A Soul's Anchor

Tree of Life

2007-08-30T20:04:00.000-04:00

Genesis 2:8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Many people believe that God is an unjust God, He does not love us, nor does He care for us. Many of us believe that God is responsible for all the bad things that happen in our life. To truly understand if that is a true statement, we need to go back in time when God created the heavens and the earth. We need to see what really happened at that time, before we can make that judgment call!!

The first book of the Bible tells us the creation story, where God created all things in the beginning of time. In the Garden of Eden he also created two unique trees, “In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” As we read Chapter 2 of the book of Genesis we will see that God forbid Adam and Eve to eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” However, he never forbade them from eating from the “tree of life” or any other tree in the Garden. It is noteworthy to see that the devil came in the form of a snake to deceive Eve to eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and not from the “tree of life”. It was Adam and Eve’s choice to partake in the fruit of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” which led them to be banished from the Garden of Eden.

God always wanted us to obtain the fruit from the “tree of life”. He never forbade Adam and Eve, nor has he forbidden us from having from the “tree of life.” He is an unchanging God. He is the same God from the beginning of time. However, it has been always our choice that makes us eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” The devil never wants us to eat from the “tree of life”, but he always deceives us to participate in what is forbidden by God. The devil’s only objective is to “steal, kill and destroy” all the people on this earth, however many of us fail to recognize this reality and deception.

When King Solomon prayed to God he asked Him for wisdom. Solomon did not ask for riches or fame or any other material things. When God heard Solomon’s request, He was pleased!! God said that he will give him not only wisdom but also every material blessing that he needed. It is said that Solomon was one of the richest kings in this world. What exactly was the secret? I believe it is the same age old decision of deciding to eat the fruit from “tree of life” or from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

I am sure we can relate to this principle to every aspect of our life. God gives us a good spouse, but we choose divorce and other sexual promiscuity. God gives us a salary from our job, but we choose stealing from our job. God gives us children, but we choose to have children outside our marriage. God gives a fellowship of believers, but we choose to avoid churches, prayer meetings and bible studies. God tells us to be satisfied and trust in Him in everything, but we choose to be unsatisfied and become angry when things do not go our way. God always gives us life, but we always seem to choose death. Is truly God responsible for our fate? I believe we are the ones responsible for every decision we make on this earth.

God loves us so much that He went to the extent of sending His only begotten son, Jesus, to die on the cross, so that we can have eternal life and not eternal death. God has done so much for us. Our life on this earth is only for about 120 years, but after that time is eternity of heaven or hell. Our short stay on this earth is our only time where we can make our decisions for our fate. It is the decision to accept Jesus in our life? There is no other option. The choice is again with us!!!!!

Stanley Samuel
Associate Pastor
India International Church

Thirst No More

2007-08-22T07:51:00.000-04:00

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

On this earth we desire for many things in our life. The desires may take different forms for different people. To quench those desires, we try different things, but we never seem to quench our desires. This is a never ending cycle. We are never satisfied. We want more of everything, no matter what that desire may be.

Suppose we were to desire to become rich and famous. We will try to quench this desire by working very hard and/or by doing things that we believe will help us obtain that desire. Some of us may even go to the extent of becoming a workaholic. However, no hard work would ever seem enough. If we were to obtain one million dollars, we would desire for two million. We work harder with the intention to quench this next level of desire and the cycle goes on.

A person may desire for more sexual intimacy, other than with his spouse. They would try to quench their desires either through pornographic magazines/ websites or perhaps exploring other relationships. But their desires are not quenched. It is like a fire than cannot be stopped.

A person may desire to seek spiritual knowledge. They may try to quench their thirst by increasing their knowledge through reading many books or perhaps experiencing different kinds of religions of the world. Some even climb on top of a mountain to quench this desire. But alas, they are never satisfied; they hop from one god to another god, one religion to another. And their quest becomes a wild goose chase.

It is noteworthy to see that Jesus said, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again.” In our life we will have many desires but all these desires are unquenchable. However, Jesus also said that, “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.” Indeed, Jesus is the answer to the never ending cycle of desires.

When Jesus comes into our lives, we will no longer be the same person. Our perspectives will change and so will be our desires. We will be satisfied with our jobs, our spouses, our friends and our families. We will no longer desire to become rich or famous. However, we will give our best efforts in everything we do. Yes, we will work hard, since we will recognize that we are not working for a person, but for God. All authority that an individual has on this earth is an authority given by God. When we accept this truth, God will then shower his divine favor and grace in our life. This would lead some of us to become rich in material possessions or perhaps have every need met, just as He has promised. We will no longer be workaholics, but will be workers of the Lord with complete satisfaction.

With Jesus in our lives, our marriages will become stable. All our desires will be quenched, because the love of God will be enveloped in the arms of our spouses. We will find all the love and passion that we need within the realm of our marriages. We will be fully satisfied with our spouses.

No other gods or religion can replace this truth. We will be stuck in a never ending cycle of desire. Only Jesus can bring to us a life that has a meaning and is satisfying.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Putting the cart before the horse

2007-08-20T08:17:00.000-04:00

Why is it that we feel we must clean up our act before we can praise the Lord? When we are at our worst, why do we avoid the presence of God? Why do we remove ourselves from the very source of our help and healing? Are we fearful that a lightning bolt might strike us down if we don’t measure up to a certain standard of purity before the Father?

Where is it written that only the pure, clean and holy heart can praise his Name? On the contrary, in the 19th chapter of Luke, Jesus tells the religious leaders of his day that if his disciples stopped praising him, the stones themselves would cry out. ANYTHING created by God is qualified (and encouraged) to praise His holy name, regardless of the relationship it has with its Creator – even a rock. Even the worst sinner. Even someone struggling to believe in Him at all.

As a matter of fact, praising the Lord can open up something in our spirit that allows that conversation with God the Father to begin. It can plant the seed of faith in an unbelieving heart. No matter what your state of mind, or level of belief, you can praise the Lord. Why? Because praise is all about God. His virtues. His attributes. His awesomeness. His worth. These things do not change. They remain constant whether we choose to believe them or not.

So, no matter what you think you have done to incur the wrath or disappointment of your Heavenly Father, try praising Him. Even if your faith in Him is small. Go ahead and start now. Tell Him how awesome HE is. Focus your praise on the One who is worthy. He is still good, and He is still there. Waiting. He longs to hear his name spoken by YOUR voice. True, He can assign multitudes of heavenly angels to sing his praises. He can even make the rocks cry out. But He still wants YOUR praises. No matter what you have done or how you have failed. You are a unique creation of the Most High God. No one can praise Him the same way you can. No one else has your personality or your voice. He is waiting to hear from YOU!

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord. Psalm 148:5 (New Living Translation)

By Anne K. Miranda

Confessions of a Disparate Housewife

2007-08-17T10:15:00.000-04:00

I admit it. I know that I should be doing everything as unto the Lord…
Colossians 3:17 & 23 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."
I really must confess, however ungodly it sounds, that I HATE HOUSEWORK!!! I don’t consider myself to be lazy. I work very hard (maybe too hard) on the pursuits that interest me. I enjoy spending time playing with my family, working on my career, cultivating relationships with people whose company I enjoy. And I don’t mean to complain. Really.
It’s just that I can never FINISH any of my household tasks. The laundry will never be totally finished, as long as we are wearing clothes. There is always one more meal being eaten on those dishes. The dust resettles on the furniture in one room just as I finish dusting the previous room. The fingerprints are all over the place. I can’t check ANY of it off my to-do list because it is NEVER DONE!!
The disparity in this discontented housewife is even more pronounced, when I think of how God views the UNFINISHED PROJECT of my life. He hears my cries of repentance, forgives my sin and washes me clean, then I go right ahead and make the same mistakes again before He even gets finished vacuuming the hallway of my heart. Doesn’t he get weary of my disparate humanity. I say one thing and do another. I can know and understand His Holy Word with my head, yet my heart can be so very far from Him.
Where is the hope for this disparate housewife?
The 17th chapter of the Book of John describes the finished work. God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to earth with a “to-do” list. Jesus was to teach us about the kingdom of God, and do everything the Father told Him “to do” - including the “to-do” of taking all our sins upon himself and dying on a Roman cross. He finished the work. There’s hope for me. When my menial labor on this earth is complete, I will go to the dwelling place that He has prepared for me in heaven. Until then, He sends the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to gently remind me of the blessings inherent in the repetitive, mundane tasks I despise.
As I stomp moodily through my day, he whispers of the people living in third world nations, and even in my own country, who would give their right arm to have a house of their own to clean. Every load of laundry represents the blessing of clothes on my back. Come to think of it, my dusty bed is a lot better than a dirt floor. Even the perpetually annoying little sticky hand prints all over everything represent the wonderful children that live in and visit my home every day.
Thank you, Lord, for the laundry, the dishes, the dusting, the messy family. And thank you, Jesus, for getting it all done for me.
Anne Miranda,
Associate
India International Church

When Resurrection is Not Enough

2007-07-26T14:01:00.000-04:00

‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ Luke 16:31

In a recent debate between Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, and the author of “The Purpose Driven Life”, and Sam Harris, the outspoken atheist, and the author of “The End of Faith”, Sam challenged Rick to perform a simple experiment – “Get a billion Christians to pray for a single amputee. Get them to pray that God re grow that missing limb”1. I suspect that if this really happened, Sam would still not believe. I think he answered it himself when he added, “This happens to salamanders every day, presumably without prayer;” 1. The fundamental assumption is that God has a simple task – dramatically prove Himself by intervening in a supernatural way, and everyone would believe. The fundamental accusation is that God has not adequately revealed Himself.

Jesus, through the mouth of Abraham, says something very bold and insightful at the end of the sensational story of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man is in hell and in torment, and is asking Abraham to send a warning to his brothers in the form of a resurrected Lazarus. The assumption of the rich man is that a dramatic and miraculous intervention would settle the question once and for all. Abraham replies “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” In other words, remarkable wonder can never replace revealed Word. What was performed and seen would be temporary; what was written and heard would be permanent. If the brothers of the rich man were not willing to honestly engage what was already revealed; if they could write off the entire miraculous history of God’s provision for a nation, then one miracle disconnected from all of history would be easier to write off. The problem was not that God had not provided enough evidence, but rather that they did not want any, so they discounted what they had, and kept asking for more.

To the skeptic, I cannot say much more than what Jesus already advised – honestly consider, and grapple with what Christians consider as the revealed Word of God, the Bible, before asking for more evidence. Consider the claims of Christ honestly before asking for the dramatic.

But there is an equally important lesson for the believer in these words of Jesus. Some of us have a tendency to desire the spectacular more than the Son. We want to freeze frame those moments of glory like Peter. But the momentarily dazzling can never replace the eternal Word. The dramatic may illustrate and inform, but it is only truth that can transform.

It is exhilarating to see the miraculous provision of God in our lives. It is faith enhancing when we pray and God answers. But we cannot spiritually subsist on the breathtaking, we must have the bread of Life. After Jesus had healed many, and delivered the crowds, the next morning, His disciples came looking for Him to repeat this wonder. They said, “Everyone is looking for you”. But He said to them, “Let us go to into the next towns, that I may preach there also because for this purpose I have come forth.” (Mark 1:37) I suggest Jesus knew that the miracle would deliver temporarily, and the glow and the excitement of that encounter would eventually fade away, but the Word would be the eternal truth imprinted, and it would inspire even in the absence of signs.

Perhaps too much of your life is ordered around the sensational. Perhaps you have a frustrated faith this day because you are looking for a sign that has not been provided. You could believe so easily if God would do just this or that. If Jesus is right, ultimately even resurrection will not be adequate enough for you. I urge you pray and expect God’s miraculous intervention, provision, and deliverance, but above all “hear Moses and the prophets” - and may I add – “the Son”.

Danesh Manik

When Grace became Potent

2007-07-24T09:08:00.000-04:00

“..we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia … see that you abound in this grace also.” 2 Corinthians 8:1,7

Examples always inspire, especially of those who seem to rise above their limitations. Paul is lifting the relatively poor Macedonian church as an example to the relatively affluent Corinthian church, and describes their extraordinary giving in a statement that I suspect has never been equaled in the use of so many opposites in one sentence and still make complete sense. Trial, affliction, deep poverty - joy, abundance, riches, liberality – all describing the Macedonian church! Paul says that this church gave what they were naturally able to give, but were willing and even gave “beyond their ability”. And that is remarkable.

How does one “in deep poverty abound in riches of their liberality”? How does one give “beyond their ability”? Was it some latent ability that they just were not aware of, and a good inspirational sermon acted as a catalyst allowing an expression of this generosity? Or, was it a supernatural act of God that made the impossible, possible? Paul answers this for us. He explains that it is the supernatural grace of God.

The example of the Macedonian church is simply parenthetical, an illustration to this supernatural grace. He begins with saying “we make known to you the grace of God …” and ends with the appeal to the Corinthians to “abound in this grace also”. Between the two statements is sandwiched an example of the working of this supernatural grace of “giving beyond ability” and “abounding in liberality in the midst of poverty” in the Macedonian church

I say all this to emphasize something that we seem to have lost in the modern age. One of the words that has lost its potency is the word grace. We often think of grace as simply a “favor” or “approval” of God. We think of grace as passive. In the Old Testament it is mostly referred to as a passive favor or approval.

But something happened to grace! Grace embodied itself in flesh when God penetrated the fabric of humanity, and revealed Himself. John, talking about Jesus tells us that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth … and of His fullness we have all received grace for grace.” In other words, grace became potent.

Grace is not simply the passive approval of God, but the active power of God in us. It enables us to do what we could not otherwise do, not only in the matter of material generosity, but in the generosity of love, forgiveness, selflessness and sacrifice. It is not simply grace that is received and cherished, it is grace that is received, and abounds, and then impels us to do what would be otherwise impossible.

Are you facing an impossible circumstance? Is there a limitation that you battle? A betrayal impossible to forget and forgive? A hurt and a wound too deep to heal? May I point you to the One who made the grace of God potent. The grace of God that is not just passive, but an active power that enables you to do that which is otherwise impossible.

Danesh Manik

Take Time To Get Time!

2007-06-12T09:05:00.000-04:00

Psalm 61:1-2 “Hear my cry oh God; listen to my prayer.”

In modern times, commitment can be negotiated for a paltry sum of roughly $24.95. For a small sum is available what is called the UnMarriage Contract. The contract “delineates just what belongs to whom, defines property rights of parties entering into a live-together relationship, and spells out the contributions of each person to the household." Once notarized, it legally protects unmarried couples from any long-term commitment. 1

Why is it that we as humans are so afraid to commit to each other? I am not talking just about relationships between a man and a woman, but even friendships such as fellow church goers, neighbors, and even co-workers. We get so busy in our lives, we wake up, go to work, work long hours, get home, take care of things there (cleaning, cooking, etc.), and then there is the running of the kids to lessons, sports, and after school activities. Yes we may have conversations or even niceties with some of the other adults but is it a true committed friendship?

In the book of Psalms David is often crying out to God, longing to have a relationship with Him through prayer, praise and worship. Wanting, and even expecting that God will respond.

How than is it possible to have a committed relationship with Christ? Can we find the time to pray without falling asleep? Do we have the discipline to get up a little early and pray? Can we steal even five minutes during our hectic and fast paced life to give time to what should be the most important relationship we should have?

Friends can I tell you, that if we are able to just give time daily to Christ, whether through prayer, praise or worship He can give us the time to get all other things taken care of. If we just slow down enough, to take time for Him, it allows Him to give time to us. We can find time to develop a relationship, not only with Christ, with each other as well.

Joey Reyes, Associate
India International Church

References:
1. Saturday Review, 1980

Overcome your Fears – Part 4

2007-06-11T08:49:00.000-04:00

Deuteronomy 1:30 The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you.

Finally, in this series on “Overcome your Fears”, the last thing I want to mention is that when we fear, we fail to believe in God and we lose the promise that God had for our lives.

The Word of God, affirms us so many times, in so many stories, in so many ways; that the Lord our God is an Overcomer. He fights the battle for us. David says in Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

When we allow fear to take residence in our life, maybe due to various circumstances, it is like agreeing to these statements, “I do not believe in your power God”; “I do not believe that you can be my stronghold”; “You cannot help me out of this situation”; “You are so far away and you cannot rescue me”. In short, when we allow fear to overcome our life, we are allowing ourselves to disbelieve in God and his abilities. And many fail to realize that this has negative consequences.

One of the major stories in the Bible is the exodus of Israel from their 400 years of bondage from Egypt to their Promised Land. Some think this was a story of victory, but many fail to realize that the same Israelites who came out of Egypt lost the promise that God had for them, since they allowed fear to overcome their lives.

When the whole Israel community was very close to the Promised Land, Moses selected 12 people, one from each tribe to survey the land that the Lord God had promised to Abraham and his descendents. The 12 people came back with the fruit of the land and mentioned that the land was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey. However, except for Joshua and Caleb, ten of them also said that the people in that land were very big and tall, they had fortified cities. This negative report from the ten people bought fear in the hearts of the Israelites. This report made them rebel against God. They began to disbelieve in God that he would deliver them the Israelites from these big people. They forgot that this was the same God who made them cross the Red Sea on dry land; the same God who defeated the Egyptians in front of their eyes; the same God who gave them food and water in the desert; and the same God who appeared to them at Mount Sinai. They began to disbelieve all what they had experienced about God after so many years of travel. They failed to accept the fact that their promise will ever come to pass.

Except for Joshua and Caleb, God forbid this whole generation of people from entering the Promised Land. However, God was still faithful to his promise to Abraham. God allowed the children of this generation to inherit the land, while all the people of this generation died in the desert and never got an opportunity to step into the Promised Land, after striving for it their entire lives.

Are you today in the same situation? Is Fear overwhelming your life? Is this preventing you from seeing God’s plan? Is it preventing you from acting with boldness, in love or with a sound mind? Is it preventing you from receiving that God has promised for you? So what should we do?

Whenever fear tries to come into your life, you can surely remember what Moses said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:30 The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you.

Don’t focus on the problem, but focus on the one who will deliver you from all your problems. God is keeping a very close watch over our lives. When God says he is our fortress, he indeed means it! If you do not know Jesus, then ask Him to come into your lives and deliver you from all your fears. Don’t allow fear to make you lose the wonderful and eternal promise that God has for you!

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Overcome your Fears – Part 3

2007-06-07T19:57:00.000-04:00

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

A person will have either fear or faith, but never both. The Bible says that God has NOT given us a spirit of fear, but a gift of faith. When we fear we fail to obtain three key things in our life.

Firstly, when we fear we fail to obtain God’s power in our life. God has given us a life that is, filled with power, so that we can be bold in all circumstances. A person who has the power of God does exactly what is opposite to what fear would tell us to do. No wonder Proverbs 28:1 says that “… the righteous are bold as a lion.” The absence of fear makes all who believe in Jesus bold no matter what the situation. What God gives is a portion of his own nature. His nature does not have fear or timidity, but a spirit of power.

Secondly, when we fear we fail to experience God’s unchanging and everlasting love. God has given us a life that is, filled with his love. There are so many people who have crossed the line that has disappointed God, maybe too many times. We may then feel not worthy to be in the presence of Almighty God because of our sins or mistakes. Instead of cringing in fear of punishment or unworthiness, God wants us to come closer to him, so that we will be filled with his love. However, fear prevents us from expressing or recognizing that this God’s love is available for us. When we experience God’s love, we will be able to express the same love back to our God and to our fellow beings.

Thirdly, when we fear we fail to be of sound mind. God has given us a life that is, to be of sound mind. I believe that 90% of our battles are fought in our mind. No wonder Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV).

When the spirit of fear envelops our minds, we can never do God’s will, since we are no longer living a life of self-discipline. If we were living a life of self discipline then we would be in tune with God’s word in our life. Initially the mind will resist all that is of the Word, and unless we do not transform our mind and be self-disciplined, we will be overcome with fear. I know whenever I am upset or fearful or what is going to happen, I tend to jump into eating a lot of food, especially ice-cream. Now when a person in his right and sound mind was to look at me, he might say, “Hey buddy cheer up, don’t worry and trust in God”. When we allow such fear to grip our lives we start doing things that are destructive to our lives. Hence, we need to transform our minds to be of sound mind, so that we can conquer the fears of our lives.

Depending upon the depth and grip that fear has had on your life determines the measure of immersing our head into God’s Word. We then begin to experience the grace and mercy of Jesus. This will help our mind to surrender to God’s Word, the Bible. All human effort will only be temporary, but this trust in Jesus will help us to overcome our fears and become over comers for all our life.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Overcome your Fears – Part 2

2007-06-05T12:46:00.000-04:00

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

When we allow fear to overcome our lives, we begin to lose what we were destined for. The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear. When things do not happen the way we desire, we allow the spirit of fear to take residence in our lives. Fear makes us lose what God wanted us to receive. Fear acts like a fog in front of us and many of us may give up before the race is over.

There is this story about Florence Chadwick who was a competitive swimmer.
However, on July 4, 1952, Chadwick attempted to become the first woman to swim 21 miles across the Catalina Channel, from Catalina Island to Palos Verde on the California coast. The weather that day was not auspicious-the ocean was ice cold, the fog was so thick that she could hardly see the support boats that followed her. However, after about 15 hours and 55 minutes, with only a half mile to go, she felt that she couldn't go on, and asked to be taken out of the water. It is said that later she told a reporter, "Look, I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land I know I could have made it."

The fog had made her unable to see her goal, and it had felt to her like she was getting nowhere. Two months later, she tried again. The fog was just as dense, but this time she made it. Florence Chadwick was fearless but the dense fog prevented her from seeing her destination, which made her give up, just half a mile before her 21 mile swimming journey. She was so close to finish line, but failed the first time. [1]

In our lives too when fear envelops our life it always prevents us from seeing our destination. We begin asking questions like; What is going on? When will we get there? When will we see redemption? How long Lord? Does God really love me? Possibly, we may start giving up.

The reason for us to ask such questions is that we do not know where we are heading. We seem to be moving through life, with no destination in mind and we seem to be going nowhere. However, when we know we are heading to the eternal kingdom, we will know that every step in this life is making us closer to that eternal destination. Fear will never be a hindrance. However, many fail to recognize that this eternal kingdom is only offered through the person of Jesus. Jesus is the Name above all names. God himself in his full glory said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." Luke 9:35

So don’t let fear prevent you from seeing the destination that God has for you. With the help of Jesus you will be able to run towards that goal and receive the prize.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Reference:
[1] - http://www.the-storytellers.com/archives/florence-chadwick-keeping-your-goals-in-sight

Overcome your Fears – Part 1

2007-06-03T22:01:00.000-04:00

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

The other day my young son Jacob was trying to ask permission to do something that was not allowed in our house. He tried by-passing me by asking his mom for permission. I recognized his sly trick. I asked him to come close to me, but he would not come. I persisted, but he continued to stay away from me. He knew that he had asked the wrong question and now he was scared. He thought I would punish him. I called him again and promised that I was not going to spank him. I just wanted him to be close to me, so that I could explain why I had put that rule in our house.

Finally, after some persistence, Jacob took the courage to move forward and come close to me. I explained the reason for the rule and he agreed to do the right thing. I know that he did not fully understand the reason, but my love for him, made him do the right thing. At that moment all his fear vanished, since I was able to hug him and make him feel comfortable. Yes, I did have to negotiate with him that he will not get to play with the fire-crackers that I had bought for him. But the key thing was that his fear was NO longer existent.

Today many people are living a life ruled by many fears. Perhaps you lost a job, or you have an incurable disease, or you lost a loved one, or you see your life in danger, or you are lonely. Perhaps you did things that were forbidden, like my little son, that are against the will of God. When we are in any such circumstances or situations, we seem to be controlled by questions, such as: What If? What will I do? What if God doesn’t? That is when fear starts overcoming our lives.

When my son was far away from me, fear had overcome his life. He started getting scared of the same Father, on whose shoulder he loved to jump and play. Fear made him stay away from the Father who loved him no matter what mistakes he did. Fear made him feel unworthy to be on his father’s lap or being close to his presence. As long as my son was away from me, he was in a state of fear; however as soon as he was near me his fear vanished.

No matter what the circumstances, it is not biblically warranted for a person, who believes in Jesus to live in fear. Based on my experience I have seen that Fear is a paralyzer. Anybody who lives in fear fails to do anything. He or she seems to cringe from every right decision of their lives. Fear has a unique tendency to overcome life’s decisions.

The verse in Revelation 12:11 confirm that it was the blood of the lamb that entitled all people to overcome their enemy. If today we are overcome by fear, maybe it is time for us to recognize that the death (when the blood of the lamb was shed on the cross) and resurrection of Jesus has already entitled ALL people to be an Over comer. All who do not know Jesus do not have this hope or guarantee. My son’s fears were allayed, when he came close to his loving father, no matter what he did. Similarly, our Father in Heaven is calling each one of us to come close to Jesus. He will then take away all our fears and help us live a life of eternal peace and joy. We can either be overcome with fear or we can overcome the fear with Jesus in our life. The choice is in our hands!

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Come To Me

2007-05-14T14:22:00.000-04:00

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-30

The distinctive characteristic of the Bible is its emphasis on invitation. All of the Bible is primarily an invitation. The highlights are less its comprehensive commands, and more its incredible invitations. It is an invitation to be counted as the redeemed, an invitation from heaven to earthly beings, of glory to the corruptible flesh. Of the invitations, here is the one that is universally appealing – “Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened” - an invitation to rest for the weary soul.

A weary soul is a miserable thing. It is an experience all know of but none can quite describe it. It is an invitation that at once shines in its simplicity as it astounds us with its audacity.

“Come to Me!” It shines in its simplicity. Jesus does not demand hardworking toil, intellectual gymnastics or our unending contemplation. All Jesus yearns for is our attention. It does not list qualifications to be achieved, attitudes to be attained, or works to be accomplished. It is liberating. It is a simple invitation to come. It simply requires a willingness to answer the invitation. A little child understands what it means to come.

It also stuns us with its audacity. Who can claim to give rest to our souls? Who can understand the depth of our hearts? It would be quite bold and unbelievable if it was not for the Person doing the inviting. With a confidence that can be only possessed by the One who has created the soul is this invitation to assuage it. It is only a Sovereign God who can promise to have a cure for weary souls.

Are you soul weary? Slumber can revitalize the weariness of your body, but soul weariness can be only be relieved by the One who knows you and knows your thoughts, your successes, your failings. And the answer is a simple invitation. “Come to Me” is the echo of divine desire. Ever since the beginning God's call has been Come to Me! To those who thirst, he says “Come to me and drink from the living waters.” To a bunch of fishermen He says, “Come follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” To sinners he pleads “Come, Now let us reason together Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” To the hungry he cries out "I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will never go hungry." To the faithful he says "Come and share the Master's happiness." To the rich man looking for eternal life, he says "Sell your possessions and Come follow me!" To the dying he says “Give ear and come to me so that your soul may live”. To those rejected he says “Come, Whoever comes to me I will not cast away.” To the redeemed He says "Come to the wedding banquet. Enter into my rest."

The Bible ends with this call to come. And at the end of history, we are told “The Spirit says come! The Bride says Come! Let him who athirst come. Whosoever will let him come.” And no one who has come to Christ has been sorry.

Friend, if you are you weary and burdened, will you come to Christ?

Danesh Manik

Righteousness and Rightness

2007-05-14T14:18:00.000-04:00

The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ “But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Matthew 13:28-29
In this familiar parable, Jesus gives us a glimpse of at least one of the aspects of the Kingdom of God. For those who may be unfamiliar, Jesus describes a man who plants good seed but in a short while as the harvest approaches, the servants find tares that were sown by the enemy, and were alike enough to the wheat to be undetectable in the beginning. They are surprised, and naturally want to get rid of them. The master in his wisdom advises against it for the potential harm that will be done to the good wheat and asks them to wait for harvest time.

The most obvious and direct application of this parable is the insight into the nature, albeit temporary, of the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom of God there will always be dupes that will be similar in appearance, but not in substance, to the real servants of God until the appointed time.

But in addition to the insight into the Kingdom of God, I think it gives us a wonderful insight in the heart of the King. It reveals to us the very heart of our Lord. The master cares for the wheat’s wellbeing enough to suffer the tares. He will not suffer even little collateral damage to thwart the enemy. The King is more concerned about individual subjects than simply the Kingdom as a whole! He will suffer the enemy for the sake of his subjects.

Think of the implications. On a personal level, the child of God can rest assured that he or she does not serve a King that is more interested in simply the overall rule, but cares for the individual. The Lord will even suffer evil to ensure your care. On a corporate level it implies that the Body of Christ is more precious to God and He will not allow it to be bruised, even for a seemingly good and a right purpose. He will wait till the end. In the end all things will be made perfect, but for now God will even allow a seeming victory of the enemy.

God would be right to destroy the tares, but God cares more to be righteous than simply right.

If I may draw out a principle from the very heart of the King, it would be this: Anything we do or say, even if it is right, if it bruises the body of Christ, the Church, it cannot be the will of God. If it damages and uproots a brother or sister in Christ, even if it is right, it will not be a righteous thing to do. And God cares more about our righteousness than our being right. Because being right is for the moment, righteousness is for eternity. At the end of it all righteousness will make everything right.

I suspect that it is not the obvious onslaught on Christ, or His followers by those who vehemently disagree with Christianity or Christ that bothers our Lord, it is our tendency of not caring what happens to our brothers and sisters in our pursuit of being right. We have all heard of church splits, scandals, and venomous words that have often destroyed the precious wheat while the tares were being pulled out.

Friend, I pray that we will recognize this great responsibility on those who have responded to the sacrificial death of Christ, to those who have repented, and been born again in the Kingdom of God, that we will be pursuer of righteousness above rightness.

Danesh Manik

The Divine Invitation

2007-05-08T08:47:00.001-04:00

Where is your Faith?

2007-05-03T16:52:00.000-04:00

Matthew 17:20 …… I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

The one characteristic that all human beings are born with is faith. It is faith that keeps us alive. When we were babies, it was faith that allowed us to trust our parents that they will take care of us. However, as we grow we begin to experience life’s struggles, which enable us to learn and develop something called “fear”. Our adult life is constantly reminded of the past betrayals, hurts and undesired experiences in the form of fear. Fear becomes a response that we learn during the course of our life.

I remember the first few baby steps of my children. When they made their first few steps as babies, they just fell down. However, it was the power of faith in their lives that kept the power of fear down. Hence, they learned to walk. What would have happened if they had never learned to walk, with the fear of falling? They would have been crippled for life.

It is an interesting fact to note that faith and fear cannot co-exist. Our hearts can only have faith or fear. Since, it is faith that allows us to succeed under all odds, while it is fear that prevents us from even trying anything, since we believe that we will fail.

Fear always affects our actions, attitudes and emotions. Whenever the pressures of life come into our life we seem to develop fear. The sense of uncertainty envelops our thinking. Our emotions begin to take control of our mind and life. We either get angry, upset, frustrated at the way things are being done, disappointed from unmet expectations and start thinking in the wrong direction. Fear prevents us from enjoying our current blessings. There is a Spanish proverb “He who fears death cannot enjoy life."

Are you living a life of faith? Or fear?

In its true sense, Faith is knowing that God will turn out to be the conqueror in the conflict, while fear is thinking that you may be vanquished. In your darkest night, you might have questioned God. However, it is good to know that on the cross even Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me." But deep in Jesus’ heart He knew that his Father in Heaven would have never left him alone. He had the Faith. And for us to attain that kind of Faith, we have to answer the ultimate question, who or what shall we trust?

Some say we have faith in our abilities. However, they fail to realize that our life is just a breath away. If we were to observe carefully, we will realize that in combination with our abilities, a supernatural hand was needed for us to be where we are today. If we are in total denial to this fact, then we are pushing away God’s mercy and love from our life. God wants to connect with everybody, hence works mighty things in our life to get our attention and help us realize that we can do nothing on our own. The choice to accept and recognize this act of God is the faith that we were born with, but the fear we learned through our life seems to overshadow our decisions. We need to begin to trust in the One True God.

It is only Faith in Jesus by whom we can learn to control our actions, attitudes and emotions, rather than allowing the Fear to overcome our emotions. One who fears cannot be at peace and know true joy. Remember that hopelessness exists in the heart of life when fear is present, while there is rejoicing in God when faith exists. This faith is a gift of Jesus in our lives, which we receive when we begin to trust in this one true God.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Dandelions in my Lawn

2007-05-02T09:14:00.001-04:00

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Last week Spring finally showed up in Michigan after a long winter of seven months. I saw the flowers starting to bloom, the birds beginning to chirp and joy seemed to be overflowing all around. It seemed like heaven had just descended on earth. However, in midst of this beautiful milieu I could see yellow colored dandelion flowers popping their heads from my lush green grass lawns. The y initially looked wonderful, but I soon realized that these were not like the flowers which I could enjoy the smell, nor could I keep them in a flower vase. They were more commonly called as pests or weeds to the common person. But alas, my lawn was infested with dandelions.

A friend of mine suggested putting “feed and weed” in the lawn, which would help prevent the lawn from dying due to these weeds. Interestingly, this fertilizer has double power in it, firstly it would help destroy the dandelions & other weeds, and secondly it will give nourishment & strength for the green grass to grow.

The dandelions & the weeds remind me so much of the sin in our life. Just like the dandelions, sin too seems to pop its head when the season is right for it to grow. It does initially appear appealing or desirable, since we fail to realize that once sin is infested in our lives it will lead us to death and a living hell.

The first careless & uncontrolled conversation with a member of the opposite sex is enough for sin to spark its light of promiscuity. We should not think it is somebody else’s fault, but we need to recognize that each of us is drawn to sin naturally. When this desire shows up at our doorstep of life, it has all the ammunition to be transformed into sin. Unless we deal with this problem of sin, we are destined for eternal death. The Bible says that “wages of sin is death”, that is, if the problem of sin in our life is not addressed, then it will infest our life and lead us to eternal death and suffering.

The only way man can deal with the problem of sin, in his/her life, is by accepting the “gift of God” which is “eternal life through Jesus Christ”. Only the power of God through Jesus can act as the “feed and weed” in our life. This also has double power; firstly it will help us remove the weeds of sin from our life through the work of Jesus on the cross. Secondly, the Word of God will help us grow and be strengthened to withstand all the temptations that come our way.

Today I am planning to put the “feed and weed” in my lawn, so that I can get a lush green lawn with no weeds. . What about you? Don’t you to want to put the “feed and weed” in the lawn of your life? If so, Jesus is standing at your doorstep for you to accept his work on the cross. This great sacrifice was for the forgiveness of sin for all people on this earth and to present them with eternal life.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Seeing Our Neighbor

2007-04-24T15:56:00.000-04:00

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39

Few commands in the Bible combine with such magnificence a fairly ambiguous concept with such a pragmatic object. Fewer still identify the precise mode in which that command must be carried out. “Love your neighbor as yourself!” What’s more intangible, ambiguous, and so defies definition as love? What can be more flesh and blood, tangible and identifiable as your neighbor? The command does not stop at “love your neighbor”, but paves a pathway for this love – “as yourself”. It sets a standard for this love. We are not simply to love our neighbor, but to love them as ourselves. It is this precise mode, this standard, that has so captured the attention of theologians and psychologists alike, and spawned many a good pages on the subject of learning to love yourself. While there is much truth in all of our excursions in the subject of loving ourselves so we can love our neighbor, I suspect that there is a simpler, more subtle truth intended in this command, and it has less to do with how much in the abstract we love ourselves, and more to do with how much in the concrete we see our neighbor as ourselves.

It is a universal experience that we are intimately and distinctly aware of ourselves in the concrete, but we often think of our neighbor in the abstract. For example, I am rarely aware of myself (and hardly think it as my major identity) as an “Asian Indian” with a distinct accent who loves curry and rice, owns a good Japanese car, and sports a bad haircut. But I am perpetually and intimately aware of my feelings, my pain, my joy, my dreams and my struggles – in essence my humanity. In contrast, when I meet my neighbor, I often see him in abstract – for instance as a tall, thin, southerner with annoying habits, or worse, as a proud, pompous northerner whom I differ sharply in my worldview. It is only by a conscious effort that I see him in the concrete – as another human being with frailties, with feelings, with desires, with sorrows and fears not much different than mine.

I suggest that when Jesus emphasized loving the neighbor as yourself, that at least one of the things he was commanding was a radical change of perspective that would make that love possible. He was advocating viewing our neighbor not in the abstract categories that we so automatically place them in, but as the tangible concrete fellow human beings, made in the image of God whose essence is the same as myself.

In fact that is the only possible basis of genuine love to our neighbor. You cannot love the neighbor as yourself until you see them as yourself – frail humanity with a stamp of divinity. As long as you see them as abstract categories, you may tolerate them, you may even help them occasionally, but you can never truly love them. Love is not only difficult, but hate finds its roots when we do not see the neighbor as ourselves. History itself testifies to this. One of the reason the holocaust happened was the fact that a fellow human being became a category – a people group to be annihilated. The essence of humanness was blurred, and the abstract became the focus.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, the glory of the Samaritan’s action is that he did not see the robbed and battered man in the abstract as a “Jew”, but in the concrete as a fellow human being in pain, dying and in desperate need for help. The rest of the actions simply were a natural response to his seeing the man as himself. It is perhaps this lack of the vision of the tangible humanity was the failing of those who were shocked and asked Jesus, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?” (Matthew 25:44)

How do we then as Christians, mandated by our Lord, love our neighbor as ourselves? May I point you to the One who is our inspiration, our strength, and our enabler! The One who saw us, not in the abstract of a fallen and rebellious humanity, but as individuals worthy of the price of His very own blood for our redemption! May the same Lord give us the grace to see our neighbor as ourselves, so we may love them as ourselves!

Danesh Manik

The Tyranny Of The Memory Of Guilt

2007-04-18T09:31:00.000-04:00

“I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy … that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:13-15

In October 2003, The Washington Post carried an article on North Korea, subtitled, “Haunted by Guilt over Loved Ones Left Behind.” It profiled a couple of defectors who had run away leaving their families behind to save their lives from an oppressive government, and their unrelenting memory of guilt on leaving behind friends and family who were suffering. The article ended with a quote from one such defector, “I don’t think you can be happy when you feel guilty.”1

While I cannot interpret the action, or comment on the psychological implications of such a feeling, it is a universal experience – the tyrannical collusion of memory with conscience, indicting the heart of past guilt, and casting a shadow over the present. The joy of the present is mingled with the pain of the past. The actions of the past have blemished the conscience and taken residence in memory.

Paul lived with such a blemish, but the secret to his powerful life was that he had found that which defanged the memory of its venomous power – he had learned to live in the shadow of the Cross. Writing to Timothy, he says, “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, an insolent man but I obtained mercy.” The memory of the angelic face of Stephen as he was stoned, the people who had become objects of hate because of his zeal, the scorning of Christ as he sat with the Sanhedrin rose its head to accuse him, but he looked to the Cross of Christ and it was robbed of its power. It was a past scar, not a present wound.

It is not a simple magically waving of a wand to wave away any responsibility for past actions, Paul is fully cognizant of the struggle of his present nature. He is fully aware of his current weaknesses. He starts, “I was formerly a blasphemer” – past tense, but he ends, “I am” the chief of sinners – present tense. The past guilt of sin, and the present power of sin, and the Cross can take care of both! Paul learned to bring both the past action, and the present nature under the shadow of the Cross, and the result is his life being of service to God. He concludes, “for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life”
May I suggest that the only way to unshackle yourself from the guilt of the past, and the struggle of the present, and be of authentic service to God is by living under the shadow of the Cross. Friend, is there is a past guilt that haunts you, or a present weakness that assails you? Then bring it to the Cross, for there and only there will you obtain mercy. It is only there where our sin is requited, the sting of guilt removed, and the power of sin subdued.

Danesh Manik

References
1. Opening a Window on North Korea’s Horrors, Doug Struck, Washington Post Foreign service, October 4, 2003

What are you doing here?

2007-04-10T16:54:00.000-04:00

And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

What are you doing here, Elijah? In a conversation with God, a question is not a request for information, or a clarification of fact. It is a solicitation for a confession. It is God’s petition to us for self-reflection. It is the question we ought to have asked ourselves, but were too distracted to ask. Sometimes, it is the question that is absolutely essential for our redemption from our current estate.

“What are you doing here?” was such a question for Elijah. Elijah, perhaps the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, one who was ultimately privileged to circumvent the way of the grave, and be carried away on the chariot of God was hiding in a cave wanting to die when God asks him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?

Often, saints of God find themselves in a place that is not their inheritance. It is not where God wants them to be. It was a place that the devil would be delighted them to see, a place far away from the center of their calling. In Elijah’s case, it was a cave far away from the center of evil, from Jezebel and Ahab, and their plans to ruin the nation of God to which Elijah was called as a prophet. And it was an appropriate question, a question God articulated that Elijah would have done well to ask himself , “what am I doing here?” If you read the answer of Elijah you realize that it is discouragement that has brought him there. He has been zealous, and he seems to be fighting a losing battle with evil. God has not lived up to the expectation, evil has not been completely vanquished. Good wins, only for evil to suggest a new renewed attack. He is disheartened, and the cave is his refuge.

Sometimes it is discouragement, sometimes it is sin, and other times it is simply busyness or apathy that has pulled us away from a place of God’s center. The tragedy of many lives is not that they have ousted God completely, but that they have put God on the periphery. They have pulled from the center of their calling and taken refuge in a cave. And the question to Elijah is the question to all those who find themselves in a cave of doubt, discouragement, despair, or apathy – what are you doing here? The cave is no place for the prophet of God. Sometimes our geography illuminates the philosophy of our mind. God was asking Elijah to reflect what state of mind had caused him to retreat from his calling. It is interesting to note that God’s answer to Elijah is not a rebuke, nor an explanation. It is not even a set of instructions to change his mind about the place where he was. It simply begins in the following verses with, “Go return”. In other words, just go back and do what God has called you to do. Go back to the center of God’s calling.

Perhaps you find yourself in such a cave. You are not in a place of your inheritance. You are away from God’s center of your calling. Perhaps it is not discouragement, but like the prodigal son, a result of rebellion and sin. Then I pray that this question to Elijah becomes your question. And the answer of God to Elijah becomes your answer. In God’s strength and purpose, “Go return”. Return with a renewed trust in your Lord and Savior.

Danesh Manik

Has Jesus Risen?

2007-04-09T09:07:00.000-04:00

Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Couple of weeks back there was this big news that certain archaeologists found the “The Lost tomb of Jesus”. This news spread like wild fire across all television, web and print media. As I read through this news I was not surprised. The one question that has been prevalent for the past 2000 years is; “Has Jesus risen?” This Sunday many Christians celebrated Easter across the globe. For some it was a time for Easter eggs, for some it was a time to have a good time with family, for some it was the end of the Lent season. None of these are the true reasons for celebrating Easter. The true reason for this celebration is that Jesus rose from his death on this day, where he conquered sin and death.

Some months back I was talking to a person who was asking me, why is the resurrection of Jesus so important? As we look through the Bible, or other historical, religious & mythological books we can come across many stories about people who have been resurrected from their death. The Bible also mentions about many such incidents. There is the story of Lazarus who rose from being dead in the grave for 4 days, and then there is the incident where the son of a widow was brought to life by Jesus. So what is so unique about the resurrection of Jesus?

I believe the key fact that differentiates the resurrection of Jesus from everybody else in this world through the ages of time, is that Jesus was the only one who never died again after resurrecting from his death. All those who lived after dying, did die eventually. Jesus is the only one who lives even today. He was with God from the beginning of time and he still lives. He is now seated at the right hand of God. He now acts as the only advocate for all who believe in the work he did on the cross and believe in his resurrection.

This truth has confused the wisest across the world. Hence, to disapprove this fact many through the ages have tried every possible effort. I believe that this quest for finding the grave of Jesus is also such an endeavor. It is interesting to see that the Bible says in, “Romans 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools”.

Many believe that if they can prove, Jesus never rose from his death then the claim of all who believe in Jesus will be vanquished. This has been the most popular quest in this world. But Alas!! Many have died disheartened & disillusioned, since they failed to disapprove the fact that God himself had enacted. However, some did recognize the truth and accepted and had meaningful lives. It is ironic that many who did not believe made every attempt to disapprove what Jesus did on the cross and the grave, but were hesitant to accept Jesus with a simple act of faith. This is perhaps why Jesus says that all we need is a faith like a mustard seed.

So what is your quest in life? The question that faces all is: Do you believe in Jesus who rose from his death? He conquered death & sin for you and me. All it takes is faith like a mustard seed. Only then, will we have meaningful and satisfied lives. Then leave it to God to prove that he still lives.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

If You Are!

2007-04-05T08:57:00.000-04:00

“Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said….Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy!
Matthew 26:63-64

Someone has wisely said, “Beware of the man who knows the answer before he understands the question.” The high priest questioning Jesus on that night of betrayal was one such man. Unfortunately, the high priest never paused long enough to understand the very question he was asking.

Consider the very audacity of such a question, “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God?” After all, it is not everyday and of everyone, one asks if they are the Son of God. What event or events had precipitated and given validity to such a question? The Gospel narratives answer this for us. Jesus was facing trial because there was something about Him that was getting hard to ignore, and something that the Pharisees did not want to admit. Every miracle, every changed life, every new follower challenged their position and their worldview. On hearing the witness of the resurrected Lazarus, they admitted “that they were accomplishing nothing” and that “the world had gone after Him.”

The question of the high priest was not born out of an honest quest for information, it was simply a prop for justification of his predetermined answer. He did not want Jesus to be the Son of God. Therefore, when Jesus answered in the affirmative, he tore his clothes saying, “He has spoken blasphemy”. The question was only a way to legitimatize his presupposition. Nothing that Christ would have said or done would have changed his mind.

I suspect that many questions that are asked by skeptics are of the same nature. Sam Harris, one of the modern and perhaps one of the most ardent evangelists of atheism complains that if the Bible was authored of God then it would have predicted something like the “Internet”. What if it had done that? I suspect he would accuse someone of reading about it and naming the current global linking of computers as the internet to cause this prophecy to come true, or perhaps he would complain that it did not quite accurately predict the communication protocol that this internet would use. Besides, what about the predictions that have come to pass? Would anything cause him to believe?

Was Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of mankind? This question occupies the conscious thought like no other in the short span of history recorded in the Gospels, and it is often expressed by a question that begins with, “If you are..” The Pharisees who did not want to believe a ask, “If you are the Christ then tell us”. The devil who knew it to be true and hoping to manipulate this truth asks “If you are the Son of God then turn these stones into bread”. The crucified thief, angry at life and its consequences asks, “If you are the Christ then save us and yourself.” The bystanders scorning at the cross ask, “If you are the Son of God then come down.” Worlds have changed, space has been conquered, empires have been built and destroyed, yet the stir caused by Jesus in a small center of Jerusalem has never stopped reverberating through the centuries. It is because for over two thousand years lives honest seekers have never been disappointed in Christ, and lives are still transformed by Him.

The man born blind in the Gospel of John asked Jesus who the Son of God was. And when Jesus revealed that it was Himself, John writes that the man replied, “Lord I believe,” and worshipped Him. All hearts who have come to Christ humbly and honestly have responded in the same way. They have found in Jesus coherent answers for this life and a hope for eternity. May I invite you to come to Christ with a humble and a honest heart today.

Danesh Manik

References
1. Reply to A Christian, Sam Harris, in Free Inquiry, June/July 2006

How Much More!

2007-04-02T15:38:00.001-04:00

“how much more shall your Father in Heaven give ….” Matthew 7:11
“how much more shall the blood of Christ …cleanse...” Hebrews 9:11

There are some declarations in the Gospels we find in opposition to our natural understanding. For example, the Bible declares that giving is better than receiving, loving life is losing life, to be last is to be first, and that meekness is the gateway to inheriting the earth. Heaven seems to be operating on a principle contradictory to strictly earthly realities. And to those who have an unqualified trust in the Author of these declarations are filled with hope. Here faith precedes and breeds hope! But then there are other declarations in which earthly realities are a faint reflection of a much grander heavenly reality. The heavens work on the same principle, only on a grander scale. The earthly principle we so easily recognize and implicitly trust is a little glimpse of the heavenly reality. Here, hope is the progenitor of faith, and it begins with these three little words, “how much more!”

If there are breathtaking vistas on earth, how much more is heaven? If an apathetic judge answers incessant cry for help, how much more a just God? If the frail earthly father displays kindness, then how much more is the Heavenly Father? If God cares for the sparrow, then how much more does he care for you? If we are capable of such great sacrificial love, how much more is God capable of? Charles Simeon, the vicar of Trinity Church in Cambridge, close to his death was reported to have said that his favorite verse in the Bible was, “In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth” because if God could make something so beautiful out of chaos, how much more had he hope yet for himself! He lived a life on the hope of a “how much more” God.

Indeed, these words are heralds of hope, but those who take them seriously, sooner or later come to realize the sobering side of these words. They are filled with hope on one side, but there is also a horror on the other. If a wayward son or daughter brings so much pain, how much more does the willful rebellion of his people bring pain to the heart of God? If humanity recoils at evil, and seeks justice, how much more shall we expect God to recoil at sin and deliver justice? If our imperfect conscience can convict our hearts of wrong doing when there is no fear of judgment, how much more when we are face to face with the perfect God who judges all hearts? The hope of the “how much more” God is also the horror of the “how much more” God. And the beauty of the Gospel is the story of the reconciliation of this hope and horror. A couple of thousand years ago, outside the city limits of Jerusalem , hung the Son of Man, the Son of God on a cross sealing the hope and stilling the horror, once and for all. How much more shall your Father in Heaven give? Gave Himself, and sealed the hope! How much more shall the blood of Christ cleanse the conscience? Cleansed completely, and stilled the horror!

Friend, let us rejoice at the cross. How much more do we need?

Danesh Manik

The Rear View Mirror

2007-03-21T08:43:00.001-04:00

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

If somebody was to ask you, will you drive your car forward with your eyes on the rear view mirror? I am sure you will say, No way!!! Only a person out of his mind will think about driving his car this way. Such an act would surely result in an accident. The outcome could be disastrous; it could lead to destroying personal and/or other’s property. It could also lead to killing yourself or other innocent people who were around that person.

This sounds so straightforward and you wonder who would ever do such an act? However, how many times have we driven the car of our life by looking at the rear view mirror; our past life.

Today, maybe you are looking back in your life and thinking of all your mistakes and wondering if you could have done something differently, then you would not have faced this problem. Your future might have been different. Maybe you are thinking about the injustice you faced in your life or perhaps the harsh words said by a close associate or perhaps the cruelty inflicted in your life, which has made you suffer so much today. Maybe if you had been careful of your relationships with your parents or spouse or siblings or friends, it would have been better today. Maybe if you had not got involved in pornography, drugs, drinking, wrong relations, adultery, wrong choices, stealing, lust for money, lust for the worldly things etc., in the past, maybe you could have had a better life today.

It is interesting to note that constant thinking about past mistakes and bad circumstances always brings our current life to its knees. Rather than the past dragging us down, the past should prevent us from making similar mistakes in the future. It should keep us away from future accidents. Our life is ahead of us. We can do nothing about the past. The past is gone and if we keep living in the past, we will destroy our present and the future. Our dwelling in the past is disastrous not only for us, but also for all who are connected with our lives, our family, our friends, our colleagues etc.

In the above verse Paul is encouraging us to look forward to the goal and run towards it. This verse has a two fold message; firstly, it is telling us to run towards the goal, and secondly, it is telling us not to look back. All race track runners will always advise that the key to win is to focus on the finish line. As they run they may take a side glance to ensure that they are ahead, but they will never look back. Looking back will only make them lose the race or possibly fall down.

Have you ever wondered why the rear view mirror in a car is small while the glass in the front is big? I believe this is to ensure that we are looking at the front as we drive. The rear view mirror is there for us to avoid accidents. This is so true in perspective with our lives too, but we seem to forget it almost every time. So the next time you get into your car, remember your life is ahead of you. So if any of you has been dwelling in your past hurts and decisions, maybe it is time for you to allow Jesus to come into your life and help you get over it, since Jesus has already paid the price for your past on the cross.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

The Offense of the Cross

2007-03-19T16:43:00.000-04:00

“And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.” Galatians 5:11The Cullinan diamond, also called the Great Star of Africa, one of the largest polished diamond gem at 530.2 carats now adorns the Sceptre with the Cross, one of the British crown jewels. A recent ad for a diamond cross read, “your faith deserves a shining tribute”. With such associations it is hard to imagine that the cross is an offense or an insult to anyone in the modern world.
The cross may have gained popularity as a symbol, but the essential offense of the message of the cross has not ceased. And I am not referring to the quarters where the offense would be expected. For example, atheists objecting to the display of the cross in publicly funded places. I am not too shocked by that. There are some to whom the Christ of the cross is an offense, so it is no surprise that the cross of Christ is an offense. What I am bothered about are those to whom the Christ of the cross is not an offense, but the cross of Christ is. I remember having quite a lengthy discussion with a young man who had no trouble accepting Christ, even worshipping Him but when I diverted the subject to the message of the cross, He simply could not accept that Jesus would have to suffer on the cross for his sins. There are others I know who adore Christ, and heartily cheer the name of Christ, but are offended by the message of the cross.
Paul was writing to the same problem. There were those among the Galatians who could accept the cross as long as Paul preached the circumcision. In other words, cross would cease offending if it simply would accommodate human effort at salvation. But the cross in Paul’s day, as well as today is an offense because it is all-inclusive in one sense and all-exclusive in another.
It is all inclusive because it makes nothing of human effort. It invites one and all to the same cross of Christ. It levels the criminality of one sin or a hundred. At the cross, they are all the same - the saint and the sinner, the upright and the thief, the moral law keeper and the flagrantly disobedient. It gives preference to no one, it ignores all titles, it levels the ground and makes nothing of human effort. And this is an offense to those who think that their standing, their uprightness ought to amount to something. They want to have a part in their own salvation. These are those who think too little of their sin, and to much of their works. They do not like the broadness, this horizontal nature of the cross.
It is all exclusive in the sense, the Cross of Christ unequivocally states that there are no other alternatives to reconciliation with God. We have been hopelessly alienated and the only way is the way provided by God Himself. There are no other options. All can come, but all must come to the foot of the cross, cognizant of their sinfulness, thankful of His offer. And this is an offense to those who think too little of God’s Sovereignty, and too much of their autonomity. They do not like this narrowness, this vertical nature of the cross.
The cross is an offense because it is too infinitely parallel for some, and too infinitely perpendicular for others! It is God’s all-inclusive offer – no matter you’re your state, and it is God’s all-exclusive offer – there is no other way to be reconciled to God.
I pray if you haven’t done so, that you come to that cross of Christ today.

Danesh Manik

Hearts Burning

2007-03-15T18:01:00.000-04:00

Luke 24:32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

It is the 3rd day after the crucifixion and Jesus has just resurrected from his death on the cross. On the same day we see two people walking to a “village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem”. After a few moments Jesus appears to them and starts walking with them. These people did not recognize Him and he jumps into their discussion. However, only later in the evening when they were going to eat dinner did they recognize the person who was walking with them from Jerusalem. As soon as they recognize Jesus, he disappears from their sight, and that is when these words were spoken by these men. I believe the words spoken by these men communicate a truth, which many times we ignore. That is, when Jesus spoke and opened the Word of God to them, every word spoken by Him made their hearts burn.

As I looked into the original Greek word for the words “hearts burning ”, I see that it means to consume or kindle our thoughts and feelings. As we read the whole chapter we will see that Jesus is explaining to them how the Old Testament prophesies about the Messiah was fulfilled. As they listened to His words, their hearts were recognizing the truth but their mind seemed doubtful.

The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12 that “….the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

This is so true!! When we encounter the Word of God in our life, the very being that was created by God responds to its Master by acknowledging that the Word about and from the Maker is true. When the Word of God penetrates our hearts it is like a cleansing process which takes the heart, “deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9) and sanctifies it with fire.

However, this fire from God is quenched so many times when we start listening to our mind. This is why the Bible says in Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

I am reminded of the story where Peter the disciple of Jesus betrayed him. When asked if he knew Jesus, his heart was saying, “Yes”, but his mind was saying, these guys will kill me if I say “Yes”, so he says “No”. This incident does not happen once, not twice, but thrice. That is, when he realizes that even though his heart was burning with the truth, but his mind had quenched the word spoken by the Spirit of God. This is when he recognizes his error and cries like a baby asking for repentance from His Master.

Today, if your hearts burn when the Word of God from the Bible is spoken or read, is your mind quenching the Spirit of God? Are you denying the one true God and His Word coming alive in your life? If you answered, “Yes”, and you want the fire of God burning in your heart, so that you can be the person that God wants. Then all you have to do is respond to the invitation of Jesus in your life & accept what he did on the cross.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

The Value Of Imperfection

2007-03-08T15:48:00.000-05:00

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

Just this week someone paid $405 for a $1 coin. Apparently the US Mint released an unknown number of new U.S. $1 coins bearing the image of George Washington which were missing the words "In God We Trust" and other lettering along the edges. Those who understand numismatics nod in appreciation, but many of us would not assign that value to a dollar.

One of the resonating reminders of our humanity is the assigning of value to a thing. We sell imperfect clothes at a discount, but we pay 400 times more for an imperfection in a coin. Economists tell us that the intrinsic value of a thing is proportional to the scarcity and the usefulness of a thing. But we know that it is not always so. Often it is the intangible emotion or an association to a memory of that item. How many of us know of things around the house we would never sell, or bear to see it damaged because of the loving memories it contains? It has a value beyond usability, it has an imputed value.

And imputed value is a precious thing because it has acquired a value it could have never achieved on its own. It was given to it by the giver. It is a reflection of the one owning it. And one of the most consistent thoughts all across the Bible is the value imputed to man by God. Paul, the persecutor who ruthlessly executed those he saw as dangers to his faith, now with passion reverberates this value God put on mankind - “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Paul is astounded, and deeply grateful. Twice he repeats this in a short three verses. First, Christ died for the ungodly. There was not a natural worth that we had that Christ undertook such a mission. And as if that was not enough, he reminds again that while we were yet sinners, that is, it was not because we showed any signs of becoming worthy.
There would seem to be no reason to salvage this fallen mankind, yet God saw that humanity was worth redeeming. Like that imperfect coin, our value was not diminished in God’s eyes due to imperfection, but rather the cross is the evidence that God put a very high value on even in our imperfection.

In our modern age much has been written about self-worth, and trying to motivate people to believe in themselves. But self-worth will always fall short because it is based on “self”, and the great yearning of the human heart is to be found worthy by a standard outside of oneself. But here is a wonderfully liberating thought - our value is not in simply our usefulness or even our uniqueness, the great value that we have is the value that is imputed to us by God. It is the value we carry because of the reflection of the One who values us.

Friend, God valued you as worth the pain, shame and isolation of the cross. In those moments of honest reflection, are you haunted by guilt? Are you disappointed in yourself? Are all your actions, your passions and desires directed by wanting to be worth something to someone? God has put a value on your life, and it was His life for yours.
May I point you to the cross where “Christ died for us while were yet sinners”.
The cross is, and forever will be an eternal symbol of the imputed value of an imperfect humanity!

Danesh Manik

The Path of God

2007-03-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

Joshua 3:15-16 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

I am reminded of a scene from the famous movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. In this movie we see Indiana is supposed to cross a bottomless chasm or gorge to obtain the Holy Grail. In his father’s diary he remembers the clue to cross the bottomless chasm, that is, “The Path of God - Only in a leap from the lion's head will he prove his worth”. He needs to get to the door on the other side, but he cannot jump since it is too far away. It becomes a test of faith for Indiana and he finally takes a leap of faith to discover an "invisible" bridge, which is camouflaged to match the opposite wall. Even though this story is fictional, it does teach us a good principle.

We see the same principle being exhibited by the Israelites when God tells them to cross the river Jordon. God tells Joshua, their leader, to tell the priests carrying the ark to step into the waters of Jordan. In my logical and human sense, if my children are playing near a river I will tell them to stay away, since they could slip into it or possibly drown, if they did not know swimming. However, if the river is in flooding stage, I will surely tell them to stay away at least a mile, from the path of the river. The Jordan river is currently in a flooding stage and God is telling the Israelite priests to step into the water. I wonder why God would tell his own children such a strange command, whereas I would have told my children to stay away.

As I read further I see why God told this strange command, we see that as soon as, “their feet touched the water's edge” the Jordon river is separated and dry ground is formed in the middle of the Jordan for the Israelites to pass through. Isn’t that amazing! Until the feet of the priests carrying the ark of covenant did not touch the waters the miracle did not take place.

We see that only when the Israelites put forward in action their faith in God did they see the miracle. Many times we hear the Word of God or we know what God wants us to do but we fail to do it. Fear overcomes our decisions and plans. In times of turmoil we start doubting God’s faithfulness and protection. We start questioning God and we fail to act our faith.

The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).” Many times we boast that we have the faith in Jesus, but faith without action is meaningless. It is also interesting to observe that during regular season it would have been easy for somebody to put their feet in the river Jordan, but God seems to be asking them to put it when it was in a stage of flood. Our faith is only tested when we are in times of trouble, turmoil or in situations where all logic and human wisdom seems meaningless.

An example from the Bible to illustrate faith in action; During the time of famine, only when the widow from Zarephath gave her last morsel of food to Elijah, did she see her miracle, that is the flour and oil did “not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.”

Danforth Goff, a close friend of mine from our church, when he was on his death bed, the doctor who was going to put on a respirator asked him if he was afraid. He answered, “Fear is like Indiana Jones walking across that invisible bridge over the gorge. Walking by faith. Only difference is that my bridge is Jesus, so with that in mind He erases my fear and makes me feel safe”.

Danforth is now with the Lord, but his insurmountable faith even at the face of death is a sure testimony for all of us. Are you too today going through a time that is testing your faith? What are you doing about it? Are you just sitting back and waiting for things to happen on their own? Maybe it is time to leap out in faith knowing that Jesus is your bridge and the path of God is Faith in action.

Stanley Samuel

The Primacy Of The Cross Of Christ

2007-03-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
In the middle ages one of the legends that grew around Saint Martin, the Bishop of Tours was that of Satan appearing to him in the guise of the Savior Himself. St. Martin was ready to fall to his feet and worship this magnificent being, when he gazed into the palms of his hands and noticed something missing. He immediately asked, "Where are the nail prints?" Upon which the apparition vanished. It may be simply a legend but the veracity of all of Christianity revolves around the nail prints.
Have you ever wondered that the Lord who could touch the leper and the leprosy disappeared, put clay in eyes of a blind man to make him see, put his fingers in the ears of the deaf to restore hearing, take a sliced ear and restore it without any surgery, could not wipe out the scars of nail prints from the hands of a victorious, glorified risen body?
Of course, He could! But the nail prints are not just physical marks, they are the very brand. Of course He could. But the nail prints are not just physical marks of an execution, they are the very essence of our salvation! The Cross is the touchstone of the Christian faith. All of Christian experience and theology can be tested by the nail prints.
Paul, writing to the Corinthians says, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins”. Paul is essentially declaring the primacy of the cross of Christ. If we exclude the cross, no matter how eloquent the style, and how deep the theology – it is nothing. Christianity is not essentially a system of morality, or even just the hope of immortality, it is essentially a religion of salvation – first of all … Christ died for our sins.
This is exceptionally important for it grounds the faith, not simply in an experience, or in some acceptance of a creed, but most importantly in that day in history when Jesus was nailed to the cross as a vicarious sacrifice for our sins, and subsequently the day in history when He rose again. I am convinced that unless we understand the atonement, we will never be able to seriously answer any questions that are leveled against the Christian faith.
Let me illustrate. In a recent article, “Selfless Consciousness Without Faith” by Sam Harris, the avowed atheist and author of, “A Letter to a Christian Nation,” writing of his experience of “a blissful stillness” and a “feeling of peace” on the shore of Galilee, argues, “ If I were a Christian I would undoubtedly interpret this experience in Christian terms. I might believe that I had glimpsed the oneness of God, or the descent of the Holy Spirit, but I am not a Christian.” He goes on to explain how he would interpret this experience as if he were a Hindu or a Buddhist, but then writes of how he as an atheist interprets this experience. In his own words, “As someone who is simply making his best effort to be a rational human being, I am very slow to draw metaphysical conclusions from experiences of this sort. The truth is, I experience what I would call the “selflessness of consciousness” rather often, wherever I happen to meditate—be it in a Buddhist monastery, a Hindu temple, or while having my teeth cleaned. Consequently, the fact that I also had this experience at a Christian holy site does not lend an ounce of credibility to the doctrine of Christianity.”
Apart from the very obvious problem that on the same grounds Mr. Harris rejects the interpretation of the Christian or a Hindu or a Buddhist (namely, that they are biased in their interpretations), he essentially destroys his own argument. For his atheism is also a bias that he brings to the experience he calls “selfless consciousness without faith”. He is right in saying that his experience does not lend an ounce of credulity to the Christian faith. But neither does it lend any credulity to atheism! And it only disproves faith if faith were based on this sort of experience. But Christian faith is not an accumulation of experience of “feelings of peace” or “blissful stillness”. Experience does occur, but the Gospel call is that “first of all Christ died for our sins”.
I pray that as we approach this season of Easter, let this thought cheer our hearts and provide an anchor for our faith – that first of all Christ died for our sins!

Danesh Manik

The Primacy Of The Cross Of Christ

2007-03-06T13:22:00.000-05:00

The bruising that was pleasing to God

2007-03-02T15:36:00.001-05:00

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him…” Isaiah 53:10

It is perhaps one of the most startling statements in the Bible. God taking pleasure in pain of His Servant! It is even more startling if you consider the previous verses. The Servant, the One being bruised, is described as one without any deceit (Isaiah 53:9). The ones He is getting bruised for are God’s people who have abandoned God. They are described as those “who have sold themselves for their iniquities” (Isaiah 50:1). If this was not enough, the reason for this bruising of this Perfect Servant is the transgressions of the ungrateful people who have forsaken their God! In these heart gripping words it is described – “Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.. He was bruised for our iniquities…the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

It would be hard to understand it had it not been revealed to us in the Cross. Isaiah, 700 years before Jesus, is prophetically talking about the suffering Messiah, Jesus. “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” was simply saying that Jesus was to be the substitute for people estranged from God, and it pleased God, not to see the pain, but the ultimate achievement, of this bruising, for the verse ends, “When You make His soul an offering for sin.. the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

In that sacrifice, Christ resolved the conflict between God’s infinite love and God’s ultimate justice. It is this pleasure that God foresaw, and it pleased Him to bruise Jesus. It is what the theologians call the “atonement”. It is not a doctrine that was created to explain away the cross, it was anticipated 700 years before it happened as the only way to reconciliation of man and God. It is this paradox of “just for the unjust”, this substitutionary death that is central to the core of Christianity, is perhaps directly or indirectly challenged most often, and even confounds many Christians.

How can Jesus pay for our sins as a substitute? How could one man represent all of us? Is it not the height of injustice? In these questions, what we are really questioning is the veracity of substitution. Actually, substitution happens all the time. In our own lives we are constantly applauding substitution. When a soldier dies fighting for the country, he dies a substitutionary death. He dies as a substitute for many others who are then free to live. When our brave firefighters, policemen, and medical personnel died trying to save others on 9/11, we, very justifiably, build memorials to them. Who has not felt the surge of nobility in purpose and deed reading the stories of men such as Father Damien who died of leprosy while serving lepers?

I contend that it is not the death of Jesus in our stead that causes us to recoil, it is that that the cross of Jesus reminds us vividly the ugliness of our own sin, and the seriousness of that sin in God’s eyes. The atonement will never make sense, the cross will never become more than a symbol, the love of God will never be more than a fuzzy feeling to anyone who does not first see clearly the seriousness of their own sin. It is in the light of that sin that alienated us, the love of God that longed for reconciliation, we understand why “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him.”

Friend, it pleased God, not that He rejoiced in the pain of Jesus, but He rejoiced in the pleasure of those whom Jesus came to save, and that is you and me. Will, what pleased God, displease you? Will, what God came to save, you reject because it does not suit your fancy? Will you dishonor the one who came to be your substitute sacrifice?

I pray that you will look upon Him and be saved!

Danesh Manik

The Silent "gods"

2007-02-27T15:08:00.000-05:00

Exodus 32:4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

The book of Exodus amazes me every time I read it. It is an awesome place to see the mercies of God being exhibited on a bunch of self centered & rebellious people. The above verse seems like an epitome of Israel’s rebellion against God. God has just delivered millions of Israelites from their 400 years of bondage, made them cross the Red Sea without a single boat, destroyed all their enemies, gave them food to eat and water to drink in the middle of the dry desert and finally about seventy elders of Israel went up to the Mount of Sinai and “saw God” and “ate and drank” with God (Exodus 24).

Now these people who have witnessed, seen and experienced the power of the living God are quick to make up an idol, call it a god and bestow the work done by God to these idol gods. They seem to have forgotten in a moment’s time the God who delivered them from all their trials and tribulations of 400 years. I believe that this act was an outcome of their new found freedom. We can see throughout history that whenever man has had a freedom to choose, he tends to choose the things that are contradictory to God and his principles. Back in Egypt these Israelites were constantly crying out to God, while now in the land of freedom with free choices they chose to reject the same God who delivered them.

The only reason I see why the Israelites did what they did was that they recognized a key difference between the God who delivered them and the idol gods. The idol gods never spoke to its worshippers and the idol god never gave any rules to live. The worshippers of the idol gods were free to create their own rules and regulations as they pleased.

For the past 400 years the Israelites had seen how the Egyptians had enjoyed their life and were living as they pleased, while they were suffering in slavery. I believe their new found freedom made them desire the same. They recognized that if they created an idol god, just like the Egyptians, then they too would be able to do as they pleased. They wanted to re-define God and re-define their ways of living. As soon as they were out of their bondage, they wanted the God who delivered them out of their life. They did not have any more need of God. They believed that they could take care of themselves. They did not want God to dictate any rules and regulations for their lives, since they were happy to dictate it themselves. They were happy to have an idol, since it was their silent “god”.

It is sad to see the outcome of their rebellious nature, many of them who did not repent of their act lost their lives forever. We see in the same chapter that God erased their names from the book of Life. These were the same chosen people whom God delivered out of Egypt. Jesus is the only God who lives, the idol gods do not live, hence cannot speak! The question that reverberates for all of us today is: Will we too forsake the God who loves us and delivers us from our troubles?

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Called by Name

2007-02-26T14:41:00.000-05:00

“I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1

In the terrifying record of his memories of a time that testifies to the depths of depravity of mankind, Elie Wiesel in his book, Night, writes of the time when he arrived at the Auschwitz camp. “In the afternoon they made us line up. Three prisoners brought a table and some medical instruments. We were told to roll up our left sleeves and file past the table. The three “veteran” prisoners, needles in hand, tattooed numbers on our left arms. I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name. At dusk, a roll call. The work commandos had returned.”

I imagine the roll call now consisted of numbers instead of names. What, at one time was a name, signifying a person, a relationship, a part of a social order, had now become merely a number – easy to exterminate. There is something about our names. It encompasses a personal history, and establishes a personal identity. It hides in it all that I am, and hope to be. It may be the closest way to reference my essence outside of me. And therefore the words of God through Isaiah, “I have called you by name” must have sounded like a cordial to the Israelites in the midst of an uncertain future and Babylonian captivity.

When someone calls you by name, they are declaring they recognize you, and they are validating your identity. When God calls you by name, He is not only declaring recognition, and validating identity, He is also assuring protection and securing destiny. Look at the words that follow God’s declaration. He promises safety from flood and fire, and ultimately a destiny – a gathering of His people. “I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned… Fear not, for I am with you, I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west, I will say to the north ‘give them up”, and to the south, ‘do not keep them back, bring my sons from afar (Isaiah 43:2-7)

As the Israelites “wept by the rivers in Babylon”, and perhaps wrestled with their alienation from God because of their sin, the words, “I have called you by name, you are mine” were most cheering. In this God was saying that though through sin you have been alienated, you have not been voided personally. You have not simply become a number. If this was true then, it is more true after the cross. John reminds us that “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name”

Friend, may I remind you today that if you have repented of your sin, and surrendered your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, then God promises that you are His child, and he calls you by your name – recognition, identity, safety and destiny!

Danesh Manik

What is His Name?

2007-02-23T09:51:00.000-05:00

Exodus 3:13-14 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'

A question that has resounded through thousands of years among the hearts and minds of people is this one question about God. “What is his Name?” The concept of God has been prevalent from the beginning of age; however this one question has had numerous controversies & fights across the globe. Philosophers have construed their thoughts about God, religious teachers have come up with their conclusions, and some have even thrown the name of God out of their life and thinking. And there are also many who just do not even care about God.

The name of an individual gives an identity to an individual or communicates the character of that person. If we are searching for a person we need to know their name, otherwise we will never find that person. Just last week we met a new family and they asked my two boys their names. Both of them immediately mentioned their names, since they wanted to communicate their identity to the new person. Don’t you think God too is interested in communicating his identity to us when we ask?

It is interesting to note here that Moses is asking God, what is your name? A very valid question! God answers this question promptly. He says my name is “I AM”. These three alphabets communicate a whole lot about God. The Hebrew meaning for this is “to be in existence” or the “self existent one”. It is interesting to note that throughout the Bible; especially the Old Testament the name of God is mostly referred by his character, his nature, and his identity. He is called Jehovah-Rophe – The God who heals; Jehovah-Jireh –The God who provides; El Shaddai – The God all sufficient….Yahweh (Jehovah in English, which means Lord) is the covenant name of God which occurs 6823 times in the Old Testament.

I believe that the God said, “I AM” because that was the best expression that He could give to our limited mind to comprehend the unlimited God. He is a God who is all powerful and all knowing. As long as we are on this earth we can only comprehend a small portion of His Almighty nature. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.

No matter how big God is, He is always open to allow each one of us to know more of Him. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5. God is standing on our doorsteps waiting for us to ask Him His name. All we need to do is ask! Then you will see how God reveals his salvation for you, through Jesus (which means Jehovah is salvation).

Stanley Samuel
Associate

Why are you fearful?

2007-02-22T08:58:00.000-05:00

Why are you fearful?But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26

The question may have struck the disciples as a little unfair. We are told that a tempest arose and the boat was covered with waves. Who would not be fearful in the midst of the danger of sinking?

The situation was not of their making. To add to their feeling of helplessness Jesus was fast asleep in the boat. Mark, in his gospel, captures their frustration, as they wake Him asking, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus chides them for being fearful, pins their fear as lack of faith, and rising up, He calms the winds and the sea, and they marvel and ask, “who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

By calming the winds and the sea Jesus demonstrated that He was sovereign, and He did care. The lack of faith of the disciples was precisely their inability to fully grasp the sovereignty of the Son of God on one hand, and His love on the other. In the first question “Do you not care we are perishing?” they showed that they had not quite grasped the love of God. In the later, they showed that they had not understood His sovereignty. The sovereignty of God and the love of God is the basis of all genuine confidence in God, and the sure antidote to all fear.

I am convinced that real faith is directly proportional to how much we grasp this doctrine of sovereignty, and how much we understand God’s love for us. Of all the prophets, I believe, Isaiah, uses the term, “fear not” more times than any other, and most times what forms the backdrop for these comforting words is the ultimate sovereignty of God, and His love for His people. For instance in Isaiah 43, God establishes the comforting thought, “Fear not”, in the first verse, and then follows it with the reason why. “I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name” – this is His testimony to His love. Then He adds, “rivers shall not overflow you, fire shall not burn you” – a promise that cannot be true unless He was sovereign. God is saying, fear not because I love you, and I am sovereign. Faith is often misconstrued as believing in the “promises” that God makes. I think that is a consequence of faith. Real faith is simply believing in the ultimate sovereignty of God, and the infinite love of God.

Friend, are you fearful? Are you dismayed at the turn of events? Circumstances that were not your doing? Then may I urge you to meditate on this wonderful doctrine of the sovereignty of God, and deliberate on the love of God. And if these words are not enough, may I point you to two days in history. On the first day, Good Friday, with Jesus on the cross, God displayed His love for all who would believe. On that other day, Easter Sunday, with an empty tomb, God displayed His sovereignty. The One who could love a rebellious humanity to die for it, and the One whom the grave could not hold is the sovereign God who loves you! Why are you fearful? O ye of little faith!

Danesh Manik

The Moonlight

2007-02-15T09:23:00.000-05:00

Psalm 80:3 Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!

When I was a young kid I used to love watching the moon and stars in the dark night sky. I used to wonder how the moon used to shine and bring light to this dark earth. It was only later in my science class that I understood this mystery. I found that in reality, the Moon does not have any light of its own. This is because the moon has no significant internal source of energy, like the Sun. What we call moonlight is all secondary light produced by what hits the Moon from space. The beautiful moonlight we see in the dark of night is the reflected sunlight.

Now after so many years, I am able to appreciate this great handiwork of God. The above mentioned verse in the Psalms is an awesome prayer and it tells us a profound mystery.

When Isaiah saw the Lord God seated on a throne, his life was transformed. It is interesting to note that when God’s glory shined on him he immediately recognized his own sinful nature and he cried out loud, "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips,”. Immediately, an angel of the Lord flew towards him, “with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."[Isaiah 6:5-7]

It is amazing to note here that the glory of God made Isaiah recognize his own sinful nature. The same glory gave him an opportunity to be forgiven of all his sins. Isaiah went on to become one of the greatest prophets of God, who is still recognized widely among the Christians and Jews for his prophesies. Isn’t that amazing?

If one were to see the moon in a clear dark night, we would see few dark spots. However, when we see the beautiful moonlight these dark spots are overshadowed. Similarly, our lives are filled with dark spots and we too do not have any light of our own. Our life is marred with sin which when truly exhibited communicates our true nature…selfishness, wickedness, lust, fights, quarrels, hatred…etc.

I believe when God causes His face to shine on us, our lives will be changed. We will no longer be doing the things we did in the past. The dark spots in our lives will get exposed in front of the Holy God. We will get an awesome opportunity to obtain forgiveness and be cleansed from our old sinful nature. Then God’s glory will overshadow the dark spots from our lives. We too, like the moon, will start reflecting God’s glory/light on this dark world.

So today I encourage you to pray this prayer with me, so that the face of Lord Jesus will shine on you so that you too will be restored, saved and be transformed forever. You will be like the moon that shines on this dark world, reflecting God’s glory.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Hating Love

2007-02-14T10:57:00.000-05:00

“Love never fails..” 1 Corinthians 13:8

Kelli Congelli, writing in MSN music column gives this tongue-in-cheek advice in an aptly titled article, “Anti-Valentine”, just in time for those to whom Valentine’s Day is a nothing but a painful reminder of the failure of love. She writes, “You can simply choose to hate love. I mean, really despise the sucker. Wear black. Spit on flowers. Fill your ears not with the sweet nothings of others but with the wails, moans and cries of musicians who have the decency to remind us of love's disastrous qualities.” Though it is probably a humorous attempt to introduce the top “I hate love” songs of all times that follow, I suspect that the idea resonates with a universal appeal, for love is a universal quest, and in one way or another, at one time or another, we all find solidarity in a failure of this ideal.

In the midst of this, St. Paul’s unequivocal declaration, “Love never fails”, sounds like an outlandish claim for this “many-splendored thing”. Either Paul was being sappy, and using sentimental exaggeration as a pep-talk to the Corinthians, or he was talking of a different kind of love. I think Paul was the last person you would expect to get maudlin. I suggest Paul is talking about a different kind of love, a love that really never fails.

Incidentally Paul was writing to the Corinthians who boasted of that infamous temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. And to a culture to which love was some sort of euphoric sensation, Paul writes about a love that was a deliberate decision, even in times when that decision seemed burdensome. Just listen to how he begins by extolling the virtues of this love that never fails: “Love is patient, love is kind”. He is immediately implying that there are times when all of natural inclinations justify being impatient, and unkind, but love chooses to be patient and kind. And all of the rest of the virtues of love that follow imply the same – a decision to love against natural inclinations. And this decisive love, Paul says, never fails.

Yet what does it mean that “love never fails”. In an age where at least in a certain sense failed love is as common as the evening news, in what way exactly does this decisive love never fail? I suggest that there are at least three senses in which this love never fails.

First, it does not fail as in “love is changeless.” That is, this love is timeless, and eternal. It will never fade. The rest of the virtues and gifts have a limited usefulness, but love transcends time.

Second it does not fail as in “love is consistent.” This decisive sort of love is reliable – you can count on it. Circumstances do not alter its motivations. It does not fail to come through.

But there is another way in which love never fails and it is the crowning glory of this love. Love never fails as in “love is triumphant”. It never fails to bring about its desired effect. Elsewhere, Paul uses the same Greek word for “fail”, and it is translated, “has no effect”. In other words, this love that Paul is talking about never fails to take effect. It is always victorious. Where strength and might fail, this decisive, unconditional love comes back victorious. It is guaranteed to accomplish its purpose. Is there a barrier to a relationship? You have tried everything, and it has only alienated you more? This sort of love is guaranteed to triumph in overcoming that barrier. Is there a heart that you simply cannot seem to reach? You have tried threats, emotion, manipulation? This love is guaranteed to reach that unresponsive heart. It is a love that never fails.

Yes, there is indeed a love that is selfish. It is indulged in because of how it makes one feel, and sometime or another that love fails, and as one of the popular songs of the day says “It’ll make you hear a symphony, And you’ll just want the world to see, But like a drunk that makes you blind, It’ll fool you every time”. It is a love that when done, it makes you hate love.

But there is a love, a love that God displays, and allows us to emulate. It is the love that allowed God to love a humanity in sinful rebellion, that allowed the very Son of God to suffer on the Cross, and the love that is extended to each one of us. It is the love of God, and God never fails. Therefore, this love never fails!

Danesh Manik

Do Not Pray !

2007-02-09T14:13:00.000-05:00

“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.” Jeremiah 7:16

It is a shocking request to the prophet to refrain from intercession, especially from the One who had said to another prophet, “I sought for a man to stand in the gap”. God was instructing Jeremiah to not pray. God was not only not going to hear the prayers of a spiritually destitute, and flagrantly disobedient people, but he was preventing even the weeping prophet to pray for them. And this command is repeated three times in later chapters.

When I read this I have to ask myself, is it possible for me, to so vex God that He not only cannot hear my prayers, but it becomes impossible for another to make intercession for me. If the hope of turning to God is taken away, if His longsuffering is squandered, His mercy exhausted, what can a man do? If I have bankrupted myself of money or fame or even health, I may have hope, but what does one do when God bids farewell? More specifically, what is this posture of a heart that can makes God say goodbye, and make prayer ineffective?

It is interesting to note the times and the general culture of the people when these words were spoken. Judah was in midst of peace and prosperity under the reformer King Josiah. The Book of the Law had been found, and the favorite book of the people was Deuteronomy. The people had an eclectic worship experience combining much of the ceremonial law and ignoring its moral aspect, added with other forms of worship influenced by the nations around them. Assyria was a power that was waning in significance as Babylon grew as a vigorous rival, and they saw in that the first steps to the fulfillment of Nahum’s prophecy of the destruction of Assyria. The preachers preached “Peace!” and smugly they attributed all of this to the blessings of God promised in Deuteronomy. What could be more evident of God’s blessing than unprecedented prosperity? And in the midst of this, Jeremiah stood as a lone voice with a gloomy outlook. Literally the words, “Do not pray”, stand in the midst of God asking Jeremiah to go stand outside their worship place and as people go in, to say these gloomy words to them. And reading the complete context of the passage, one sees a people who believed in God’s promises without evaluating their own actions. They were a people who rejoiced in God’s promises of blessings, but glossed over the warnings.

I think the most dangerous place for a person is when they seem to easily believe in God’s promises, but hardly consider His warnings. When one is convinced of their own righteousness, even God cannot convince them otherwise. It is this posture where prayer becomes powerless, and intercession is ineffective. We live in comparative peace and prosperity. We have many blessings, and have seen God’s provision. Is it possible that we can become so smug about our righteousness, delight over His promises, and forget to evaluate our actions? Are our thoughts and actions in obedience to God’s word? As we rejoice over His blessings, are we also fully cognizant of His warnings. I suspect a good test of genuine trust in God’s Word is if we believe the judgments of the Lord with the same intensity as the promises. I have often found more genuine piety trembling over the judgments of the Lord rather than smugly claiming the blessing of the Lord. Perhaps someday someone will compile a “Warnings of the Bible” as a companion volume to the “Promises of the Bible” to keep us of a balanced mind.

It is interesting that even in God’s instruction to Jeremiah not to pray, God is working to bring the people to Himself. In a later chapter (14), He says not to pray for their own good, and then after the captivity, we hear these words that have been a keystone of hope for God’s people through the ages. “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. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” God told Jeremiah not to pray, so that he could get them in a place where they could genuinely pray and be drawn back to Him.

Danesh Manik

In Earth As It Is In Heaven

2007-02-07T17:14:00.000-05:00

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven Matthew 6:10

It was a fortunate occasion when the disciples asked Jesus to “teach them to pray”. That request has yielded to us one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture that is as poetic as it is insightful. It is what we know as the Lord’s Prayer. “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” - In that very first sentence is packed the essential theology of prayer.

First, the statement, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven” implies confession. We recognize that Heaven and Earth are essentially in disharmony. Heaven is where God’s will is done always and done perfectly. Earth, marred by the sinful condition of man, is where God’s perfect will is not always done. Man, even a godly man, with a free will can do what is not God’s will, and we are confessing that we need God’s will to be done.

Second, it is a statement of dependence. By saying, “Thy will be done on earth” we are acknowledging that God’s will is perfect, and better than our will, and we depend on His intervention to cause His will to be done on earth.

But the most radical thing that is implied in this statement, “Thy will be done” is the possibility that God’s perfect will can actually be done on earth as it is in heaven! It implies that heaven and earth are very unlike, yet can be made to be very like, if God’s people depend on God and pray. Charles Spurgeon asked in one of his addresses, “This earth is subject to vanity, dimmed with ignorance, defiled with sin, furrowed with sorrow; can holiness dwell in it as in heaven?” And then he answers it with equal force, “Our Divine Instructor would never teach us to pray for impossibilities.”

In practical terms, Jesus implied that you and I can discern and do God’s perfect will, and in doing so, earth can, in some way, be more like heaven! What Heaven so habitually does, Earth can do, enabled by prayer.

Often, we miss the real motivation for prayer. We pray not simply to encourage God to do something special for us, but we pray first of all because we recognize that something has gone wrong. We recognize that dissonance between Heaven and Earth, not just generally, but acutely, in ourselves first, and our hearts earnestly want to petition God to allow us to do God’s will, and then we with faith depend that God will actually enable us to do so.
Do you see injustice, chaos, and disregard for godliness? Do you feel things are hopeless? Jesus tells us that we can pray for “thy will be done in earth as in heaven.” Queen Mary of Scotland was resonating the message of the power of prayer when she said, “I fear John Knox's prayers more than an army of ten thousand men.” Genuine prayer not only transforms us, but will transform the earth.
Do you want to change your world? Maybe the earth? Then let’s begin by praying.

Danesh Manik

The God Of Specifies - Part 2 of 2

2007-02-06T08:50:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 …… your sorrow led to repentance……For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation

Yesterday, we saw how our God is a God of specifics and he expects us to pray specifically rather than vaguely. Today I want to show you how the same pattern is repeated in other aspects of our walk with God.

Many times we do things in our life which leads us to recognize that we have messed up with the standards that God has established for us. God’s Word says that we need to repent of our sins so we say, “God I am sorry and I repent of all my sins”. But if we make such statements it confirms that we do not understand the true meaning of repentance. Such statements are very vague, since it conveys the lack of accountability of ones actions.

In the letter to the Corinthian church we see Paul mentioning that true repentance is an outcome of sorrow or godly sorrow. This sorrow is an outcome of recognizing the ugliness of sin in our own nature. When we recognize that we do not stand a chance in front of the Living and Holy God, only then we will experience such godly sorrow.

The Bible tells us a story about Mary (sister of Lazarus & Martha) who after recognizing her sinful nature came and wept at the feet of Jesus. With her tears she wiped his feet and then anointed them with fragrant oil. If one was to recognize the gravity of their sins, they too will act like Mary; they too will experience the same godly sorrow.

The moment of repentance is right after we sin. The earlier we repent of our sins, the better it would be for us to have a healthy relationship with our God. If we delay then we may forget what we did, which many times lead us to make vague requests for forgiveness to our God. God loves us very much, and he recognizes our fragile and sinful nature. However, God wants us to be accountable for our actions, since accountability leads us to recognize the sin, our unworthiness and the fact that we on our own effort cannot save ourselves. This accountability will make us experience the same sorrow that Mary experienced. Only then will we be able to receive true forgiveness of our sins.

Today, I want to encourage you to specifically ask for forgiveness for things you have messed up. No matter what the sin maybe, when you identify each of the sins you committed and ask specific forgiveness, then this act of accountability will penetrate your heart, which will lead you to experience sorrow, which will lead to true repentance, and that will lead you to salvation. Don’t let the devil fool you to believe that making a blanket statement of “Please forgive all my sins” is okay. This deception prevents you from having accountability in your life.

However, if you have never understood this principle and do not remember what you have done in the past, then I encourage you to pray to Jesus to reveal to you your past acts that needs repentance. Jesus will reveal to you everything and as you get the revelation, make sure that you ask forgiveness for each of those sins, which will help you experience true repentance. This will fill you with godly sorrow overflowing from your heart. Trust Jesus. He will replace the heart filled with godly sorrow with godly joy, as you express your true repentance.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

The God Of Specifies - Part 1 of 2

2007-02-05T10:02:00.000-05:00

John 11:22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

Last year my son asked for a basketball hoop at our house as his birthday present. We went shopping and found one at a good deal and had it installed next to our driveway. My son was thrilled about it.

I am sure that we all want to experience the same thrill when we pray to our Living God and hope that we will get our answers to our prayers. However, we all seem to be praying but our prayers never seem to be getting answered. I believe that we are not getting the thrill that my son got because we always seem to be approaching God with vague petitions. God please bless me; please take care of my needs….. We think that since God knows our needs, so we can ask our petitions vaguely rather than specifically. I believe that we tend to do this only because we do not understand how God works and answers prayers. To understand God’s pattern of operation, we need to see through the lives of thousands of people as mentioned in the Bible and the lives of Christian believers.

When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he specifically told them not to eat the fruit from a particular tree. When God told Noah to build an ark, he gave him the exact height, length and width. He gave him all the detailed specifications that he needed to build the ark and to be prepared for the flood. In the New Testament, we can see a similar pattern. God specifically defined the path for salvation, that is, only when we accept Jesus and the work that he did on the cross would we be able to receive eternal life. The God of the Old Testament is still the same God of the New Testament. His nature has not changed; his mode of operation has not changed. He is the same unchanging God. If God operates with specifics, then why do we make general vague prayer petitions?

I am reminded of the story of Paul Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the largest church in South Korea and in the world. In the beginning of his ministry, he was very poor; he would often fast because he did not have anything to eat. One day he was reading the Bible when suddenly he was really encouraged to ask for and expect to receive what he needed from God by faith. At that time the greatest necessities in his life were a table, a chair and a bicycle. So he knelt down and asked God to give him those three things in great faith. Then he waited for God to supply them. Day after day, month after month, he waited, expecting. But nothing happened."

Eventually he was completely frustrated and discouraged, he cried out to the Lord. Then God began to speak to him. God said, 'My son, don't cry. I have heard your prayer, and I have given you a table, a chair and a bicycle.'" "So I said, 'Father, you're kidding me. I don't have a table, a chair or a bicycle, although I have been expecting them day after day.'" "'Yes,' God said, 'I have given them to you potentially. But you have been asking them of me in such vague terms that I cannot fulfill your request. Don't you know there are a dozen kinds of tables, chairs and bicycles? Which ones do you want? Be very clear. Make your request very specific, and then I'll answer.'"

Cho asked God to prove this idea to him by the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit told him to begin reading Hebrews 11 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for . . ." And the Spirit said to him "Without having a clear-cut goal of the 'things,' or a clear-cut vision of the objects, how can you hope? How do you have faith?" As Cho searched the Scriptures, he found that time after time God did His miracles in response to clear-cut requests with specific goals in mind. So Pastor Cho began to make very specific requests in prayer. He described the size and type of table he wanted, made of mahogany; he prayed for an iron-framed chair on casters so he could roll around; he asked for an American-made bike with a gearshift on the side. Cho believed, and in a few months received all of those things exactly as requested.

Today I want to encourage you to pray to God with specifics. The only caveat to such prayer is that all petitions and prayer must be in sync with God’s will. Don’t expect a Mercedes Benz to be on your doorstep, just because you ask. However, it might be the answer you may receive today if it is truly God’s will for you.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

Reference: “The Fourth Dimension” by Paul Yonggie Cho

Terms Of worship

2007-02-05T09:20:00.000-05:00

And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. Genesis 4:3-4

Few stories have stirred up hearts and permeated the consciousness of peoples of all times as the story of Cain and Abel. It has inspired songs, led to creation of comic characters, and the very names evoke an image of certain character. Very soon after Adam & Eve’s disobedience, the Bible gives us a window into the sin-stricken nature of man, and the description of the first fratricide. Without a lot of detail the Bible tells us that the two brothers come to worship God and bring Him sacrifices. Abel, the shepherd, brings the firstborn of his flock; Cain, the agrarian, brings the fruits of his fields. We are not told specifically why, but the Bible tells us, “the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.”
I read someone describe this as a very capricious act on God’s part. They reasoned that Cain and Abel, both made an effort, and therefore were deserving of acknowledgement and praise. In other words, God ought to have been more understanding of Cain. On the surface, notwithstanding the excellent reasons for God’s rejection that can be easily understood from the proper reading of the Bible, the argument appeals to the modern mind. We are a culture where “good intentions” count for something. After all is it not the thought that counts? We realize our infirmities, and therefore also realize the effort in doing good. We can see why we ought to applaud Cain for trying. He, at least showed up with a gift! We want to side with the under-dog because we often are one ourselves. We rate “sincerity”, especially in our spiritual pursuits, very high. I think Cain did too. Cain’s countenance fell because God rejected his worship, and God gently reminds him that “if he will do well, will he not be accepted?” In other words, offer me worship on my terms, not on yours, and it will be accepted. And, instead of responding with humility to this revelation, Cain is angered, and instead kills his brother. I can imagine Cain reasoning, “Abel is a bigot. Why do I have to worship like he does? That offering works for him, and this works for me. Why should God just not accept it?” All this while not realizing that it is not because of Abel, his worship is acceptable, it is simply Abel’s obedience to God’s prescription for worship that made him acceptable. Abel is worshipping God on God’s terms; Cain, on his terms. Cain does not mind God, as long as he gets to say what sort of God he ought to be, and what he ought to accept.

The under girding belief of the modern mind is not much different than Cain’s - “I am not perfect, but God ought to accept me because I am at least sincere.” What is really being said is “I want to worship God on my terms.” In fact, it is the most insincere thing to say. Sincerity, in this case is simply a guise for pride. A sincere heart is first a humble heart that yearns for God’s revelation and wants to worship God on God’s terms. Christians insist that we cannot approach God apart from Christ, not because they are bigoted, it is simply because they believe God has revealed Himself, and has revealed the terms of approaching Him. Jesus says, “No one can come to the Father, except through Me” and saying that, He gave Himself up on the cross for our sins, rose again, and we simply believe Him. Like Abel we have done nothing to deserve the acceptance any more than Cain, except that we are willing to worship God on His terms.

Friend, I pray that we become sincere enough to approach God as He desires. The Bible says, “we are to God the fragrance of Christ.” May I invite you to trust in Christ, and He promises that “whosoever believes in Me I will in no wise cast out,” and “if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” In Christ, our worship is acceptable.

Danesh Manik

The Hidden Commandment

2007-02-01T18:46:00.000-05:00

Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

One of the most difficult things that an individual can do or will do is forgiving another person. At the first glance we may not realize the implications of this commandment. However, if we look into the lives of people, who have had un-forgiveness festering in their lives, you will see that it has created bondage in their and their children’s lives. It is like constantly dragging a large millstone attached to your hand.

There are many people who seem to have memorized the Lord’s Prayer; unfortunately they never seem to recognize this hidden & powerful commandment that Jesus has mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer. We always seem to be expecting God to forgive us, since we deserve it, but we never seem to forgive others who have sinned against us. Don’t they deserve it too?

Many people pass through our lives; however their attitudes, their upbringing, their selfish and individualistic nature always seem to brush our lives in a wrong way. Some do it intentionally and others unintentionally, but one thing is for sure that these incidents create a big mark in our life, like a tattoo on our face. And we carry them all through our lives, and for some until their death-bed. When we do not forgive them, our relationships with these people become bitter day by day and we never seem to experience peace in our own lives, even though we seem to be telling everybody else that things are going fine. It is like living a life of “bitter” denial.

Maybe your brother did things that offended you, maybe your sister cheated you from your family property, maybe your spouse treated you badly, maybe your mother left your dad for another man, maybe your friend betrayed you, maybe your employer blamed you for things that you never did and fired you. If we start counting, we will find thousands of reasons for not forgiving, but we will always find only one solution, that is forgiveness.

Based on some studies done it has been seen that un-forgiveness creates bitterness and resentment in our heart. The bitterness can feed into gossip or murmuring and some times it also leads to revenge. We tend to gossip to solicit sympathy from others and to prove how good we are, since we never did that grievous act. Sometimes people may not express their un-forgiveness through their mouth, but seem to keep it deep in their hearts. This can lead to problems related to your heart; it may make you sick and also lead to multiple complications.

If you say something about somebody and if you cannot say that in front of that person, then it is gossip. And also if things said about another person are untrue, then surely it is gossip, since we may think we are right, but we never seem to recognize the other person’s views, as to why he/she did the act or say things that hurt you. The issue is not, who did what and why, but it is a matter to forgive for no matter what the reason and move on. This is why the Bible tells us go to our brother or sister and work out (reconcile) our differences. When we reconcile, we become right in sight of God, we will have no bitterness in our heart against that person.

God never desired us to have bitterness in our lives, but we always seem to be making that choice to have bitterness through un-forgiveness. God’s commandment of forgiveness was not to bind us, but to release love, joy and peace in our lives. When these fruits of the Holy Spirit start dwelling in our life, bitterness is thrown out and blessings start flowing in. The bondage is loosened and we are released. Forgiveness eventually leads to release.

We all know the 10 commandments, but it is this hidden commandment that many of us struggle with and fail many times. I hope you recognize that forgiveness is NOT optional. This is not only a commandment from Jesus, but it a guarantee that you will receive love, joy, peace in your current and future life. Above all it helps us to be set right in front of God, especially when we mess up and require his forgiveness. Asking for forgiveness is our only “Life line” in front of a Holy God, but forgiving others for their sins against you is a pre-requisite for you to receive God’s forgiveness.

Jesus loves us very much and he recognizes that you need help to forgive others. If you are struggling to forgive somebody today, and you are finding it extremely difficult to forgive them, then all you need to do is ask Jesus to help you forgive them. God’s grace is waiting at your door step to help you forgive somebody who did wrong things to you, but you are the one who has to open the door for Jesus by simply asking for help. Jesus will keep waiting until you make that choice today.

Stanley Samuel

God’s Electric Cable

2007-02-01T18:44:00.000-05:00

Mark 2: 3-4 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

The book of Mark tells us an awesome story of four friends who after experiencing the blessing of Jesus in their life began thinking of others in need. We can see in this story that these people were determined to extend the blessings that they received to their paralytic friend. Their commitment was so strong that they went to the extreme to open up the roof so that their friend could be touched by the Living God.

All who believe in Jesus are connected to God through His electric cable. All electrical equipments get their power to operate only when they are connected to the power socket through an electric cable. Let’s take the example of a laptop which can also work on battery. When the laptop operates only on battery then with time and use its life will start deteriorating. However, when the laptop is connected to the electric outlet on the wall through an electric cable, then the laptop’s productivity is always at 100% or at its best. As long as the cable is connected between the laptop and the electric outlet, the laptop receives full power and it is able fully open up all its different programs.

Our life is just like the laptop with no cable connected to its power source; we constantly try to operate as if we are on battery power. We try to do things with our own intellect, logic, understanding and worldly concerns, but then we see our productivity reducing with time & use, eventually our efforts become useless. However, if we are connected to the living God through faith, love and prayer, then His Holy Spirit power will flow through us and touch the lives of people around us. It is like a fully functioning laptop connected to a network of multiple computers across the World Wide Web, where each and every laptop or computer is freely connecting with each other.

When the electric cable is connected to the power socket even the rechargeable battery in the laptop gets fully charged. The laptop does not have a need to operate on its own energy, since it can work on full capacity from the power source. Similarly, when we have the connection with God through Jesus we too will never have the need to use up our energy. We think we need to work our way to heaven, but what we need is grace of God working through our lives, touching the lives of people around us. The Lord’s Holy Spirit power will help us and empower us to do what God wants us to do, rather than what we may think is the right thing to do. Only then can we truly attend to the need of a brother or sister, otherwise all our efforts will be futile.

Our lifestyles have become so busy, that we rarely have time to think about ourselves and hence many times we likely miss the needs of others. How many times we have said this statement, “Oh I did not even know that you were going through that or this problem?”

In this life there are so many people who have carried emotional burdens for too long. There are those who are assaulted each day by mental anguish, feelings of darkness and hopelessness. There are people whose spirits are crippled with despair and confusion. Jesus came into this world and died for our sins so that we can be liberated through spiritual healing, mental healing, and emotional healing. However, the most important healing that Jesus does in a person’s life is the healing of our soul, which makes us ready for eternity. God’s healing power is here to set everybody free.

We may be on our way to work, shopping in the mall, grocery shopping or possibly taking a walk; you will surely find people who are in need? However, only when you allow the Holy Spirit power of God to work in your life would you be able to truly attend to those needs, otherwise all your efforts will be futile. The man on the stretcher was paralyzed. He alone could not have ever made it to Jesus. However, only when his four friends allowed the power of God work through their lives that they were able to connect their paralyzed friend to Jesus. That is when they saw an awesome power of God being manifested in their friend’s life. So are you too willing to allow Jesus to let his Holy Spirit power to flow through your lives today? Are you willing to be connected to God’s electric cable?

Stanley Samuel

The Terms Of Worship

2007-01-25T15:30:00.000-05:00

And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. Genesis 4:3-4

Few stories have stirred up hearts and permeated the consciousness of peoples of all times as the story of Cain and Abel. It has inspired songs, led to creation of comic characters, and the very names evoke an image of certain character. Very soon after Adam & Eve’s disobedience, the Bible gives us a window into the sin-stricken nature of man, and the description of the first fratricide. Without a lot of detail the Bible tells us that the two brothers come to worship God and bring Him sacrifices. Abel, the shepherd, brings the firstborn of his flock; Cain, the agrarian, brings the fruits of his fields. We are not told specifically why, but the Bible tells us, “the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.”

I read someone describe this as a very capricious act on God’s part. They reasoned that Cain and Abel, both made an effort, and therefore were deserving of acknowledgement and praise. In other words, God ought to have been more understanding of Cain. On the surface, notwithstanding the excellent reasons for God’s rejection that can be easily understood from the proper reading of the Bible, the argument appeals to the modern mind. We are a culture where “good intentions” count for something. After all is it not the thought that counts? We realize our infirmities, and therefore also realize the effort in doing good. We can see why we ought to applaud Cain for trying. He, at least showed up with a gift! We want to side with the under-dog because we often are one ourselves. We rate “sincerity”, especially in our spiritual pursuits, very high. I think Cain did too. Cain’s countenance fell because God rejected his worship, and God gently reminds him that “if he will do well, will he not be accepted?” In other words, offer me worship on my terms, not on yours, and it will be accepted. And, instead of responding with humility to this revelation, Cain is angered, and instead kills his brother. I can imagine Cain reasoning, “Abel is a bigot. Why do I have to worship like he does? That offering works for him, and this works for me. Why should God just not accept it?” All this while not realizing that it is not because of Abel, his worship is acceptable, it is simply Abel’s obedience to God’s prescription for worship that made him acceptable. Abel is worshipping God on God’s terms; Cain, on his terms. Cain does not mind God, as long as he gets to say what sort of God he ought to be, and what he ought to accept.

The under girding belief of the modern mind is not much different than Cain’s - “I am not perfect, but God ought to accept me because I am at least sincere.” What is really being said is “I want to worship God on my terms.” In fact, it is the most insincere thing to say. Sincerity, in this case is simply a guise for pride. A sincere heart is first a humble heart that yearns for God’s revelation and wants to worship God on God’s terms. Christians insist that we cannot approach God apart from Christ, not because they are bigoted, it is simply because they believe God has revealed Himself, and has revealed the terms of approaching Him. Jesus says, “No one can come to the Father, except through Me” and saying that, He gave Himself up on the cross for our sins, rose again, and we simply believe Him. Like Abel we have done nothing to deserve the acceptance any more than Cain, except that we are willing to worship God on His terms.

Friend, I pray that we become sincere enough to approach God as He desires. The Bible says, “we are to God the fragrance of Christ.” May I invite you to trust in Christ, and He promises that “whosoever believes in Me I will in no wise cast out,” and “if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” In Christ, our worship is acceptable.

Danesh Manik

Spectator or Participator?

2007-01-24T08:31:00.000-05:00

“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:28,29

It was one strange request! “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water”. It is an incredulous request. Many would say a rash and unthinking. Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to happen! Just for a moment consider the facts. The disciples are fighting contrary winds when they see an apparition, and are filled with fear. Jesus replies, “Be of good cheer, it is I.” They have never before, as far as we know, seen Jesus walk on water, but the voice of their Master, and the knowledge that He can do the impossible, perhaps abates their fears. While they are silent, watching Jesus perform this miracle, and are probably thankful for His presence, Peter instead asks to come to Him. I am struck by this request of Peter. Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to be accomplished in him! Peter must know well that men don’t walk on water, and therefore in his request for permission is also the request for enablement. Jesus complies, and Peter walks on water, however short the time, and becomes a participator in one of the most fascinating miracles that seemingly had no other purpose than to validate his impulsive request.

Many attribute it to the fact that the ardor of Peter was stronger than his faith. Some have used this as an example of warning against impulsiveness in faith. I see quite the opposite. While the other disciples believe that Jesus can do the impossible, Peter is the one who asks God to enable him to do the impossible. I am convinced that often the difference between being a spectator in God’s miracle or a participator is this extravagance of the heart of faith. This boldness that not only believes in the God of the impossible, but asks God the permission and enablement to participate in the impossible. It is the ethos of a child-like heart, driven not always by practicalities, but by the undying love for its Master. It is this romance of faith that so captivates the heart of God, and I think it is the reason Jesus never rebukes Peter for his seemingly impulsive and immaterial request, but rather for the brevity of such an impulse. Peter’s doubt was simply that Peter became more practical. His child-like idealism that spurred that initial impulse gave way to a grown-up practicality when it saw the contrary winds, and Peter doubted that if this miracle that he himself had asked for was really happening.

I think this is often the nature of faith. When I reflect on those early days when I first trusted in the Lord, and compare them to some of the later, more mature days, I find that, while there are many beautiful things you learn as you mature, there is one I wish to recapture from the early days. It is this spontaneous impetuousness of child-like faith. That heart that can not only believe God for His ability to do the miraculous, but can fling itself with complete abandonment on His willingness to do so through me. A heart that is not simply content that it serves the God who is able to do the impossible in general, but the one that dares to ask and believe in His willingness to allow me to participate in accomplishing the impossible. I pray that this year be the year when we move from being a spectator to a participator. May the Lord grant us that faith.

Danesh Manik
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org/. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The One True " Trust"

2007-01-15T13:57:00.000-05:00

Psalm 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,

The other day I was discussing with a person about the differences between a “Will” and a “Trust”. In America if a person dies without having a Will or a Trust, then his family will have to fight an uphill battle with various lawyers, government and credit agencies to restore the assets of the individual to the rightful heirs, that is, spouse and/or children. I found that having a “Will” reduces the risk of transferring one’s assets to their heirs. However, the “Trust” is the better choice for an individual to transfer their assets to their immediate heirs upon their departure from this world. The “Trust” will ensure that the assets are distributed correctly to the rightful heirs in the manner that the individual desires, and with no complications. However, the only caveat was that the “Trust” had to written correctly.

We came into this world with nothing in our hands, and we will leave with nothing. The Psalms confirm that our life is fragile, that our days on this earth are like “handbreadths” and “man at his best state is but vapor” (Psalms 39). In our practical and logical mind we believe that it is good for us to work hard and earn lot of money, during this short period of time, so that when we depart, our family will have a comfortable life. This indeed is the motto of every individual living on this earth. Yes, I agree we should work hard for the well being of our family, for now and in the future.

However, I found a story in the Bible about Isaac, son of Abraham, which enlightened me tremendously. Isaac was planning to go to Egypt since there was a famine in the land. The Lord God appears to him and tells him to dwell in the land that is shown to him. God promises to bless him and all his descendents. Now here is the interesting thing that really caught my eyes that the Lord God said to Isaac. He tells him the reason as to why he would bless him and his descendents. The reason was “because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” (Genesis 26:5)

Wow! Isaac did not need any Will, or even a Trust. He did not need to deal with any red tape bureaucracy, no credit agencies. He was heir to Abraham’s blessing and he was being promised of receiving a lot of material and spiritual blessings because his father Abraham had obeyed God’s voice, kept God’s charge, God’s commandments, God’s statutes and God’s laws.

So dear friends, are you working hard in your life? Are you recognizing that the only true giver of assets to our heirs is God? Would you want to ensure that your heirs obtained their rightful possession of your assets? If you answered, Yes!! Then you may want to recognize that this is only possible when we trust in God and obey Him. The One True Trust is indeed our God and he can only be accessible through Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

So if you want your heirs to be blessed, then do as this powerful message from the Psalms tells us “blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust”.

Stanley Samuel
Associate
India International Church

"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org/. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

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Be Different

2007-01-11T13:23:00.000-05:00

I am reminded of a story that I read somewhere,

“A professor once asked a student, “Do you know your grandparents?” He replied, “Yes, sir!” “Well, do you know anything about your great grandparents?” “Not really” was the response. “What about your great-great grandparents?” “Totally clueless!” The professor curtly replied, “Useless! Your great-great grandparents and your great grandparents were just useless!”

The student was obviously shocked at this remark. The professor continued, “Do you know Isaac Newton? What about John Wesley? Abraham Lincoln?” “Yes, yes, yes” came the answer. “You see what I mean!” the distinguished professor went on. “You know people who are total strangers to you and who lived much before these your own relatives. And why? Because they left a mark on the world! Because they influenced and impacted lives while your own ancestors did hardly anything worth noting!” The young student was getting the picture now. Before closing, the professor made this final statement, “Two or three generations from now, will your grand children know who you were? Will they know that you lived, that you were here? Or will you also depart without leaving footprints?”

We are called to make a difference in the world we live in. Every believer is called to be salt and light and the spheres of influence to others especially those who are in need. Certain Christians in this world act like milk in water; milk in water may change the color of the water but also loses its quality. Instead of transforming the society, many Christians identify with the world by being seduced by it. Certain others act like oil in water, which does not mix with water. These types of Christians do not like to share their resources or qualities with anyone and act like watertight compartments as they shut their door to the people in need. And for these people their personal safety and security is more important.

I believe we can be different to others through,
1. Our words: Be careful what you speak. there is power in the words. It is vital to speak life-giving words! Lord George Gordon Byron an English poet said, “But words are things, and a small drop of ink. Falling, like dew, upon a thought produces. That which makes tthousands, perhaps millions think” So are your words an encouraging one?”
2. Our Works: Let our light shine before men so that they can see the good works and glorify our father in Heaven. The world that lived during the time of the early church knew that those people were truly Christians because of their love for one another. And today also, the world can be touched and transformed by our sincere love and empathy for one another and for our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
3. Our Ways: Could there be a more effective way of impacting others than by living differently? Everything about the way we do things and live should be different. Righteousness and justice should govern our lives. In the way we do our daily chores of life, the way we behave with other people, the way we handle our worries and stresses should always be in tune with the word of God.
4. Our Worship: A worship filled with the presence of God has power to change lives of unbelievers. Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
We can be different in these days and ages by leading lives of faith and reflecting Jesus through our lives. Those who see us let them see our lord through us.

May the grace of God be with you!

Reena Varghese
India International Church

References: Life Fellowship messages and http://www.lightoflife.com/Default.htm

"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The Bamboo Tree

2007-01-11T13:17:00.000-05:00

Romans 5: 3-5 we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Just yesterday in my Bible class I heard the story of the Chinese bamboo tree: You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilize it for a whole year, and nothing happens. The second year you water and fertilize it and nothing happens. The third year you water it and fertilize it and nothing happens. How discouraging this becomes! The fourth year you water it and fertilize it and nothing happens. This is very frustrating. The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows NINETY feet in SIX weeks!
I am sure many of us can relate their life to that of the life of a bamboo tree, especially the first 5 years of its life. We seem to be praying to Jesus, obeying his commandments, reading the Bible; but God’s promises do not seem to be coming through into our lives. The God who provides, the God who heals, the God of peace, the God our righteousness, does not seem to be responding. We seem to be waiting like the bamboo tree, all our life; there seems to be no movement from our state of misery even after 5 or 10 years. Deliverance seems to be like a long lost dream. It is a very discouraging experience, especially when you see other people who do not know Jesus, prospering in their endeavors and/or not having the sufferings that you seem to be going through. I believe there is a reason.
I believe that God does not want to provide for us for a season; however he wants to provide for us for eternity; and for us to receive that blessing he needs to prepare us, which takes time. This does not happen overnight. If you break an egg before it is due to be hatched you will not get a chicken, but an egg yolk or even perhaps a dead chick. A caterpillar too has to go through the metamorphosis stage to become a beautiful butterfly. If we try to open the caterpillar in its pupa stage, the butterfly will be disabled for life. It is interesting to note that God has worked out his ways of operating even in the life of plants, insects and animals. Hopefully, we too can recognize these life processes and understand how God will operate, work wonders and pour out his love into our lives through the Holy Spirit.
We can look at the life of Abram from the Bible who had to wait for 25 long years until God’s divine promise of a child “Isaac” would be born to him through his wife Sarah. I presume Abram must have been thrilled when he received this awesome promise. But as the years went by he too might have started wondering; why is God delaying? Perhaps God changed his mind? Was it really God who spoke to me? However, we know that God did keep His Word. God did not want Abram to be just a father of a child, but was preparing him, in the 25 years, to become a father of many nations. We see later that God changed his name to Abraham, “father of nations”. God had to work on various aspects of Abram’s life to change him to be the true father of nations, “Abraham”!
Similarly, we all seem to be waiting for some deliverance in some area of our life. Today I encourage you to allow God to work in your life, so that you too can be changed to be the person that God wants you to be. Ask God where he needs to work in your life. Then you will see how the power of God will overflow in your life and show you the aspects in your life that needs a change. The Bible tells us that we need to rejoice in our sufferings, which will produce perseverance, perseverance will produce character, and character produces hope and hope will never disappoint us. A time will come when the bamboo tree in your life will also shoot up to Ninety feet in six weeks.
So I encourage you all to hang in there and trust in Jesus, who is the giver of all good things in our current and future eternal life.

Stanley Samuel
Associate,
India International Church

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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org/. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

A Dog's Life

2007-01-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

“We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people” I Thessalonians 1:4

The Greek word for worship is proskuneo, which means “to kiss the hand toward; to do reverence or homage by kissing the hand; to bow one’s self in adoration. The word is thought to be derived from the Greek word for dog. Thus, the true original meaning of worship is “to lick the hand of, as a dog licks his master’s hand”. It seems insulting, uncouth, and demeaning. To think about ourselves as ignorant mutts, licking the hand of a heavenly master in worship is almost too much. Yet if we stop to study some of the attributes of man’s best friend, we may find some interesting reasons for adopting such a lifestyle.

Take, for instance, the dog’s response to the return of the master. The animal cannot communicate on the level of his master, yet he somehow recognizes the distinctive sound of his footsteps on the sidewalk 3 blocks away. His tail begins to wag furiously, and he jumps up from wherever he was dozing to press his nose up against the nearest window or door. He has to wait an infinite 5 seconds before the key turns in the lock, then – BAM! His front paws reach his master’s lapels as he licks his face and neck, sniffing all around his clothing and shoes and briefcase, checking to see if there might be a little treat in his pocket. It doesn’t really matter if his master left only 5 minutes ago to get the morning newspaper, or 10 hours ago for the office, the loyal pooch gives his master the same greeting! Perhaps our anticipation of the presence of our Creator could be a little more enthusiastic.

Another trait of most canine pets is their desire to be not only close to their master, but on top of him. The animal is not merely content to be in the same room with his beloved “dad”, nor will he generally situate himself beside the master. No, he will not rest until he is sitting in the master’s lap or, at the very least, sitting right on top of his feet! Should we not desire the closest possible contact with our Heavenly Father?

Finally, there is the way that the loyal pup will gaze at his master with that imploring stare. He doesn’t growl or bark or move a muscle, but he just waits with that certain look in his eyes for as long as it takes for the master to ask, “Do you want to go for a walk?” Or “Do you want some water?” Somehow the master always seems to know what the critter needs, even though the “look” doesn’t change. Maybe we should take some extra time today just to gaze lovingly into the face of the master. He already knows our every need.

Maybe a dog’s life is the best life after all.

Anne K. Miranda
Associate
India International Church

God’s Will in this New Year

2007-01-07T19:43:00.000-05:00

Matthew 2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word;

As we enter this New Year we are hoping for the best. I presume, just like me you too might ponder over what is in store and/or what we might encounter in the upcoming year. On and after January 1 and possibly for the next 2-3 weeks we will be wishing everybody good tidings, with the hope that everybody will have a good year ahead. It is good to be optimistic. However, we should be optimistic by being in sync with God’s will, otherwise when things go topsy-turvy we will get discouraged.

The gospel of Matthew tells us an interesting story after the birth of Jesus. Jesus is just born in Bethlehem; a new star is shining in the sky; three wise men have come from the east with some awesome gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for baby Jesus; the angels in heaven are rejoicing; the shepherds are witnessing the fulfillment of prophesy, that the Messiah will come; Joseph and Mary are thanking God for this awesome blessing that they have been bestowed upon. And in midst of all these wonderful things the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph, telling him to flee to Egypt.

I am sure that Joseph might have been motivated to ask God a lot of questions, with respect to the command that was given to him. If I was to imagine Joseph in current world scenario, he might have asked the following questions; Then what God? Do you want us to live in Egypt forever? Where will we stay in Egypt? Is there somebody there, who will take care of our needs? Should I inform my family of my move? This is too short a notice for me to move, my wife just had a baby? My finances are limited; will I be reimbursed for the moving expenses? Will I get a job there? Will I be able to send Jesus to a good private school? The list of such questions is endless.

Almost every time we desire to know every detail of task that is ahead of us, however in God’s view almost every time it does not happen that way. God gives us a word or takes us through certain circumstances such that we are left wondering what the next steps might be. However, we can learn something from Joseph. He did not ask any such questions, but when he woke up, took the young child and his mother by night itself and left for Egypt. His obedience was immediate, he never questioned God. We need to recognize that God always has a reason for his commandments, which is for our good and for His glory. As we read this passage in the gospel of Matthew we see that God gave this instruction to Joseph to protect the life of Jesus from King Herod and also to fulfill prophesy.

As the New Year begins we might be wondering what the year has in store for us. We want to know all things before hand, so that we can make appropriate plans to cover our bases, just in case we run into problems. We want to take full control of our destiny for the year. However, God unfolds his will and purpose in our life one step at a time. If God is telling you to do something this year, then just do it as he has told, don’t argue with him nor ask him why. God has his reasons and when the time comes, you will know and you will glorify Him for his wonderful love. Then God will tell you your next step, just like in the case of Joseph. God later tells him that Herod who was trying to kill the baby is dead, so now you can move back to Israel.

God loves us very much and he will always take care of our needs, even if we walk through the valley of shadow of death. So as you begin this year, I encourage you to look at Jesus and ask him to guide your path. Let your decisions be in sync with God’s will and your ways be ordered of the Lord. Then you will see the blessing of the Lord cover your life all the days of this New Year. So when somebody says, “Happy New Year” to you, you may want to reply with this statement, “Yes indeed it will be a Happy New Year, since Jesus will be guiding my path”. May the good Lord bless you and have a Happy New Year.

Stanley Samuel,
Associate,
India International Church

The Power of Sin

2007-01-07T19:38:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 15:56 ……the power of sin…….

The other day I was reminded of the differing characteristics between a pig and a cat. The pig loves the dirt so much that it keeps going back into the swamp, as if the dirt is pulling the pig into the swamp. However, the cat has a total opposite nature. The cat is a clean animal, the moment a single drop of dirt falls on its body it immediately cleans itself. Interestingly, I saw a similar analogy in our lives. I am sure if you look into your life you will surely find some things or some characteristics that you seem to be constantly struggling with or doing which eventually leads to death. Many times we wonder why we keep doing those things. We make every effort to cover it up, read books to understand the root cause to possibly resolve them, sometimes we try counseling for help, and even we talk to friends or family to provide assistance. No matter what we seem to do we never seem to get deliverance from these infirmities that exist in our nature. For some people this nature is openly exhibited, while others keep it is as a dark personal secret.

We all seem to be drawn away and enticed to do things as if it was an invisible magnetic force. The Bible calls this magnetic attraction as the “power of sin”. Sin prevails in the lives of every person on this earth. Many deny the existence of sin in their lives. They either fail to recognize the power of sin, or perhaps are in a state of denial in spite of clearly observing the facts in their life.

This is very similar to what drugs or cigarette smoking does to a person. Both seem to draw the person like a magnetic force, until it kills that person. The eventual outcome of sin is death. Any act done outside the will and commandment of God will lead to eternal death. We are all drawn away and enticed like a magnet attracts iron. We can take any nature of sin and see how the power of sin devastates our lives. Pornography destroys God’s view of a perfect marriage. Drinking alcohol opens up the door for the devil to corrupt a good moral character. Un-forgiveness creates bondage in our life. Unwholesome talk can corrupt one person’s character. Uncontrolled anger can bring about a deadly destruction in one’s life.

Sin has a way to make people think that it is okay the first time, since we can get away with it. However, when you are entangled with sin you are hooked for life. Sin prevents us from enjoying the true fellowship with our God. The only way we can have eternal deliverance from this magnetic power of sin is through accepting Jesus and his sacrifice that he made on the cross. When you accept Jesus your nature will be transformed like that of a cat and you will always be conscious of the sin in your life. So whenever you are tempted, Jesus through the power of God will show you a way out of that temptation and eventually help you achieve eternal deliverance from sin.

So what do you want to do today??

Stanley Samuel
Associate, India International Church

A Successful New Year

2007-01-04T12:54:00.000-05:00

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man. Genesis 39:2

You probably received holiday cards that wished you a successful or a prosperous new year. I know I did. In India, at least in the sub-culture where I grew up, not only was this wishing of success and prosperity for the new year a custom, there was a concept of the first that was given much importance, almost to the point of obsessive superstition. It was the belief that the success for the new year depended on my actions on the first day of the year. What I did on New Years day charted the course for the rest of the year. So we were told that if we slept in on January 1st, we would be lazy for the rest of the year. If we fought, we could expect conflict all year. We were expected to do and behave the way we wanted the rest of the year to go. It was as if by magic everything would go the same the rest of the year. A successful year depended on my actions on Janaury 1st, whatever success may mean. While I do not advocate superstitious behavior, new year is certainly a marker in life, and there is a certainly value in the discipline of commencing the actions we would like to see develop as a habit. And, this year I not only want to join in wishing you a great and successful year, but point you to what will make us successful in the coming year.

Some of you by now already have objections. What is success, and what makes Danesh an authority on success? While I may not be qualified to do so, I know the book that certainly qualifies, and the Author who knows all and sees all. Many people associate success with position, achievement, wealth, influence, or power. But the Bible does not equate success with any of these. In one of the strangest places the Bible interjects the story of Joseph with a proclamation – “the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.”

We are not surprised because we know the end of the story. We know Joseph as the ruler of Egypt under Pharoh. But this proclamation occurs just after Joseph has been sold into slavery to the Egyptian chief prison guard Potiphar. It happens when you would consider Joseph’s life all but over. A young boy of seventeen abducted by his own brothers, and sold into slavery into Egypt. I find it hard to imagine a more unfortunate case, or a bleaker chance at success. But the Bible declares him as a successful man. because the LORD was with him. In other words Joseph was where God wanted him to be. He was in God’s perfect will. He was in the process of fulfilling his high, heavenly and holy calling. In bleak circumstances, his relationship with God was unbroken, and God’s favor rested on him. Success, in God’s book was not a snapshot I a moment of time, it was a progressive journey. In other words, God views success as a process, a journey, not a destination. He views you as a success when you know your purpose and are fulfilling it, and you are pressing forward and growing in God’s potential for you. The Hebrew word used in this passage is tsaw-lay-ach which literally means to move forward, to push forward, or to break out. May I suggest a definition of success – Success is a journey of unbroken fellowship with God while fulfilling our God-inspired, high, holy, and heavenly calling, utilizing our God given gifts and talents to its highest potential.

God was with Joseph and he was successful. It is even more amazing to read that God was with Joseph because apart from the dreams he had, we never read about an encounter that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had. It has not been recorded that God wrestled, or spoke, or that Joseph saw a vision, yet even Pharoh could not contain himself to exclaim that the Spirit of God was in Joseph! God was with Joseph. How do you get God on your side? You don’t. You get on His side! And Joseph did just that. We find that he is still a God-fearing man who trusts in the ultimate goodness of His God, and acts in harmony with God’s Word in spite of his circumstances.

The New Year is a marker in our lives. And as you reflect, contemplate, and anticipate, I wish you a successful year! Or, shall I say “I wish that God be with you!”

Danesh Manik

The Demand of Christmas

2006-12-22T12:47:00.000-05:00

“Behold this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce your through your own soul also ) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

Through all the Biblical portrayal of the Christmas story one cannot miss the emphasis on the various responses to this helpless baby born in Bethlehem. And, of all the responses, the one of note is that of Herod. Herod is approached by strangers from a strange country. They tell him a most fascinating story. They saw a star and they want to know where the “King of the Jews” is to be born. Herod, instead of rejecting their story as some sort of astronomy gone too far, actually believes it. He not only believes it, it threatens him, and he makes plans to eradicate this child less than two years of age. Herod hears about Christ, believes it, but cannot accept the moral consequence of what the birth of the Messiah means. He does not challenge the Magi, he does not have a shred of doubt about the validity of their claims, but he rejects the Christ. Why? It is because Christ challenges his position. His must now submit to the authority of another. There is born a King who demands the resignation of his autonomy, and the submission of his conscience and that is unacceptable to Herod. I suspect that that is often the case in many rejections of Christ. Christ is rejected not because He is unbelievable, but because the implications are unacceptable.

Simeon, on seeing the Christ child said of His birth, “that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Christmas has always demanded a response! When we are faced with the fact of Christmas, that God in flesh came to die for man in sin, hearts are pierced, and they must respond. Whether we respond like Simeon and Anna in reverence, or like Herod in abhorrence, is more a revelation of our hearts than of anything else.

When John the Baptist was fulfilling his mission of preparing the way for the Lord, His message was “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near.” When Peter recognized Jesus, he fell at his feet asking Jesus to depart from him, a sinner. When God comes near, our hearts are exposed, and the correct response is repentance. I pray that this Christmas you respond to the call of Christ.

Danesh Manik

God In Place Of Us

2006-12-20T14:47:00.000-05:00

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

In the previous posts (Click here for ‘God For Us” and here for “God With Us”), I mentioned that the resounding message of Christmas was that God was for us, and that answers the heart’s question of purpose and meaning. God is not just for us, but Christmas asserts that God is with us; and that answers the heart’s question of loneliness. But there is a question that has burdened every human heart since the fall, and it is the question of guilt. Every person who has honestly considered the facts has to admit that there is something fundamentally wrong with our hearts. No matter how hard we try, our thoughts are often impure, our actions less than gracious, and intentions often wicked. What am I to do with all that I have done that I cannot undo? How do I deal with the guilt of my sin? What do I do with this overwhelming power of sin? To all those questions, Christmas declares “He will save His people from their sins.”
How? The Bible reveals that this babe in Bethlehem was born to die and would do that by dying for us. God for us is encouraging, God with us is cheering, but Christmas declares God in place of us! He will save us from our sins by dying in place of us.

Why will He save? Should I not be responsible for my own sin? Can I not do good to pay for my bad? The common responses to guilt are to either deny it or minimize it by comparison to other greater sins. All of these responses minimize the gravity of sin, and the pervasive nature of sin. Sin is not simply occasional wrong action offending no one in particular, it is a systemic problem in man and offends the Holy God. Amy Carmichael who translates of the struggle of HA Krishna Pillai the famous Tamil poet of the 19th century, quotes him “I tried to put away everything I knew to be wrong in my life … Nevertheless though an outward transformation took place to some extent, there was no inward cleansing.” It is something man ought to, but cannot do. Man may be able to do good, but that is required anyways. Man may effect outward transformation but what about the tendencies of the heart? We are in essence corrupted. All our inclinations are corrupted. You can clean a dirty pig, bit you cannot keep him clean long. His nature is to lie in the mud. And God answered that question of guilt once and for all at Christmas – “He will save His people from their sins.”

The angelic choir sings, “goodwill toward men.” It tells me of God for us, and it gives me purpose and meaning. The prophet says, and the angel affirms, “they shall call Him Immanuel.” It tells me of God with us, and that liberates me from the prison of my loneliness. The angel pronounces, “He shall save His people from their sins.” It tells me of God in place of us, and that takes my burden of guilt.

Christmas was not simply unusual events surrounding the birth of a homeless baby born in an unknown stable in Bethlehem, it was God, lifting the veil of Heaven, entering the fabric of humanity to meet our deepest needs, and to give us life!

Danesh Manik
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

God With Us

2006-12-19T13:20:00.001-05:00

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:

Previously, I mentioned that one of the resounding message of Christmas is that God is for us (Click here for the previous message). God for us! O, that is a happy thought, but it is still a distant thought. It tells me of God’s support, it assures me of His sympathy, but at Christmas, God went further. He not only showed sympathy with us, He showed solidarity with us. In the encounter with the angel, Joseph is reminded of the ancient promise announced by the prophet, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us”.

Immanuel! God with us! Unlike the ogre in the popular story of “Puss in Boots” who assumes any form he likes, the incarnation of Christ was not some magical illusion. It was God becoming man with all the limitations and frailties of Adam, but without the sin of Adam. As Immanuel, God in Christ identified with man. Jesus hungered, wept, and thirsted. He was tempted, and felt pain. It is hard to worship a concept, and Christ revealed God as more than a concept. But Immanuel meant more than simply identification with humanity. It was also God’s intervention on behalf of sinful men. God in Christ assumed the problem of man. The problem of man became the problem of God. Like a father makes the problem of a child their own personal matter, God made our problem, His problem, and Christmas was not only God for us, but God with us.

Yet there is something more to Immanuel than identification and intervention. I think that is what makes Christmas so significant to you and me today. Immanuel was an answer to the human heart’s isolation. Frank Boreham in his essay, “Our Desert Islands” writes, “We each one are hopelessly cut off isolated and insulated. Each separate “I” is without counterpart in all eternity. No man can enter into the soul of another man. He further quotes, “In the chief matters of life we are alone – we dream alone, we suffer alone, and we die alone.” We all yearn for understanding. Recently, I read the pen of a teenager describe the feelings that are universal - “I feel all alone. I have many people surrounding me but I am all alone. No one seems to understand me.” Ultimately our hearts are lonely. There are some things that we realize that no one will ever understand. Not even our most intimate friend. And Immanuel, God with us, was an answer to this plague of the loneliness of the human heart. The last words of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew are, “Lo I am with you always even to the end of the age.”

God with us! God identifying with man. God intervening for man. But the greatest of all, Immanuel is God’s perpetual presence with man. And on that those who trust will find a never failing friend. Space will not permit to recount all the events in his life, but it is worth reading the biography of David Livingstone who staked his whole life on this promise of God’s presence. His prayer was “Send me anywhere, just go with me.” And in his heart he heard the words of Christ, “Lo I am with you always even to the end of the age. And, his journal records, “It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor, so there’s the end to it!” Through all the lonely journey’s, hostile natives, physical hardships, and the emotional pain of losing his wife, it was this promise, “God with us” that became his anchor in life.
Every Christmas heralds the message that in the darkest dungeons, in the loneliest times, in the deepest recesses of our heart, there is one who understands, and promises to us His perpetual presence. “It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor, so there’s the end to it.”

Danesh Manik

God For Us

2006-12-14T12:02:00.000-05:00

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14

“God Hates Us All” was the title of the record released by “Slayer”. Coincidentally, it was released on September 11th, 2001, a day that will be forever etched in our memory. Due to the tragedy, and the implication of title, the promotional posters for this album were taken down almost immediately. The refrain in the title song speaks of its general message: “God hates us all, God hates us all, you know God hates this place, You know it’s true he hates this race”. Though this group may seem to be a fringe, the fact that the record climbed in the top 30 hits in the US and the UK resonates to some degree the pathos of this generation. But there was another musical chorus that two thousand years ago declared a message of a baby born in an obscure stable in Bethlehem. This angelic choir proclaimed to humble shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” “God loves us all” was the resounding proclamation of Christmas!

“Does God love us?” “Does He love me?” “Is God for me? Is He on my side?” This is a question that has plagued the human heart. Christmas says He is! Christmas says He loves you, and the babe born in Bethlehem is His testimony. He is on your side!

I remember the event distinctly when I was in sixth or seventh grade. My cousin, a self-proclaimed palmistry expert, agreed to look for my future as etched in my hands. I had one desire in my heart, and therefore one question in my mind. I wanted to explore the world. I wanted to travel. So I asked her if there was any indication of this in my hand. After a few minutes of intently gazing at the criss-crossed lines from every angle I could conceive, she very authoritatively proclaimed that “in this matter God was not on my side. My fate was sealed. I would never get on a plane, I would never travel.” I had not planned this, but incidentally as I write this, I am sitting in a plane traveling to Dallas. I am glad that the times are not in my hand, but the Bible declares, “My times are in His hands!”.

I am glad for the message of Christmas – it is goodwill toward men. God is for us! May you see God’s love this Christmas!

Danesh Manik

Christmas Apathy

2006-12-12T14:53:00.000-05:00

When Herod… had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ Matthew 2:1-3

Understanding and responding are two separate things. In the Gospel of Matthew we are told of the long journey of the wise men in search of Jesus who come to Herod to ask for more specifics of the birth place. We are told “all Jerusalem” was troubled, which gives a good basis to assume that the chief priests and scribes were aware of the wise men’s witness of the star when they were called by Herod. When Herod gathered these “experts” to ask them the whereabouts of the Messiah as prophesied in scripture. With amazing insight into scripture, they join the strand of past prophecy to present reality, and reply that He is to be born in Bethlehem. And then, they simply dissappear from the rest of the story. It is generally not a good idea to assume things from their absence in scripture, but in this case I think their absence is telling!

The shepherds saw a vision, had no insight, but knew the location, and went to worship Jesus. The wise men saw a star, had some insight, but did not know the location, and made travel plans to find Jesus. The scribes and chief priests heard, had insight and knew of the location, simply expounded on it, and then went back, perhaps, to their temple potlucks and weekly fellowship meetings! What happened to chief priests and scribes? Were they not a least bit curious that they would want to see the Messiah they had been preaching about? Of all the people they would be the first ones we would expect to go to Bethlehem to see this “Desire of all Nations,” the Immanuel, God in flesh! This absence simply highlights the fact that the amount of knowledge in the head does not always translate to the ardor of the heart. There is a wide gulf between penetrating insight into the things of God, and passionate worship of God, and it is filled with apathy. In the four hundred years of silence that preceedes the coming of Christ, they had succesfully imprinted the coming Messiah in the national consceince, but had obscured Him from their individual conscience. He had become an object of study instead of the subject of worship. And, I fear we in this century stand close to the same danger today.

It was interesting to read the religion page last week in a major newspaper. It was a testament to our acceptance of apathy as the normal posture for all things religious. There was a advertisment, apparently a combined effort from the local churches, and the title in big letters said, “Welcome Back” and then followed below by “In this season of Incarnation”. I suppose the ad meant that the religious clergy is expecting Christmas to perhaps revive some interest in Christ in the otherwise apathetic hearts. What happens after the season is over? Wait till the season of the Resurrection in April?

I wonder if we have heard the Christmas story so much that it fails to fill us with awe anymore. I wonder if the hymns of Christmas remind us of only the shopping we have left to do, the story of the angelic visions, hurrying shepherds and the gift-bearing wise men only conjure up images of exotic costumes of the innumerable Christmas plays we have seen, and the birth of a baby in a manger of whom it was said that “He came to save them from their sins” is simply old news. I wonder if betwwen the head and the heart is a chasm filled with apathy.

The only antidote to apathy is anticipation. In contrast to the chief priests and scribes, Luke gives us a view of a godly man named Simeon who waited eagerly for the “Conosolation of Israel”, and was promised that he would not die until He saw the Messiah. Dr. Joe Stowell tells a story about visiting the Shepherds Home and School for children with Down's syndrome. He remarks that the founder of the school told him, "Joe, we always share the Gospel with these kids. We tell them that Jesus Christ died on the cross for them, and that Christ will forgive their sins, and not only that, but the day is coming when Christ will come back and take them to heaven." This educator went on to explain the school’s biggest maintenance problem: dirty windows. The windows of the school stayed dirty, he said, "Because our kids spend time every day at the windows, hands pressed, faces and noses pressed to the window, looking up to see if this might not be the day that Jesus, the One who loves them, comes to get them and take them to heaven.

Perhaps that is why the primary occupation that Jesus left us with was to watch. ”Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:35-36

Danesh Manik

A Cheering Lesson From Genealogy - 2

2006-12-06T11:56:00.000-05:00

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham Matthew 1:1

Yesterday, I mentioned that there is a cheering lesson in the genealogy of Jesus with which Matthew begins his gospel (Click here for yesterday’s post, “A Cheering Lesson from Genealogy”). As I read the genealogy, I see God as the Lord of history and the God of planning. There is yet another striking thing I notice in the genealogy. God is not only the God of planning, but His plan is all inclusive. In other words, God’s plan was not and is not restricted to perfect people.

Look at the genealogy once again, will you? The Bible makes no attempt to hide what one would think are embarrassing facts. The list has names of the godly, like David who had failed God, of the carnal like Judah, drawn into the dragnet of an adulterous act with his own daughter-in-law, of the irreputable like Rahab, the harlot, of the outsider like Ruth of Moab, and as if that was not enough, it has a sprinkling of the decidedly wicked like the cruel and murderous king Manasseh. If this list tells me anything, it is this – that God’s plan is inclusive, and it is cannot be hindered even by those who actively oppose it.

God is immutable. He is the same today, yesterday and forever. And looking at the genealogy of Christ, I am assured that God’s plan can include me, and that nothing can stop His plan from being fulfilled. You say, “You do not know, I have committed so many sins that God cannot look upon me.” But the Lord says, “Come let us reason together, even though your sins be scarlet they shall be as white as snow.” You say, “I am not in the right family, the right class, or the right caste. I am just not born to pursue spiritual things.” Let me tell you – God’s plan includes you. If it included a harlot, if it included a Moabitess, it includes you.

On that holy night in the obscure stable in Bethlehem, hardly anyone recognized that the cry of that baby was the cry of God incarnate demonstrating that nothing could hinder the plan of God. Three decades later, as the Cross approached near, the same God incarnate would cry out, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” and declare that “Whosoever believes in Me shall not perish.” The plan of God was for “all peoples”, and “whosoever”. C.H. Spurgeon once said that he would have had doubts had the scripture read his particular name instead of “whosoever”. He would have wondered if there was another Charles Spurgeon. The word “whosoever” however leaves no wiggle room. It is all-inclusive, and therefore it included you and me, and the only thing asked of us is to believe!

Danesh Manik

A Cheering Lesson From Genealogy

2006-12-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham Matthew 1:1

Writers are taught to put a lot of thought in the first few words of their writing to captivate the reader. The Gospel of Matthew would, at least in this generation, fail on that account. In Mark’s Gospel, by verse 24 in the very first chapter, we are reading of Jesus’ first miracle, but Matthew in contrast, begins the Gospel with a long list of tongue-twisting names in a genealogy that occupies seventy percent of the first chapter; a genealogy that could be quite meaningless, especially if you did not know the people, or pronounce their names. But I have come to realize that in the Word of God nothing is superfluous. Someone has very rightly said, “Bible may be man’s theology, but it is God’s anthropology.” If the Word of God is inspired, which it is, then, all of Scripture reveals the nature of God. Apart from the purpose of presenting to the Jewish nation the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy recorded thousands of years ago, the genealogy gives us some cheering insights into the nature of God.

The genealogy of Jesus tells me that the Bible reveals God as the Lord of history, and a God of planning. What we know as history in the past tense, God was looking as a plan in the future tense. It tells me that God meticulously and flawlessly planned the first Christmas. It tells me that when God told Abraham to get up and leave Mesopotamia, and that He was going to bring forth a nation from Him, that He had not forgotten the promise of the redeemer that was given to Adam when the serpent was cursed. It tells me that when Abraham wondered how this would happen since he was 90 years old, God still had the power to accomplish His plan. It tells me that when Jacob was running away from Esau, God was seeing Jacob become Israel. It tells me that amidst the horror of Joseph being sold to the Egyptians, wrongly accused and sent to the prison, God was simply writing the beginning of another chapter in His plan.

But most of all it tells me that He, who could plan and wonderfully execute His will in forty two generations, has not lost His ability or His will to do so in my short generation. Over the twists and turns, amidst the seemingly meaningless circumstances, in the chaotic times, and the wonderfully purposeful times, stands the towering figure of God, the meticulous plan of His hands, and the flawless execution of His will. And, on that Person I can confidently stake my life. When we trace genealogy, we hope to find our roots. When God inspires Matthew to record it, it simply shows the brilliance of God’s plan. Is it not wonderful to know that we serve a God who plans, and nothing escapes His attention? Many times Christmas is referred to as “Christians celebrating the founder of their religion – Jesus Christ.” That is a flawed statement. Christmas is simply the eternal plan of God fulfilled in His perfect timing in what we know as history. Jesus was not the founder of Christianity in the sense that He was born, and then through serendipity, His ingenuity, or simply a collusion of random events, became its leader. No, it was planned by God. Jesus came into the world at the time God had intended it all along from the beginning. Christianity is not as old as Christ – it as old as Adam. The first Christmas was just a plan unfolding and becoming a reality – God progressively making known to man His love. The physical birth of Christ we call Christmas was set forth in motion at time of Adam, brought into focus with the covenant of Abraham, fortified in David, and fulfilled in Christ of whom Isaiah prophesied – “A virgin shall be with Child and He shall be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God”

Many would have you believe that your humanity was simply a chance event, and history, a collection of random events. They would lead you to think that your very life is a cosmic accident, and that your destiny is to disintegrate into material good only as a fertilizer. The Bible says otherwise! God is the author of humanity, and He has a right to it by creation. So when the God of the Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope,” it is not mere pep talk, it is the promise of the author and planner of history, and the genealogy of Christ is a simple resume’ of His previous accomplishments.

I pray that this Christmas when we read the genealogy in Matthew, we will not skip over it, but cheer our hearts in the knowledge that Christmas is simply the reminder that we worship the Lord of history, and the God of planning, and our life and its joys and sorrows, hopes and dreams, do not escape God’s attention!

Danesh Manik

What Will I Get?

2006-12-01T16:13:00.000-05:00

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” Matthew 19:27

There are some people who are utterly honest, and not afraid to speak their minds. Peter was one such man. He had the zeal, earnestness, and impulsiveness about him that is hard to miss. We often see him saying things when others are quiet. This is one such time, and his question – “We have left everything for you Jesus, so what shall we have?” Peter had just observed the tragic encounter with the rich young ruler. Tragic, because in all of the Bible I do not read a story of someone who comes so close, yet is so far from the Kingdom of God. If you remember, the rich young ruler came inquiring about how to enhance his lifestyle by adding to his good life, some godly favor for the after life. Jesus stunned him and told him to sell all and follow Him. He returned sadly, and Jesus made an intriguing comment, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Peter, like every good man, applies the message to himself. And if I may presume upon Peter’s mind, he seems to be thinking, “This rich young ruler refused to give up his stuff – so he cannot obtain eternal life. Now we have given up, maybe not as much, but whatever we had, to follow you Jesus, so what is going to be our reward?” Peter is asking the question, “What will I get from following you, Jesus?”

It is a brave question, to some an almost blasphemous question. Consciously or not, I contend we have all in some fashion considered it. Is there anyone who has not at one point or another said, “Why?, Why me?” Are they not simply saying, “I don’t deserve this, I have done everything right, yet I see no reward.” It is an important question Peter asks on our behalf, “What will I get?” Jesus does not reprimand Peter for this unabashedly selfish question, but gives a forthright answer. He first tells him personally what he and the other 11 disciples can expect to get – authority in the glorious Kingdom. He then in general what all His disciples can expect to get – an exceptional return on investment. But that they will have no misunderstanding, Jesus concludes his answer with a parable of the workers that provides a fascinating insight into the principle of reward in God’s kingdom. You may read this parable in Matthew 20, but in essence, the parable is this: A landowner goes out and hires workers who are in the unemployment line. He hires them during the day at various times, so some work twelve hours, some six, some three, and some one. At the end of the day, the landowner pays them all one denarius, the fixed price for a day’s work to all of them. The ones who have worked all day are incensed. They forget that they were unemployed with no hope of making anything, but now others have more, so they expect more. They expect pay in proportion to their work. And then Jesus puts forward the principle of reward in the kingdom of God, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good. So the last will be first, and the first last.”

The principle is worth noting. Jesus is saying, Peter, it is true you will be rewarded, and it is true that you will be rewarded abundantly. Your expectation of reward is not wrong, but be careful lest you think that you deserved the reward. “What will I get?” is a good question to ask, but tread carefully – to ask this based on what you have done is like being the workers who suddenly expected more because they worked more.
In the Kingdom of God, we don’t get a reward because we gave up so much and we deserve it, we get it because of the goodness of God. If we were to receive nothing we have still received everything. It is all of grace! It is grace that gives us salvation, it is grace that enables us to respond to Jesus, and it is of grace that we are added to the vineyard. In other words, the sufficient reward is Jesus Himself.

I believe Peter learned this principle well for it is recorded in the book of Acts that “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

Friend, what will you get for following Jesus? YOU WILL GET JESUS! A friend that sticks closer than a brother, almighty God who promises to never leave you and forsake you, the peace of God of the Heavens and the Earth with you, and an anchor in the storms of life!

And, yes, I almost forgot, that reward in Heaven!

Danesh Manik
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Worrying about the right thing

2006-11-29T15:06:00.000-05:00

”And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

“Why We Worry About The Wrong Things: The Psychology of Risk” was the title on the cover of the recent TIME magazine that captivated my attention. There is nothing in the premise that we did not already know, but it is exactly that reason why the article was so appealing. It hits home with all of us – this idea that we are all worried about the things that don’t matter, and somehow missing on the things that do. Jeffrey Kluger writes “We agonize over avian flu, which to date has killed precisely no one in the U.S., but have to be cajoled into getting vaccinated for the common flu, which contributes to the deaths of 36,000 Americans each year. We wring our hands over the mad cow pathogen that might be (but almost certainly isn't) in our hamburger and worry far less about the cholesterol that contributes to the heart disease that kills 700,000 of us annually. We pride ourselves on being the only species that understands the concept of risk, yet we have a confounding habit of worrying about mere possibilities while ignoring probabilities, building barricades against perceived dangers while leaving ourselves exposed to real ones.”1

Whatever the reasons of our current psychology of risk, I think the premise is truer, and the problem deeper than we realize. We not only worry about the wrong things, we often ignore the most important things. Kluger says, “we worry about possibilities while ignoring probabilities”. Ignoring probabilities is bad, but the tragedy of our time is ignoring certainties. It is a certainty that we are not sovereign. It is a certainty that this body is deteriorating even after all the assistance from doctors and cosmeticians. And, then there is the certainty that has a probability of a 100% - the certainty of death.

Jesus while giving instructions to His disciples as they were being commissioned to go to preach the Good News took this to a higher level. He revealed to His disciples a certainty they ought to worry about more than even the certainty of death. It was the certainty of ultimate divine justice - “Do not fear the one who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” Lest someone conclude that Jesus was trying to scare them, I better quote the rest, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

In other words, Jesus was saying, considering the sovereignty of God, and the value He places on you, He is the only one you need to worry about. One fear to embrace, and all other fears are overcome. One certainty to grasp, and the rest of the certainties, probabilities, and possibilities fade into insignificance. One question brought to light, and all others are overshadowed into irrelevance.

The one concern that rarely alarms us is the one that Jesus says ought to alarm us. Am I ready to face my Maker? Am I ready to stand before a perfectly just God? But fortunately, Jesus does not end there. He does not leave us with a worry that we have no answer to. Jesus, in the very next verse gives us an answer and an assurance. He says, therefore whoever confesses Me before men, Him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” In the last and final analysis, Jesus says that all that matters is whether we acknowledge Him.

What is your greatest fear? What do you worry about? Is it family? Health? Career? It is well to consider these issues, but even if all the worries were addressed, and all the questions answered, you still cannot escape the appointment that has been set for us all. In one of the essays by Dr. Ravi Zacharias on the September 11th tragedy, he asks, “Was it not ironic that one of the passengers who died in the American Airlines crash in Queens, New York, in early November 2001 had escaped the inferno of the World Trade Center tragedy in September?”(2) We all must stand equally guilty as fallen humanity in front a holy and just God. And the only cure for that is our acknowledment of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus for us. May I urge you to consider the claim of Jesus Christ today – “whoever confesses Me before men, Him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.”

Danesh Manik

References:
(1) TIME Magazine, December 4th issue, "Why We Worry About The Wrong Things: The Psychology of Risk" by Jeffrey Kluger

(2) "September 11, 2001: Was God Present or Absent? by Ravi Zacharias (Excerpted from a chapter of the book Light in the Shadow of Jihad: The Struggle for Truth by Ravi Zacharias (Multnomah Publishers, 2002).
______________________________________________________

"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Doing what is fitting

2006-11-28T14:21:00.000-05:00

”Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. Matthew 3:13-16

Jesus did not need to be baptized, symbolically or otherwise. Baptism indicated acknowledging sinfulness and repenting of it. Jesus was sinless and needed no repentance. Not only He did not need to be baptized, He was the object of baptism. Those who were getting baptized were responding to John’s call to repent. It was a preparatory symbol, because the Messiah was coming. Yet, Jesus insisted and chose to get baptized. The only possibly meaningful thing in the act of baptism of Jesus is the emphasis on His humanity, His willingness to identify with us, and the affirmation of the act of baptism. When asked by John, He said that His baptism was fitting to fulfill all righteousness. In other words it was the proper thing to do. Fitting? What made it fitting? Baptism was a symbolic act, it was full of meaning, yet it was a human act, a tradition. You would think that Jesus would decide what was fitting, not tradition dictate what was fitting. Whatever “fulfilling all righteousness” may mean, one thing is clear: Jesus submitted to what was corporately fitting even when it was not individually necessary. And, He did it simply because it was a proper thing to do. Jesus embodied the humility of heart, and respect for that symbolic act in getting baptized. I think there is a lesson in Jesus’ action for our age to hear.

We have a tendency to refute anything that threatens our individualism. We love to denounce tradition simply because it is tradition, and reject something simply because it is old. Even in the specific case of baptism, numerous people have mentioned to me that they did not want to get baptized, because it was not a prerequisite for salvation. It is true that tradition has its dangers. It can be given an inordinate status. It can be very detrimental when the action becomes more important than the reason behind the action. For instance, some have mistakenly assumed the act of Holy Communion as an act that imparts salvation. Instead we participate in Holy Communion in recognition that He is our Savior. “Do this in remembrance of Me”, He said. It is an effect, not the cause. When effect becomes the cause, the letter has superseded the spirit. The Pharisees in the Bible had that problem, and Jesus rebuked them “you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone”.

In our day I think we stand at the threshold of an opposite danger. I am afraid that the sin of the Pharisees was that they were given to the letter of the law at the expense of the spirit of the law. We are now in the danger of interpreting the spirit of the law to an extent where the letter means nothing. They had stripped the message of its meaning by making the methods sacred. We have stripped the message of its power by methods that are impure in their motivation. They would not allow Jesus to heal on Sabbath. We expect Jesus to heal on demand! They made going to the temple so important that why you went did not matter. Today we have made going to the temple so irrelevant, as if the Lord did not deserve anything more than right intentions. The emphasis on individualism is just as prideful as the pride of the Pharisees in their tradition. We give respect only when it is deserved, we assemble together with only the believers we like, we participate in corporate worship only if it is convenient and pleasing, we serve only if it suits us. It has become close to heresy to comment on fitting attire, fitting language, and fitting behavior. The answer is almost always, “Where does it say so in the Bible? God looks at my heart!” While it is true that God does look at the heart, it is out of the heart that flow the issues of life. When we do what is fitting we embody the godly heart in that fitting action.

My prayer is that we return to realizing that while we have the freedom, by submitting to what is fitting, we are only imitating our Lord!

Danesh Manik
________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The True Jackpot

2006-11-28T14:17:00.000-05:00

by Stanley Samuel

Matthew 17:20 “… I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Everyday as I drive to work I see this billboard which tells me the current amount of the Michigan lottery. As people play the lottery, this number goes up on a daily basis, but when there is a winner announced, it goes back to $1 or $2 million for the next lottery game. As I pondered over the game of lottery, I am amazed to see how people shell out lots of money to buy these tickets on a regular basis. Some of the people cannot even afford it, but they still buy these tickets. If one were to evaluate the odds of winning a lottery game, it is really an amazing number. “On July 29, 1998 the 20 state Power Ball lottery gave away a record $250,000,000 or a quarter of a billion dollars..[1]” The odds of winning this lottery ticket was 80 million to 1. The probability of winning a power ball or even a regular Lotto beats all possible odds that one can imagine, but people continue to play. I realized that millions of people who are in this game are there because they BELIEVE in it. They have that tiny bit of faith which makes them believe that one day they will hit the jackpot. Some are ready to sacrifice everything so that they can increase their odds of hitting the jackpot. Based on some research many who win the lottery end up in financial, and some even in emotional or spiritual ruin. People who play the lottery do not recognize the perils of having lots of money, all of a sudden. Even then many people are running after these lotteries, hoping someday they will see a break through in their life. I see a similar analogy when we run and aspire to make lots of money through our jobs or businesses. Many times our human desires make us wanting to hit the jackpot, in some way or the other. We all desire to have a rich and comfortable life. However, we need to remember that when we die we cannot take any of these worldly riches with us. Money is important for us to live, but money should not become our prime objective. Jesus has said in the above verse that if we have the faith as small as a mustard seed then we can move mountains. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds. Jesus is asking us to have faith in Him at least as small as the mustard seed, so that we can trust in him and in His words so that we can receive eternal joy. Can we transfer that little bit of our faith from the worldly riches to Jesus who is the giver of all good things in this life and in the life to come? Matthew 13:44 tells us that the Kingdom of heaven, which is achievable only through Jesus, is the true jackpot. Brother, or Sister, what do you trust in? In the fleeting wealth which is only for 60-100 years on this earth or in Jesus with whom if you believe and trust in His Word you will receive eternal love, joy, and peace? Where is your true jackpot?

Stanley Samuel, Associate
India International Church

References:[1] http://members.cox.net/mathmistakes/rawdata.htm

A Response of Gratitude

2006-11-22T16:24:00.000-05:00

”‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained ….” Matthew 25:20
“Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, ….” Matthew 25:24

Our responses, no matter how guarded, often reveal the heart. FBI investigators know this. In an article in the FBI enforcement bulletin, Special Agent Adams, cited the example of Susan Smith’s responses to the questions of the investigators that made her a suspect. Susan Smith, if you remember, was the tragic story of the mother who deliberately let her car plunge into South Carolina’s Long Lake with her sons still strapped in their seats, and then told the reporters that they were abducted at gunpoint. In her otherwise carefully crafted story, it was her words that betrayed her heart. In her statement she had referred to her children in the past tense which tipped the investigators to suspect that she somehow knew they were dead.

In the parable of the talents, the response of the man with one talent betrayed his heart. If you are not familiar, Jesus told this parable of the talents in Matthew 25 to elucidate the concept of the Kingdom of God. The master gives his three servants some of his money to invest. To the first he gives five talents, the next two, and the last one, one talent. He comes back, and the first two have invested wisely and doubled their money; the last one has hid it in the ground. It is interesting to hear the response. The first two start their response with, “Lord you delivered to me…” and then describe what they did with it. The last one starts by saying, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you do not sow” and then goes on to give him his one talent back. We see a surprising insight into the heart of the one-talent man from his response. His words betray his heart. The first two saw what they had. Their words reveal it: “Lord you delivered to me …” . The last one saw what he did not have, and made a judgment on the giver – “Lord I knew you to be …”. He concluded that his master was a hard man, and expected a lot by not giving him much.

I think that our lives are shaped by how we respond to what has been given to us. Do we look at what we have and what we are to do with what we have, or do we look at what we do not have. The man with one talent devalued his gift, and lost it. It was taken from him and given to the first one. If we will value what has been given us, we will have more; if we devalue what has been given us, we will loose all. Jesus ends the parable with “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Much of our problems begin with the way we view our gifts, our possessions. Whether we see what has been given us and value it, or what has been withheld, and devalue what is ours. It is written of Esau that “he despised his birthright.” He did not value what God had given him and sold it for a bowl of soup. The Israelites in the desert looked at manna that was provided, and thought of what they did not have – Egypt’s spicy foods. Adam and Eve fixed their eyes upon one thing withheld from them, ignoring the whole earth that was given them.

Are we valuing what has been given us? Friend, are you obsessed with the job you do not have instead of giving thanks for the one you do have. Are you worrying about the spouse you do not have instead of thanking God for the one you do have? How about all the other possessions, the talents & gifts? This thanksgiving, may the Lord change our perspective and we look to what God has so graciously given us. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Danesh Manik
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Thanksgiving

2006-11-21T14:58:00.000-05:00

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23 (NIV)

I am glad that there are ceremonies, traditions and holidays, especially the ones that recur. They connect our scattered lives to a meaningful whole, and provide an opportunity to contemplate. This week we mark the beginning of what is popularly called the “holiday season”, and there could not be a more appropriate holiday to begin it than Thanksgiving. I am glad that this holiday urges us to pause and give thanks; it causes us to ponder on things we ought to be thankful for, but I think the significance of thanksgiving is much deeper than that. It may not be very obvious, but I suggest that of all the holidays, thanksgiving is perhaps the most deeply religious holiday. I say that because the very act of giving thanks forces the question of sovereignty. Who are we giving thanks to, and why? The moment I thank someone, I am admitting that I am not self-sufficient, that someone else has contributed to my well-being. Thanksgiving is acknowledgement of something “good” and the one who made that good possible.

It is no wonder then that the Bible makes thanksgiving the gateway for Salvation. In Psalm 50, the Psalmist says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." How does thanksgiving prepare a way for seeing the salvation of God? It is because thanksgiving begins with acknowledgement, and so does salvation. Before any one can accept Jesus Christ, they must be thoroughly convinced about their absolutely hopeless condition. They must acknowledge that they are incapable of coming to God. They must accept that salvation cannot be earned, and confess that without the sacrifice of Jesus they are lost. It is interesting that Bible uses the same word for “thanks” as it does for “confess” Because at the root of both is acknowledgement – of self inability, and God’s ability, of self boorishness and God’s bounty! And the deeper the realization of this, the more intense and real is that giving of thanks. When Revelation gives a picture of Heaven, it tells us that continually in Heaven, sinful men made just gather around the Holy Throne, casting their golden crowns and do not cease from thanking God, and singing “Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory, and honor and praises!”

The distinctive of heaven is that it will be filled with “thankful hearts”. It is because it is a truly thankful heart is a heart that has acknowledged the mercy and goodness of God, and accepted with graciousness the sacrifice that God gave in His only Son, Jesus Christ.
I pray that this thanksgiving, we not only give thanks, but come to a personal realization of the One we are giving thanks to.

Danesh Manik

_____________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Too Late! Too Late!

2006-11-17T14:43:00.000-05:00

“Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps”
Matthew 25:3-4

We previously observed in this text that following God was not always the easiest or the most expedient thing to do. We saw the necessity of sometimes doing the inconvenient and what seems like an impractical thing. (Click here for the devotional “Doing the inconvenient thing”). I wanted to make one more observation from this very direct parable of Jesus. Often foolishness is not a matter of a continual failure of taking the right action. It can be manifest in one single but very important decision. The five women were declared foolish by a singular action of not taking that necessary ingredient – the oil for their lamps. The whole idea of a lamp is to be lit, and oil is that which enables the lamp’s central purpose. Without oil, lamp is merely infrastructure. It is bones and flesh without the soul. It is pretty and decorative, but with no life. Oil is like the soul of the lamp, and by neglecting oil they neglected the very reason of their possessing the lamp. Is it possible that they simply took that crucial ingredient, oil, for granted? The externals were more important, but oil, of course, oil can be found whenever needed. But it was not the availability, but their possession that mattered.

I wonder if we sometimes take God for granted. We are so focused on the externals, that we forget that singular ingredient that makes the rest of our lives meaningful. We take our soul for granted, and spend time thinking about the rest of the things in the world - our physical needs, our future plans, our dreams and goals. All that is infrastructure, the essential is the soul. I have said it myself, and heard it one too many times, and perhaps you have said it or heard it. The argument goes like this: “I ought to be paying attention to the eternal condition of my soul, but right now is just not a good time. Maybe when the kids grow up, maybe when I have finished this thing, or achieved that goal. After all God is loving and patient, isn’t He?” I heard somewhere this fable of Satan. Satan was overheard suggesting to his imps “Make them believe that there is no God, make them believe that there is no hell, but most of all make them believe there is no hurry.”

We may measure foolishness by a person’s constant ineptness in judgment, and praise someone for being wise when they have made decisions that have garnered success, but God puts all the weight of foolishness on one single decision – on our relationship to Him. Have we forgotten the soul at the expense of everything else?

Tennyson in his poem, Guinevere, puts the idea of this parable as poetry in the mouth of a maid singing to Guinevere, who has been discovered in her adultery.

Late, late, so late! and dark the night and chill
Late, so late but we can enter still
Too late! Too late you cannot enter now!

No light had we for that we repent
And learning this the Bridegroom we relent.
Too late! Too late! ye cannot enter now

Have we not heard the bridegroom is so sweet
O let us in though late to kiss his feet
No, no too late, too late you cannot enter now!

I pray that we do not take our soul, and our relationship to God for granted, and one day hear the dreaded words, “Too Late! Too Late!”

Danesh Manik
___________________________________________________
“A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving “A Soul’s Anchor” in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Doing the inconvenient thing

2006-11-15T15:12:00.000-05:00

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps”
Matthew 25:3-4

There lines in our text are from one of those parables of Jesus where the main message is readily apparent, yet the scenario for the story seems too stretched and unreal, especially if we look at it with the eyes colored with modern western civilization. If you are not familiar, let me quickly take a moment to fill you in. Jesus relates this parable about the five foolish and the five wise virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come. All ten are ready in every way except the five foolish ones have come without oil for their lamps. Of course, in a day without cell phones and such, no one could accurately predict when the bridegroom would arrive. Not only was the communication limited, weddings were a big event (they still are in my birth country of India), and the culture put a lot of emphasis on propriety, going to great lengths to avoid what might be considered as an insult. The bridegroom shows up at a late hour and the bridesmaids are sleeping. The five foolish ones suddenly realize they have no time to get oil to fill their lamps. The five wise were ready and were welcomed, the five foolish were not ready and locked out, and Jesus makes the application of the importance of being ready. “Watch therefore” is the keyword he leaves for his disciples.

The only noticeable difference between the wise and the foolish is the lack of oil for the lamps. They were all invited, they all went, they all had lamps, they all slept, they all heard the cry, they all rushed to meet the bridegroom, except five of them had not brought oil with them. They had everything but oil! Apart from the very important lesson of readiness, I would venture to suggest a couple of other lessons that the foolish women teach us. I can only conjecture here, but it is not unreasonable to say that they did not carry oil because it was inconvenient and impractical. Carrying oil can tend to slow one down. It is messy, and can get quite cumbersome. They perhaps reasoned, “Are we really required to bring oil with us? We are not sure of when the bridegroom may come. It is a very practical and smart idea to not bog us down with oil – we can always buy it when the time comes! After all the most important thing is to be there when the bridegroom arrives, isn’t it?"

Following God is not always the practical thing to do. Nor is it always the easiest thing to do. It is sometimes very messy. Sometimes it slows you down. Sometimes it puts you at odds with the more practical thinking people. It is often practically expeditious to cover the truth. Remember, the decision to crucify Christ, when viewed from a purely human perspective, was made for the sake of expediency.

In that exciting book of Exodus where we read of some of the most dramatic works of God, we also encounter some of the most tedious reading. It is that page after page of God’s instruction manual, the excruciatingly detailed blueprint of tabernacle construction. Build it this tall, this wide, this length, and using that material. Use so much wood overlaid with so much gold. Now build the altar – this high and no more, and on and on it goes. As I read through this, the first thought that occurrs to me is, ”Lord this is highly impractical, not to mention very inconvenient! They are in the wilderness and they have to carry this around.” Why not just let them simply worship you in their hearts? Why add more time to their transit? Why not wait till they get to the promised land? I suggest it is because when it comes to following God, we do not do what will bring us the greatest pleasure, but we do what will bring Him the greatest glory. We do not worship to get an emotional high, but we worship because He is worthy of worship.

The New Testament too is filled with very impractical commands. Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 5. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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”.

It is certainly not convenient to walk the extra mile, and very impractical to turn the other cheek. To be ready for God means to sometimes do what seems very inconvenient at the moment. The rich man in the Bible, the saddest figure in history in my opinion, walked away from Jesus because of the inconvenience of having to give up his wealth. Others walked away when they did not like or understand the message of the cross. May we ask ourselves are we taking the easy route? Are we doing what is practical and convenient in our pursuit of God? We cannot meet God on our terms, it must be on His terms. And that includes the, sometimes very impractical business of keeping the lamps trimmed and full of oil even when the bridegroom is not in sight. It includes the inconvenience of carrying of the cross! May we be found ready when He comes!

Danesh Manik
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Good or Bad?

2006-11-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

“Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good..” Psalm 135:3

I was not surprised when my three year old daughter interrupted me with the question, “Daddy, is he a good prince or is he a mean prince?”. I am quite used to the various variations of this question by now. “Is he a good bear?”, “Is she a mean sister?” and so on. Somewhere in my trying to entertain my kids, one day I started making up stories, and soon it has become one of their favorite activities. We have created quite a few adventures together. But one thing never changes. Every time a new character is introduced, my three year old daughter will interrupt me to ask me if that character is good or bad. Before she wants to know the name, or how great the character is, she is interested in knowing if the character is good? I think her simple question tingles of that great philosophical quest of man.

Man, consciously or subconsciously, in every encounter wants to know if the person or creature he encounters is good? Consider our normal conversations. Two friends meet, and while talking they realize they know someone else in common. More often than not, one of them will say, “O, so-and-so, he is a good man”, or “she is really a nice person.” Or, occasionally the reverse of that. Nevertheless, we are always engaged in a quest of judging everyone we encounter by some internal human standard of ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

GK Chesterton, in his book, “Heretics”, alluding to the story of “Jack the Giant Killer” refers to the same thing when he says, “Jack was the champion of the enduring human standards, ……Jack was quite unimpressed by the question of whether the giant was a particularly gigantic giant. All he wished to know was whether he was a good giant--that is, a giant who was any good to us. What were the giant's religious views; what his views on politics and the duties of the citizen? Was he fond of children--or fond of them only in a dark and sinister sense? To use a fine phrase for emotional sanity, was his heart in the right place?”

I suggest that man, made in the image of God, cannot erase this moral code written in his heart. He may explain it away, he may maul the standard, or attribute it to something else, but in its essence he cannot deny it. He knows that there is something that is “good”, and that something that is “bad”. And instinctively, his heart desires that which is good.

The Psalmist in the Bible is quite exultant when he declares, “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good!” Man may rejoice in this absolute standard of goodness. It is because the Lord is good, we rejoice and praise. It is because He is good, we can trust in Him. In that perennially favorite story by CS Lewis, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe”, as the children get ready to meet Aslan the Lion, Lucy hearing the description that Mrs. Beaver has just given of Aslan, says, "Then he isn't safe?" "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver, "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good!" God too is not safe, but He is good! The Psalmist may praise God for His power, He may praise God for the great things He has done, but all of those things would only cause dread, not bring forth praise, if He were not good.

But there is something that even the Psalmist could not gauge. He only had a hazy experience and assurance of God’s goodness. What the Psalmist could see dimly, we can see clearly in Christ! In God we see the essential goodness, and in Christ we see the practical manifestation of this goodness towards us. In Him we see the perfect standard of goodness. Paul, writing to the Romans, said, “do you despise the richness of His goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Any one seriously looking at cross of Calvary where Christ, the Son of God, was crucified for us cannot but be moved to repentance by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ. Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good!

Danesh Manik
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The Hunch Back

2006-11-09T16:33:00.000-05:00

“And behold there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” … and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” Luke 13: 11-12

It must have been an exciting service to attend. Luke, a doctor himself, describes this healing scene vividly and in great detail. A woman bent over for over 18 years goes to the synagogue where Jesus happens to be preaching. Aren't you glad when Jesus is in the house? God can move anywhere, but will certainly move in His house! Sure, the lightning can strike anywhere, yet, lightning is drawn to that metal rod, so also the Lord’s power is drawn up in His house. We often don’t realize how many pains we bear, how many doubts we carry, and how much misery we hang on to when we consistently ignore going to the House of God. But I digress.

This woman suffers perhaps from one of those other painful conditions of the back where the curvature of the spine has been permanently misaligned. It probably causes excruciating pain for her to even try to straighten it so she has gotten accustomed to being bent over. Much like when you wake up with a sprain in your neck, and by the end of the day you have learnt to avoid the movement that causes the pain. You learn to walk with your head tilted a bit. You learn to be a hunch-back. Yet, she is a daughter of Abraham, and a worshipper, and she goes to the synagogue. Jesus notices, calls her, and says, “Woman you are loosed!” And she is set free! In an instant the One who had spoken the world into existence had spoken, and the woman was delivered. The Bible says that she was immediately straightened.” She came to the service as a hunch back, and went home with a straight back.

May I engage your imagination here a bit. This woman was bound up for 18 years, and she had accommodated her lifestyle to being bent-over. Imagine if this woman who glorified God now goes back to her home. As she enters her home, she realizes the door is short. After all she never needed a door too tall – she was a hunch back. Even the chair she sits on is accommodated to her. The table she dines from is low so she can eat as a hunch back. In fact, as she walks around and does things she unconsciously hunches back – that is what she is used to. Her world has been accommodated. Everything around her has been accommodated to her hunched back. Before she could “in no wise lift herself up” but now she sometimes “does not want to lift herself up”. She hunches sometimes because it is easier than to stand straight up. It is a demand of the miraculous deliverance that she recreate her world without, and her habits within if she is going to live with the full benefits of her deliverance. If she will not do that she might as well have been left as a hunch back! May I say that that is often the demand we ignore. We want the miraculous regeneration, but will not meet its demand to do what it takes to live a life purchased for us by Holy blood! We often tend to live as hunch backs after being loosed!

There was a time when sin had full control. There was a time when nature caused it so you could in no wise lift yourself up. You were in bondage. You were in darkness and confusion. You tried yet had no understanding. In all your efforts you could not lift yourself up. Then Jesus came along, and proclaimed – “You are loosed”. You believed, and you had a miraculous regeneration. You felt it – you had been straightened. But then you faced daily life. And the world was more accommodated to your being a hunch back, and though loosed you started walking around as a hunch back! A hunch back due to their posture can see more of themselves, and lot less farther. When we live like one, we cannot see much beyond our own desires and become short-sighted.

I do not know the source of this story, but a story that sounds like the Beverly Hillbillies is told of a man named Yates who operated a sheep ranch in West Texas during the great depression. The business was in dire straits, and he ended up living on subsidy. His days were full of care and financial concerns for the family until a seismographic crew explored his land and found oil. Eighty Thousand barrels a day from the first well! He spent his days in poverty because he did not know what he possessed!

Friend, are you finding yourself accommodating to the world around you? Living as a hunch back when the Lord has loosed you? Do you know what you possess? One of the lies we believe is that we are only human and over time we will overcome our infirmity, and so we keep on living like hunch backs. But God in Jesus has provided us the power to overcome our infirmities. We do not have to live with besetting sins. We do not have to live in despair. We only need to run again to Jesus and hear the words, “You are loosed!”.

Then stand straight up and resist everything that forces us to be a hunch back again!

Danesh Manik

Are You living with a perspective of Now or Eternity?

2006-11-09T16:28:00.000-05:00

1 Kings 7:1 But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.

Couple of months back I was flying to Atlanta and I was looking down the window of the airplane and saw how small the houses and cars looked. As I was seeing this I was reminded of the verse from the bible that when the angels blow the trumpet and all who know Jesus would be lifted up to meet him in the clouds. My airplane was in the clouds and I was trying to imagine myself for that moment. I started wondering what will happen to all my property. My three bedroom house, my Minivan, my car, the leather couches, my nice suites, the sumptuous ice-cream sitting in my freezer and all the wonderful and awesome things that makes our life an awesome thing to work and live for.

We work day and night to make sure that our lives and our children’s lives are made comfortable. We work hard, so that our kids go to the best schools, they wear the best clothes. We work hard, so that we can have a good reputation in the society. We work hard on this earth to achieve something, to satisfy our ambitions and many times to earn a lot of money. We work hard so that we have enough to take care of our retirement. So what will I do when the trumpet is sounded? Will I lose all that I have worked for in my life?

The $1 million houses and the $50,000 SUV’s and cars were looking like very tiny toys from the aircraft. And they all looked so insignificant to the vastness of the universe. I realized that when I am with Jesus in the clouds, just like I was in this aircraft all these things will seem so insignificant in my life since the beauty of the King of Kings will overshadow all the earthly things that I worked for in my life. I will not have any attachment to these things nor will I feel like running after them.

In 1 Kings 7:1, we see a vivid example of King Solomon who seems to have spent 13 years of his life building his palace, while if you go back one chapter in 1 Kings 6:38, you will see that it took him only 7 years to build the temple of the Lord. King Solomon worked so hard for his palace which was later destroyed and looted. However, the temple of the Lord which he spent only 7 years is prophesied in the Bible to be re-built in Jerusalem before Jesus comes. Are we too not like Solomon? We too spend most of our life working for our pleasures which is fleeting, while we fail to work for things that stay for eternity. Our life on earth is short 80, 100 or 120 years. However, our life with the Lord is for eternity.

Today are you working so hard that you have lost your eternal perspective? Are you doing things that will reap you short term benefits only? However, if you desire to reap a long term benefit, then you may want to start thinking with an eternal perspective. So today, instead of running the rat race of our busy life, can you take out the time to touch somebody’s life that may need your help or love or comfort or your presence? Maybe you can take a small vacation and spend some time with your spouse or children and help them remember it for eternity. Maybe you need to forgive somebody today for the injustice they did towards you, which will release you from the bondage of un-forgiveness. The list is endless for the things that we can do today which can have an eternal impact, in our and other people’s life. I hope and pray that this devotion will help you revist your busy schedules, so that you will take this opportunity to attend to an eternal impacting event in your life.

Stanley Samuel,
Associate
India International Church

The doctrine of "Let"

2006-11-08T06:21:00.000-05:00

I was listening to a recording of one of the 20th century’s foremost Evangelist, Leonard Ravenhill. The recording had begun abruptly, and had caught the portion of his prayer before he began his message. There was the unmistakable quality of Ravenhill’s earnestness, and authenticity that even time and technology could not conceal. But what struck me about that earnest and powerful prayer was his use of the word, “Let”. Every other sentence in the prayer started with that word, “let”. Let God’s will be done, let this happen, let that not happen, and so on it went. As I thought about his prayer, it became apparent that all of his prayer pivoted on his understanding of that word, let. All that fueled his earnestness, all that made the prayer meaningful was his theology of that simple word, Let!

I submit to you that any prayer is only as meaningful as our theology of that word, Let. Think about it for a moment. Why should anything change when a man or a woman, kneeling, with eyes closed, in all piety declares “let something happen.” Unless we understand what we mean by the word, “let”, all our praying is really a very pathetic and a laughable exercise. There are at least three things we acknowledge when we say the word, “let” in our prayer, and the extent to which we understand these three, reveals the efficacy of our prayer.

One, we are acknowledging the sovereignty of God. We say “let” because we acknowledge that He is sovereign and omnipotent and can allow or disallow things to happen. That He is the ultimate enabler. Knowing that, we ask God to “let”. All reasonable men in all centuries have understood this to be true and therefore praying is a universal experience. Here the Bible affirms us that we are right. The very first chapter in the very first book of the Bible tells us that all the known and unknown worlds revolve on this simple word, “Let”. Ten times it tells us that God said “Let there be…” and it was!

Two, we reveal the extent of our submission to God and affirm that His will is good. And when we say to God, “let”, we also say to ourselves “let go” because we know God is omniscient, and good, and he knows more than we do. It is safe to trust in Him. The Bible affirms us here also. What is the Lord’s prayer if not simply an exposition of the word “let”? Let your will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven! We are submitting to the will of Heaven because we know that the will of Heaven is good.

But the most important thing on which all of the effectiveness and the reality of prayer revolves around is what it reveals of our relationship to God. Universally, men have agreed upon the sovereignty, and goodness of God. True, He is sovereign. True, He is good. Yet, why would an omnipotent and good God listen to my “let” and act? What gives me assurance that my prayer is heard? I say that this aspect gives prayer its true meaning. It is this precise reason that validates my prayer. Here is where I suggest all of that earnestness and power in Ravenhill’s prayer came from. He believed with an unshakeable conviction that God loved Him. He had looked unto Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior, and trusted in Him, and in that confidence, he could use the word, “Let” with all intensity because it was infused with a heavenly assurance based on this relationship to Jesus. He could be assured that His heavenly Father had heard his prayer, and he expected God to move the Heavens to “let” his prayer be answered. Jesus, in his parting address to the disciples as He was getting ready to go to the cross said, “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.” He was simply affirming that their prayer would be heard by God because they loved Jesus. It is still true. Our prayers are only as effective as our understanding of that word, “let”, and that word “let” in prayer carries only as much assurance as our relationship with the One we are praying to.

Friend, you pray because you believe God is sovereign and good. That is excellent. But the true sweetness of prayer is in the relationship to the One you are praying to. And through Jesus you can have that assurance! “..For the Father Himself loves you , because you have loved Me..”

Danesh Manik

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Overcoming Discouragement

2006-11-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

“Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another? ” Matthew 11:2

Frank Boreham in his collection of essays entitled, “Mountains in the Mist”, writes of the Australian explorer, Hamilton Hume. Boreham describes the time when Hume and his party were famished and exhausted, and wanted to return home. Hamilton saw the mountain range in front of them and urged his team to go on. He was sure that the answer lay immediately past the mountain. The team climbed the mountain with much enthusiasm but to their dismay found that all they could see was miles and miles of bush country ahead of them. They named the mountain, Mount Disappointment. John the Baptist was standing on such a mountain when he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was really the promised One or was there another. One can so vividly sense his heart, tender yet utterly discouraged, as he asks this question. John was born miraculously heralded by the prophetic voice of the angel. He had a singleness of a privileged purpose that was proscribed for him. He was to be the one to make way for the Lord’s coming. This singleness of purpose drove him to the wilderness, it sustained him on a diet of locusts and honey, it burned in him a zeal to call the people to repentance. He had then seen Jesus, baptized Him, witnessed the testimony of the Dove descending and the voice of God resounding. He had climbed the mountain! But at the end of it he found himself in Herod’s prison awaiting execution. He had climbed mount disappointment. And in this he sends a message to Jesus, “Are you the Coming One, or is there another?”

There are many reasons for becoming discouraged. Sometimes it is simply “despair of wounded self-love” in the words of Francois de Fenelon. Sometimes it is because others we depended on have let us down. Sometimes our expectations were unrealistic. But there is a discouragement that is the worst of the lot. It is the discouragement that sets in at the sight of the greatest and the surest hopes being dashed. It is the discouragement of hopelessness and despair that creeps in when one has done all one can, worked as hard as possible, and come to the mountain top only to find a silent harshness staring back.

It is interesting to read Jesus’ answer to John in his disappointment. He answers “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Why was this an appropriate answer? Jesus was pointing him back to the very foundation of his calling. He was to prepare the way for the Lord. He had done so very well. He had prepared the way and now the Messiah’s works were being done. He was to decrease so Jesus could increase. That’s exactly what had happened. “Go and tell .. what you hear and see..” Personal discouragement was to be overcome by looking at divine accomplishment! His encouragement was to lift his eyes from his perspective and look at what God was doing on the foundation he was called to lay.

Often, our most severe discouragement comes when we feel we have been doing the right thing, we have zealously done God’s will, fulfilled our calling, and we find ourselves discouraged because all we have done seems to have resulted in nothing. There seems to have been no sense of personal fulfillment like we expected. The circumstances seem to be almost unfair. In those times our answer is the same – meditate on what God has done and is doing. Look at the divine accomplishments and persevere. God will not leave us, for he recognizes and honors the life that was used for His work to be accomplished. I don’t know about you, but I face discouragement from time to time. In the recent past I developed a habit that has helped my perspective. I created what I call “The Barnabas File”. Barnabas as you know was the nickname given to a disciple named Joseph in the book of Acts because he was the “son of encouragement”. This file is a collection of notes of encouragement from people who have been ministered to by the Lord, of journaling of events in which I have seen God so clearly move, miracles that I have witnessed that He has accomplished in my life and in many others, and many other blessings that God has so freely given. And every time I have a personal discouragement, I open that file and look at the divine accomplishments, and I see beyond mount disappointment. By the way, Hume and his team persevered and crossed mount disappointment, and were successful in their journey.

I pray if you are discouraged, would you look at the divine accomplishments. There is a mountain that does not disappoint. The name of it is Calvary. Will you see the miracle of Calvary that makes you whole? Will you hear of the great things God has done, and take courage.

Danesh Manik
__________________________________

"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Seeing Without Eyes

2006-11-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

“For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” John 9:39

A recent news item on Carolina News 14 reported about a woman who with a help of a medical device can now see without her eyes.1 The news report cited some call her bionic woman, others call her a medical miracle, but Cherri Robertson calls herself a “robo-chick”. Robertson lost her sight in a tragic accident, but this device helps her see not with her eyes, but with her brain. The technology works by a camera attached to the glasses that sends signals to the computer which stimulates electrodes in the brain through a cord that attaches to the head. The technology is still in its infancy but gives great hope for the future of the blind. While it is another example of scientific breakthrough, at another level science has simply revealed what philosophers always knew. Seeing is not simply a matter of the eye.

In the ninth chapter of the Gospel of John, is a description of a fascinating encounter of a man born blind with Jesus who restores his sight. The religious leaders cannot accept this very well, and after an investigation and an interesting debate, throw this man out of the synagogue. Jesus finds this man and reveals Himself as the Son of God, and this once blind- now seeing man worships Jesus. Then Jesus, in the presence of the incensed Pharisees makes this startling comment, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

A man who had been physically blind from birth had received physical sight by trusting Jesus. That was a miracle. But the real miracle was what that man saw with his heart. He saw Jesus as the Messiah and worshipped Him, while the Pharisees who thought they saw, could not see Jesus for who He was. What Jesus was simply revealing is that seeing is largely a matter of the heart! The eye may be a tool, but the mind and the heart are what really see. If the heart and mind are corrupted, physical sight is no better than blindness.

I had always wondered about this particular event, and many other similar ones (and there are quite a few) where Jesus would do a marvelous miracle and the religious leaders would completely miss it. After all they were not predisposed to not believing in miracles as some people are. Nor were there any reasonable logical or other credibility problems in the miracle itself. They rejected the revelation because they had already rejected Jesus in their hearts for other reasons. They were blind in their hearts, and in the prophet’s words, “seeing they could not see”! It is really the posture of the heart that blinds the mind. Dr. Ravi Zacharias, in his article, “Thinking with the Eye”, quotes the poet William Blake

"This life's dim windows of the soul,
distorts the heavens from pole to pole,
and goads you to believe a lie,
when you see with and not through the eye."

Dr Zacharias then adds, “we are intended by God to see through the eye, but with the faculties of conscience and reason. Now we see with the eye, devoid of a conscience. No wonder the soul of our nation is in trouble.”2 How is your sight? Have you checked your heart lately? I pray you do not reject Jesus because you see with the eye, and not with your heart.

Danesh Manik

References
1. “New device allows woman to see, even without eyes”, 3/31/2006 By: Ivanhoe Newswire (http://rdu.news14.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=82612)
2. “Thinking With the Eye”, Ravi Zacharias. (http://www.rzim.org/slice/slicetran.php?sliceid=133)

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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The Importance of Turning Aside

2006-10-31T10:19:00.000-05:00

Moses said, “I will now turn aside…So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him” Exodus 3:3-4

If one could represent Moses’ life story in a picture, it could be well represented by two mountain peaks encompassing a valley. Fiction would fail to provide us with a more thrilling story than the beginning and the later part of Moses’ life. Consider the mountain peaks of his life. Born with a death sentence on his head, in a single stroke of an act of faith of his mother, he not only escapes the decree of the Egyptians, but is raised under the very protection and provision of Pharaoh’s palace, without having to sacrifice the godly influence of his mother! And, who could argue about the later part of his thrilling life – snake eating staff, splitting seas, thundering mountains, pillar of fire, rocks releasing water, and a face that glows because of God’s glory! Is there another life that even compares to this fantastic later life of Moses? But in between these two peaks we find a monotonous valley. Moses has run away from Egypt, and we find him for forty years leading a routine, and rather lonely life of a shepherd. It is in the midst of this valley that we find a pivotal moment in Moses’ life – the burning bush experience. Experts tell us that this bush was the commonly found acacia bush in the region of Horeb desert by the Sinai. They also tell us that bushes on fire was not an uncommon sight in the desert. It was quite usual for shepherds to ignore such sightings. The bush on fire was not the unusual thing, it was that it was not consumed by the fire which was the unusual thing.

Moses notices the fire long enough to see that this fire is different, and the Bible tells us that Moses makes that life changing decision – “I will turn aside”. And as if to validate this decision, the Bible adds, “When the Lord saw that Moses turned aside, God called to him.” There is a lesson in this. God cannot speak to those who will not pause to “turn aside.” The Hebrew word in the Bible for “turned aside” is “soor”. It is translated, “put away”, “remove”, “abandon” , “depart”, or “leave undone”. In other words, when God saw Moses “put away what he was doing, and reflect on that extraordinary happenning in that ordinary event, God called him. We fail to see the beckoning of God in the incidents that God engineers when we fail to turn aside. God speaks to those who seek Him exclusively! God cannot be pursued as a sideline, in the free time, or when He becomes necessary. If we are to have God’s revelation we must break away from a life of “routine” to times of “reflection”. Moses had a flock to tend to. He had responsibilities, things to do, an agenda to accomplish, goals to meet. Yet the real thrilling life that God had for him was ushered in when he “turned aside”.

Lest you think that this is an isolated incident, look at Abraham’s life. The Bible says, Abraham was in the plains of Mamre outside his tent in the heat of the day. What was Abraham doing in the dry heat in the plains of Mamre outside his tent? He was reflecting upon the promise of God, when he encounters God. Consider Jacob. He had his transforming experience when he sent everyone away and was alone by the ford Jabbok. Joshua was reflecting alone outside Jericho, and lifted up his eyes, and the Bible says, “behold he saw the Man opposite him with a sword drawn”. This was the beginning of the conquest of the promised land. Peter was on the roof top when God spoke to him about the gentile world that God wanted to save. Why, even in the creation account we see God pausing to see what He created, and pronouncing it good. At the end of creation, God institutes the Sabbath, a day to turn aside.

We live in an age of action with very little reflection. We live in an age when we want to do things, but not pause to hear what God is saying. Friend, is your faith disillusioned? Are you in the desert of your life wondering if “this is all there is?” Do you long for a burning bush experience? You will only notice the bush burning if you will turn aside. Or, perhaps you are well blessed. You have all the provisions you can ask for. You have money for a rainy day, and plenty enough for the sunny day too. Yet, deep down you know that there has to be something more than the routine you know of. Then your answer is to turn aside.

God has always answered those who seek Him diligently. He who neither slumbers nor sleeps will answer when you “turn aside”. Reflect on His Word, on His works. Reflect on the one who makes you whole, the one who has saved you to the uttermost, the author of your faith, and sweet voice of the Heavens will resonate in your soul. It will be as a refreshing rain upon your spirit. It will be a satisfying feast to your soul.

Danesh Manik

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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The Bursting Cloud

2006-10-28T00:22:00.000-04:00

By Kamal Manik, Associate
India International Church

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping), They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. Psalm 84:4-6

I watched the rains splash across the window panes of my car as I sat inside depressed, confused and frustrated. I was alone, miles away from home, in an unknown place past midnight in a very obviously a bad part of town and I was lost. To top it all, the sudden unleashing of nature’s fury only made matters worse. There seemed to be no help in sight and I literally cried aloud to Jesus asking for help. This little incident helped me to see a spiritual principle. Sometimes helplessness is a beautiful thing. When you have looked all around you and there is no help, it forces you to remember to look up! As I wept and prayed, all of a sudden, the peace of God filled my heart and everything seemed to take a proper perspective. The Psalmist describes this as the blessedness of the one who dwells in God’s house, whose strength is in God, and their hearts are set on a pilgrimage. Saints who are looking up, and and see the valley of weeping turn into a spring of joy!

My trials in that car on that day may not be anywhere close to the trials that you are going through. Perhaps you are lonely, sad, sick, tormented or simply devastated by your circumstances. I shed a few tears that night, but you may have an ocean of tears surrounding you. If that is true, I have good news for you. Seasons change and rain breaks through the clouds. Look up for a breakthrough! This is a season of showers, showers of blessings that are on their way. More importantly, God is going to use the same ocean of tears to bring about a torrential rain of blessing!

We will draw a parallel with a natural law of science and see how the Lord turns our circumstances, our valley of tears into springs of joy. I remembered the lessons I learnt in perhaps my 4th grade on rain. When the sun shines upon the waters on the earth, the water rises up as vapor and forms clouds. These clouds later burst and we get rains. You have your ocean of tears surrounding you. Let the love of the ‘Son of God’ shine upon those tears. In your darkest moments, the ‘Son of God’, Jesus, loves you and is calling you with outstretched arms. As you respond with worshipping the King of the universe, one who knows the end from the beginning , as you lift up your voice in praise of His glory, the worship that goes up to the heavens evaporates those tears. Just as water evaporates and the vapor goes up to form a rain cloud, your worship ascends the throne of God, carrying your tears and forms a rain cloud of blessing. In due time, the season will change, the rain cloud will burst and bring the joy of the former and the latter rains. The same valley of weeping will turn into spring of joy!!

Here is the challenge. Can you trust God and his promises enough today to worship him in your dark moments? Can you trust the ‘Son of God’ who died for your sins even when you were yet a sinner? Do you desire to dwell in His presence? Do you think that the God of heaven and earth, the Alpha & the Omega, the King of the universe, your creator, is worthy of praise, worship, honor & glory? Do you desire to walk his way- on a highway of holiness? If yes, lift up your voice in praise and thank God for the work at the cross. Thank God for his love, worship and adore Him, who gave His life for you! Look up, the rain cloud is about to burst!

Kamal Manik

The Bottom Line

2006-10-26T12:40:00.000-04:00

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36

On a recent delightful family vacation, the landlady of the cottage we were renting, eagerly told us about a beautiful house next door by the lake. She told us how much of the property had been in her family, and a few years ago “a rich American couple” bought that house. Apparently they had put in a lot of effort and money to make it beautiful. She extolled the virtue of that elegant dining room that seated twenty four people, and then she told us the tragedy. "Within a year the man had died and never got to really enjoy this beautiful place", she said. At this moment she paused, and as if trying to conceptualize this whole story in one sweep of philosophical sentiment, she said, “Tells you something doesn’t it! Life is short. You might as well enjoy it while you can.” Her statement reminded me of a billboard I had noticed at the beginning of spring that was taking advantage of the urges that only those of us who live in six months of cold weather would understand. It read “Life is short, boats are cool!” Buy one today! I am convinced that all of our philosophy of life, whether we think about it in those terms or not, is wrapped up in this question of the bottom line1 of life – How long is our life? How we answer that question of the economics of life is how we will live life.

Jesus was keenly aware of this, and as He was approaching the cross, He urged His disciples to ponder this question of the bottom line of life. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?” How long is life? If your outlook is that life is short, then of course it will profit a man everything to gain the whole world. The bottom line then is the satisfaction of all that is possible in a short time. The end of life that is unknown and can come suddenly means we do all we can, accumulate all we can, as fast as we can. But if life is eternal, then we have a different bottom line. It is the salvation of the soul! I think there is hardly a voice left in business, political or religious sphere that has not reminded us that we must always “take the long view of things”. We have often regretted decisions because we did not think ahead. "Vision" is a buzz word in all circles. I think Jesus is telling us to make that view even longer, He is asking us to get a vision of the “eternal view” of life.

Friend, may I ask you to consider what is the bottom line of your life? Have you given it a “short view”. Have you neglected your soul? Will you look to the One who saw the eternal value of your soul and did not flinch from the Cross, but gave Himself willingly that you may have life? I invite you today to submit your life to the One who can save your soul. His name is Jesus. He purchased it with His own life on the Cross, and He offers you Life that you may have it more abundantly.

Danesh Manik

1. I borrow that term “bottom line” in this context from the address given by Frank Hanna, CEO of HBR Capital Ltd. , at the Acton University titled, “ The Desire to Do Well and to Do Good: The Necessary Harmony Between Creativity and Virtue.”

"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The Evidence of Silence

2006-10-25T12:17:00.000-04:00

“.. If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Matthew 27:40b

In that dark and awful hour of history, surrounded by befuddled disciples, a bewailing mother, and blasphemous men, as Jesus hung on the cross, one of them in what seemed a very logical interpretation of the circumstances, voiced this challenge. Actually it was more a conclusion of a mind that had found evidence that Jesus could not be the Son of God. Jesus was being crucified for claiming to be the Son of God. If He was really the Son of God, then God being all powerful had the ability, and being all good ought to have the willingness to not allow such a victory of evil. If Jesus was the Son of God then he ought to have come down from the cross! I suspect if we could hear all the host of Heaven at the moment, we would have heard a resounding answer, “O foolish man, He cannot come down from the cross because He is the Son of God!” If He were a magician then maybe he would come down from the cross; but He is the redeemer and therefore the cross is His very purpose. The very action that formed the reason for dismissing Him as not being the Son of God was in fact exactly the reason that He was the Son of God. A little while later a very astute centurion intuitively realized this as he exclaimed, “Truly He was the Son of God.” Three days later the disciples’ mind was illuminated, and for twenty centuries now every Christian knows and is glad that He did not come down from the cross. The very silence of God was the evidence of Him working His purposes.

The essence of this question is what often befuddles believers in their lives. It is also the essence of the argument for many in rejecting Jesus. The gist of the argument is “if God really …. Then He ought to …” If God really loved me then He would have not let me go through this horrible situation. If God was really all-powerful, and all-good then He would not allow a Tsunami to take innocent lives. And the list goes on. These questions are real, and often very deep, and cannot be answered glibly, but one thing is for certain that God does not always do what we suppose He ought to do. I do not know why certain things happen in general, and I certainly have a hard time accepting the things that happen to me specifically. There are times in all our lives when all logic screams that knowing the ability and character of God this ought not to happen. Yet, it is in that very silence that God’s purposes are being worked out, and we will have all eternity to find out. Some will claim that this is really a cop-out, an inability to explain God’s character which causes us to hide behind the “hidden purposes of God”. Some will even claim that therefore faith is illogical. I say it is exactly the reverse.

Faith is a trust. It is built and solidified by previous experience, and it is no faith if all it can only trust is its own logical interpretation of the circumstance, and demand that it be the only right interpretation. I heard of a counseling case (and I think it is not so uncommon) of a wife who was beside herself because her husband could not trust her. She has given no reason to her husband to mistrust her, but every time she was late by a few minutes, the husband accused her of infidelity. He could not accept that there was a traffic jam due to an accident, or she ran into a friend, or any other interpretation of the circumstance except his very own. Even though his interpretation may have been the right one, he could not for a moment give consideration to other options that could equally explain her absence. He would not allow his heart to doubt himself. I don’t have to call upon a psychologist to affirm this, but I think I have their vote that given the circumstances it was the husband who had the problem. It is the madman who never doubts himself, and demands that his interpretation is the only right one. When I trust someone, I trust them when I don’t know based on what I do know. At night when I look out and do not see the sun, I do not give up in believing the sun, because I have experienced the morning before, and I can safely trust for it to show up again. I can trust when I do not understand the “why” in my life, if I know the “who” in my life.

Friend, have the circumstances of your life left you confounded? Have you wondered why? Then may I point to you that marker in history, that awful hour when Heaven suffered the blaspheming tongues in silence. In that silence, God was working for a glorious purpose of our redemption. In that moment when God would not save His only Son from the cross, He was making a pathway for reconciliation for undeserving sinners like you and me to a holy and just God. Jesus did not come down from the cross precisely because He WAS the Son of God. I know Him therefore I can trust Him even when I do not understand. May you put your trust in Him.

Danesh Manik

A Happy Man

2006-10-24T14:19:00.000-04:00

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of the sinners nor sits in the seat of the scoffers but his delight is in the law of the Lord
and on His law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:1-2

"Blessed is the man"! It is interesting to note that the book of praises to God starts with the description of the conditions for the blessedness of man. Blessed here means not only in the sense of having divine favor, but also in the sense that he is a happy man. No other words could better start this wonderful book of praises. They reflect the very heart of God. Did not Jesus start his first public address with the same word, “Blessed”? God is intensely keen on his creation understanding the key to blessedness. The key to real happiness. And what is this key to supreme happiness of man?

Not surprisingly, we find it in the consistency of his character formed by his relationship to God’s law. The first part of the Psalm tells us what this happy man does not do, the latter part informs us what he does do. What he does do enables him to not do what he ought not to do. He does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, he does not walk in the path of sinners, and does not join the scoffers, because he delights in God’s law. It is God’s law that informs him what is ungodly, and sinful. It is God’s law that he meditates on which instructs him in righteousness. He has irrevocably bound himself to the law of God and by doing so he is happy!

There has been a surging cry blaming outdated morals of God’s law as the inhibitors of our happiness. Psychologists have laid the problem at the feet of guilt produced by calling some actions as sin; politicians have heralded the idea of “tolerance” by reducing God’s law to a personal opinion; the media has churned out dramas to show the so-called satisfied life that can be had if we can simply unfetter ourselves from God’s law. Freedom from the tyranny of religious morality is considered as the beginning of the road to happiness. Yet, all of this diligent searching and casting off every restraint has brought us nowhere. David Myers, the social Psychologist, in his article, “Resolving the American Paradox”, says, “We've achieved the old American dream: life, liberty, and the purchase of happiness. Yet, paradoxically, we are a bit less likely to say we're "very happy." We are more often seriously depressed. And we are only now beginning to emerge from a serious social recession: doubled divorce, tripled teen suicide, quadrupled juvenile violence, quintupled prison population, and sextupled proportion of babies born to unmarried parents.”1 Surely, the answer is not in untethering ourselves from God’s law. We yearn for happiness, seek it diligently, and the search brings us back to our relationship with God and His law.

A happy man is a man who lives in harmony with God’s law. Happiness, we find, is simply is a by-product of pursuing God and binding ourselves irrevocably to His law. The happy man we find is not pursuing happiness at all, he is simply pursuing holiness. No wonder then, the Lord is hardly worried about making us happy. Instead He says "Be ye holy, as your father in Heaven is holy." Further, this man, this happy man, delights in God’s unchanging law. He does not simply respect the law of the Lord, he does not simply obey the law of the Lord only because it is profitable, as one obeys the law of the land at times. He delights in it. He rejoices in it. He takes pleasure in it. It is his passion! In that absolute abandonment to an unchanging law of his God, he finds his freedom, and his happiness. That is the secret of the happy man. Would you be truly happy? Then abandon yourself irrevocably to God’s law today, and God Himself declares you blessed!

Danesh Manik

References
1. Resolving the American Paradox, Myers, D. G. (2000, June 29).

Did you hear the rooster?

2006-10-20T21:01:00.000-04:00

by Stanley Samuel, Associate
India International Church

“Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know this Man of whom you speak!’ A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ And when he thought about it, he wept. Mark 14:71-72

These few verses are the epitome of one of history’s famous stories of betrayal and reconciliation. After Jesus was arrested and taken to the chief priests we see that Peter, his chief disciple, has denied knowing his Lord three times, with whom he had spent the last 3 years of his life. His denial was the fulfillment of Jesus’ words mentioned earlier, “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times”.

As I read these verses, I was wondering why Peter did not acknowledge knowing Jesus the first time, the second time, and then a third time, and even when the rooster crowed the first time. Peter wanted to protect his life, and so betrayed his own Master. He did not realize his own selfish & sinful nature until the rooster crowed a second time. So many times, like Peter we too get dragged away by our own selfish desires and our own sinful nature. We all do things that come so naturally to us. It may be the lust of the eyes, where you tell a casual lie or steal for a monetary gain. It may be the pride of life, where you always want to make sure that you are one step ahead of your neighbors, friends or family. It may be the lust of the flesh where you are entangled in extra-marital relationships or watch pornographic material through TV or magazines. But thank God for the roosters that cry out, and Peter’s who listen and weep!

I believe that just as in the story of Peter we all need a rooster to cry out, to make us realize our own sinful nature. Your rooster may be this email, or a pastor’s preaching. It may be a friend’s gentle advice, or your parents guidance, your spouse’s gentle words, an evangelist’s gospel message on TV or radio. I believe that Jesus has kept these roosters around our lives to remind us that we can come back to be in right fellowship with God through the process of recognizing our sin and then repenting of it.

I remember a time when my older son was about 2 years of age. He wanted to put his tiny finger into the hot cup of tea that I was drinking. Against my advice, he went ahead anyway. As soon as his finger touched the hot tea, he immediately pulled it back and started to weep. Often we do the same. We reject the good counsel of God and do whatever we please. Jesus has given his Word through the Bible, and when we forget his Word and follow the ways of our desires, we too will weep. Even Peter wept bitterly when he realized his sinful nature. However, it is important to note that Peter recognized his sin and then repented. Then the power of God came into his life and changed this simple fisherman to become a mighty apostle for Jesus Christ. So, have heard a rooster crowing in your life today? If yes, what are you doing about it?

Stanley Samuel

Give Up!

2006-10-19T15:59:00.000-04:00

by Kamal Manik, Associate
India International Church

“Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Genesis 22:2

In Abraham’s life so far we have traced three areas of willingness in his heart that constituted his faith. [Click here for Part 1, or here for Part 2, or here for Part 3]. He was willing to get out of his comfort zone when God called him to do so; he was willing to come out of the tent of his impossibility and look at God’s possibility; and he was willing to give in out of love and depending on God to supply His promises. But his greatest test came when God asked him to sacrifice his promised son. Right after God’s instruction, we read an act of immediate and simple obedience - “So Abraham rose … and saddled his donkey”. No arguments, no asking for explanations, no hesitation. He was willing to give up the very promise that he had so patiently waited for. The very promise for which he got out of Mesopotamia, for which he came out of his tent to see the stars, for which he gave in the seemingly good land to Lot, he was now willing to give up.

I think perhaps the hardest test of faith arises when one has to choose between the promise itself or the promise giver; between the One who has blessed us and the blessing itself. Often, in our journey of faith we tend to fall in love with what God has blessed us with, and forget that it is the Lord who is the central Person. It is to Him we are committed to. We can be thankful for the promises, and the blessings, but be ever ready to give up anything, even the most precious thing. It was Corrie Ten Boom who once said that she held on to things lightly so it would not hurt when God pried them away.

Are you willing to give up anything today for God’s sake? Are there things in your life you would never give up? I pray you look at Abraham’s life and resolve that you will be willing to not only get out of your comfort zone and walk in your called zone, come out of the tent of your limited thinking and see the God of the impossible, give in out of love even when you have a legitimate right, but also give up your most precious possession if God so desires. That is a heart of faith.

May I tie this all together. See, when Abraham was willing to get out of the country, he was trusting in the goodness of God; when he was willing to come out, he was trusting in the power of God, when he gave in, he was trusting in the justice of God, and when he gave up, he was trusting in the sovereignty of God. The Bible says Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Abraham never saw the cross yet he believed in God. What about us those who live after the cross? In Jesus, God has shown us His manifest goodness, justice, power and sovereignty. Will you not believe?

Kamal Manik
________________________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Give in!

2006-10-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

By Kamal Manik, Associate
India International Church

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love. Galatians 5:6

Yesterday [Click here for Part 1] [Click here for Part 2] we saw the second area of willingness that is found in the heart of those who trust God, like Abraham. First, we saw that those with faith are willing to get out of their ‘comfort zones’ to go to their ‘called zones’. Next, we saw them come out of the tents of natural thinking and trust the God of the impossible.

As I think about the third area of willingness, I am reminded of a toy I had bought for my 4 year old son. This was a battery operated parrot that would sing if you clap your hands. I was fascinated by this parrot and got this little toy knowing that my son would be truly excited. When I reached home, I showed him the toy and asked him to clap. He clapped and so did I but the parrot would not respond. My wife came in and examined the toy and we knew what was wrong. There was a switch which needed to be turned on for the parrot to operate. As I laughed at my foolishness, I was reminded of the scripture in the Bible: ‘Faith works by love’. We may shout from a mountain top, but our faith will not operate to bring results, without love. Faith can work only if we learn this third area, that is, willingness to give in, even when we are right.

Abraham operated his faith by turning on the switch of love. When their was bad blood between Abraham’s men and the men of his nephew Lot, they decided to part ways. Abraham was the elder and had every right to choose first his path. Apparently, Abraham was also in a stronger position and could have used his dominance to force the issue if need be. After all, God had called Abraham and promised his blessings upon Abraham and not upon his nephew Lot! As we read Genesis chapter 13 , we see that Abraham gives in, without a semblance of a fight and rather meekly. He offers Lot the first privilege to choose the path. We see that Lot looks at the well watered plains of Sodom & Gommorah and chose the apparently better route. After Lot departs, we read in Genesis 13:14, God asks Abraham to lift up his eyes and promised to give him all the land that he could see.

Are you willing to give in today? Here is a secret. God blesses us with the impossible when we learn to give in. In today’s world, some one would say, Lot took unfair advantage of his father like uncle’s meekness. But God says when you give in , with humility, even if it means being taken unfair advantage of, if you let go of your rights, I will pour out a blessing that is far more than you can contain. One of the greatest hurdle to our breakthroughs today is that we are not willing to give in. We are clapping our hands in faith but are unable to see our miracle. Reason? The switch of faith, ‘Love’ is turned off.

Today, will you take the third second step of faith, let go of every bitterness and unforgiveness, let go of every natural right, humble yourself and turn on the switch of faith. You will most assuredly, see your faith move every mountain in your life.

Kamal Manik

Come Out!

2006-10-17T18:03:00.000-04:00

by Kamal Manik, Associate
India International Church

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:5

Yesterday [Click here for yesterday’s devotional] we saw that the first area of willingness that is found in the heart of those who trust God enough, like Abraham, is the willingness to get out. Those with faith are willing to get out of their ‘comfort zones’ to go to their ‘called zones’. These are the precious folks who are not satisfied with the daily routines of worship, praise, prayer and walk and are thirsting for God in all this.

We read further and we see Abram in the tent. Many years have passed and God’s promise has not yet materialized. God appears in a vision, and we sense a tinge of weariness and perhaps even unbelief as Abram reasons that the heir to his household is Eliezer, his servant. And God tells him to come out of his tent, and see the stars, and let it be a reminder – “so shall your descendants be.” And Abram does so, and the glorious words are recorded right after that "And he believed in the Lord and it was accounted to him for righteousness".

The second willingness in a heart of faith is the the willingness to come out! Once the men of faith have come out of the comfort zones, they are ready to see God at work. They do not trust on their own plans, their own strengths and their own ways. They are willing to come out of their natural and limited thinking and look at the Almighty God, to look at his awesome power and plan.

God asked Abraham to come out of the tent and look up at the stars, as he promised Abraham to make him a father of the nation. In effect, what God was telling him is this, ‘Do not confine yourself to the natural reasoning and limits. If you want to see the impossible, what your eyes have not seen, what your ears have not heard and what has not entered your heart, look up to God’s might & power. That is why Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with man, is possible with God’.

Perhaps you are restless in your soul, wanting to see God at work in your situation. You may have taken the first step of obedience, by getting out of your comfortable position, but are thinking, ‘Is it possible for my situation to change?’ Perhaps you had resigned to your fate, thinking that this was your lot in life, the Lord is encouraging you to get out of that position and take the first step of faith, by getting restless for God to work. Then take the second step of faith and trust God to do the impossible. The work allocation between me and God is this: What is possible, I do; What is impossible, God does! Even as you come out of the tent of limited thinking, and you look around you see the awesome power of God. The same God who spoke the word and the heavens were created, the same God who made the sun and the moon, the same God who created the stars and the seas, the same God who is concerned to feed the birds, the same God created you and me and has numbered our hair, He is the same God who has promised, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Some preacher had said this, ‘Do not go to God and tell him how big your problem is, but go to your problem and show your problem, how big your God is!

Today, will you come out of your tent of human thinking and trust God to do the impossible?

Kamal Manik

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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved. You may re-transmit by electronic mail, or make individual copy of this message provided the use is not for profit or commercial purpose, and the credit line appears in its entirety at the conclusion of the forward or reprint. A Soul’s Anchor is the ministry of the India International church. India International Church may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. "A Soul’s Anchor" may NOT be reproduced in any form on the World Wide Web or in print media or other media without express written permission. Please submit requests via email to indiachurch@jesusforindians.org or write to: A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Get Out!

2006-10-16T12:58:00.000-04:00

By Kamal Manik, Associate
India International Church

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” James 2:22-23

There are few people in history who have stirred up hearts as Abraham. He is one of the most often referred to character in the New Testament, and his name has become synonymous with the virtue of faith. James takes this faith of Abraham and inexorably ties it to Abraham's works, and then asserts a very important principle - works are always a result of a genuine faith. Like the wind makes its presence known by its effects, faith makes its presence known by works. What were the works of Abraham? Were they simply isolated good works? What did Abraham do to illustrate his faith? I believe the answer is found in four areas of willingness in Abraham’s heart. Due to his unshakeable faith in his God, Abraham was willing to do four things. And, I submit that these four areas of willingness are to be found in every heart that has this faith. I want to highlight the first one today.

The first is the willingness to Get Out! We are introduced to Abraham (then known as Abram) with these words, “Now the LORD told Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1, NKJV) And we read immediately, “So Abram departed”. Think about this for a minute. This was his home. If you read the chronology from Noah to Abram, you realize that the life span was gradually decreasing, but when Abram was born, his great, great, great grandparents were still alive. Traveling and settling out of your own area was dangerous and not commercially conducive. We see that illustrated later as Abram has to conceal his wife’s identity for safety, and then in the quarrel over wells that were dug by Isaac. Yet we read very simply, God said get out, and Abram departed. Abram’s faith was a faith that was willing to get out of the comfort zone! Faith is always shown in the willingness to obey, willingness to leave what seems to be a secure in the light of obeying God to an unknown land.

Are you willing to get out? Are you willing to obey God to leave your comfort zone? For too long the Abrams of God have hung around traditions, programs, the way their kindred behave, the way their father’s worshipped. For too long have the people of God remained satisfied with a good church service, a weekly confession, a momentary change of heart. Will we dare to believe God for the impossible today, will we dare to take Him literally at His word, will we dare to take a stand for Him? Then we must be willing to get out of our comfort zones. Perhaps the Lord is urging you to get out of your comfort zone and be bold for the Lord when He opens the door to minister His grace to someone. Perhaps He is prompting you to give more sacrificially to the work of God than you ever have. Perhaps He is calling you to actually get out like Abram and go to another nation for His glory. I pray that we show that willingness like Abram to get out! May the Lord help us to get out!

Kamal Manik
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved. You may re-transmit by electronic mail, or make individual copy of this message provided the use is not for profit or commercial purpose, and the credit line appears in its entirety at the conclusion of the forward or reprint. A Soul’s Anchor is the ministry of the India International church. India International Church may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. "A Soul’s Anchor" may NOT be reproduced in any form on the World Wide Web or in print media or other media without express written permission. Please submit requests via email to indiachurch@jesusforindians.org or write to: A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

The Secret of Perpetual Joy

2006-10-13T13:11:00.000-04:00

“..And my sin is always before me” Psalm 51:3b

I wonder what most modern day psychologists and perhaps even preachers would think of a confession like the one David makes in this penitent psalm. David is confessing that all he sees in his future before him is the guilt of a sin-ridden past. His sin is always before him. I suspect that many modern experts would consider David dysfunctional. They would immediately hurry to advise him in various ways to erase this past and his guilt so he can get on with the future. They would consider this revisiting of his past as detrimental to the vision of the future, especially for a King. But as we read, we discover that all of history, religious and secular, attests to the greatness of this King David. We see him penning the sweetest song of all times, the shepherds psalm, psalm 23. We hear God’s affirmation of him as “a man after my own heart”, the greatest compliment heaven may confer upon man. He is perhaps the happiest king we encounter in the pages of the Bible. We hear of him dancing with abandon as the “Ark of God” is brought home. As it turns out, the man with his sins always before him is the man with great joy in his heart, a sweet song on his lips, and becomes the towering standard of morality to whom all the later kings have to be compared!

I think we have missed out on the secret of great and perpetual joy. The secret is in what follows in this Psalm. David continues, “Against You, You only have I sinned” and “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”. He then adds “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, uphold me with Your generous Spirit, then I will teach transgressors Your ways.” The taunting of past sins has become the gateway to a useful future!

I think the modern world has conceived of all sorts of ways to forget the past, and to somehow suppress this guilt that arises out of the recognition of our sins, and in doing so has blurred the very hope of genuine joy. One writer on extolling the virtues of humanism writes, “But think how much people waste of their lives in useless replays of past wrongs.” After commenting on the problem of not being able to resolve this guilt, the author adds, “Such actions can distract one from a meaningful pursuit of ones goals as much as outright guilt can.”1 Perhaps it is the reason why entertainment industry never suffers a recession. It is in the business of helping people forget, at least for a while. But the history of great men shows us that the secret of joy, and the grandest vision for the future is to be found by those who have their “sin always before them”. John Newton, the author of our beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace”, had the text, “You shall remember that you were a bondman in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you.” To remind him of the past sins he was saved from. Thomas Goodwin said that when his heart would get cold he would “take a turn up and down among the sins of his past life”.
Here is the secret of perpetual joy. It is found in the depth of the sorrow over sin, and the remembering of the mercy of God shown in His son’s sacrifice to wash it clean.

Frank W. Boreham in his essay, “Specter and Song”, says it perhaps most succinctly. “The man who has his sin haunting him will never wander far from the wealthiest things. He will build his home near the Cross.” “It is only those who know what it is to be haunted know what it is to be happy. For the specter and the song are inseparable.”2

Danesh Manik

1Ancient Stoicism And Rational Psychology, Humanistic Ways To Mental Health (1995), by Frederick Edwords
2”Mountains in the Mist”, Frank W. Boreham

All Bible References from The New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved. You may re-transmit by electronic mail, or make individual copy of this message provided the use is not for profit or commercial purpose, and the credit line appears in its entirety at the conclusion of the forward or reprint. A Soul’s Anchor is the ministry of the India International church. India International Church may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. "A Soul’s Anchor" may NOT be reproduced in any form on the World Wide Web or in print media or other media without express written permission. Please submit requests via email to indiachurch@jesusforindians.org or write to: A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Impractical Pragmatism

2006-10-12T11:39:00.000-04:00

“And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Mark 14:3-11

In our modern times, pragmatism is a valued virtue. And as we read this event in Jesus’ life, I can identify with the ones who were indignant at the sheer waste of a precious resource. A woman had abruptly interrupted a private dinner party where Jesus was present, and seemingly oblivious to her surroundings, breaks a flask of costly perfume and pours it on Jesus’ head. The disciples see this as an action of rash emotions. They see this as impractical. I am sure a symbolic display of simply a drop of that fragrant oil was enough for showing devotion. Why this impulsive waste? If the point was to show devotion, then the practical thing to do would be to sell this oil, and use the money to feed the poor. Those who were indignant were simply practicing pragmatic economics and principled stewardship. But Jesus’ response is the real shocker in the story. He rebukes them and tells them to leave her alone.

Of all the hearts in the history of the world I no of none other that beat for the poor like the heart of Jesus. Jesus was always for the cause of the poor. He had told his disciples to invite those who cannot pay back that compliment. His ministry was first a ministry to the poor. “Blessed are the poor..” is the first words of the first sermon we hear from Him. Yet, Jesus seems to say that this impractical display at the expense of a great cause was acceptable, no, actually good in His sight. “She has done a good work for Me.”

There is an important principle in the words of Jesus that we in the modern day need to hear the most. The person of Christ always precedes the cause of Christ. Devotion precedes action! Reverence precedes results! Worship precedes work! All that we do for God must simply be an overflow of our worship. Our work is simply a love song expressed by a lover to his loved one. It is incidental. If we think only what is pragmatic we will develop a tunnel vision. When Jesus says, “the poor you will have with you always, but Me you do not have always” that is exactly the point. A short term view of the matter makes the action of the woman look very impractical, but when you think of the magnificence, the exclusivity and the limitedness of the opportunity presented in worshipping the incarnate Christ at that moment as He stood at the threshold of the greatest sacrifice for the sake of humanity, including those poor, then the only thing practical thing to do would be to break not one, but every alabaster jar of fragrant perfume to worship Him.

I think we live in a culture where everything is measured in terms of utility. Efficiency, effectiveness, and results are the measurements of success. Jesus came to make us good worshippers, not simply good investors. May we never in our zealousness for the cause of our Master, blur the very Person.

Danesh Manik

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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Copyright Notice:
All Rights Reserved. You may re-transmit by electronic mail, or make individual copy of this message provided the use is not for profit or commercial purpose, and the following credit line appears in its entirety at the conclusion of the forward or reprint.
Copyright(c) 200, India International Church
A Soul’s Anchor is the ministry of the India International church. India International Church may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. "A Soul’s Anchor" may NOT be reproduced in any form on the World Wide Web or in print media or other media without express written permission. Please submit requests via email to indiachurch@jesusforindians.org or write to:
A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Lessons from an unusual hero - 3

2006-10-11T12:48:00.000-04:00

“Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, “What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in my land?” Judges 11:12-13

In the last two days I have commented on the lessons this unusual hero, Jephthah teaches us. [Click here for Part 1 and here for part 2]. As we progress in the story of this “mighty man of valor”, I see yet another surprising strength of character – restraint! He has been appointed leader because of his gift of courage. He was chosen so he could fight the common enemy – the Ammonites. He has shown a passive strength of great character in resisting the urge to take revenge by removing himself to the land of Tob. He has shown an active strength of character by agreeing to go with them, resisting the temptation to put personal agenda before the common good. But now he shows a strength that is a rarity in many gifted people – He shows restraint. He has been hired to fight, and we would expect that first on his agenda would be a battle plan. Instead we read a fascinating and prolonged correspondence where Jephthah logically argues with Ammonites asking them to re-consider.

I have to confess I am impressed by Jephthah. As I read the limited but vivid description of his personality, and his exploits with the freebooters, I am inclined to think of Jephthah as a man ready to fight, over eager to use his gift of courage. I imagine him to be a man of un-tempered boldness, a sort of a man who resolves all things with his might. It is said that a man with a hammer in his hand assumes that every problem is a nail. But here is a great principle – “A wise man knows how to use his gift with balance”. Jepthah has surely learned to temper his gift and balance it with wisdom and compassion. Courageous he is, but he does not run into battle as his first resort. Instead he negotiates. He does what he feels would be the ideal. Had it worked, he would be a leader without a fight. Notice that it is only following the failure of his negotiations, the Bible uses these words to describe the action and approval of heaven – “then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah”. He did right by restraining himself at first, and then proceeded with God’s approval. By showing restraint, he showed that he depended on God, not his valor. A wise person always depends on God, not his gift. It is interesting to note that his later successor, Samson, described in the next few chapters shares a similar gift, but with this great failing – he often lacks restraint.

Restraint, especially for a gifted man, is often very hard. But it is the greatest test of our character, because the world’s greatest act of restraint was shown by God Himself. When Jesus was betrayed, Peter wanted to fight, but Jesus told him to put away his sword, and added that if He so desired, God would have sent twelve legions of angels to his assistance. When all things would have accorded every right to wipe out the injustice, God in His compassion restrained His wrath all the way from the mocking and the crucifixion to that terrifying moment in history when God abandoned His Son for our sake. Jesus’ cry on the cross, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me” will forever stand out as a testament to God’s restraint to procure our liberty.

Danesh Manik

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"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.

If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Copyright Notice:
All Rights Reserved. You may re-transmit by electronic mail, or make individual copy of this message provided the use is not for profit or commercial purpose, and the following credit line appears in its entirety at the conclusion of the forward or reprint.
Copyright(c) 200, India International Church
A Soul’s Anchor is the ministry of the India International church. India International Church may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. "A Soul’s Anchor" may NOT be reproduced in any form on the World Wide Web or in print media or other media without express written permission. Please submit requests via email to indiachurch@jesusforindians.org or write to:
A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864

Lessons from an unusual hero - 2

2006-10-10T09:52:00.000-04:00

“..they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob Judges 11:2-3

Yesterday I commented [Click here to read yesterday’s post] on the striking nature of the introduction of this man Jephthah in the Bible, and the principle of “living in God’s image instead of man’s image”. Today I want to address another striking thing that I notice about Jephthah. He fled. He fled when his brothers rejected him. His action seems incongruous to the declaration of his character being a “mighty man of valor”. I would imagine that a mighty man of valor would never run but fight. Fight for his inheritance, fight for his rightful place. He could have routed them as the rest of the story indicates, instead he fled. But it was the right thing to do, and the rest of the story vindicates his flight. His gift of courage brought him before the elders and he ended up becoming the chosen leader over his brothers. If he would have fought, he might have won, but would have had to constantly fight to keep his place. He would have never become their true chosen leader – only a forced one.

I see here another principle for life: “Don’t waste your energy fighting what you cannot change. Instead work on the gift that God has given you.” I know that there are times when it is right to fight or stand up for the cause of justice, but the motivation of revenge or a drive to extract fairness often does more damage than good. We may end up winning the battle but losing the war. We may get what we want by force, but we will spend lifetime fighting to keep it. Fleeing is not always a sign of weakness, sometimes it takes greater strength to flee than to fight. When a heart rests in God’s goodness and justice, it is ok to not resist, but rather allow God to work.

Some may argue that he may have fled because he was alone. I offer you two reasons why I do not think so. The rest of the story makes it plain. First, he never came back to fight after he did have a lot of freebooters who banded around him. Two, he came back willingly and whole-heartedly to be their leader when they most needed him – to fight the common enemy. A man with revenge on his heart would have taken the first chance to get back at them, and a man with bitterness in his heart would have refused to help them when they needed it.

Jephthah had a right to have an offended heart. He was raised with the other sons; he deserved an inheritance, and if anyone had a right to be bitter and offended – Jephthah did. Jepthah ignored the “unfairness”, and instead developed the skills God had gifted him with – however crude that development may have been. He seemed to have no thought of revenge, no thought of fighting for justice to be done, no thought of bitterness and hatred. He simply exercised his God-given courage.

Incidentally, the word “Tob” in Hebrew means “good”. Jephthah ran to the land of good! A great metaphor that is! He fled from the land of rejection to the land of good. Flee to the land of good when you are rejected. Flee to the Lord’s house, His presence, where all true Goodness is found! Run to the land of the good where blessing abounds. Do not stay in the land of rejection, and fight and get bitter, and seek revenge. It will consume you. May this unusual hero teach us not only to live with God’s image of us, but teach us that fighting out of revenge and bitterness are not true signs of courage. Rather trusting in God’s goodness and justice, and fleeing to Him are often the most courageous things to do.

Danesh Manik

Lessons from an unusual hero - 1

2006-10-09T11:03:00.000-04:00

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot.. Judges 11:1

The book of Judges contains an unusual story of a man named Jephthah who became the judge of Israel. Jephthah certainly is not a household name. He is not universally known as Abraham or Moses. Yet, Scripture lists him among the great faith heroes. What I particularly find striking though is the way he is introduced to us. Judges 11 starts with, “Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor,” and very hurriedly and quite abruptly adds, “but he was the son of a harlot.” This term of honor, “mighty man of valor” attributed to men like Gideon, and David in the Bible was applied to men who were courageous, bold, unafraid of consequences. Men who could be counted on to stand their ground, who would return victorious or return dead from battle. Jephthah was a mighty man of valor, but he had one thing that was against him – he was the son of a harlot. It was not his fault that he was a son of a harlot, yet it was something that overshadowed his life and haunted him, and caused him to be derided by his step-brothers. In man’s eyes, he was a illegitimate child, a product of lust and fornication. An unplanned, unwanted child. Had he been conceived in the 21st century, he might have been silently put away thru the evil of abortion. A cause of perhaps regret and shame to his father, evidently a man of quite renown.

I think this abrupt announcement of “man of valor” juxtaposed with “son of a harlot” in the story is deliberate. In one sentence, the scripture shows Jephthah – in God’s eyes and in man’s eyes. A description of heaven, and a description of the world for the same man. God saw him as a mighty man of valor someday to be the judge of Israel, man saw him as the illegitimate son, to be ousted from the inheritance.
Here is an important principle of life: There will sometimes be consequences for things that are not your fault. Certain disadvantages you could not control that attach themselves to you. Circumstances that you may call unfair, and you will have a choice - You can live in God’s image of you or in man’s image of you. You can live in cynicism of life with the disadvantage, or look for that advantage that God may have granted you. You can find fault “with the world”, complain about the unfairness of life, be bitter, and let it consume your life or seek out what God thinks of you.

But there is something else I also find very striking – it is the order in which the descriptions are introduced. I do not think that it is a coincidence. It speaks of him first as a “mighty man of valor”, and then “a son of a harlot”. I believe in most conversations we hear it in exactly reverse terms. We often read of stories which start out with all the disadvantages a person had, and then how they rose above them. And we often state it as if it was the most unusual thing. I suspect we think too much of our own strengths. The Bible deliberately reverses this order. He was first “a mighty man of valor”, then incidentally, he was also a son of a harlot. The advantage God had conferred upon him was more significant than the disadvantage man had imposed on him! It really is what God thinks of us that matters more! The people who rise above their disadvantages are those who are keenly aware of this. They have not only rested in the sovereignty of God, but are certain of God’s goodness. And they simply look for what God has given them.

One of the most inspiring stories is the story of Fanny Crosby, the beloved hymn writer. At six weeks old she lost her eyesight, due to the negligence of an ill-educated doctor. But what is most inspiring is that this handicap never became her life. Fanny, as she grew harbored no trace of resentment against the doctor. "Blindness," she wrote in later life, "can not keep the sunlight of hope from the trustful soul.” One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you." She replied quickly, "Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?" "Why?" asked the surprised clergyman. "Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Saviour!"

It is the fashion of the day to blame someone for your problem, to cry justice, and fairness, and wear bitterness as a badge of honor. But it will only keep you from fulfilling your destiny. Perhaps you may be discriminated because of your race. Perhaps it is a physical handicap. Perhaps there is a description that has attached itself to you, or someone’s mistake has caused you to live with that consequence. May I point to the Jephthah and his like, and say that there is a description that the Lord has of you. Rest in the surety of the resurrection that points to His sovereignty, and the nail prints that point to His goodness, and seek out that description that God has for you!

Danesh Manik