God’s Commandments by Pastor Alwin

1).God wants us to seek him first

We need to love and our love should be God directed.

1 Chronicles  22:19 -Set your heart and soul to seek God.

Psalms 34:10 -If we seek God, we shall not lack any good thing.

Psalms 119:2 – Blessed are those who seek God.

Everything is good, but not everything is beneficial.

2).Love his commandments

Psalms 112:1 – Delight in his commandments.

Psalms 119:47 & 48 – Love and Delight in his commandments.

3).Love one another

1 Peter 1:22 – Love one another fervently/passionately.

Agape Love :: A selfless Love.

Until the thought of self came in, Adam had a good communion with God.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of God’s love for us and brings us back to God.

We need to get back to the first love that we had for God.

How do we get back to this first love?

1).Cleansing our hearts

Psalms 51 : God loves a broken heart

Psalms 51:10 : Create in me a clean heart

Deuteronomy 30:6 : If we have a contrite and repentant heart, God will give us a new heart.

From Ezekiel we can see that, God will give us a heart of flesh and not a heart of stone.

2).What do we Treasure?

Psalms 119:11 : God’s word should be a treasure.

When our heart is full of God’s word, our reactions to situations are different.

When we have God’s word in our heart, we will react compassionately in frustrating situations.

Proverbs 25:28 : Losing self-control leaves us as helpless as a city without a wall.

Are our emotions controlled by God or by the situations in this world?

Psalms 42:11 : Put your hope in God.

3). Cleansing of our Mind

If we give a small space to the Devil, he will take our heart and mind away from God.

Deuteronomy 30:26 : God is the only being who can love us unconditionally.

Are we ready to give God the Number 1 Place in our life?

Suffering in Missions  by Pastor George

Hebrews 13:5 : “I will never leave you nor forsake you in the midst of crisis”.

Powerful Missionaries of God

David Livingstone: His heart was for Africa.

Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose”.

Jim’s Inspiration: In the U.S.A there was one Christian worker for every 500 people.However, In foreign countries, there was only one Christian worker for every 50,000 people.

Aquilla & Priscilla: The first missionary couple.

Tom White: “Missiles over Cuba”.

Richard Boomerang:  “Tortured for Christ”.

Persecuted under the communist Government in Russia.

A call for suffering

Acts 9:15 & 16 : “He Is my chosen instrument. He must suffer for my name.”

.The call is not to prosper, but a call for suffering.

.He dwells in us. We have to build a bridge into someone else’s heart, so God can walk in.

Romans 1:16 :”I am not ashamed of the gospel”.

1Corinthians 9:16 : “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast”.

1Corinthians 9:22 : “For I am all things to all people; so that by all possible means I may save some”.

When You Stand alone against the world

.You will suffer when you choose to go against the world.

.When there is no fear; faith causes you to rest in the midst of crisis.

.In Missions you will suffer. But in your suffering, Christ will suffer with you.

.When prayer & missions go hand in hand, the impossible becomes possible.

In the Midst of the fire(crises) –Part 3

 by Pastor George

Suffering is an important part of the faith walk. There is a lot of teaching today, especially on the lines of the prosperity gospel, where suffering is totally excluded from the faith walk and in fact, it is even taught that once a person comes to put his trust in Jesus, and becomes the child of God, he will no more have any form of suffering.

Strangely, every saint of the Bible, even the heroes of faith seem to have suffered due to their faith and otherwise. We also have the story of Job, which is a masterpiece in the study of suffering from a biblical perspective.

More importantly, our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ suffered while He lived on earth. The Bible in Isaiah 53: 3, it says:

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (ESV)

Jesus said in John 16:33b:

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We see that Jesus clearly tells us that we are bound to suffer here on Earth. Let us see what the Bible says about suffering from the context of the life of Jesus Christ.

DIVINE PURPOSE OF SUFFERING: FROM JESUS PERSPECTIVE

In Hebrews 5:7-9 :

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.

Here we can clearly see the purpose of suffering, crises, difficulties and challenges in our lives. God uses these to mould us in to the image of His Son. Through suffering one learns OBEDIENCE.

If the Son of God learnt obedience through suffering, we the redeemed saints of God also should learn obedience through suffering.

For our Lord, the way to the CROWN was only through the CROSS. We need to walk along the same WAY. Our Lord asked us to TAKE UP THE CROSS and follow HIM. At the end is the CROWN!

Last week we saw from James 1: 2-8 (MSG), that suffering, trials, challenges and tribulations are called GIFT especially when it comes from ALL SIDES. Under pressure, our faith-life is forced into the open and shows its TRUE COLORS!. James also warns us not to exit prematurely. He encourages us to stay on, as suffering produces maturity and makes us developed and not deficient in anyway.

FROM THE PSALMIST’S PERSPECTIVE

Listen to what the Psalmist says

Psalm 119:7-8: Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

The Psalmist seems to indicate strongly that he had gone astray from the faith, out of fellowship with God, and this state was prior to an affliction that he suffered. Interestingly, the next verse starts “BUT NOW” meaning post suffering, he keeps God’s Word. He has begun to practice obedience! Learning obedience through suffering – just like Jesus did. He goes on to say that God is good, and that He does/did good. The Psalmist implies that God did good by afflicting him so that he could return to God’s Word.  In Psa 119:75 it says : I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.  Here the Psalmist almost sounds crazy as he says that God’s faithfulness is demonstrated by afflicting him. In his affliction he recognizes God’s  faithfulness. He is able to see it strangely in this manner as he was drawn back from going astray and brought back into fellowship with God when God allowed affliction on him, which got his attention.

Suffering As Discipline: Hebrews 12:6-9

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

The writer of Hebrews is describing in these passages a wonderful truth that will draw us close to the Lord and give us hope in our times of crises. God allows affliction in our lives because he treats us like His sons. If you don’t want any part of this, then you cannot be His sons, and the bible calls such illegitimate/bastard! Strong words I must say!. God is serious about this. Such affliction only increases our fear and respect of our Heavenly Father.

NOTE ON REARING CHILDREN in the context of the above verse:

1. If you do not discipline your sons, you are going contrary to the word of God.
2. If there is anything worth giving your child, give them discipline. Only that will sustain in the long run.
3. If you don’t apply that rod for your child, someone will apply a thicker rod on them.
4. Stop the outsourcing of disciplining to mothers- YOU FATHERS!!! Discipline your children.
5. The more we discipline our children, the more the respect we get from them.

Litmus paper test: If you are not sure about your child’s discipline status, please  answer the below:

1. 1.       Is my son/daughter a nuisance to my neighbours?
2. 2.       What is the honest remark of my child’s school teacher?

In the Midst of the fire(crises) –Part Four  by Pastor George

How God works

.God works in miracles.

.God is always there when you least expect it.

.God allows suffering into the life of the saint.

.Suffering is good, it is a gift.

Suffering & the Sovereignty of God

.3 Things about suffering:

Jeremiah 18:1-6 :”Like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand”.

Isaiah 45:8-10 : The clay pot cannot question it’s maker.

1.You will inevitably face suffering. If someone tells you that you won’t suffer, it is a lie.

2.When you face suffering, you are at the centre of God’s will.

3.When you are going through suffering, God is not standing back and enjoying it. He is going through the suffering with you.

An overview of Israel’s History after King Solomon

.The Kingdom was divided after King Solomon. There were two Kings, Rehoboam and Jeroboam for Israel and Judah.There was a drop in the standards of the Kings after Solomon.The Kings did not know God.Because there was no leader who could lead showing God, God had to raise up prophets to prophecy about his wrath.

.When you do not put your eyes on God’s word, you will go into captivity.

.God had to allow his people into captivity, because he could not allow them to carry on in their sin.

.Every time you go and preach the gospel to a person who does not know God, you become a prophet for God.

.God prophesied through Isaiah and Jeremiah, that his people were going to suffer.

.Suffering brings out the true colours.

Sovereignity,Sustenance and Suffering

.Once we recognise God’s sovereignity over our lives, we can accept suffering.

Isaiah 45:5-7 :” I am the Lord, and there is no other”.

.If we relate to God in the context of his absolute sovereignty, we, the clay cannot question the potter, our maker.

1.Sovereignity: You understand the perspective of what you are going through.

We understand that he is the potter and we are the clay. He is moulding us, making us, begetting us.He is becoming father and mother.

2.Sustenance: When you are going through difficulties, you are not carrying your burden, he is carrying your burden.

God will not allow you to go to the point beyond which you will break. He will carry you through your suffering.

Your God is in the suffering with you. He will stand with you, he will not let you down.And when you come out, you will be beautiful.

God is my Sufficiency – Dr. K O John

Study on The Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 12:

Vs.1 : Though Jesus was followed by a multitude, He was speaking to His disciples about hypocrisy, fear of man and anxiety.The  Word of God focuses more on individuals than on groups.

Vs 1(b) -3: He began to say to His disciples, first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy”.  “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Hypocrisy (double-standards, trying to hide one’s true identity) is out of  fear of being revealed.  Jesus declares that there cannot be any secret as it would be revealed, as sin will find us out or the Holy Spirit would convict us to declare it openly or else, it would be made public on the Day of Judgment.

Vs.4 & 5:  “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” Vs.4 is about man (not Satan as we usually interpret) who can only kill / hurt the body. When asked who is great, God or man, our immediate response is ‘God’ of course. But whom do we fear? We hide our intensions & our true identity….for the fear of man, fear of rejection or for being accepted. Then whom are we giving importance to?

To fear God we need to know Him, not by our own means but through Jesus who reveals the Father to us (Matt 11:27- All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.) And only through this revelation could we worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Again the spirit mentioned here is one’s own (human) spirit with the revelation of who God is (not the Holy Spirit as  is usually understood).

Vs. 6 & 7: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Sparrows were the cheapest amongst the birds sold those days and if God could care for them, how much more should He do for us. For instance, we may not know the intricate details of a huge bridge but the engineer who designed it, would. He would know precisely every detail of even the sizes of the nuts & bolts because he made it. So, God our Creator is so personal that He knows every detail of His creation.Since we know our worth, we should not be anxious.

Vs.14 & 15 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”  And He said to them,“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” We usually make a wrong prayer request of asking for the treasures of the earth to the Provider of eternal treasures (of heaven)!

Vs.8, 9 & 12“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God..…For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

• Declare that God is your sufficiency
• Confess that God knows, sees and cares for you
• Declare your faith openly so that salvation becomes a reality in your life (Rom 10:9)
• Do not seek men for counsel & be confused, but seek God. Return to Him, your first love!

Communion by Pastor Siby

Luke 22:15 : Jesus desires to have Passover with us

.Christ knew the flaws of each and every person with whom he was having the Passover. Yet, he chose love.

1Corinthians 11:23  : Jesus was betrayed

.All of us have struggles, we betray Christ on a daily basis.

1Corinthians 11:17-22 :Disunity in the church

.Jesus died for us , so that we can be overcomers. We don’t partake of the Communion as flawless people.

.We are flawless only because of  Christ’s victory on the cross.

Although we deny Him, have our own way and are flawed, Christ longs to have communion with us.

Message by Pastor Alvin/Knowing God’s will

In the Greek-New Testament, Will has two words:

Boule-Rational, conscious desire

Thelema- Impulsive and unconscious desire

Aspects of God’s will

1.Decretive Will :Decree of God over our lives that we cannot over-power.

2.Perceptive Will: God gives us a choice whether to obey or not.

3.Permissible Will : What is pleasing and acceptable to God?

2Peter 3:9 : God doesn’t want anyone to perish.

a. Salvation for you and me is God’s plan.

1Timothy 2: 3,4

b.Sanctification

1Thessalonians 4:3 (a)

1Peter 1:15-16

c. Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing , give thanks in all circumstances.

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

d. Good works

1Peter 2:5

Titus 3:8

e. Suffering for Christ’s sake

1Peter 3:17

1Peter 4:19

How do we know the will of God?

Proverbs 3:5-6

1.Trust

2.Don’t lean on your own understanding

3.Acknowledge the Lord.

4. Willingness to obey God

Isaiah 48:17-19

Psalms 40:8

Psalms 27:4,5,6 : Delight yourself in the Lord

5.Read the Word of God.

Psalms 119:105 :His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

6.Pray

Colossians 1:9-10

Matthew 18:19-20

7.Fellowship

Colossians 3:16

How can we be sure about God’s will?

1.Not conforming to the world

Romans 12:2

2.It is consistent with God’s word

3.Counsel of the saints

Proverbs 15:22

4.Peace of God that passes all understanding

Philippians 4:7

Judging Others by Pastor Mohan

John 8:1-11

Do we judge others by what we see on the outside?

.There is more to people than meets the eye.

.We can’t judge a book by looking at the cover.

What would we say to the woman who was caught in adultery?

Would we be the ones to throw the first stone?

Or, would we walk away with our heads bowed?

Jesus was  the last man standing.. What does that mean?..

Yes!!!He was without sin!!

When the woman realized this, she may have become scared realizing that Jesus could stone her.

If Jesus, who knew no sin forgave her, who are we to judge her?

Radical Calling by Pastor George

.The call to follow Jesus is a radical calling.

Matthew 28:16-20:The great commission.

.When we hear the call of God, we have to follow His radical example.

.It calls for radical giving-Missions.

Acts 2:41-47 : The Passion and Boldness of the Apostles; God doing great things.

.It is a wake-up call, an hour of decision.

Mark 10:28-31 :Multi-fold restoration/Great Offer.

Jesus never promised a comfortable life,but following Him means taking up our cross and suffering like He did.