, I believe you came into this world to die for my sins. I repent of my sins. Please forgive me and make me your child. I entrust my life to you. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.” If you have believed and prayed this sincerely, you are now a child of God. Welcome to the family of God.

Now you can know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven.

A child is also a king

In other words, you have to be born as a child to this King in order to become a citizen of this kingdom of God. Then you will be one of the many kings of the Kingdom of God. That’s why Jesus is called the King of kings. Capital K is for God, and small k is for us, who are born as kings. Amazing, right?

So the first step to knowing the secrets is to become a child of God.

Before proceeding further, let’s have a quick understanding of how important the Kingdom of Heaven and its message is.

What is this Kingdom?

According to Paul, the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

Therefore, it is a present reality and a future hope. Right now, as we live in this world, we can start enjoying the Kingdom of God and then enter into future glorious heaven when Jesus Christ returns.

Who started preaching the message about the Kingdom of Heaven?

The Kingdom of God is a kingdom ruled by the King of kings, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:1-2) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee and started preaching, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Then Jesus told his disciples to preach the same message: “and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:2). After Jesus resurrected back to life, he continued for 40 days on this earth talking about the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3). After Jesus resurrected, the disciples started proclaiming the Kingdom of God (Acts 19:8, Acts 8:12, Acts 20:25). Our mission is to preach this gospel all around the world. Then the end will come once this message is spread all around the world: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Second Step: Learn as a Disciple

There are many secrets in this kingdom. Only a child of God can understand these secrets. But you have to learn from Jesus on a day-to-day basis.

Jesus was on the beach preaching about the kingdom of God through parables, and the people stood on the seashore.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying… (Matthew 13:1-3)

Have you noticed the words ‘sat’ and ‘stood’?

The Greek word used for “stood” in Matthew 13:2 is ἵστημι (histēmi).

Jesus sitting in a boat while teaching to crowds standing on the shore is a traditional Jewish rabbinic teaching style. In Jewish tradition, it was common for the rabbi or teacher to sit while teaching, and the students or audience would stand. This posture symbolized respect for the authority and wisdom of the teacher. This setting reinforces Jesus’ role as an authoritative teacher, and the crowds standing on the shore to listen to Him highlights their eagerness to hear His teachings.

So the second step is to be a true disciple of Jesus by learning from Him.

How often do we sit at his feet? It is as simple as spending some time alone with Jesus, praying, reading the Bible, and having a willing heart to learn. Take notes as He teaches you gently.

Third Step: Ask Questions as a Disciple

Let’s go to the next step.

When He finished preaching, Jesus and the disciples came back to the house, and they asked Him privately what it meant.

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” (Matthew 13:36)

The students asked the Guru: “Please explain to us.”

Mysteries remain hidden until they are explained. Want to know more? The only way is to be curious and ask the Lord. He will then explain one by one.

When Jesus was asked to explain, He started unlocking the secrets of the parable to them in the following verses.

He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:37-43)

The same principle works today.

You have Jesus with you. All you need to do is ask and learn from Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the teacher. He is ready to teach. We have to become students of this Guru.

Also note these verses:

Matthew 13:10-11 (NIV)

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”

Matthew 13:18 (NIV)

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:…”

The explanation of the Parable of the Sower, as recorded in Matthew 13:18-23, was given specifically to Jesus’ disciples. After telling the parable to the crowds, the disciples approached Jesus to ask why He spoke to the people in parables. Jesus then explained the purpose of the parables and proceeded to give a detailed explanation of the Parable of the Sower to His disciples alone.

Do you have a notebook and a pen to write down what He teaches? This is a simple and practical way to learn from Jesus. Open a blank page and scribble down as you pray and read the Bible. You will slowly start to see amazing secrets that were hidden before.

Fourth Step: Answer questions as a Disciple

Once Jesus finished explaining, He asked them a question!

“Have you understood all these things?” (Matthew 13:51)

Jesus is very concerned about our understanding. Sitting and listening is not enough. We need to understand.

When Jesus explained the parable of the sower, He spoke about the need for understanding. If they don’t understand, surely the evil one will come and snatch it away.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” (Matthew 13:18-19)

It is very important to understand as you learn.

Listening to a sermon is good, reading the Bible is good, but if you don’t understand, it is not going to help you.

You can ask Jesus to open your understanding.

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45, NIV)

When you understand, that’s when you start to grow in Christ.

Are you ready to take these 4 steps? Then you will start to learn the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, which are still unknown to the people around you who don’t believe in Jesus.

Want to watch a sermon of the same in Malayalam?

In the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 15: 21-28) and Gospel of Mark (Mark 7: 24-30), we see Jesus making a sudden withdrawal from Galilee to a Gentile (non-Jewish) region to the cities of Tyre and Sidon. There, a Canaanite woman meets him, begging for mercy and healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus initially ignores her, but she persists. The disciples urge Jesus to send her away, and Jesus responds by saying that He is sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Despite this, she kneels down and worships Jesus, asking for help. Jesus then metaphorically refers to her as a “little dog,” implying that blessings are for the children of Israel. However, she responds cleverly, stating that even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Impressed by her faith, Jesus exclaims, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter is healed instantly. Then Jesus returns to Galilee.

When I meditated this passage, I got few insights about this woman’s faith and how it touched Jesus’ heart, which I would like to share with you. There are only two places where Jesus mentions about great faith. One is to a Roman soldier whose son was not well, and he approached Jesus saying, Master you don’t have to come to my home. Just say the word and my son will be healed. (Luke 7:7), then Jesus was really pleased and said “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Luke 7:9). Then the next time he told about great faith was to this Canaanite woman. “O woman, great is your faith!

Your faith and words filled with faith can move God’s heart.

Here Jesus goes all the way from Gennesaret (West side of Sea of Galilee) to Tyre and Sidon which is around 60 kms. Why would he go to a gentile territory? I believe it was because Jesus knew that there was a woman of great faith, and he had to honor her faith, irrespective of her gentile origin.

My friend, if you have faith in God, He will be truly pleased with you.

Bible says,

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11: 6)

Do you believe that God exists and He will reward you if you diligently seek Him?

Yes, He will!

How did she please God by her faith? Let’s take a look at the different characteristics of her faith.

1. She had a desperate need

Her daughter was demon possessed. She had a pressing concern. She would have consulted a lot of doctors, psychologists or psychiatrists, but none of them could do anything, so she figured out that her daughter was demon possessed. Only God could save her daughter.

Do you have a pressing concern? Any urgent need where you need an immediate intervention. Could be a job, a healing from sickness, depression or a financial breakthrough or a spiritual blessing. Take it to God with great faith and He will answer you. Her desperate need pushed her to Jesus.

2. She had a genuine desire

She really wanted her daughter to be made well. She is working hard day and night for her child, and to see her future. But since she is not demon possessed, there is no future. But she did not lose hope. She knew there is a God who lives, who can save her daughter. This faith made her to desire for a deliverance.

Do you wish to be delivered? Sometimes we give our hopes and think that there is no solution to the problem that we face. But if you have faith in God, you will have a desire to see a solution. Yes, your faith will take you to God and you will witness a solution.

3. She sincerely sought God

Jesus was in a house trying to be in secret, but the news went around. The moment she heard that Jesus was in town, her faith pushed to take the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ. She was a true seeker of God, else she wouldn’t take the courage to meet a Jew and ask for a healing.

If you have faith, you will genuinely seek God. When you seek, you shall meet him. I believe Jesus went all the way from Galilee to Tyre and Sidon, so that he could give this “genuine seeker” an opportunity. When you have faith, God will take extra steps to honor your faith.

4. She trusted in God

She went to meet Jesus. This simply means, she trusted that God would have mercy on her and heal her daughter. Her only trust was in God because only God is powerful enough to cast the demon out of her daughter. She also believed that even though she was from a Gentile community her God would not cast her away.

Do you really trust in God? Is God your only trust? Then you are blessed!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:7)

5. She knew who Jesus was

When she met Jesus, this is what she said first

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (Matt 15: 22)

She knew that Jesus Christ was the Lord and Savior! She knew that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah (Son of David). Her understanding about God made her to take the step of faith in approaching God.

Our belief in God and the understanding about God’s nature is the foundation of our prayer and opens ways for us to receive blessings from God.

6. She asked for “mercy”

Being a gentile woman, “mercy” was all that she could ask for! She knew that she was not eligible for receiving the blessings from the God of Israel, but still she believed that God was merciful and He would show mercy and as she believed, the Lord had mercy on her.

This is the prayer that we need to pray, “Lord have mercy on me”. We need God’s mercy. If God were to deal with us according to our sins, we wouldn’t be alive today. It is only his mercy that we live today. Each and every day we need to seek His mercy.

7. She kept on begging

Firstly Jesus responded with a silence. But she kept on asking. Then his disciples asked Jesus to send her away. Jesus says,

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt 15: 24)

She would have heard that, but she chose not to be discouraged, but to keep pressing hard. She overcame all barriers and reached out to Jesus.

When God remains silent, it doesn’t mean denial. He is testing our faith. If we continue to pray in faith, God will honor us.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:7-11)

8. She worshipped the Lord

She went behind Jesus begging, finally she went ahead of Jesus, knelt down before him and asked for help. She worshipped the Lord.

Then she came and worshiped Him (Matt 15: 25)

Even before getting answer to her prayers, she worshipped the Lord. This shows her faith in God.

If God remains silent when we pray, do we still worship Him? God is worthy of worship, even if our prayers are answered or not. She overcame all the obstacles and knelt down before Jesus! Truly a leap of faith.

9. She asked for “help”

The first prayer she prayed was “Lord, have mercy on me”. Now she kneels down and prays, “Lord, help me”

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” (Matt 15: 25)

Yes, we need God’s help. Without Jesus we cannot do anything. (John 15:5)

When we come to the presence of God, we can expect “mercy” and “help” in time of need.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4: 16)

10. She answered Jesus with faith (Intelligent response)

When she asked for help, Jesus answered

But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. (Matt 15: 26)

In other words, Jesus was saying, this blessing of healing (good food) is for the children (Israel) and not for the puppies (Gentiles). It could have offended her, but she still believed in a generous God. Look at her answer

And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Matt 15: 27)

She was saying, yes the good food is for children, but the crumbs that fall down is for the dogs. I just need that crumbs for now. Please heal my daughter. A clever response. First time, she was ignored, second time, she heard Jesus saying that he came for the lost sheep of Israel, thirdly Jesus himself says that the food was for children. But because of her great faith, she overcame all of these and reached the heart of Jesus. Jesus was testing her all this time and she passed the test.

Sometimes God challenges us with situations, silence and hopeless situations, because He wants to test if our faith is real and genuine. Your faith is tested in fire

Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. (1 Peter 1:7 CEV)

Her words of faith activated the healing process

When she confessed her faith, the miracle was activated. Look at what Jesus said.

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matt 15: 28)

In Mark’s gospel, it says

Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter. (Mark 7: 29)

Jesus honored her words of faith and said, because of what you said, the demon has gone out. How powerful are the words of faith.

Her desire + great faith + words of faith = Miracle.

This is what we also need to do. We should never be discouraged, or feel hopeless about our situations. We should always believe in God, continue to pray and wait for God’s time. Meanwhile, do not speak negative words or words of hopelessness. Speak words of faith and trust God, and He will honor your faith.

We were bought with the precious blood of Christ’s death

The Bible says,

You were bought with the precious blood of Christ’s death. He was a pure and perfect sacrificial Lamb.1 Peter 1:19 ERV

Why is the blood of Jesus Christ so precious? How did God purchase us with his blood. Bible says, We were all born as sinners. (And in sin did my mother conceive me Ps 51:5). For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). The punishment for sin was death. (For the wages of sin is death Rom 6:23). When God created Adam and Eve, he said, “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”. But God himself made a way for escape.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (Lev 17:11)

What an amazing grace! In simple words, God said: I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. So God instituted the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. The High priest kills a lamb and brings the blood to the most holy place of the temple of God. God accepts this sacrifice and their sins were forgiven.

Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites. (Lev 16: 34)

What is meant by Atonement?

The Hebrew word used for atonement is kaphar which means “to cover over”. If an offense has been made, the one that has been offended can act as though the offense is covered over and unseen. This idea is expressed through the word of forgiveness. Atonement is an outward action that covers over the error.

So, God provided a way for atonement through the blood on the altar. This is a divine ritual instituted by God himself to make us right with God. He covers our sins with blood and deal with us as if we have not sinned. He forgives our sins through blood shed.

The Blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the forgiveness of our sins

Jesus came into this world for this purpose: to make the ultimate atonement for us by shedding his blood for us, so that we can achieve forgiveness. This sacrifice of Jesus is  the ultimate and final atonement, fulfilling the need for repeated sacrifices (Hebrews 9:12, 10:12). Now, through the blood of Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness of sins. Jesus himself explains this to the disciples

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matt 26: 28)

What a great deed of Christ! Let us thank the Lord for the great work He has done for us. We were once sinners. But by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice and having faith in Him, we are declared “righteous” in God’s sight (Romans 3:22, Galatians 2:16). How? When we confess our sins, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins, and God immediately sees as a righteous person! How wonderful plan of atonement.

The Bible says

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

This is a gift of God!

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

Now we can boldly come to the Presence of God

As a child of God, when you understand this truth, you have boldness in the presence of God. All you need to do, is to repent of your sins, confess it to God, and believe in the Name of Jesus, you are immediately made clean by God. If God makes you clean, you are a righteous person. Guilt, shame and fear are removed. You can boldly come to the most holy place, which is the presence of God. He accepts you as His child, in the same way He accepts Jesus Christ. What a great blessing.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb 4: 16)

Any time you can walk into God’s throne of grace! Wow! Not only you will receive forgiveness for your sins, but also MERCY, GRACE and HELP in time of your NEED!

But Satan doesn’t want you to believe this. The moment you believe this truth, you are set free from guilt. Satan can accuse you of your past sins but he cannot make you guilty because God has made you righteous.

Who would dare to accuse us, whom God has chosen? The Judge himself has declared us free from sin. Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us! (Rom 8:33 PHILLIPS translation)

A big Amen!

So what next?

Having read all these, I believe and pray that God open our eyes to understand this truth in greater depth. Now, we need to receive this forgiveness by faith.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith (Rom 3: 25)

Just believe and it will be yours!

All of us have committed sins: different kinds of wrong doings. But there is forgiveness available. You don’t have to break your head. If you know you have did a mistake, come to the presence of God and open up your heart before God and say, Lord Jesus I have done a mistake, I am sorry. Please forgive me. God will forgive you for the sake of Jesus Christ and for what He has done for you. God will help you not to make that mistake again. If you have done someone wrong, take the courage to go to that person and apologize (Matthew 5:23-24). This way, you can become a clean person and your worship will be accepted by God.

Let us pray!

Father, thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins. Thank you Jesus for your precious blood that was shed on the cross for me. I repent of my sins. I confess. Please forgive me and make me clean. I am coming to your presence. Help me to enjoy this forgiveness. I love you. I worship you. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

As I read through the book of Matthew, I came across a story that really made me think. It’s about Jesus healing a man’s withered hand on a day when Jews weren’t supposed to work, called the Sabbath.

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. (Matthew 12:9-12)

In the synagogue, the religious leaders, called Pharisees, questioned Jesus: “Is it okay to heal on the Sabbath?” But Jesus wasn’t bothered. He knew their hearts and responded wisely.

I thought about how every miracle Jesus. It was God working through him. Jesus said, “It’s God doing these things through me” (John 14:10).

So, the question is: Is God not allowed to work on a holiday?

There is no holiday for God. He never takes a break from caring for us.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4).

Jesus pointed out something to the Pharisees: if their sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, they’d rescue it, right? So, why not help a person in need, which is even more important? (Matthew 12:11-12).

Then, with a simple command, Jesus healed the man’s hand (Matthew 12:13). It shows that God’s love and power are always at work, no matter what day it is.

This reminds us that God’s love knows no limits. He’s always there, ready to help and heal, even on the Sabbath (holiday). So, let’s follow Jesus’ example by showing love and kindness to everyone, every day. And let’s not get caught up in rules like the Pharisees did. Instead, let’s focus on love and compassion, just like Jesus did.

Are you sick or in need? Believe in Jesus, pray with faith. The Lord can do a miracle for you today?

Let’s pray!

Father, thank you Lord for being with us, all the days of our live. Lord I need you. Heal me, forgive me, and bless me. Lord, please heal the areas of my life which are withered. Help me to be restored. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen

Consider Sarah, a young artist with dreams of making it big in the art world. She constantly finds herself scrolling through social media, comparing her progress to that of her peers who seem to be achieving success effortlessly. Each time she falls short of her own expectations, the weight of disappointment grows heavier.

But amidst the noise of comparison and self-doubt, there is a reassuring voice that offers a different perspective. It is the voice of God, assuring us of His unwavering belief in our potential. He speaks of thoughts filled with peace and hope, thoughts that paint a future far beyond our current struggles.

God says,

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29: 11)

However, too often, we find ourselves burdened by the weight of others’ opinions or even our own self-imposed limitations. What if, instead of succumbing to these pressures, we chose to embrace “the thoughts” that God has for us? This shift in mindset could mark the beginning of a hope-filled journey towards fulfillment and contentment.

Letting go of our fixation on others’ achievements and concerns about our own progress is the first step. Instead, we can choose to immerse ourselves in prayer and the study of God’s Word, allowing “His thoughts” to fill our minds and hearts. In doing so, we release ourselves from the burden and open ourselves up to a future brimming with possibilities, guided by His loving wisdom.

So, let us release the grip of comparison and self-doubt, and instead, embrace the “thoughts of peace and hope” that God has in store for us. For Sarah, the aspiring young woman, this means redirecting her focus from daydreaming to diligently seeking God’s guidance in her pursuit of creativity. In God’s vision lies the true essence of our worth and purpose.

However, when it comes to the return of Christ Jesus, nobody knows the hour or the day, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son of Man. Hence, Jesus Christ warns us: Be ready at all times!

The last words of Jesus Christ in the Bible are as follows:

‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ (Rev 22:20)

Jesus will come again, with archangels sounding trumpets, the dead in Christ will rise again, and those who are alive will be caught up in the air with him.

‘For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.’ (I Thess 4:16-18)

The Bible unveils this mystery, stating that Christ will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night (Matt 24:43, I Thess 5:2, Luke 12:39), like labor pains for a pregnant woman (I Thess 5:2-6), like the flood in the days of Noah (Matt 24:37), like a Master who returns from a long journey (Matt 24:45,46, Mark 13:34), like the ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Those who were prepared went in. (Matt 25)

It will happen at a date and time when no one expects.

Therefore, devoted preparation for this moment is crucial, as only the prepared will be taken away with Him in the clouds. In this blog post, we will delve into the powerful words of Jesus Himself, exploring four key Bible passages and extracting seven powerful commands that guide us in preparing for His Second Coming.

Bible Passages:

Let’s explore key Bible passages where Jesus Himself discusses His return and imparts essential teachings on preparation

Here are the specified Bible passages where Jesus Himself speaks about His coming and how His disciples need to prepare. Let’s prayerfully read them before we dive into those 7 commands.

• Matthew 24:36-51
• Mark 13:32-37
• Luke 21:34-36
• Luke 12:35-40

No one knows that hour or day or time

No one knows the exact hour, day, or time of Jesus Christ’s return (not even the Son or the angels, but only the Father), as emphasized in these passages.

In Acts 1, Jesus explicitly tells His disciples,

‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.

The focus isn’t on pinpointing the exact time, day, or hour but on maintaining consistent preparedness.

The concept of being alert every moment is emphasized in Mark 13:33, where Jesus advises, ‘Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the TIME will come.’ Similarly, in Matthew 24:42, the emphasis shifts to being alert every DAY, as Jesus instructs, ‘So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which DAY [whether near or far] your Lord is coming.’ Luke 12:40 further emphasizes the importance of being ready every HOUR, stating, ‘You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an HOUR and a moment when you do not anticipate it.’ Matt 25: 13 ‘Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.’

Being a prepared Christian means staying ready at all times, not for a specific moment, but by remaining faithful and vigilant every day, every hour, and every time.

Is this possible? Yes, the Holy Spirit of God helps us to get ready for Christ’s return.

Let’s have a closer look at the 4 powerful commands of Jesus Christ concerning his coming.

The 7 Commands of Jesus Christ

1. Keep WATCH (Matthew 24:42, Mark 13:35, 37)

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42, KJV)

Watch: To be awake, vigilant, and alert; to stay watchful with an understanding of the imminent. Just as a night watchman diligently observes the surroundings to protect against potential dangers, we are called to gregoreo in anticipation of the Lord’s return, staying spiritually vigilant.

The Lord wants us to safeguard our hearts from evil thoughts or sin, watch our tongues from uttering hurtful words, and watch over our homes and families by fervently praying for them and teaching them the Word of God. We are also called to guard our churches by lifting them up in prayer and maintaining vigilance at all times. The devil, described as roaring like a lion, seeks to tempt and ensnare us. As vigilant watchmen, it is our duty to protect and oversee all that God has entrusted to us

2. Be READY (Matthew 24:44)

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44, KJV)

Be Ready: Prepared, ready, and willing; being in a state of constant readiness for the anticipated event.

Get ready to meet Jesus. Ensure that you fulfill your ministry, owe nothing to anyone except love, seek reconciliation with everyone as much as possible, confess and forsake any unconfessed sin. Obey all that the Lord has commanded, share His good news with others, and help prepare them for His coming.

3. Take heed, watch and PRAY (Mark 13:33)

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:33, KJV)

Prayerful: To be cautious, watchful, and prayerful; to pay attention to and seek God in prayer.

Prayer is the best way to prepare. When we pray, the Lord reminds us what to do, Holy Spirit helps us to confess our sins, and we get more close to God. Prayer makes us humble, and refreshes our spiritual life, so we be ready at any time to meet Him.

4. Be CAREFUL (Luke 21:34)

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” (Luke 21:34, KJV)

Be careful: To be pressed, distressed, or weighed down; urging caution against the burdens of life.

World is deceptive. People are busy making their living. In the midst of the busy life, we might loose focus on getting ready for Christ. So Jesus reminds us, “Be careful”. Do not follow others or the sinful ways of people who claim to be godly but lead a hypocritical life.

Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy. (Rev 22: 11)

Drawing from the example of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21), believers are cautioned to avoid being overly concerned with material concerns, ensuring a heart focused on eternal priorities.

5. Keep awake, PRAY ALWAYS TO ESCAPE (Luke 21:36)

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36, KJV)

Pray always: To stay awake, vigilant, and consistently pray for deliverance and worthiness.

When we pray always getting ready, pray for the days to come. When the actual day of evil comes, we need to be powerful to face it. Jesus asked Peter to watch and pray, but he slept off and he couldn’t prepare for that evil day, when satan would tempt him to deny Jesus and there he fell. This is a powerful reminder, for us to pray and get ready to escape all things.

6. Stay DRESSED for action (Luke 12:35)

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.” (Luke 12:35, KJV)

Dressed for action: To prepare for action by tightening the belt; being ready for service.

We should wear our spiritual armor and be ready to fight any spiritual battle. Just like a soldier ready for a battle any time, we should also be on spiritual duty guarding our souls. Being dressed for action also means leading a holy life. The holiness is our dress. Being holy is one of the ways to prepare for His coming.

7. Keep your LAMPS burning (Luke 12:35)

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.” (Luke 12:35, KJV)

Lamps burning: A lamp or torch; representing spiritual readiness and illumination.

The spiritual lamp should never die off. We should not let anything worldly cast off the light in us. We should constantly renew the strength with the help of the Holy Spirit. We should always desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit and spiritually awake all the time, ready to meet Jesus. Let the oils in our lamp be sufficient enough to keep our lamps burning till the end.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matt 4:1-3 NKJV)

Curious about this verse, I discovered its origin in Deuteronomy 8:3 (NKJV), which reads:

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.(Deut 8:3, NKJV)

These phrases illustrate three acts of God: ‘He humbled you,’ ‘causing you to hunger,’ and ‘to teach you.’

So, what defines the wilderness?

The wilderness is an arid land devoid of water, a place where wild fields stretch without cultivation or human habitation.

The Israelites journeyed through the wilderness for 40 years, and for what purpose? Deuteronomy sheds light on this:

² And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

“To humble you,” “to test you,” “to know what was in your heart,” and to discern “whether you will keep God’s commandments or not” exemplify the purposes behind such experiences, mirroring our own lives.

Similar to the Israelites’ journey, God allows wilderness-like periods in our lives. These dry seasons might seem devoid of hope, lacking refreshment, and purposeless, testing our resolve. However, remember, the Lord allows these kind of situations in our life for his divine purpose.

What are these divine purposes behind the wilderness?

To humble us

The one way which God teaches us humility is by letting us go through dry times. We might hunger and thirst, seeking water or food anywhere but finding nothing. Remember, when we are in need and there is no sign of hope anywhere around, it’s for us to know that we need to humble ourselves more and look unto God. in times of suffering and in need, that’s when we become more humble and look unto God. Do not complain or murmur but just look unto God with all humility.

To test us

God allows us to go through certain painful situations to test us. Test two things: What’s in our mind? Do we really obey God or not? When a man is tested with wilderness-like experience, that’s when the true character of the person emerges. Look at Joseph, the young and handsome slave. He was alone at Potiphar’s house when only he was not at home. His wife tried to seduce Joseph but he feared God and ran away from doing sin. In moments like these, God tests our true character. So when you are provoked, or angered, people say all kinds of evil against you, remember, it’s your testing time.

Will we yield to temptation or stand firm in obedience?

Remember: God is testing what is in your heart, and He will watch out to see if you really fear Him and obey Him. How is God testing you? Pass out with flying colors.

To teach you

Wilderness not only makes us humble while God tests us. It is teach us certain lessons of God. The wilderness teaches us to trust God unconditionally. What does the Bible say about what God teaches us during those times?

to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord

To teach us to live on God’s word. What does that mean? When you are suffering, tempted and hungry, you look upon God and His words gives you life. Whatever He has said in His Word (bible) gives you comfort. Do you take those words seriously.

When you are in need, remember

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

When you feel like you are alone you should feed on the verse“Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

When you are depressed or anxious

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

and it goes on.

Jesus was in the wilderness, feeding on the word of God, when Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread. That’s when Jesus responded with this verse

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matt 4:1-3 NKJV)

What a powerful defense!

Yes, the Word of God is our weapon against the devil. Let’s feed on the word of God, immerse ourselves deeply into it, so that we can fight every tactic of the enemy and live a victorious Christian life even in the times of wilderness

But when we feel like grumbling, there is a better way we can channel that feeling or thoughts. Instead of producing thoughts or words of grumbling, why not we turn those little grumbles into prayers? How to do that? Let’s learn from the life of Moses and the people of Israelites. When situations were favorable, they rejoiced and praised God, but when they did not get water or food on time, they immediately starting grumbling against God and started to quarrel with Moses.

Sometime we do the same. When God does amazing things for us, we are so excited, we jump and rejoice, praising God and bragging about his goodness, but the real test is when our prayers seems unanswered or when we don’t get what we desire, that’s when the real self within us, starts to manifest.

Let’s have a quick look at the people of Israel and Moses when they reached the place of Marah where the water was bitter.

When the Red Sea was parted, the Israelites were filled with joy and praise

Imagine this scene: two million (people of Israel), standing on the shores of the Red Sea, their hearts overflowing with gratitude and wonder. They had just borne witness to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea—an event that defied the laws of nature. The waters, on both sides, stood like towering walls, creating a dry path for their journey—an unmistakable sign of the Almighty’s hand at work.

Moses, their fearless leader, and the entire assembly broke into song. Their voices harmonized in a beautiful song filled with praise and thanks—a song destined to echo through generations. Their jubilation was so infectious that even the elderly, like Miriam, who was in her eighties, couldn’t resist joining the celebration. They raised tambourines high in the air, and the women, too, couldn’t help but be joyful as they sang, danced, and praised the Lord for this incredible rescue.

Consider the reactions of Moses, the Israelite people, and Miriam

When they encountered bitter waters, they began to grumble

However, as the Israelites continued on their divine journey, they soon arrived at a place known as Marah. The immediate need was water, a fundamental necessity for survival. To their dismay, the water they found at Marah was bitter and undrinkable. Frustration and discontent began to simmer among the people, and they started to grumble against Moses.

 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” (Exodus 15:22-24)

Just 3 days later!

They joy faded, praises disappeared, the people started to grumble. How soon!

They should have thought: The Lord who parted the Red sea is Almighty enough to provide water. The Lord was actually testing them. Instead of grumbling, they should have said, “This water is not fit for drinking, but the Lord who can divide the Red Sea can open a spring in this desert. Let’s wait on the Lord to see what mighty work is He going to do for us” and should have prayed instead.

Many times we behave in similar ways. Not many days after the Lord has done something great, we are quick enough to forget His blessings and soon start to complain about what we didn’t get.

Bible says:

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits (Psalms 103:1,2)

Moses prays

In the face of their complaints and mounting pressure, Moses didn’t respond with frustration or anger. Instead, he did the right thing: He cried to the Lord. It was pleasing to the Lord. The Lord immediately provided a solution.

(Exodus 15:25, KJV) describes what happened next: “And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.”

Moses could have reacted with anger or cursed the people. Or he could have blamed God for not providing basic needs for the entire people. But Moses trusted in the Lord. He knew that the Lord who led them till Marah has a way out. He has already seen the mighty hand of God in Egypt and throughout the journey. He knew that the Lord who led them out of Egypt will not forsake His own people. Instead, with great faith, Moses prayed to the Lord.

There is a beautiful song.

In moments like these, I sing out a song
I sing out a love song to Jesus
In moments like these, I lift up my hands
I lift up my hands to the Lord

Singing, “I love You, Lord”
Singing, “I love You, Lord”
Singing, “I love You, Lord”
I love You

The Lord revealed a tree to Moses

When Moses prayed, the Lord directed Moses to a tree, which, when cast into the bitter waters, miraculously transformed them into sweetness, performing a miracle.

Keep in mind, the solution is right at hand!

All it takes is a revelation from the Lord: “the Lord showed him a tree”

During times of bitterness, if we exercise patience and wait upon the Lord, He may reveal profound insights we’ve never encountered before. It will be the answers to your prayers. It will not only change your life but the life of thousands around you. Just wait for that revelation, when He shows you something, that you have never seen before. The tree was there, but when the Lord showed it, the tree became a solution.

Along with revelation comes wisdom: “when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet”

What to do with the tree? Put it into the waters! This is wisdom from God. Revelation + Wisdom = Your Miracle

Grumbling blinds us, whereas prayer illuminates

I doubted myself many times and even thought of cancelling my performance, but my faith in the Lord grew stronger, and I trusted in His healing power. I kept practicing in front of the mirror, praying for His grace and strength. And on the day of the reception, as I stood in front of the crowd, the Lord’s presence was with me, and my throat opened up, and I sang the song with all my heart.

The song I sang is called “Yeshuve Pole Snehikkan” by Blesson Memana. The lyrics speak of the limitless love, compassion, wisdom, and protection of Jesus Christ. They remind us that no matter what situations we are going through, the Lord is always faithful and will never leave us.

Meaning of this song

I want to share the English translation of the lyrics with you, so that you may also be blessed by them:

No one is like Jesus in loving No one is like Jesus in compassion No one is like Jesus in wisdom Jesus is worthy of worship

When the heart is troubled, Jesus is near When the mind is distressed, Jesus is the comforter When the situation seems impossible, Jesus is the savior Jesus is still alive… Jesus is alive

When you feel alone, Jesus is the friend When you need a beloved, Jesus is the dearest In the troubled times, He gives happiness This love will never change… Jesus will never change

In the name of Jesus, there is protection (3x) In the name of Jesus, there is comfort (3x) In the name of Jesus, there is freedom (3x) In the name of Jesus, there is victory (3x)

Lyrics in Malayalam

Yeshuve pole snehikkan – aarum illa
Yeshuve pole karuthan – aarum illa
Yeshuve pole Yogyanai – aarum illa
Yeshuve aaradhana- aaradhana

Hridayam thakarnneedumbol Yesu sameepasthan
Manasu nurungidumbol Yesu aswasakan
Asadhyamennu karutheedumbol Yeshyu rakshakaran
Yesu innum jeevikkunnu… Yeshu jeevikkunnu;-
Yesuve…

Ekan ennu thonneedumbol Yesuh Snehithan
Priya’rellam akannedumbol Yeshu pranapriyan
Novunna murivukalil Soukyadayakan
iee sneham marukilla… Yeshu marukilla;-
Yesuve…

Yeshuvin namathil (3) rakshayund
Yeshuvin namathil (3) soukhyamund
Yeshuvin namathil (3) viduthalund
Yeshuvin namathil (3) vijayamund

Let this testimony and the lyrics of this song be a source of comfort, inspiration, and strength for you today and always. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly and guide you through all of life’s trials and tribulations. All glory be to God!

As we approach Good Friday, I am reminded of a special moment from 2016 when I released my first e-book. It was inspired by a small get-together at a church member’s house where we discussed the “Last Words of Jesus on the cross”. Through our conversation, I gained new insights about the suffering of Christ, and felt compelled to write them down.

By God’s grace, these insights evolved into a small booklet that I am still proud to share with you today.

https://links.hisvoiceonline-com.stackstaging.com/lessons-for-suffering-ebook

It offers 14 lessons for the suffering humanity, each one rooted in the teachings of Jesus and designed to offer comfort and hope to those who are struggling.

One of the most surprising lessons, which I believe still holds true today, is the 11th point. It offers a unique perspective on suffering that I believe will resonate with many readers.

As we continue to navigate through challenging times, I hope that this e-book can serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement. Please feel free to download and share it with anyone who may need it.

Thank you for your support in 2016, and for continuing to be a part of my journey today.

1. Children are a Blessing from the Lord

The Bible says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3). As parents, we can desire, plan, and pray, but it is ultimately God who gives life to a new born. We are grateful that the Lord has entrusted us with the responsibility to nurture these two precious children.

2. God is Our Protector

As parents, our top priority is to keep our children safe. We put in all our effort to ensure their well-being, but ultimately, it is God who protects them. As the psalmist writes, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12). We are thankful to God for keeping our children safe till now.

3. Family and Friends Support

We are blessed with wonderful family members, relatives, friends, church members, and colleagues who have gone out of their way to support us in our journey of parenthood. Their love, care, and encouragement have been a source of strength and joy for us. We know that it is God’s provision to have such a supportive community around us.

4. Prayer Support

Lastly, we are grateful for the prayer support that we have received from people around us. We know that many have been praying for our family’s well-being, and we have experienced God’s grace and mercy in countless ways. The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). We are thankful for the power of prayer and for those who have prayed for us.

As we celebrate our toddler’s third birthday and our newborn’s three months, we are reminded of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love. We are grateful for the precious gifts of our children and for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon our family. Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.

Prayer for Those Desiring a Family

For those who are longing to start a family or have children, we want to lift you up in prayer. We know that it can be a difficult and trying season, but we want to encourage you with the promise found in Psalm 113:9, “He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. Praise the Lord!”

We believe that God is faithful to His promises, and we pray that you will experience His peace and presence as you wait upon Him. May you find comfort in knowing that the Lord hears your prayers and sees the desires of your heart.

As you seek the Lord, remember the words of Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” We pray that you would find your delight in Him, and that your heart would be filled with joy and hope.

Father, we ask that you would bless those who are hoping to start a family. We pray that you would open the doors for them to welcome children into their lives, and that they would experience the joy and fulfillment of parenthood. We trust in your perfect timing and provision, and we thank you for your faithfulness.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

When Jesus Christ was born, his parents knew the purpose of the child. It had been told to them by an angel of God: Mary would give birth to a Son, and they are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. The word Jesus means Saviour, the one who saves people from their sins.

My friend, when you were born with a purpose. God has great plans for you. Meet Jesus today, he will set you free from your sins; provide an opportunity to rediscover your core purpose in life; give you a new beginning and a new hope, and give you eternal life. If you have never met Jesus, I wish and pray, that in this Christmas season, believe in Jesus and let Christ be born in your hearts.

Just say, Lord Jesus Christ, I believe You are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank You for Your forgiveness of sins and for giving me the gift of eternal life. I invite you to come into my heart and be my Savior. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

May God bless you. Have a blessed day!

1. Consider each day as crucial as the wedding day

Weddings are now broadcast online, allowing more people to virtually participate and observe the ceremony, prayer, worship, vows and photos. This is undoubtedly a memorable occasion that ought not be forgotten- quite possibly for lifetimes to come! The union between the couple begins their new life together. For some time, weeks or months even – perhaps years- it is possible that snapshots of the exquisitely captured moments circulates via social media. But does this constitute all?

As days goes by, the couple needs to focus on getting to know each other and living out the life that God has planned for them.

Each day in marriage is as crucial as the wedding day. Devotion, preparedness, Bible reading, prayer, worship songs, social gather, eating and having fellowship together, should be carried out each day in order to foster a greater sense of reverence towards one another and cultivate genuine love between them. That’s when the God ordained purpose of marriage gets fulfilled.

2. Ultimately, it is your decision to make.

Decisions concerning, Where to live, which car to purchase, when to resign, when to relocate, when to have a child, what name to put for the child and so on; all of these are critical points which require careful thought and decision as a couple. Parents, friends and relatives can offer their opinions or recommendations regarding life’s further decisions; however, the ultimate decision should be left up to the couple.

We have a great example from the Bible. God blessed Zachariah and Elizabeth with a child. When it was time to name the child, relatives and neighbors decided to put the child’s name as “Zachariah” after his father. But his mother Elizabeth said, “No! he shall be called John”. But the relatives said, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” (Reference Luke 1:57-62)

Elizabeth knew how to say, No!

Learning when to say “No”, when it is needed, is a very important quality needed for both the husband and wife. The reason for naming John, was because, an angel had already spoken to Zachariah about this even before he was born. Zachariah and Elizabeth were already aligned on this. As husband and wife, they need to be aligned with each other on what decision they are going to take. Let no one negatively influence that decision which both of them has taken with much thought and prayers.

3. Guard your ‘new home’ from the invisible enemy

The newly married couple is now united in an effective team, ready to forge ahead in their journey towards building their new home. They must contend with an adversary named satan, who seeks only to destroy the new home they have just made for themselves. This tragedy befell the first family!

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

We observe Satan’s efforts to infiltrate the first family by posing inquiries and inciting confusions. Eve yielded to temptation, consuming an apple that God forbade her from eating; prompting Adam also to partake of it.

In day-to-day life, these perplexing inquiries and confusions can arise from close friends and relatives.  As people, they are not our enemies but they could be easily be manipulated by Satan to utter ‘certain words’ in an effort to misdirect relationships within a couple. If couples aren’t alert enough in examining where this issue stems from then their relationship could become fraught with tensions and discordant feelings!

4. Never entertain the notion: He/she is not my ideal match

During the early stages of matrimony, a pair may be uncertain as to whether they made an optimal decision or conversely, could there exist another individual who would prove more advantageous to them both? This self-deception devised by Satan must not be allowed to take root!

The one that you are married to the ideal choice for you, given the following rationale:

God has joined you both, and this signifies that He created your new home (which constitutes both of you and God Himself). God’s creation is always the pinnacle of excellence!

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”…Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. (Gen 1:18) , 22

This article provides tips on finding joy and managing emotions during difficult times, while referencing Jesus’ teachings of harmony in relationships.

Two sisters, Mary and Martha, were present when Jesus made an appearance. Mary takes the opportunity to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to his teachings. However, Martha is preoccupied with serving, prompting her to approach Jesus and express her discontentment with Mary’s decision to neglect the task of helping her sister.

Here is the Bible portion

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10: 38-42)

If stress is not managed properly, it can lead to people taking out their frustrations on others.

Here we see that Martha was stressed out and clearly frustrated. This led her to think that she was all alone and her sister Mary intentionally left her alone to do all the work.

Tension began to rise and inaccurate assumptions about her sister were made, leading to an awkward exchange between her and Jesus about her sister.

Stress can be a major factor in our lives, leading us to think that we are all alone, displace our negative emotions onto those around us. We may blame them for our problems, causing us to lash out and say hurtful things. This can lead to grievances like complaining, murmuring, and criticism.

Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge and examine our emotions, taking the necessary steps to address them in order to foster emotional and spiritual growth and achieve an overall sense of wellbeing.

So what is the first step in finding peace?

Look at what Jesus answered:

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[e] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Upon encountering the anxious and troubled woman, Jesus displayed clear discernment in recognizing her issues. He then provided instruction on what she should do – mirroring Mary’s example of sitting at his feet and listening to his teachings.

Taking a moment to sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to Him is the right thing to do. There are two primary benefits associated with this practice: prayer allows us to express their worries and concerns to Jesus Christ, while reading the Bible and engaging in prayer can lead us to hearing God’s voice gently whispering in our minds. This kind of spiritual guidance can help clear any unwanted feelings and emotions, bringing enlightenment, a fresh mindset, and peace in one’s heart.

Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? If so, taking some time to find a quiet place and read the Bible could be beneficial. Prayer can be an effective tool to help bring peace and clarity during difficult times. It is important to remember that God can provide divine peace for those who seek it.

Let’s pray.
Father, I am stressed out, feeling frustrated. I cast all my cares, worries and concerns at your feet. Speak to me. Fill my heart with peace of God. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Most of the times, we are clueless on what we are tying to achieve. Wouldn’t it be wise to have a better clarity on the destination, so that we can take on the right direction?

The Bible says,

If the Lord doesn’t build the house, the builders are working for nothing. If the Lord doesn’t guard the city, the guards are watching for nothing. It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. Psalms 127: 1, 2

If the Lord is not actively involved in our lives, we are simply working for nothing, watching for nothing, and all our efforts are going to be of no use for us.

If God is not involved: we’re on our own. We will sooner or later realize that all our efforts were in vain.

What’s the point if everything we do is going to be of no use later?

So the question is,

Is the Lord with me in this journey?

In everything we do, do we remember God?

Jesus said in John 15:5

Without me you can do nothing.

We can’t really achieve anything without the help of our Lord.

But when God is involved, He will lead us into the right steps, warn us of the danger ahead, help us align with the right resources and guide us to the right destination.

Wouldn’t it be better to walk with Someone who knows everything from the beginning till the end. He knows what lies ahead. So it’s wise to follow Him, so that He will take you to the place where He has planned for you.

This is God’s plan for you.

In Jeremiah 29: 11, the Bible says

“I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future” Jeremiah 29: 11

Yes, He has great plans for us.

Before we get into the hustle and bustle of the day, let’s take a step back, and pray

Lord, I need you. Please help me. Help me to take the right steps today, meet the right people, walk according to your steps. Please guide me. I submit myself to you.

That would be a great way to start. Have a fruitful day. God bless you.

We are always in search of better things. Which phone is better? iPhone or Android! Which field of higher studies is better? Engineering or Medicine? We often search on Google using these keywords: Best, better, sound and so on. The Bible highlight some of the essential things in life which we really need to pay attention to.

Let’s go through it one by one.

1. Little vs Great Revenue

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. (Proverbs 16: 8)

Sometimes we shift our focus to wealth and getting rich quickly. In the meantime, we often forsake virtues like honesty, truthfulness, justice and righteousness. But when the Lord looks down from heaven, he is more interested in our virtues than our wealth gained. Little wealth with righteousness is better than money gained through injustice means.

2. Wisdom vs Gold

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. (Proverbs 16: 16)

Gold is very costly and people are so much attracted to it. But wisdom and understanding are more costly and precious. It comes only from the Lord. The one way to get it is to fear the Lord. In the presence of God, wisdom and understanding shine better than gold. Let us pursue wisdom from God.

3. Lowly spirit vs Proud

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16: 19)

This is a very evident sign of humility: Associating with the poor and humble people. If we are hanging out with friends because they are rich, it is a sure way to danger.

4. Slow to anger vs Mighty

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16: 32)

If you are able to control your anger and if you are able to rule your own spirit, you are stronger than the so-called “mighty” out there! Having self-control is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is of great value in the sight of God.

I sincerely pray that the Lord may open our eyes to desire for the better things which are really better than what we thought!

Blessed Father’s Day all dear fathers!

Becoming a father is God’s blessing.

When God created human beings, God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1: 28)

This year I am completing two years of my fatherhood. When I communicate with my 2-year-old, I remember my Father in heaven. When I try to use baby language to communicate with my child, I get reminded of how our Father in heaven uses little things to communicate with us.

Is it true that God speaks to us? Yes, indeed. He loves us, He cares for us and He loves to communicate with us. God interacts with us through little things around us and He has control over everything that happens in our lives. There is some message that God is trying to communicate through all of them. Let us take baby steps in learning to hear His voice every day. If we are eager to hear his voice and are attentive to His voice, we will enjoy His beautiful voice every day.

God bless you all.

There are many things we can learn from a little child. Once the followers of Jesus asked him a question:

At that time the followers came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and stood the child before his followers. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child. Matt 18: 1-4

This is a commandment from the Lord Jesus Christ: You must change and become like little children.

Here are a few things which I have learned from our child. 

1. Instantly switch from Tears to Smile

When he cries, we try to distract him by giving him a toy or pointing him to something he likes. Immediately he stops crying and starts smiling. What a quick switch! Children are good at it.

Are we able to do the same? How long does it take for us to change our mood from sadness to happiness?

The Bible says

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

If we truly become like little children, we should also be able to deviate our attention to prayer, meditation, thanksgiving and attain peace in a fraction of a second. The key is to learn from little children how they switch their moods.

2. Forget, let it go and move on

We try to discipline him by giving him small punishments. But we have noticed many times that, after crying for some time, and when we try to pacify him, immediately he hugs us, quickly gets over the pain and starts playing with us.

When the Lord punishes us, or when we face some struggles in life, how fast can we learn from it, let go of the pain, and move on in life?

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Let us not lose heart when the Lord disciplines us through various trials in our lives.

3. Laughing out loud from the heart! lol!

A year ago, I recorded his innocent laughter and made it my ringtone. Every time I hear the ringtone, it reminds me of his innocence. He doesn’t need a reason to smile. He is always joyful no matter what’s happening around him.

Even if he is sad, it’s only for a few seconds or minutes. Most of the time he is happy.

Here is what the Bible says

Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Phil 4:4

Are we able to smile and laugh from the depth of our hearts? Yes, it is possible! Let us learn from little children.

4. Simple Trust and Dependance on Parents

When he needs something, he simply looks at us and cries. We as parents get to know what he wants even without him telling us what he needs. He doesn’t care whether we have enough money or food. He really doesn’t care if we are free or busy. He knows one thing: Cry until you get what you need! What a beautiful lesson to learn from children!

The Lord loves us when we depend on him. When we cry unto God, He feels like a Father to us.

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. Psalms 50:15

Your Father knows what you need even before you ask. Matthew 6: 8

A child knows how to trust his parents.

Are we able to put our complete trust and dependence on God our Father? He will never fail us. How to do that? Let us learn from little children.

5. True humility

Finally, Jesus says “one who makes himself humble like this child”

The best lessons on humility can be learned from little children. Keep looking at them, watch their expressions and innocence and we will know what it means to be humble.

With weary eyes and a heart of sorrow
I let you go
You live on in the memories
Of long ago

You held my hand as a child
Walked beside and gently smiled
You let me down the road to Jesus
Before my heart could shatter to pieces

You taught me of His love so divine
Imparted knowledge of His great design
His plan and purpose you taught to fulfil
So His grace and strength will follow still

Two years and counting
Since that day
My heart is pounding
And so I pray,

“Jesus my life my hope
In You, I have some scope
To reach that heavenly bay
Like my father when I finally lay
So help me God to run the race
And walk right into Your embrace”

Here is a video that was posted the last year: Last recorded sermon

As I am writing this, I am in Alapuzha at my wife’s native place. Her house is situated near the bank of a stream. It’s a very scenic place. Early in the morning, I went out to the bank of the lake for reading the Bible. It was a great spiritual experience. I would like to share with you the message which I received as I was reading and pondering over the below passage

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. (I Cor 4: 3-5)

Paul speaks to the Corinthian church believers about judgements. Paul explains why the judgements of others matter little compared to the judgement of his Master Jesus Christ.

He speaks about 4 kinds of judgement: Judgement by his dear ones, judgement by the public, judgement by ones own self and judgement by Christ. Let’s have a look at these.

Judgement by our dear ones

I care very little if I am judged by you

First Paul speaks about the judgement by his fellow believers. The root word used for judge here is anakrinó which means the process of careful study, evaluation and judgment.

We are constantly being examined, evaluated and judged by our dear ones: Family and Friends. As illustrated below, they can see our public life (words + actions) and a part of our personal life since they are close to us. Therefore their judgments are based on what they know, which need not be fully right. Let us respect them but take to heart only what really matters.

Judgement by the public

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court;

Secondly, Paul talks about the judgement by the public about him. They see our public view (word+actions) but they barely know our personal life, thoughts and motives. Hence their judgments can go wrong.

Judgment by our own self

indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.

Thirdly, Paul speaks about his own judgement. He barely trusts his own judgement because even if he finds his conscience clear, there could be some areas in his own life that are not known to him.

Judgement by the Lord

 It is the Lord who judges me.

Finally, Paul speaks about the judgment by the Lord, which can be trusted 100%. The Lords sees everything clearly.

The Lord’s judgment really matters and here is why!

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God

The Lord knows our inner motives and even what we have thought in our wildest dreams. He knows our purposes and prayers. Therefore the judgement by Jesus Christ matters the most.

Paul was really focused on what Jesus Christ thought about him. He was eagerly waiting to receive praise from God. Hence he was striving towards a life that is pleasing to God. How high the standard he set for himself!

Let us be careful

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.

It would be foolish to jump to conclusions about others because we only know a little about them. Let us be careful next time, we think about passing judgement upon others. Chances are there that it could go easily wrong. Let us fear God knowing that the Lord will bring everything to light.

Here are 5 things God wants you to do in your difficult situation.

God wants you to KNOW something

When situations are becoming difficult, God wants us to know something very important. Let me show you some important Bible verses. It is good to byheart these verses which will come to your aid in difficult times.

And we KNOW that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

God wants you to KNOW that all your difficult situations are going to turn for good in the end. Believe it and you are going to wait and see how God is going to cause all things to work together for the good.

God wants you to SAY something

When we are in difficult situations, we naturally may say all sorts of unwanted or hurtful things. We start to murmur, complain, blame and the list goes on.

Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God]. Ephesians 5:4

God wants you to say only one thing: THANK YOU GOD! It might look extremely difficult to thank God in your difficult situation, but when you KNOW that God is going to cause your present situation to be for good, naturally words of thanksgiving fills your heart and mind.

God wants you to DO something

When we are in a difficult situation, we may feel like doing something negative to overcome the situation or teach a lesson to those who caused trouble to us. But as a child of God, God wants you to do something different. Here are the 4 things you MUST do: Love, Bless, Do Good, Pray

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; Matt 5: 44, 45

Love them that hate you. Bless them that say all sort of hurtful things against you. Intentionally do good to them that hurts you. Most importantly pray for them, which is the game changer! God will act.

God wants you to THINK something

All sorts of negative emotions and thoughts may flood our minds. We need to be very careful with our thought process because Satan plays with our minds. If he can gain a foothold in our minds, he can make us do anything he wishes to. Therefore let us not give a place for evil thoughts in our minds.

What is God expecting us to think in difficult times?

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK ON and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Intentionally fill your minds with godly thoughts! Keep on thinking good things. This will change you from the inside out! You are going to explode with God’s love instead of satan’s hatred.

God wants you to BE something

Finally, God wants you to come out with flying colours. Every difficult situation is a TEST. God allows tests in our life so that we may pass the test.

God might be testing your patience. Prove that you are patient and God will be proud of you.

God might be testing your love. Love unconditionally so that God will say about you, “He is truly my son!”.

When He tests your ability to keep your mouth shut without saying hurtful words, keep going, and come out successfully without saying anything evil but only thanksgiving and praises. God will become so proud of you.

God expects you to become like Jesus Christ! That’s exactly where He is taking you. You know Jesus Christ had to go through challenging situations, hatred from his own brothers, community and religious leaders. But Jesus Christ never said anything hurtful nor did he explode in anger. Jesus Christ suffered patiently till the end. Even when He was crucified, Jesus prayed for those who hurt him, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23: 34)

In other words, God wants you to BE PERFECT!

You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5: 48

Let us pray

Father, we know that You cause all things to work together for our good. We take a decision today to speak only good things. We decide to love, bless, do good and pray for those who hurt us. Lord, we know that you allow all situations for us to grow in Christ. Thank you, Jesus. Give us the grace to come up to Your expectations. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In your difficult situation, as a child of God, what else do you do? Share your views below!

The Bible answers.

The other day, I was reading the last few chapters of the Bible (from the book of Revelation). These words encouraged me. I am sure you too will be encouraged.

Behold, I make all things new

It is written:

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Rev 21: 5)

God assures us: I make all things new.

I want to encourage you today: The suffering is not going to last forever. God is going to put an end to all the suffering once and for all. He is going to make all things new. He is going to take us to a new world.

No more pain

It says

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Rev 21: 4)

You will never cry.

You will never die.

You will never be in sorrow.

You will never be in pain.

All the former things are going to pass away forever.

This is true

You can trust these words because God says

Write, for these words are true and faithful (Rev 21: 5)

What you are experiencing now is literally nothing compared to the eternal joy you will experience. The duration of your suffering is very less compared to the eternal happiness you will enjoy.

Who is going to inherit this privilege?

He who overcomes shall inherit!

God says:

 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Rev 21: 7)

God will give you the grace to overcome all the challenges that you are facing today. Hold on. Do not give up. The reward is waiting for you. Do not lose that great reward that God wants to give you on that day in return for all that you have suffered for Him. Let this hope motivate you to continue doing good. Do not be weary of doing good. Do not give in to temptation, anger, jealousy, pride and so on. These are all waiting to get hold of us and drag us to eternal hell.

God says again:

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Rev 21:8)

If you give in to sin, you will lose it forever.

If you do not overcome, you may end up in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.

Do not miss it!

Therefore, my dear reader, this world is full of evil, injustice, suffering, pain and sorrow. This may or may not end. But God is going to take us to a new world, where there is no more pain and sorrow. God expects us to patiently wait till He returns to take us to heaven.  Remember His words: Behold, I make all things new.

He taught me spiritual discipline. He guided me to be an obedient son especially to our Father in heaven. My beloved dada trained me in ministry more than anything else. He would give me a few minutes of his time to preach in every church that he was invited to.

In the face of challenge or discouragement, he made sure that I trusted in God to help me through and no one or nothing else.

After 1 and half years past his demise, I realise he had made sure he laid the foundation for me through training and prayers to work effectively for the Lord. I am grateful to God above for giving me the privilege to be dada’s son.

Here is a sermon that I personally like that dada shared on “Running the race and finishing the course with joy” from the following verses (Recorded on Oct 2009)

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20: 22-24

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/UNV3RjuqMfM

In Daniel 6, we read about how King Darius He appoints 120 rulers and 3 Administrators. Daniel was one of the administrators. Daniel was promoted by God. It is the Lord who promotes us.“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Psalms 75: 6,7). Then King again promotes Daniel above the administrators. The administrators now had to report to Daniel and Daniel to the King, because possessed an excellent spirit. 

Now the admins and the rulers tries to find fault with Daniel because they were jealous of him. When we remain faithful in our Christian journey, satan works Day and night to accuse the people of God. “For the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down from this place, where he stood before our God accusing them day and night.” (Rev 12:10). Remember! The devil works in the people around us, to find fault with us and to put us down. But never give place to him. This is how we have to silence our accusers: By doing good! “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” (I Peter 2: 15). Daniel was faithful. “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” (Daniel 6:4). 

Finally they tried to find a way to trap him with the law of God in whom Daniel believed. And they went to the Kind and devised a decree to put to den all those who pray to any other god than the king. When Daniel knew this, he went home to pray. He started thanking the Lord and gave petition to the Lord. Daniel was in authority. He could have gone to the King, but he went to the King of kings. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in prince” (Ps 118: 8,9) Daniel decided to handle this situation in prayer.

Now his accusers found him praying and went to the King to charge against Daniel by saying he was found praying to his God. King tried his best to save Daniel but couldn’t as he already has signed the decree. Finally Daniel was put in the lion’s den. King lost his sleep. Early morning, king goes to the den and calls out Daniel. Daniel answers and says, my God sent angel to shut the lion’s mouth. Even the king could not save him, but the King of kings could. People cannot help us when we are in trouble, only the Lord can! Therefore let us put our trust in God. Daniel trusted in God.

Finally King glorified our great God by issuing a decree.

Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every languagein all the earth: “May you prosper greatly!

²⁶ “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6: 25-28)

The story ends with God’s Name being glorified. Yes, that’s our goal. Whatever happens in our lives, if we remain faithful to God, He will glorify His name through our lives.

Now, you can listen to the entire sermon in Malayalam.

HisVoiceOnline Podcast Link

Click here to listen in podcast

YouTube Link (Malayalam Audio Message)

As of today, so far, sadly 1,817,998 lost their lives due to Covid 19. Nearly 2 Million.

Blessed are YOU since you lived on to see 2021. Thank you God Almighty for this great chance.

Consider it as a new opportunity from God to make some changes in our lives and to bring goodness to other’s lives as well.

As I sought from the Lord what he would want me to do in 2021, He gave me some insights from the book of Daniel chapter 9, which I would like to share with you.

I hope this will encourage and motivate both you and your family as you begin this year.

What is the first best thing to do this year?

1. Understand the Books

in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem

The great way to start this year 2021 is to focus on reading and meditating the books of the Bible. Daniel was meditating the Book of Jeremiah, which is when he realised the significance of “number of years” in a prophecy for Israel.

As we diligently seek and try to understand what is written in the books of the Bible, God will definitely open our minds to understand the truth and He will reveal the depths of these truths.  This can even change the course of our lives and the lives of others around us.

If you are ready to take up this task, please share in the comments below, which book you are going to start today.

What is the second best thing to do this year?

2. Seek God in prayer

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Daniel 9: 3

When Daniel understood something from the Books, he decided to look unto God for mercy.

When we really focus on reading God’s Word, it will encourage us to look at His face. Daniel genuinely felt the need to pray, fast, and seek the Lord in prayer.

What is the next best thing to do this year?

Genuinely seek the Lord in prayer. As you read the Bible, talk to God simultaneously. Therefore it will be two-way communication. Read, pray, read, pray… When you read the Bible, God is speaking to you. When you pray, you are speaking to God.

What is the third best thing to do this year?

3. Repent and Confess

And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession (Daniel 9: 4)

When Daniel started praying, he started to confess.

Which means, he repented for his own sins and for the sins of his own people.

As we read the Bible and pray, God will remind us of our sins. Therefore let’s repent and cry for mercy! Let us confess our sins.

We remain unaware of the right and wrong in certain areas of our life. The Bible helps us discern right from wrong. As we understand more about God and how we have hurt Him, it is a reminder to repent, confess and reconcile with God.

Will you do that? Let this year begin by confession of our sins.

It will definitely move the heart of God.

What is the fourth best thing to do this year?

4. Expect a ‘personal message’ from God

You know what happened. As Daniel was praying, God sent an angel to Daniel with a message for him.

Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision: (Dan 9: 20-23)

What a blessed experience!

Do you believe that God can speak to you?

As you seek His book, seek His face, and repent, God will unveil the depths of His mystery to you.

In Daniel 9:23, we notice that, at the beginning of Daniel’s prayer, God sent the command to His angel for Daniel.

When we consistently do these 4 things (Read, Seek, Repent and Expect) this year, God is going to do great and marvellous things in our lives.

Get ready for a miraculous and supernatural year.

Stay tuned: You will soon see new videos related to this subject in our YouTube channel

But He needed people to cooperate with His plan.

God has a great plan for your life too, but He needs your cooperation and you will see the impossible become possible just like the story of Christmas.

A quick glance at the Christmas story, tells us about the amazing teamwork of people, who were aligned by God for ‘the great plan’.

Let’s begin.

Who were the members of the team? What was their attitude?

1. Mary: Surrendered to ‘the Plan of God’

God was looking for a virgin for Jesus to be born in this world.

Why virgin? The plan was that the conception of baby Jesus Christ would take place with the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore God chose Mary, a virgin from Nazareth.

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1: 26-28

The angel of God explained to Mary how Jesus would be born to her being a virgin.

Mary responded: May your word to me be fulfilled!

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1: 38

What is the lesson that we can learn from Mary?

There was no argument, no rebellion but a simple surrender to the will of God, referring to herself as the Lord’s servant. Amidst the challenges that she was going to face, she still chose to submit to the divine will.

2. Joseph: Obedience to align with ‘the plan of God’

Joseph who was engaged to Mary came to know that she was pregnant. Joseph was confused and was about to secretly divorce her.

God sent an angel to Joseph to explain the plan of God

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matt 1: 20, 21

After which Joseph decided to take Mary as his wife.

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matt 1: 24, 25

What is the lesson that we can learn from Joseph?

Against all odds, Joseph simply obeyed God

When Mary did her part in surrendering to God, convincing Joseph was taken care of by God.

See how the cooperation of human beings play an important role in the smooth execution of God’s plan.

3. Elizabeth: Supported Mary during her first 3 months of pregnancy

Elizabeth, an anointed woman of God was Mary’s relative. In this time of need, Mary badly needed great support. God provided Elizabeth to Mary for strength, encouragement and support.

Elizabeth’s response upon seeing Mary: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Luke 1: 39-42

Then Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months. (Luke 1: 56)

What is the lesson that we can learn from Elizabeth?

Encourage and support others so that God’s plan be fulfilled in their lives.

Now, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth are aligned to God’s plan. Who’s next?

4. Wise men: Feared God more than King Herod

When Jesus was born certain wise men saw a star on the same night and followed the star to find Jesus and worship Him. They first enquired from King Herod about the Son of God. Then Herod called the wise men secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

But the wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and they obeyed the message from God.

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Mat 2: 12

What is the lesson we can learn from the wise men?

They feared God more than the king! They obeyed the voice of God.

5. Shepherds: Spread the good news about Jesus Christ

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and said,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The shepherds found Jesus and spread the good news about Jesus Christ.

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2: 16-18

What is the lesson we can learn from the shepherds? Hear and spread the good news about Jesus Christ.

6. Simeon: Encouraged the new couple

Simeon was a righteous man in Jerusalem who was waiting to see Jesus Christ because God had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah face to face.

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.

Then Simeon blessed the couple and prophesied to Mary about Jesus Christ.

What was the role of Simeon?

Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and prophecied to them about Jesus Christ. This would have encouraged and strengthened them to pursue the will of God in bringing up Jesus.

What is the lesson that we can learn from Simeon?

Let us pray and encourage others to fulfil their call and purpose in life.

7. Anna: Spoke about the Saviour to all who came to the temple

The last person we discuss in this post is Anna.

Anna was a prophet who became a widow after 7 years of marriage. She was 84 years old when she met Jesus Christ.

She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 

What was the role of Anna?

Being a prophet she spoke about the Saviour to all who were looking forward to the redemption.

What is the lesson that we can learn from Anna?

Anna, being the prophet of God fulfilled her duty even at a very old age by speaking about Jesus Christ, her Saviour to all the people who came to the temple.

As life goes on, know fully well, that we are all a component in God’s great master plan. Knowing or unknowingly we all align to His plan when we surrender, submit to His divine will and obey His commandments. 

To discipline means the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience.

Similarly, our Heaven Father disciplines us.

Discipling is painful. It hurts. It’s humiliating. We may feel rejected, forsaken. We tend to give up easily and lose heart. But when we understand the process of how God disciplines us, we have reasons to be joyful and endure the discipline.

How exactly God disciplines us? What it may look like? How do we know whether it is God who is behind the hardships we face? What should be our attitude when God disciplines us?

Let us read a passage from the Bible to understand more about God’s discipline.

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’  Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12: 5- 11)

Here are 7 things you need to know

1. Know that disciplining is painful

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Consider all the painful experiences of your life as a correction from the Lord. God is His sovereign wisdom uses the hardships that we face to turn into disciplining us to become more perfect and holy. So next time you are hit with some hurtful or painful experience, remember it is some form of discipline going on.

2. Know that God loves you

The first thought which comes to our mind when we go through painful moments is this: Is the Lord hating me? The answer is a big No!

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves

So it is not because the Lord hates you, but because He loves you so much.

When my father used to punish us, we cry. After a while, he hugs us says, “Mone, Dada loves you, that’s why Dada beat you. Love you” We never understood what that meant! But today we know why he said and did that.

When you are hit hard, know this one truth: God loves you so much!

3. Know that God is treating you as His children

“…He chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

When you face hardships, remember that God has not given up you, but he is allowing those circumstances to mould you into better children. He wants you to become like Him. It needs a lot of correction, rebuke, warning and sometimes caning! It simply means you are treated like little children.

Isn’t it a great privilege to be disciplined by the Almighty God?

Next time, when you are enduring hardships, remember: You are the beloved child of the Highest God

4. Know that God disciplines you for your good

They (human fathers) disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good

If human fathers punished us for our good, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father disciplines us for our good.

Next time when you endure hardships, remember: God has a good thing in His mind concerning us.

5. Know that you are one step closer to His holiness

but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness

God is holy. Therefore in order to live like God’s children, we have to become more holy day by day. Each and every hardship is designed and planned in such a way to make us more holy.

Therefore next time, you are hit hard by a painful moment, remember: You are one step more to the holiness of God

6. Know that God’s discipline produces God desired fruit

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Amplified version puts it this way

For the time being, no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful but afterwards, it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

God is like a farmer and we are like trees. Till God sees fruit in us, He will cultivate us, gives us enough nutrients, water, air and sunlight. Sometimes we feel the heat of the sun, sometimes we are refreshed by the cool of the breeze, sometimes have to bear the rain during the whole night, sometimes He prunes us, but we can be rest assured there is a God desired fruit being developed.

Next time you face hardships, remember: A fruit is at work in you. Allow it to mature till it is ripened.

7. Know that God’s discipline is more of training rather than a punishment

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

God’s ultimate punishment is Eternal Hell. He doesn’t want to send anyone to hell. So he gives a small rod of correction while on this earth so that you may not end up in hell. Even if you don’t understand what God is intending to do, trust Him that He is training you. Only the trainer knows what He is intending to develop in his students.

Next time, when you endure hardships, remember: This is training for a godly life.

Now, you know 7 things

1. Disciplining is painful
2. God loves you
3. God is treating you as His children
4. God disciplines you for your good
5. You are one step closer to God’s holiness
6. Discipline brings God desired fruit
7. God’s discipline is more of training

Therefore, what should we do?

Since we know that discipline is inevitable and it is God who is working behind the scenes, trust God and take the courage to endure it joyfully knowing that you are submitting to the Heavenly Father

 “My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him”

“Endure hardship as discipline”

“How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”

In short, do not lose courage. Do not give up. Do not faint. Submit to the Father.

He knows what He is doing. Do not question Him, rather humbly submit to the disciplining of your most loving Heavenly Father.

And through him let us offer sacrifices of praise always to God, which is the fruit of the lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13: 15)

As we draw near the Holy of holies, let us continually offer praises to the Lord.
When you worship the Lord, what comes to your mind? Thoughts of love, praises and thanksgiving? Do you love the Lord so much that you can’t wait to express your gratitude towards Him? Pour out your mind, say
Thank you, Jesus. You are great. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for hearing my prayers, and so on. Don’t stop. Keep praising Him. 
Convert your worries, anxieties, concerns, complaints into thanksgiving and praises. For example, if you have lost your job, still you can praise Him, but how? Let me show you an example.
Say, Lord, I lost my job, but I know that in the end, you will turn all things for my good. I am thankful to you for helping me to work and earn in the past months and years. Thank you for giving me a small break before getting into a new job. Thank you for providing enough time now so that I can use this time to study Your Word and pray. Thank you for giving me time to focus on improving myself. Thank you for allowing me to experience the pain of losing the job and empathize with thousands who lost their job. I trust you that you will not close a door without opening another better door for me.
Don’t you think, God will be much pleased with you when your prayers are filled with hope, faith and trust?
Let us pray.
Father, in Jesus’ Name we come near your presence. We thank you and praise you. We trust that you do all things for our good. We love you. We give you all glory, honour and praise. In Jesus’ Name, we pray amen.
We have learned today on the third step into the holy of holies. In the next episode, we will learn of the blessings we will receive as we confess, worship and praise God in the holy of holies.
 
 

 The Holy Spirit uses this to show that the way into the Most Holy Place was not open while the system of the old Holy Tent was still being used. This is an example for the present time. It shows that the gifts and sacrifices offered cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect.  Heb 9: 8,9

This is a reference to the old way of worshipping God before Jesus came to this world. There was a physical place of worship, which had the holy of holies, a copy of the actual holy of holies in heaven. From this verse, we get a hint that the people came there to worship God.
This clearly points us to the truth that God expects worship from us as we draw near to His presence.
So what is the second step? We have to worship God. In simple terms, worship means, you are acknowledging the fact God is supreme and Almighty and giving him the due reverence. It is like falling down before His throne and surrendering yourselves to God. It is by saying, God, you are the King. I am your servant. My life is for you.
Feel free to express your reverence and adoration to God. Express yourselves, and talk to God and surrender everything to God.
Try my friend, it is an amazing experience, to be in the holy of holies worshipping the true God Almighty.
Now, what are you waiting for? You are already in the holy of holies. Just open up yourselves and submit yourselves completely to God. God is well pleased when you worship Him.
Let us pray.
Father, we come to your presence in the Name of Jesus. We worship you. We adore you. You are my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus’ Name, we pray Amen.
Stay tuned to learn on the next thing to do, at the holy of holies.
God bless you
 

So, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place without fear because of the blood of Jesus’ death. We can enter through a new and living way that Jesus opened for us. It leads through the curtain—Christ’s body. And since we have a great priest over God’s house, ²² let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 

God is holy. He is dwelling in the holy of holies. As we approach his presence, the first thing to do is to be cleansed of all unholiness. Bible calls it sin. Sin is anything wrong we do, think or say, according to the standards of the holy God. Therefore, how is it possible to go near His presence with the sins that we have done?
Do not be discouraged. You don’t have to become holy to approach God, but as you approach God, He will make you holy. But how? We are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place without fear because of the blood of Jesus’ death. Which means since Jesus Christ died for our sins, when we feel sorry for what we have done, and confess our sins, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins and make us holy.
My friend, do you feel unholy? God accepts you as you are. Jesus freely gave forgiveness to the thief on the cross. Jesus forgave Peter, who denied him thrice.
Now is the time. As you draw near the holy of holies, let us confess our sins. Jesus, I did so and so, I said so and so, I thought so and so. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Wash me with your precious blood and make me holy.
Your heart and mind will be free from a guilty conscience, and you will be able to see and hear God clearly.
Shall we pray?
Father, in Jesus’ name, I come near your presence. I have sinned in my words, thoughts and deeds. Please forgive and make me clean with your blood that was shed on the cross for me. Make me holy. In Jesus’ Name, we pray Amen.
Stay tuned, in the next episode, let us learn more on what we need to do next in the holy of holies.

When I look into Your holiness
When I gaze into Your loveliness (Your loveliness)
When all things that surround become shadows
In the light of You (in the light of You)

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have the confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10: 19-22)

“It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.” (Hebrews 11: 4)

I meditated on this verse: Abel died, but through his faith, he is still speaking.
Yes and Amen! Even if we die one day, the faith which the Lord has given us will continue to speak.

About Dada

My Dada Pastor Thomas P Kurien (Moses) had great faith in the Lord. His perseverance and courage to work for the Lord have challenged all of us. Through his life, God has helped many people to grow in faith. He started to preach the Word of God in his teen years and became a pastor at the age of 19. And until the age of 59, he served the Lord. 40 years of service for the Lord. The beloved husband to my mother, who took care of her as his precious gift (as you would know from her testimony. Watch here). The loving, caring and nurturing father to us, his children. He amazed us every time with his work- home- ministry balance. Intended perfection in everything he did, significantly spreading the word of God and abiding by it.
(Those of you who are reading, if you have any testimony to share on how the Lord has used my father to encourage you, kindly share in the comments below OR leave a personal voice message here. I would love to hear about him from you all. Meanwhile, we can be encouraged by your testimony)
I still hold on to the verse that the Lord gave me. Hence I believe that the legacy of faith that my dad has left behind still speaks.
I take this opportunity to thank all of you who supported us at our time of grief and thank you for your prayers. God bless you.
Here is a message from Dada to all out there. This video was recorded on June 2019 (after the first occurrence of fever) during a family boat ride in Kuttanad, Allepey, Kerala. Little did we know that in a month or two, he would pass away, leaving behind a beautifully worded, crisp, important message like the one below.

James 4: 8 Come near to God, and God will come near to you.

Yes, my friend. You have to take that one step of coming close to God and He will come near to you. Very very close to you. He will come and hold you in His loving arms and say, My little child, I have been waiting for you. I am with you. I love you.
The very willingness to come near to God itself is a sign that you truly long for His presence.
So what are you waiting for? Just say, Lord Jesus, I come to you this morning. Forgive me for all the wrong things that I have done against you. I need you. Stay beside me, Lord.  I love you.
Let this verse stay fresh in your mind, “Come near to me, my little child, and I will come near to you.” Let this day be a blessing for you.
Let’s tune in again tomorrow morning. God bless you.

How is it possible to continue sleeping when the boat was in danger? How is it that Jesus could sleep peacefully at the back of the ship when all his disciples were struggling to take control of the boat? How is it possible to sleep, when waters were splashing on to the boat from the raging waves? How did Jesus remain super cool when the world around him seems to drown?

That evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Let’s go across the lake.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with them. A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water. Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are drowning!” Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm. Jesus said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The followers were very afraid and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4: 35-41 NCV)

We can learn some exciting ways of Jesus on how he responded in this situation.
Note down the actions of Jesus from this passage.

1. Jesus was sleeping
2. When Jesus woke up and commanded the winds and waves to be calm
3. Jesus then addresses the disciples on their lack of faith.

He used very few words, “Quiet! Be still”. Three words!
How much time would have been taken to calm the situation? Hardly 5-10 seconds?

Jesus used limited time and little words and got a powerful result!

And what about the disciples. Let’s note their actions.

1. They were struggling to keep the boat from sinking.
2. Even though some of them were fishermen, they couldn’t control the boat with all their skills and experience.
3. Finally, they decided to wake Jesus up from sleep.
4. They were blaming Jesus for not caring for them. “Teacher, don’t you care that we are drowning.”

They seemed to take a lot of time. They seem to worry and struggle a lot. The effort of twelve people yet nothing worked out. They even blamed Jesus for not caring! Finally, when they witnessed how Jesus managed the situation by taking a bold step of faith, they asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” They were at awe! 
Haven’t we been in the same place?
When things go beyond control, we panic, we struggle, try out everything we know, seek help from mere human beings who can’t do anything about the situation and blame God and everybody around us, and when nothing works out, we seek God’s help!
And when God in His mercy intervenes and helps us, we are at awe. Instead of learning to trust in God, we move on, repeating the same mistake of not trusting in God and trying to keep things under our control with our strength.
Look at what Jesus asked His disciples:

“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Jesus expected them to handle the situation by not fearing and by having faith.
When you go through storms in life, it is not to drown you but to train you on how to handle situations boldly by trusting in God. Yes, Jesus expects you to have faith and not panic. He was indeed a good Teacher of life. Sometimes, you may find silence from the Teacher. He is just waiting for you to take that step of faith.
Let us make our Teacher proud by responding to our life situations in faith.
How was Jesus able to sleep and be super cool even when the boat was about to drown? It was because Jesus had faith in the living God. Jesus was not afraid of the seas or the storm. Why would Jesus be frightened of the waters which He Himself had created!
Even when things are in turmoil remain cool trusting in God.
Being the child of God, why should we fear? Our daddy made the whole world. He is in charge of the entire universe. Therefore do not worry! Take courage. Have faith in the living God who is with you.

Where is Melchizedek mentioned in the Bible? What is so special about Melchizedek?

In simple words,

Melchizedek is the first priest mentioned in the Bible, who lived in the days of Abraham. He was not only a priest but a king. Usually, in the Old Testament, one is found to be either a priest or a king but not both. Priests are from the tribe of Levi and Kings from the tribe of Judah. But even before Abraham’s descendants came, we see a priest and king Melchizedek. There are no records of his birth, death, father or mother etc.Read more on Melchizedek from the Bible.

The first mention of Melchizedek is in the book of Genesis

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. (Gen 14: 18-20)

There are five things to note about Melchizedek here.

1. Melchizedek was the king of Salem (a nearby city where Abraham lived)
2. Melchizedek was the priest of God Most High
3. Melchizedek greets Abraham who returns from a victorious battle
4. Melchizedek blessed Abraham
5. Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham from of all the spoils received from the battle (Read more about this battle in Genesis 14

The second mention is in Psalms (prophecy by David)

The Lord has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalms 110: 4)

David prophecies about the Messiah. He reveals about the “priest forever” (who is Jesus Christ) according to the priestly order of Melchizedek.

The third mention is in the book of Hebrews.

As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5:6)

The author quotes the same verse from the book of Psalms 110: 4 three times in Hebrews (5:10; 6:20; 7:17). The author then repeats the phrase “order of Melchizedek” in the following portions.

called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5: 10)

even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 6: 20)

Then the author quotes from the book of Genesis Gen 14: 18-20 in Heb 7:1 and 2

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. (Heb 7: 1-3)

Again, he speaks more about Christ as a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? (Heb 7: 11)

And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb 7: 15-17)

(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’ ”), (Heb 7: 21)

To watch the verse by verse Bible Study on Book of Hebrews, here is the playlist link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLghLqShMka5RO_AFrj9hjRAiN5ym20hDG

Subscribe to my channel for more videos https://www.youtube.com/c/hisvoiceonlinetv

]]> https://hisvoiceonline.com/melchizedek-in-the-bible/feed/ 0 3920 https://hisvoiceonline.com/first-aid-when-someone-hurts-you/ https://hisvoiceonline.com/first-aid-when-someone-hurts-you/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2020 07:02:59 +0000 http://hisvoiceonline-com.stackstaging.com/?p=3910 They hurt you. It feels so painful, especially when it comes from people whom you love. Even before it damages you further; you need to take these 3 basic first aid.

Know that God allowed it. He is in control.

This is a powerful truth: Nobody can hurt you without your Father’s knowledge. 
Do you believe that you are a child of the living God? Then, you can be assured that nobody can say anything against you without your Father God, allowing them to say it.

Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father’s knowing it. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. (Matt 10: 28-30, NCV)

So if somebody hurts you, know this truth: God knows about it. He allowed it. We don’t why! But you can trust God that He has good intentions in allowing it.

Once upon a time, a man named Shimei from Saul’s family group threw stones at King David and his officers, but the people and soldiers gathered all around David. Shimei cursed David, saying, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you troublemaker” and went on saying all sort of hurtful words against David. 
Immediately, one of king’s servants to David, “Why should this dead dog curse you, the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
You know what David’s response was?
“This does not concern you! If he is cursing me because the Lord told him to, who can question Him? … Leave him alone, and let him curse me because the Lord told him to do this. (2 Sam 16: 5- 14)
See how David perceived this incident. Even though he had the right to take instant action against Shimei, he was confident enough that being a child of God, nobody can throw stones at him without God’s will.

Difficult to digest? But this is the truth. If you trust God, you should also believe this truth that no man can speak against you if the Lord hasn’t given permission.
Knowing this truth itself will comfort you. This should be your first response when someone hurts you.
We don’t know why God allowed it, but we can trust God that He has some useful purpose behind it. Say within your mind, “Jesus, I know that you care for me and I know that this person has said this thing with your full knowledge and I trust you that you have good thoughts about me”

Let me tell you about an incident. Once an employee made a mistake, his manager shouted at him in front of all his colleagues. His manager even used abusive words which were not good to be used in a professional environment. But this employee was a child of God and he patiently endured the embarrassment. The employee apologized for the mistake he did and continued the job. He was hurt inside because of the unfair treatment he got. He got out of the seat and went to the washroom to talk to God about it. Suddenly he heard an inner voice saying, “My child, nothing happens to you without my knowledge. I will make sure that this incident will be turned for your good” He wept in the presence of the Lord, washed his face and went back to the seat. All his colleagues felt bad about the incident and observed his response. This employee continued the work happily because of the assurance the Lord gave him and did not say or do anything against the manager.
The manager went back to his cabin, started to regret his reaction. He decided to compensate the employee in another way.  It was the time of the yearly appraisal and performance evaluation. This manager decided to reward this particular employee with some additional rating and recommended for him a salary increment.
One fine morning, the employee saw a new email from HR. He was shocked to see that it was an email about the revised payslip and he promotion to the next level. He was in tears with gratitude to the Lord. He prayed, “O Lord, you are so great. Is this why you allowed that incident to happen?”

You see, God has his own way of turning around the bad things which happen in our life for our good. Trust in the Lord, my dear reader. He has His own reasons for doing certain things. Let’s not mess around with His great plans.
Now, let’s have a look at the second thing you should do

Forgive them instantly. Pray for them.

Sounds weird? Instant forgiveness and immediate prayer for them and not against them.
How can you forgive someone when they don’t even realize their mistake and apologize for what they have done? Wouldn’t you wish that God would do justice by punishing those who have treated you unfairly? And why does someone want to pray for those who have hurt them?
Doesn’t make sense?
But this is what Jesus did. Since we are the followers of Jesus, we have no other choice.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23: 33, 34 NCV)

The soldiers never apologized for what they were doing to Jesus. Instead, they made fun of him, stripped him naked and hurt him even more.
Jesus forgave them instantly and was pleading to the Father in Heaven. “Father God, they have no idea what they are doing. Please, Father, forgive them”
Can we do the same?
You would say, only Jesus can do it.
Let me give you another example. Stephen, the child of God, was stoned to death. Look at how he prayed to God even when he was bleeding to death.

Then they shouted loudly and covered their ears and all ran at Stephen. They took him out of the city and began to throw stones at him to kill him…While they were throwing stones, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell on his knees and cried in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” After Stephen said this, he died. (Acts 7: 57- 60)

Will you be able to pray the same prayer, “Lord Jesus, do not hold this sin against them?” when someone hurts you?
This is the standard set by Jesus for us. Just obey God without questioning Him, and you will see how God would be much pleased with you.
Now, let’s move on to the third thing to do instantly.

Know your real enemy. Take up your spiritual shield.

People who hurt you may not be doing it intentionally. But the enemy has only one intention: “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10) Steal your peace, destroy your happiness and kill you by all means.
So when somebody hurts you, remember that satan uses a combination of incidents, words of people and the right situations to cause damage to your life. People are the means Satan uses to hurt people.
Therefore, beware of the real enemy and the real battle. Our wrestle is not against human beings, but against the devil who is working behind the scenes. He is the one to whom we should fight and not human beings.
The moment you recognize this truth, you will take up your shields of faith to enstinguish the flaming arrows from the devil. Hurtful words are one of the types of burning arrows targeted at your soul.
This is very important.
If you do not take your shield on time and protect your soul, you might be badly wounded with the burning arrows (hurtful words).
Much prayer and meditation of the Word of God are required to understand what is happening behind the scenes. Here is a passage from the Bible, which speaks of the spiritual battle.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. Accept God’s salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people. (Eph 6: 10-18)

Be strong, my dear friend. Be strong in the Lord. Trust not on your strength but the Lord. Get ready for a spiritual battle. Prayer is the key. Hurtful words are one of the burning arrows of the devil. Take the shield of faith to protect yourselves from the hands of the enemy. Finally, never give up!
Now, if you are hurt, read this http://hisvoiceonline-com.stackstaging.com/simple-steps-to-overcome-hurtful-words/

• Never a reaction, but always a careful response (there’s a difference you see) (Luke 15:14-17)
• Relied heavily on his father for wisdom to respond to the situations (thanks to the unbreakable loyalty he had to his father in heaven) (Mark 12:17)
• Didn’t stop himself from being proactive in ministry (Luke 4:28-31)
• Not affected by labels as He lived as one who is not of this world (John 18:36)
• Focussed on the purpose of his existence (John 5:17)
• Knew his father’s will (John 6:38)
• Prioritized his father’s will above all else (John 8:29)
• Meanwhile, he maintained a life that was blameless (John 8:46)
• He expected such labels, he also warned his followers of such obstacles (Matt 5:12, John 15:18)

There was a bigger reason that none of these labels stuck with him, he had a full understanding of his true identity.

Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” Matt 3:17

Therefore dear brothers and sisters, hold on to the identity He has given us rejecting what the world imposes on us. There is no one who can stand in our way other than our own selves.
Now if you are ready to let go of those labels, and accept the identity God has given you, HERE IT IS….

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me (2 Tim 4:17)

Meanwhile, the Lockdown during the Pandemic became a blessing in disguise as I was able to support my wife’s father in his ministry. We were able to conduct a verse by verse online Bible study program on the three epistles of John, the book of I Samuel (3 chapters), the book of Jude, and the book of James (in progress). Here is a link to my YouTube channel HisVoiceOnline TV where you can find more videos
I take this opportunity to thank all my dear subscribers and my near and dear ones for all the support. You are the gems of inspiration placed perfectly in my life by our Lord to not give up but keep writing. As you read, do share with more souls around you and help them secure a place with our father in heaven for his second coming.

Abel took care of flocks, and Cain became a farmer.  Later, Cain brought some food from the ground as a gift to God. Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry and felt rejected. (Genesis 4)

Cain became very angry.
Amplified version records

So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.

(Indignant: feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment)
There are a lot of lessons we can learn from this single incident. Let us prayerfully go deeper into this portion.
The Lord did not accept Cain’s gift.
We do not have many details on why it was rejected, but it is written that while Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock to God, Cain brought some of the food from the ground as gifts. Anyways, God was so pleased with Abel and his offering and he was not pleased with Cain and his gift.
Cain gets really angry!

1st Stage of Cain’s anger: Very angry.

First step: Find the triggering point

Now, here are a few questions we need to ask while we become angry.
Why are we angry in the first place? Is it because of someone else? Is it because of unfair treatment? Is it because we were rejected? Is it because we were offended? Is it because we are not given the due respect? What exactly is provoking you to anger? 
When you are angry, it is the best time to have a closer look at your own selves. It is at that time, we may lose control of our words and actions. It is the time, our real self comes out. It is the time, all our past hurts, emotions and hidden thoughts come out. So it’s the best opportunity to do a self-check!
(If you are not patient enough to do a self-analysis at that moment, maybe you can start doing this when you really become cool down. Eventually, you will pick up the skill of doing self-check before it is too late)\
So let’s come to Cain. Why was he angry? Here are some of the possible reasons.

1. His younger brother’s gift was accepted. He would have thought: “How come my own brother gets the blessing and I do not?” So the root cause could be jealousy
2. His gift was rejected by God. So he thought God was unfair and partial. The root cause could be misunderstanding God.
3. He would have questioned God in his mind: “How can God reject me and my gift? I am worthy of the fruit of my hard work!” Root cause: Self-righteousness or pride.
4. He thought he did a good job but later found out that it was not up to the mark. All his hard work on the soil felt like a waste. Root cause: A sense of regret.
5. When Abel was accepted, Abel would have become so happy, excited, and went back home. Seeing this, Cain would have become even more indignant. Root cause: Not happy in seeing others happy.
6. Cain would have envied the job of Abel shepherding the flock. Cain would have thought, “I should have become a shepherd. Why did I become a farmer? If only I would have been a shepherd, God would have accepted my gift”. Root cause: Thinking in the wrong direction.
7. Maybe there were some other good things Abel did in which God was pleased, and this would have made Cain upset with Abel. Root cause: Past unresolved hurts.
8. Maybe since Abel was righteous, he may not have supported Abel in doing something which is not pleasing to God. Root cause: Self-pity. Considered himself as less righteous than Abel.
9. Or Cain did not appreciate the offering of Abel. He would have thought: “Few sheep can’t be better than my vegetables. His offering cannot be as good as mine. There is no way that God can accept his offering”. And when God accepted the offering, he would have become upset. Root cause: Not appreciating other’s works.

Anything else?
There could be n number of reasons. Find out the root cause. Definitely there should be a root cause for your anger. The sooner you find it, the sooner you will get control over it.
This is how we should figure out what exactly is the cause of the anger. This exercise will definitely bring you closer to the reality of your own self.
But Cain did not do this self-analysis. Poor Abel would not have known what’s in the mind of Cain, because he went back home feeling blessed and happy in God’s presence.

Second Step: Seek God’s help as you deal with your emotion

Now, God comes down to help Cain.

And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected? If you do well, will you not be accepted?

The Lord helps him with three questions to find the root cause. God tells him that He would have been accepted if he had done a good job. God was telling him the reason why he was rejected.

If he would have asked God, God would have definitely told this before. But he chooses to remain upset and angry, and God had to initiate the conversation.

2nd stage of Cain’s anger: Looking sad and depressed and dejected

Many times, when we are angry, God is with us to help us out. All we need to do is to take a pause and listen to God’s gentle voice within so that we will know what’s the exact cause, and it will help us not to go wild in our thoughts.

Third step: Take the ‘right’ action

God continues to warn Cain.

And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.

God gives Cain 3 warnings.
My child, sin is crouching at your door. Sin is waiting to attack you. You must rule over it.
In other words, if you do not deal with your anger at the right time, you are going to burst out and you may go crazy.
When God tells us something or when He reminds us of the possible outcomes of uncontrolled anger, we must listen to him and take action accordingly, else it will be too late.
Now, if you read on, you will not find any response from Cain.
The next verse says,

And Cain said to his brother, Let us go out to the field. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Which means, Cain did not master over the sin. Sin took over Cain. Sin made Cain kill Abel.

3rd stage of Cain’s anger: Uncontrolled and sin took over his emotions and ended in murder.

Just imagine, how intense that anger was! Did Abel do anything wrong? No.

If uncontrolled, these may follow

I am praying, that God gives grace to us so that we will succeed in the third step itself. If not, you may most likely harm other innocent people who are around you, who have done nothing wrong to you. Cain literally murdered Abel. In our case, we may not physically kill someone, but the words we use can kill them.
Here is another indication: If someone is bursting out in anger towards you, it could be because they are dealing with some other problem to which they are unable to master. So do not react to them. You just happened to be a victim of their uncontrolled anger.

Fourth Step: Trust God for justice and remain at peace

Now God comes down again after he has killed Abel.

And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper? (Gen 4:9)

God asks him: Where is Abel?

So here comes the question: Why did not God stop Cain from killing an innocent person? Why was God watching there from above when this act was done?

Many times, when we are victims of other’s anger, we feel helpless and start thinking: What wrong have I done?

You may not have done anything wrong. It’s just the other person finding it difficult to control their anger.

So what am I supposed to do? Don’t react. Just remain cool. God is still on the throne. The just God will take action according to His perfect timing and will.

Trust God for justice!

When God asked where Abel was, Cain’s response was a lie (I DON’T KNOW) and a back-answer (AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?)!

How long was Cain angry? It continued even after God spoke to him for the first time. When he called his brother to the field, he was angry all his way. Even after he killed Abel, still his anger did not subside. It remained for a long time.

4th stage of Cain’s anger: Lying and back answering

Just imagine, what if Abel would have resisted and killed Cain? No, he didn’t.

Now God punishes Cain.

And [the Lord] said, What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. And now you are cursed by reason of the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s [shed] blood from your hand.

When you remain helpless and remain cool, your innocence will call out to the Lord, and He will hear your cry and pain. He will intervene at the right time. Just wait for God and trust God.

Now, Abel died and he never saw how justice was done. Even at the last breath, when he was dying, Abel would have called upon the Lord. He thought, God was silent when he was suffering, and he passed away.

But God brought justice.

Remember! We may not know how God brings justice, so do insist that God brings punishment upon those who harm us, in the way we want. Let us not take revenge. Let us pray for those who harm us. Let us continue to do good. Let God do the rest.

If you would like to watch a Malayalam Bible study on the same topic, watch the below video. Remember to subscribe to the channel and share the link to your friends

Comfort one another with these words

The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And those who have died believing in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be gathered up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.. (I Thess 4: 18)

God asks us to comfort one another by reminding each other about the Lord’s coming and how we are going to be with the Lord forever.
Isn’t it of great comfort? Either we will die or the Lord will come back to receive us. Whichever happens first, we are going to be with the Lord.
READ ALSO: http://hisvoiceonline-com.stackstaging.com/is-there-a-better-place/
Jesus is going to come back. All our sorrows, pain, grief, loss are going to end in a moment. We are going to a different world, where there is only happiness, joy, love, peace, and eternal comfort.

Watch this video sermon

Watch this Malayalam sermon on how God comforts His people who were suffering by giving them hope about the eternal life with God

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. (Phil 1: 23)

He wants to live, but he also wants to depart from this world and be with Christ, which he says, is far better.
In other words, Paul greatly desires

1. To flee from the pressures of this world
2. And to be with Jesus Christ in Heaven as early as possible

Why the new world is a better place?

Read what John has written about this better place

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Rev 21: 1 – 5)

You can see at least 10 reasons why the world to come is a better place

1. It’s a new world – A new heaven and a new earth

New means new! You can never imagine how beautiful that world would be because it is prepared by God Himself for the bride of Christ, the chosen people who have given their lives to Jesus Christ.

2. God’s dwelling place is with people

You are going to live with God. You are going to see Him face to face. You are going to be thrilled about being in the awesome presence of God. No satan can come near you. Nobody can attack you. You are in the safest place ever.

3. He will wipe every tear from their eyes

Trust me, you will never cry. You will be happy and joyful always. Jesus Christ will wipe all tears from your eyes forever.

4. There will be no more death

You will not hear any news of death anymore. No corona death toll. No cancer. No virus. No sickness.

5. There will be no more mourning

There will be no grief or sadness or sorrow.

6. There will be no more crying

You will find no reason to cry there.

7. There will be no more pain

No more suffering, no more accusations, no more criticisms, no more punishment, no more

8. There are no older things anymore

Your old baggage will no longer pull you back. Old is gone.

9. God is making everything new

God is making everything new for you. What a beautiful place to be!

10. These people will never enter there

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Rev 21: 8)

These above-mentioned people will be sent to the lake of fire.

But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Rev 21: 27)

Only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be there!

Is this true?

Yes, because God says so

  Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true

You can 100% trust these words. These are the words of God Himself. It’s true.
The better place is being prepared for you. Are you getting ready to go there? This world becoming a worse place to live is just a reminder for us to get prepared for the new world.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (I John 3: 2, 3)

Those who have this hope purifies himself.
Which is this hope?
The hope that we are going to see Jesus Christ as He is.
The hope that we are going to become like Him.
Those who have this hope lives every second on this earth carefully because they can’t miss the appearance of Jesus Christ. They can’t afford to lose eternity with Christ. They seek every opportunity to live even more holy and pure because God is pure.

Isn’t this your motivation to live pure?

Without holiness, you can’t see God

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12: 14)

God is super holy. We need to become holy in order to meet God.
There is no other way.

Nothing impure will ever enter God’s presence

Nothing impure will ever enter it (Heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev 21: 27)

Let the holy person continue to be holy

Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy. (Rev 22:11)

Let us wash our robes, else your place will be OUTSIDE

 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Rev 22: 14, 15)

Last but not least. You may not want to miss this.

Jesus Himself says (probably the last words of Jesus in the Bible)

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done

Do you long to get this reward personally from the Lord. Live pure!

Here is a 30 minutes Malayalam Sermon on this

Watch this Malayalam sermon on 8 blessed things that will happen to you on His appearance

Once a gentleman came to Jesus. He fell on his knees before him, asking, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered, “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
He replied, “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Mark 10: 17-22)

This gentleman did everything he knew was right. He followed everything right from his childhood. Yet there was one thing lacking in him. And Jesus revealed to him what it was!
My point here is this:

Even if you have done everything you knew is right, there might still be something lacking in you. Jesus knows it. If you ask Him, Jesus will tell you what it is.

It will not be found anywhere in Google, or anywhere in self-help books or articles. No counselors or preachers or pastors will know it. You have to get it right from the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you have done everything, come to Jesus. Ask Him, “Lord, I have done everything. What more should I do?”
Jesus loves you if you do that!

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

In another version it says,

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him

Yes, Jesus feels genuine love for you, when you go behind Him seeking the truth. Jesus Christ is faithful enough to reveal that one thing that you need to do. It is a very specific revelation. It’s just for you.
Unfortunately this gentleman went away sad, because he was not willing to do what Jesus told him to do. Let not that be you.
Now, you know what was lacking in him.

He did everything he knew was right in his own eyes, but he did not do everything that was right in God’s eyes.

That’s where the whole difference lies.
Dear child of God, You might think you have done everything. But it is possible there is something which you are missing out. Come to Jesus. Only Jesus can show it to you. When He shows you, be humble enough to accept it and follow it no matter what! Then you will be highly blessed.
Sit at the feet of Jesus. Look at His face. Ask genuinely, “Lord, please tell me what is lacking in me”. Jesus will reveal it as you wait patiently at His feet. The answer which comes from the Lord will change the whole situation.
God bless you.

• Role of Holy Spirit in speaking to us
• 5 instances where God speaks to Paul in a personal manner

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Matthew 27: 46)

If you are suffering today, you should meet Jesus Christ who is an example of human suffering.

It’s a divine attitude: The willingness to suffer

This is what the Bible says about the attitude of Jesus while He was suffering.

This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did. “He had never sinned, and he had never lied.” People insulted Christ, but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him. (I Peter 2: 21-23)

Jesus Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. That example was to suffer willingly!
Are you willing to take up that call?

It’s a divine opportunity:  To suffer being innocent

If you are suffering today, know that it is a divine opportunity to practice the attitude of suffering.

A person might have to suffer even when it is unfair, but if he thinks of God and can stand the pain, God is pleased. If you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for being patient in your punishment. But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased. (I Peter 2: 19, 2o)

Are you suffering being innocent?
Then you are highly blessed! When you suffer even though you haven’t done anything wrong, it is highly pleasing to the Lord. You know you have done the right thing in the best of your conscience and before God, yet you are suffering and are being patient.
You accept it saying in your heart,

God is in control of my situation. I know I have done the right thing. God knows my situation. I am unable to prove my innocence. I am following the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ knows my situation. He is there watching. I will not lose heart. I will hold on to God.

This is what true Christian attitude is!

It’s a divine character: Be patient

When you suffer, there are two attitudes that the Lord expects from you

• Think about the good God and stand the pain without murmuring or complaining
• Be patient and know that God is in control

God will look at you and comment,

My dear, you resemble more like my Son Jesus who also went through suffering and pain without making any mistake

Therefore, take it as an opportunity to practice patience and increase trust in God. These two attitudes are highly commendable before God.

It’s a divine response: Not to insult or threaten

• Do not INSULT your persecutors in return
• Do not THREATEN your persecutors in return

If you follow this, you are rightly following Jesus Christ. Jesus did not threaten the Jews who persecuted Him. Jesus did not insult them.

It’s a divine action: To judge righteously

As a Christian, your primary source of justice should be from God. Don’t you trust God to take the right action in your case?
Do as Christ did: He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him.
It’s when you silently suffer, knowing that you are innocent, you are deeply trusting God to judge rightly. You trust God so much that you don’t even take one step to cause pain to your persecutors in return. You trust in a God who is so powerful that you know very well that God will take care of you.
You know what?
That’s the real Christian attitude towards suffering. Remember, it’s a divine call.

It’s a divine purpose: To become like Christ

God is more interested in your character than saving you from suffering. He is more interested to mould you to become a better person. So where is God when you suffer? He is right there besides you helping you get through and make you a strong person.
Jesus Christ holds your hands and whispers:

My child, I know your pain, I know what you are going through. I have been in that place 2000 years ago. I have been sentenced to death without doing anything wrong. I suffered the entire pain on the cross trusting in my Father. I want you to do the same thing. Father watches over you. Trust Him. I will help you. I will never leave you alone.

God is not silent when you suffer. God is not the source of your pain. But He is allowing you to go through suffering so that you become mature like Christ.
The choice is yours: Whether to suffer like Christ or to become upset, frustrated and taking revenge on your persecutors.
If you miss it, you are missing the divine call in your life: To suffer like Christ.
This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as He did.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward. (Psalms 127:3)

We are thankful to God Almighty for this blessed heritage and this blessed reward.
I was suddenly reminded about how Jesus explains about our Heavenly Father.

Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matt 7:9,10,11)

God has blessed many of us to become human fathers so that we get a glimpse of what fatherhood means – the joy to be a father, the feeling of bringing up a child, the privilege of being loved as a dear father, etc- all these points us to our eternal Father, who is ever loving and ever caring.
Therefore, if human fatherhood means to sacrifice, nurture and care, how much more loving our Father in Heaven is. God our Father is watchful of every moment of ours. He is joyful over our little growth. He nurtures us, provides for us, guides us, and brings us up in His ways.

Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)

Even if you believe or not, this is going to happen. It will be too late to be rejected and finally come to know that it was true.
So it is always wise to be prepared.
Here is a famous parable told by Jesus about being wise in preparing to meet the Lord

Then the kingdom of Heaven shall be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. But the wise took jars of oil with their lamps. While the bridegroom delayed, they all rested and slept. “But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.’ “The wise answered, ‘No, lest there not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they went to buy some, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matt 25: 1-13)

Since we do not know the day or the hour, it is wise to be prepared and ready all the time. Once the door is shut, it will be too late. So let’s hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.
What are you doing to get prepared? Share your thoughts below

The Lord said, “Who is the wise and trusted servant that the master trusts to give the other servants their food at the right time? When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed. I tell you the truth, the master will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns. But suppose the servant thinks to himself, ‘My master will not come back soon,’ and he begins to beat the other servants, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master will come when that servant is not ready and is not expecting him. Then the master will cut him in pieces and send him away to be with the others who don’t obey. (Luke 18: 42-46)

When our Master Jesus Christ returns, He expects us to be doing what the Lord has asked us to do.
Once, Jesus was tired from his long trip, so he sat down beside the well. It was about twelve o’clock noon. When a Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” This happened while Jesus’ followers were in town buying some food. The conversation continued. She started to open up and Jesus was helping her with the issues of her life. Meanwhile, his followers came were begging him, “Teacher, eat something.” But Jesus answered, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” (John 4)
Jesus was fully occupied with helping the broken hearted woman of Samaria. He was so involved with this work that he even forgot to drink water nor have his lunch.
Then Jesus said

My food is to do what the One who sent me wants me to do and to finish his work. (John 4: 34)

That’s what we are talking about: doing what the Lord wants us to do and to finish His work.

What is that one thing that you are so passionate about? Most probably, you will be doing that thing when the Lord returns!

Let our whole mind, heart, soul and body be focused on that one thing: To do what the Lord wants us to do
You are blessed if the Lord finds you doing that work when He returns.
What could you be doing when the Lord returns? What would like to be doing when the Lord returns? What suggestion would you have for the readers to help them get ready for the Lord’s return? Please share your views below. 

Doors of supermarket can be closed, but doors of heaven can never be closed ~hisvoiceonline-com.stackstaging.com

Jesus taught us to pray to God for food: Give us today our daily bread

This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matt 6: 9- 13)

Even though God knows that we need food, we still are supposed to pray to God for food.
Why?
Jesus taught so!
Praying to God for food shows our dependence on God for our daily needs. We know that money brings food to the table. But we also need to understand that God is the source of our energy, strength, intelligence, ability to earn, and all that we have right now.
Jesus says: Do not worry about what you will eat or drink

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matt 6: 25-27)

We look upon the Government for food and essential items. We read the newspaper to get updates on the stock of things. Those are all needed. The Government is doing its best, but can they guarantee to meet all our needs?
But God reminds us: Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
So do not worry, but trust your Heavenly Father. Your Heavenly Father knows how to feed you.
Therefore, even as we get the raw materials from the market, let us go beyond and acknowledge the real source of our daily food, God!
Let us humble ourselves, bow our heads, look upon God, and genuinely ask for our daily food. God hears our prayer. He will be your source of food, air, shelter, and water.
Even as we purchase the raw materials, let us keep thanking the Lord for His provision.

Let us pray

Father in Heaven. We thank you for providing all our needs. Give us our daily bread. Feed the poor and the hungry around the world. Help them that are suffering. Thank you, Father. We trust you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

നിങ്ങളുടെ ചിന്തകൾ ഓൺലൈനിൽ പങ്കിടുക_#JannatCurfew #HisVoiceOnline

In this hour of crisis, our Lord wants us to do one significant thing: Remember.

John 16:4 “But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them“.

The word remember has got a lot of significance in this hour of worldwide crisis.
Apostle Paul also highlights:-

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

What do you “remember” when you see and hear all these?
Do you remember the words of the Lord?
When the time comes, let us remember the words of the Lord.
And the time is now!
The Lord has told us everything well in advance.
And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. (John 14: 29)
Now it is coming to pass, let us REMEMBER and BELIEVE.
Believe what? Believe the Words of the Lord.
What were his words?

These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14: 25-27)

Let us start by remembering and believing these things.

We have a very present helper, the Holy Spirit

What does the world need in this crisis? Jesus says, HELPER!
Now, it has reached a stage that nobody can help you, and human help is minimal as of now. Casualties are increasing beyond human control. Now is the time to turn to the real Helper who can help us. He is the Holy Spirit!
Can you please pray along with me.

Lord, I need your help. Holy Spirit, I need you. Please come and help me.

Wait and see how the Lord will turn up!

Holy Spirit will teach us all things

In this hour of crisis, we need wisdom from above. The wisdom of the world has failed. Governments, leadership bodies, rulers of the nations, pastors, priests, everybody needs wisdom!
It is high time; we must admit that we do not know everything. We need the teachings of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
Can you please pray along with me.

Lord, today I humble myself. I need you to teach me. I do not know anything. Please tell me what to do.

Holy Spirit will help us to remember all the words of Jesus

Jesus asks us to remember. He is not asking us to trust our memory power, and rather He is giving us a divine Helper who can remind all His words during this time of crisis. 
Is your mind filled with anxiety? Worries about the future? 
Seek the Help of the Holy Spirit. He will remind you of certain things, and here are they!

Lord, remind us of all that you have told us. We really want to know and learn and remember all that you have taught us

Peace of God

Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.

Do you want the peace which the world offers? Maybe they can provide you with $1000 for a month or some benefits to get over the present crisis? But will that be enough? Do you think the government of the world can satisfy all your needs?
But Jesus gives you peace, and He is giving you His Peace!
The peace which surpasses all understanding. The peace which surpasses the turmoil of corona. The peace which passes the fear of death. The peace which passes the fear of corona. The peace which passes the fear of isolation. The peace which passes the fear of loneliness and chaos. 
In other words, the peace which the world can never give you!
Isn’t it truly the need of the hour?
Can you please pray along with me,

Lord, I need your peace. I really need it now. Please fill me with your peace.

Jesus proved Himself when the disciples were really in need of peace. They were once afraid and was house quarantined due to fear of the Jews. Jesus appears and stands in front of them, saying, peace be with you. All sad and upset faces began to shine.
Wherever you are, isolated, quarantined, or unable to move, Jesus guarantees you Peace and His Peace. 

Let our hearts not be troubled nor be afraid

Is a world economic recession going to come? How will I pay the bills for this month, next month, next year? Forget about all those things for a while. Remember the words of the Lord. Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 
Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Who knows whether we will be there tomorrow? 
So let us not waste today by thinking about tomorrow, but be cheerful, peaceful by remembering and believing the words of the Lord. 
Worrying about tomorrow will never bring any good because tomorrow has worries of its own. The Lord is faithful to meet all your needs. Seek Him. Trust Him. Believe Him. He is with you. He loves you. He heals you. He gives you His peace. 
Remember what the Lord has spoken. Believe what the Lord has spoken (not the estimate of researchers or scientists). Experience the divine peace. Enjoy the help of the Holy Spirit. Learn what the Holy Spirit wants to teach you today.
God bless you.
Let us pray

Father, we pray for the millions of people in this world who are all going through various kinds of suffering, tragedy, and who have lost their loved ones. We pray that you fill their hearts with your peace. Lord, prepare us, teach us, equip us, remind us, fill us with your love, peace and grace. Lord, please give wisdom to the government to stand firm in this hour of crisis. Lord, please remember us. Lord, help us. We need you. We give you all glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

12 things God’s people need to know during Coronavirus crisis

Do not ignore Divine Warnings

And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (I John 1:4)

Let’s meditate

John writes what he received from God, so that our joy may become complete.
In other words, when we read and know the Word of life, our joy increases.
Do you want to become joyful?
The only way is to know the Word of life, which is the truth.
It will set you free.

Let’s pray

Father, I want to read, know and understand the Word of life which is the truth. Please help me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (I John 1:3)

Let’s meditate

What a privilege to enjoy the fellowship with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
God loves to have fellowship with us. That is why God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to bring us back to Himself so that we can enjoy the fellowship with God for ever.
Today, do you feel alone?
Let’s start with this fellowship: Fellowship with God.
You will really enjoy this walk with God. Try and see!

Let’s pray

Father, I also want to experience and enjoy this fellowship with you. Would you please help me? Let Your name be glorified. Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Let’s meditate

John takes an effort to proclaim what they have seen and heard, so that we also may know this word of life, which connects us to other believers and connect us with the living God
In other words, knowing the Word of Life is essential to enjoy a true fellowship with God
Do you long to walk with God, talk to God, experience God and enjoy a personal journey with God.
All you need to do is to know the Word of life.

Let’s pray

Father, open our ears to hear the Word of life, open our eyes to see the life in you, so that we can enjoy a close fellowship with you and other believers. Thank you Jesus. Amen
 

The life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. I John 1:2

Today’s Message

What all things we can learn about this life which is mentioned in this verse?

1. This life was once hidden but is now manifested.
2. We have seen this life
3. We bear witness of this life
4. We declare about this life
5. This life is eternal life
6. This life originated from the Father
7. This life is manifested to us

Prayer for the day

Lord, please help us to experience this life everyday of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

[We are writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands. (I John 1:1)

Today’s Message

We can HEAR God, which means God speaks to us.
We can SEE God, which means God has revealed Himself to us through Jesus Christ, His Son.
We can GAZE upon God (A more deliberate and closer look), which means God is in front of us always.
We can TOUCH him and experience God, which means God’s presence is available with us.
These are the 4 ways by which we can experience God.
Are you able to experience God in any of the above ways?
May God help us to experience Him everyday.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, help us to experience you everyday. Amen.

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you I John 1:3

Let’s meditate

We have SEEN! We have HEARD! We DECLARE to you!
John was blessed to SEE the Word of Life. John was blessed to HEAR the Word of Life.
Now, he takes on the responsibility to DECLARE it to us, so that we may also SEE and HEAR the word of life.
Do you see this word of life? Do you hear this word of life?
Now, it’s time to speak about what you have seen and heard. It is not fair to keep the truth with yourselves.
3 things you need to do with the Word of life.
See, Hear and Speak it out!

Let’s Pray

Father, open our eyes that we may see you. Open our ears that we hear you. Open our tongue so that we may speak about you.
 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. I John 1: 1

It’s concerning the Word of life.
Our source of life is the Word of God.
Do you feel something is dead within you? Do you feel that there is less life in you?
The source of life is the Word of God, which proceeds from the mouth of God. Today let us desire for that word which gives life.
Have a blessed day.

The other day we had a group bible study at one of our brother’s home. The portion was about Zacchaeus, who desired to see Jesus and climbed a tree to watch Jesus passing by. Here is a summary of the twelve exciting lessons we learned from the man Zacchaeus.

Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. A man was there named Zacchaeus, who was a significant tax collector, and he was wealthy. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd. He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him. When Jesus went to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to complain, “Jesus is staying with a sinner!” But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more.” Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today because this man also belongs to the family of Abraham. The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them. 

1. He sincerely desired to see Jesus

This man had a govt job. He was a senior officer. He lacked nothing, but since he had heard much about Jesus, he genuinely wanted to see who Jesus was.
Do we have a thirst and a hunger to see and know more about God? Do we long to hear His voice? Do we 

2. He had a hope in Jesus

He had heard about the miracles Jesus performed. He had heard that Jesus restored sight to the blind, made the lame walk, restored the sick, etc. 
He would have believed that seeing Jesus would change his life or make him happy. Whatever may be the intention, it is definite that he had a hope in Jesus. 
Do we believe in Jesus? Whatever may be the situation we are in, we can trust in God and hope in Christ!

3. He took an effort to see Jesus

He had attempted to see Jesus, but because of the crowd and his short stature, he could not see him. But he didn’t quit. He ran ahead and climbed a tree to see Jesus.
The desire to see Jesus pushed him to take an effort to pursue his passion. 
How much effort are we taking to experience God? Do we invest time, effort, and energy in seeking God? God will satisfy the hungry souls. He will never disappoint you.

4. He was passionate

He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come. He planned. He took an earnest effort and laid out an action plan to achieve his dream of seeing Jesus.
Do we plan our time with the Lord? Do we take quality time to read the Bible and pray?

5. He was innovative

He was short, but that didn’t stop him. He found a solution to his weakness. He found a tree and climbed on it to overcome his weakness. He was innovative.
Do we stop pursuing our dreams because of any of our weaknesses? We need to find a solution or an innovative idea to overcome our weaknesses rather than being upset or depressed about it.

6. He was determined to see Jesus at any cost

He was a wealthy govt officer, yet he was not ashamed to climb a tree. He was not worried about what people would think if they see him on a tree, because his only focus was to see Jesus. He was determined to take the risk. 
Do we take such risks to experience God? Do we stop ourselves from pursuing God, worried about what people would think?

7. Zacchaeus obeyed Jesus

When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus respected the words of Jesus and came down quickly. 

8. He welcomed Jesus gladly

When Jesus offered to come to his house, Zacchaeus gladly received Jesus. He gave a warm welcome to Jesus and his team to his home. 
Have we received Jesus into our lives yet? If not, this is your day. Let us welcome Jesus into our lives. Our experience will never be the same. Zacchaeus had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. 

9. He was not distracted by the irritating comments of the crowd

Jesus followed Zacchaeus to his home. A great group would have followed Jesus. Along the way, people were murmuring, “Look at this. This good man Jesus is going to the house of a sinner. Can’t Jesus see what kind of man Zacchaeus is! Why would Jesus go to his house,” and so on?
But Zacchaeus was not at all bothered over the silly comments from the crowd. The words of Jesus echoed in his mind: “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.”
The words of Jesus were louder than the irritating comments of the people around him. 
Let us not be distracted by what people say about us. Let us focus on what Jesus has told us. 

9. He responded to Jesus and not to the crowd

Zacchaeus would have heard the comments: “Jesus is staying with a sinner!”. He could have turned to Jesus and complained to Jesus asking them to stop calling him a sinner. Zacchaeus could have stopped there and responded to the people in an angry manner. But Zacchaeus was focused on returning to the kindness of Jesus. Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more.”
Look! Zacchaeus did not respond to the crowd, but he returned to Jesus. 
Do not waste your time and energy, giving explanations to all criticisms around you. Let us focus on what the Lord is asking us to do. That’s what matters the most. 
Zacchaeus did the right thing, and it pleased the Lord.
Remember! Our relationship with the Lord takes the utmost priority. 

10. He instantly decided to change

We don’t see Jesus speaking much at his house. The love of Jesus changed his life. Zacchaeus decided to change (repent). 
Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more.”
What a great repentance! A man of instant action! A greedy man now decides to sell half of his possessions and help the poor. He agreed to repay four times to those whom he cheated! What a significant transformation.
Is the Lord asking you to repent today? Let us quick to repent and do the works of repentance. Let us not delay. Let us do it now!

11. He received salvation

Jesus accepted his repentance and saved his life. He declared salvation to his home. 
When we repent and confess our sins to the Lord Jesus Christ, we receive salvation. 

12. He received a new label

Jesus said: This man also belongs to the family of Abraham. In other words, Jesus changed his name from “a sinner” to “son of Abraham”
When you follow Christ, God gives you a new position in the Kingdom of God.
Here is a video that was shoot on a tree

Joseph was a just man and was unwilling to put her to shame

Matthew 1:19
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

(The perspective is not for divorce but for the honor he gives for his fiancee)

Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

(The perspective is not the food but the defilement)

Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through

Acts 19:21
Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

(The perspective is not the places mentioned but the depending on the Holy Spirit)
Each of the above verses talk of resolutions
One may wonder each of the resolutions above is so weird and different.
One man resolves to honor his fiance and quietly solve a situation that was brewing in their lives.
One man resolves to stand for his ethics and values that he had learned and observed from his childhood, even though he is placed in life or death situation
Another man resolves to do nothing but what the Spirit of God guides him to do in his ministry, in spite of more eloquent apostles and preachers around him.
The above are some examples of situations we are in right now or could face in the next year.

What is our ‘resolve’?

1. Very tough unknown situations. Call for even tougher resolve depending on God’s grace.
2. Highly compromising conditions. Call for the resolve of steel to depend and abide by God’s word.

Every minister and child of God should resolve to listen to the Holy Spirit for every step in 2020.

Not very far is the fulfillment of the promise.
Behold He is coming quickly.

If anybody really knew that Jesus was virgin-born, it would be Mary.

And Mary knew it. Joseph, her fiance, knew it.
A couple, at probably the most important decision of their lives. And they did not decide to spin a story, but they stuck to the truth that they knew. This kid was going to be different.
It was not an auspicious moment.
It was not a very posh hospital suite.
There was no attending doctors team.
There was no celebration among the relatives or the distribution of sweets.
No one came to visit the newborn baby.
He was born to a virgin. He was to be known as the Son of God.
His birth was heralded to both the king of the land and to the common shepherds. One sought to kill Him. The other came and worshipped Him.

May be He should not have been born at all?

1. The blind man Bartimaeus would have remained blind all His life.
2. Peter and his friends would remain fishermen.
3. The Samaritan woman at the well would have continued with her infidelity and never knew the true worth of her life.
4. The politically and religiously fluent Nicodemus would have continued in His ignorance.
5. Lazarus would have remained dead.
6. There would be no crucifixion of Jesus with the two other criminals.
7. There would be no resurrection of Jesus as the one who overcame death.
and so on…
This is a very very short list of what would have never happened.

So you see the kid’s birth as the Son of God was

1. A Healing – to hundreds of people who believed
2. Career changing – to all who met Him
3. A source of forgiveness – to all who accepted Him as Savior
4. The answer to the most loftiest questions
5. Redemption – as He made the impossible possible.
6. Reconciliation – for there was no one else to take away the burden of sin.
7. Salvation – as a friend for the sinner and a meaning to life after death.

So today.

1. When you look at your sickness, you have an answer, healing, a person to turn to – Jesus.
2. When you look at your vocation – you will find someone who adds more meaning – Jesus
3. When you feel that your stash of porn or your illicit relationships or your crazy habits are destroying your life – your friend to help you out is Jesus
4. When in your life you find staring at impossible moments – one who can lead you through – Jesus
5. When burdened with guilt and snares of mistakes and wrongs – you have a forgiver, a companion.
6. And if at the end of your life you realize that it’s all over and been futile – turn to Jesus – for He is the Way, Truth, and Life.
7. And yes, after this life on earth is over, there is a promise of a life in eternity.

And this day.

Yes, He is very much alive and speaking to hundreds and millions across the world.
Your life has a meaning on this earth, and you are a worthy inheritor of the grace of eternal life.
His promise is –

I will never leave you and forsake you all the days of your life.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Suddenly the phrase God created caught my attention.
Oh! God created? That means God did something.
I thought:-
In English grammar, what do you call for “an action done by someone”? They call it an Action Verb.
Interesting!
A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the central part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, happen. (Google)
I quickly started skimming through Genesis chapter 1 to find out more action verbs of God.
Do you want to join me in finding them? If you find more, remember to put that down in the comments below
Here you go! Scroll till the end, and there is a personal message for you.

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. (Mark 1:14 NIV)

John was put in prison.
Why? What happened? What wrong did he do? Wasn’t John sent by God? Wasn’t John the one who baptized Jesus? Did he not do his best with his life? Did he not obey the will of God?
Then why John in prison?
Moreover, why did Jesus not intervene? Why did He not use His influence to talk to authorities and save his cousin John?
Why did Jesus go straightaway to Galilee preaching the gospel? Can’t He do something about John?
Tons of questions flood our minds when something like this happens to people who are living a good and holy life.
We fail to see the One who is in control of the whole situation. Do you know that King Herod cannot touch John without the knowledge of the King of kings?
Jesus went ahead to preach the gospel without worrying much about John because Jesus knew very well that it was the same Spirit guiding John and Jesus. Jesus trusted the Holy Spirit to help John in his situation.
When something strange happens to you, never be surprised. Just know that God is in control and trust in God.
Yes, John was put in prison, but God was in control

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. (Mark 1:14 NIV)

John’s mission comes an end. Jesus takes over.
God’s timings and God’s way of transitioning mission across His servants are amazing. God sent John to prepare the way for Jesus and John did it well. Jesus started walking in the path prepared by John.
God has the master plan in His mind. We are just appointed for a season. Somebody has prepared a path for us. We just need to start walking in that path, and once done, prepare the way for the next. This will continue for generations till Jesus returns.
Have you identified your path in this particular season of God’s mission on earth? It’s for a short period and the task is highly specific. And it is generation specific.
Get on to that path (as early as possible) which is already prepared for you by ‘someone else’ who was appointed by God to prepare a path for you.

he [Jesus] was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (Mark 1: 13, NIV)

Jesus was placed in a terrible environment: Wild animals around (life was at risk), Desert and wilderness (heat of the sun, no food, water or shelter), Satan tempting Jesus (total negative influences)
But there were angels attending to Jesus. (Note the plural term)
Who are the angels?

Angels are ministering spirits sent by God to protect, guard, help and strengthen God’s people

In Paul’s words

What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation. (Heb 1:14)

In their own words

I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus (Rev 19:1)

Another promise of God

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

There are many instances in the New Testament, where angels ministered to the servants of God.
When Paul was in danger, angel came and strengthened him.

Last night an angel, of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴ and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ (Acts 27: 23)

When Peter was in prison, angel came and rescued him.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. (Acts 12:7)

When Jesus was in Gethsemane, being sorrowful and heavy-hearted, an angel came and strengthened him

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (Luke 22: 43)

Angels are there around you, guarding and protecting you even when you don’t see them.
Therefore, be cheerful and be courageous. God has assigned angels in charge over you. Have a blessed day
 
 
 

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (Mark 1: 12, 13)

Wilderness + 40 days + constant temptation by Satan + wild animals + no food + no people + no shelter
What wrong did Jesus do to suffer these? Why Jesus had to go through all these? 
Sometimes God allows us to go through terrible and wild experiences like these. We might feel it’s the end of our life. We see wild animals around. We see Satan constantly troubling and irritating us. We see no source of life anywhere around us.
But remember!
God has already sent His angels to attend to Jesus’ needs and His Holy Spirit to give guidance, power, strength, grace and wisdom.
Yes! God will not send you into the wilderness without providing additional support, grace and strength through the power of His Holy Spirit and God will always send his angels to guard over you and protect you.
What a great assurance! Have a blessed day!

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (Mark 1: 11,12,13)

Jesus heard a voice from heaven. God’s Holy Spirit descended on Jesus. Holy Spirit started taking the complete lead of the life and mission of Jesus. Jesus simply yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit and went to the wilderness as guided by the Holy Spirit.
Who is the kind of person the Holy Spirit wants to lead? One who freely leaves himself completely to God’s will. without questioning or rebelling.
Do you want the Holy Spirit to lead you? Only way is to have a TOTAL surrender to the plans of God. Let us stop trying to push ourselves to accomplish something of our own desire and will, and let us pursue God’s will for our lives. Just like Jesus did, let us freely flow as per the leading of the Holy Spirit
Note: Thanks for your feedback on the daily posts. Please feel free to comment below so that I can also read what the Lord is teaching you from the same passages.

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Holy Spirit came upon Jesus. Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. His first appointment was WILDERNESS, a place where no one wants to go. That too 40 days. A long period without food. A place where wild animals were present.
Looks like a terrible appointment.
But if the Holy Spirit is leading you, don’t worry about where you are heading to, what you are going to eat, who is going to harm you. Just go ahead and trust in God’s Holy Spirit. If God is with you, you really have nothing to worry.

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness (Mark 1: 10-12, NIV)

Jesus saw heaven being torn open. He saw Spirit descending on him. He heard the voice of God. Then the Holy Spirit started taking lead over Jesus. Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the wilderness.
As our dear Father, God will not only speak to us but He will also lead us as dear children and equip us to take the next step.
Are you struggling to take the next step. God is leading you. Trust Him. Listen to Him. Take only one step at a time. He is holding your hands.
Father, thank you for this wonderful day. Lead us into the right paths. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:10,11)

Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. Jesus heard the voice of the Father.
I see a connection between these two:- Holy Spirit coming upon us. We, being able to hear the voice of God. Yes! It is the work of the Holy Spirit to enable our inner ears to discern the voice of God.
Today, as we begin this day, let us pray that the Lord fill us with more of the Holy Spirit, so that we will be able to hear the voice of God more clearly.
Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit. Help us to discern your voice. Enable us to hear you more clearly, so that we will be able to walk according to Your guidance. Thank you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
 

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11 NIV)

Jesus heard the voice from heaven. Note the words You, my and I. It’s a pure personal conversation between Jesus and the heavenly Father.
We speak to many different people everyday, but what matters the most is the you-and-i conversation that happens between God and us.
What was the you-and-i conversation that you had with God today?

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11, NIV)

Jesus had a huge mission to accomplish and He was about to begin his mission. That’s when He hears the voice of God: You are My Son. I love you so much. I am very much pleased with you.
In other words, God was saying: My Son, No worries about your future. It will be painful, difficult and sometimes you may even feel like giving up, but My Son, always remember I am with you and I will be with you no matter whoever opposes you or rejects you. Go ahead! You will be able to accomplish all that I have assigned you. My presence goes with you.
Do you hear similar voice from your Father in Heaven?

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1: 11, NIV)

After 30 years of life on this earth, Jesus hears from God: I am ‘well’ pleased with you.
Is my Father in Heaven well pleased with me today?

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11 NIV)

Voice came from heaven.
When we look up and sincerely desiring to hear from God, we will definitely hear from God!
Today, what did you hear from God?
 

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. (Mark 1: 9,10 NIV)

Jesus looked up!
And He ‘saw’ heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descending on Him as He was about to start His own ministry. What a great approval from Heaven for His ministry!
As you being this day, look up towards God and you’re gonna see the heavens opened (which means God’s favour and approval) and the presence of the Holy Spirit filling you as seek Him in the morning.
Have a blessed day!

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (Mark 1: 5)

As John started speaking about God, suddenly people’s eyes were opened to their sins and immediately they started confessing their sins. What a powerful ministry! This is the work of the Holy Spirit.
As you speak God’s word to others, do people get convicted of their sins? 

And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7,8)

John acknowledges the greatness of God. John admits his own unworthiness. The more you know about God and the more you know about your own selves, the more humble you will be!
Today, how much you know about God? How much you know about your own selves? May be that will make you more humble and trust in God more.

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (Mark 1 NIV)

Here comes Jesus who was more powerful and holy went to John to be baptized by him, because John was appointed by God to baptize people. Jesus simply heeded to the will of God being obedient and submissive!
How can we be more submissive and obedient to the people whom God has appointed over us?

⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1, NIV Version)

John had a message to preach and he had only one message to preach – and that was about Christ!
What is your message for the world and that one message? Is it about Christ?

⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John set out to do the work of God. People gathered.
When you focus on doing the work which God has given you, God will take care of bringing the needy to you. Remember! It’s a team work – you and God!

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the Prophets:
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”
3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Today’s word for me
Note the phrases: repentance and confessing their sins.
Yes, let’s repent and confess our sins. That’s how we can prepare ourselves to meet our Lord
God bless you. Have a blessed day!

Today’s Portion

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Today’s Message

God sent John before He sent Jesus. And there he is, John doing the task God has given for him, that is to
Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
What is your task from the Lord today? May God help you find it, so that you may not waste any minute, but do those that God has assigned for you. God bless you

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,.

Let’s learn 5 important elements from the prayer life of Jesus
The Amplified version expands this scripture as below

In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

1. Jesus offered up definite and special petitions

His prayers to God were very specific.
See how Jesus prayed during his time of agony
2. Jesus submitted supplications
 
3. Jesus prayed with strong crying and tears
4. Jesus had great reverence towards God
 
 
 
 
 

2014 Inception of this idea

It was in 2014, that the idea of creating my own blog came to my mind. I personally believe that it was a God-inspired vision as I was not a writer then. I constantly felt a push within me to share thoughts that were sparked out of personal and group meditations of the Word of God. Eventually I shared this idea with my friend Renju Koshy, who encouraged me to pursue this idea of blogging. Prayerfully we finalised on the name HisVoiceOnline which means, God’s voice is always available for us to guide us.

2015 Idea into action

Towards the end of 2014, I was posted by my company in Malaysia for an official assignment. Simultaneously, the Lord prepared me to be become active in two churches in Malaysia. During this period, I got to meet a lot of friends, with whom I spent ample time discussing our thoughts on the Word of Truth. The urgent need to start the blog kept pondering my mind so that I could communicate regularly to people far and wide irrespective of all grounds on our beloved Father’s voice. On July 21st, 2015, I published my first post. It took more than 8 hours to draft, and with the help of a few friends I got it reviewed and published.
During the one and half years I spent in Malaysia, my blog started to take pace. Soon my blog became a forum where I could share the Word of God to friends and families, near and dear ones especially when I somehow wanted to communicate to them on how the Lord was leading me.

My beloved mentor and sister in Christ, Tara aunty (late)

Every writer has an inspiration, a mentor and mine was Tara aunty! Tara aunty played the role of a mentor, and a guide with regard to reviewing my blog contents. Since she was part of the church which I attended in Malaysia, communication regarding blog was easier.  Sadly in Dec 2018, she was taken to glory. Her constant words of encouragement helped me develop as a person and as a child of God needless to say, a blogger as well. I do not wish to continue succumbing to the pain of losing her to cancer but live on in the joy of seeing her being rewarded generously by our Father in Heaven. I cherish her valuable efforts in proof-reading my content for more than 3 years till date. of course every strong woman has a backbone and that’s her husband Antony uncle who stood by my side giving me strength and comfort in all my ups and downs.

2016 YouTube channel

Moving forward, my web ministry grew from blogging to vlogging. I started a YouTube channel, HisVoiceOnline TV, to post contents such as Piano tutorials, Inspirational sermons, Bible classes and more.

2017 Whiteboard Animation Videos

Adding a twist to all the vlogging, white board animations using a software tool called VideoScribe helped me reach out to all age groups in a creative manner. Wide reception of such videos made me realise people followed better by doing so. This was a breakthrough in this journey. Further by God’s grace, I started to create short Bible study videos as well.

2018 New doors opened

Through my blog and YouTube, God opened few doors for me to expand this ministry across few organisations and like minded people. Thats when I got a glimpse of what God was doing in my life through this media ministry. When God gives an idea, He will show us one step at a time. As we obey Him and continue our journey with Him, He will lead us step by step and at the end, when we look back, we will see the big picture, one that God was trying to paint beautifully in our lives.

2019 More short videos

In Dec 2018, I got married and was blessed to create more short videos, but this time with help from my wife. Check out my YouTube channel for the recent ones.
Thank you for your valuable prayers and support for my blog. More videos and animation series are in progress. God willing, those will be appearing in this blog. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you may enter your email address below to get weekly newsletter. God bless.