Sunday, October 6, 2013

TESTIFIY AND BEAR YOUR SHARE

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. -- 2 Timothy 1:18

I was assigned to proclaim the Word of the Lord taken from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy and the above reading forms part of my proclamation. I have been in the Ministry of the Word for quite sometime now but I still shake and tremble each time I proclaim God's Word. There is always a need for me to pray and claim the strength that comes from God. This is the hardship that I bear for the gospel and only by God's grace can I effectively testify.

Lord, I claim the strength that comes from you alone. By your strength, may I be able to boldly proclaim your word so that you may touch the lives of those who will listen. May your word serve as our guiding light to the truth of your will and purpose for our lives. In Jesus Name I humbly pray. Amen.

Friday, September 20, 2013

PROVIDE OUT OF THEIR MEANS

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Mag'dalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joan'na, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. (Luke 8:1-3)

When the Lord calls upon you to serve Him by way of preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God, He will surely take you out of your comfort zone and make you journey towards the unknown. He will ask you to leave all things behind and follow Him. This is God's way of telling you that His grace is more than enough and sufficient for you.

You will not be alone. The Lord will bring to you people whom you can trust. These are men and women who have experienced God's healing touch. Like you, their lives were completely changed by the Lord. They will be the ones who will provide for the needs of your ministry out of their own means.

Lord, thank you so much for calling me to serve in the Ministry of the Word. I believed that this is a gift you have given me so that you can use me for your greater glory, honor, and praise. I just surrender everything to you whom I dearly love and trust. In Jesus Name I humbly pray. Amen.

Friday, September 13, 2013

STUDY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

"A disciple is not above his teacher, 
but every one when he is fully taught 
will be like his teacher." 
Luke 6:40


"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?" (Luke 6:39)

 
Do you wish to study to your advantage? 

Let devotion accompany all your studies. Consult God more than your books. Ask Him to make you understand what you read. Never begin or end your study except by prayer. Science is a gift of God. Do not consider it merely the work of your own mind and effort. -- St Vincent Ferrer
Devotion is a feeling of strong love or loyalty and the use of time, money, energy, etc., for a particular purpose. When you love to study, it does not only sink deep into your mind but it penetrates your heart as well. What you have learned automatically becomes part of your growth and being.

This is why you must first consult God so that you may not be misguided on what you read. In prayer, seek and claim the wisdom of Christ in order to gain knowledge and understanding of the truth. He will teach you everything there is to know in accordance with God's will and purpose for your life.

Friend, pursue your studies with God. Do not allow others to influence you over false teachings and precepts. Only the Lord can bring to light the truth in all that you have to learn.

For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Prv 2:6). God gives knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom (Dn 1:17).

The Lord promises "I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be." (1 Kgs 3:12)
Lord, give your servant an understanding heart. And this I pray, that our love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. We continually ask that you fill us with the knowledge of your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. All these we humbly ask and pray, in Jesus Name. Amen.

Monday, May 6, 2013

PAY ATTENTION

One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. (Acts 14:14)

Lord, thank you so much for your words that cuts through my heart after hearing them from a preacher whom you have used as your instrument.
After attending the Feast, I approached our Preacher and Senior Feast Builder Bro. Arun Gogna and asked where I could get a copy of his talk. I told him that it was the best "Life in the Spirit" talk I ever heard so far. His emphasis on who the Lord Jesus Christ truly is,  has penetrated the deepest recesses of my soul. Truly, the Holy Spirit was present and at work in him that made him speak and preach from the heart.
One can never give what he does not have. His best comes from what is in his heart and not his mind. A mindful preacher can make people learn from his talk but a loving preacher can make people experience God's presence in his talk. His glory comes not from the applaud of people but in the fulfillment that He was able to obey the Lord in bringing even just a single soul closer to God.

In every place where Paul went, he preached and ministered not only to big crowds but even on single persons or household. His passion to be a witness and to share his personal encounter with the Lord had brought him to the ends of the earth.

Once you have encountered the Lord, your life will never be the same again. He will surely lead you to greater things, greater heights, and great places where you have never been.

To my mentor, good friend, and brother Arun Gogna, thank you for being a part of my household. Truly, you were used by the Lord in bringing love to my family whenever we spent our Sundays at the Feast. May the Good Lord continue to bless you and your family for His greater glory, honor and praise.

QUOTES:

ONE CAN NEVER GIVE WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE. HIS BEST COMES FROM WHAT IS IN HIS HEART AND NOT HIS MIND.

A MINDFUL PREACHER CAN MAKE PEOPLE LEARN FROM HIS TALK BUT A LOVING PREACHER CAN MAKE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN HIS TALK.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

AGAINST ALL ODDS

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; 
so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
MATTHEW 10:16

And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. (Mk 6:7)


Beware of Men

Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. (Mt 10:17)


Do not be Anxous

When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Mt 10:19-20)


Take Nothing

He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. (Mk 6:8-9)


Endure to the End

Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Mt 10:21-22)

Go through All

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes. (Mt 10:23)

And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them." (Mk 6:10-11)


Be like your Teacher and Master

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (Mt 10:24-25)


So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them. (Mk 6:12-13)


“Amen, I say to you, 
no prophet is accepted in his own native place."
LUKE 4:24

IMPRESSION AND EXPECTATION

They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” -- Luke 4:22-23

IMPACT TO NON-BELIEVERS

Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. 29 They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. 30 But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away. -- Luke 4:25-29

IMPACT TO BELIEVERS
Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth (Lk 4:21-22).

Published: 2/3/13-9:29AM; 2/4/13-7:22AM






Friday, January 25, 2013

WORDS UPON YOUR HEART

The LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart. -- Deuteronomy 6:5-6

Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart. I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD. I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation. -- Psalms 40:7-10

Published: 11/4/12-8:05AM

CHRIST PROCLAIMED!

As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, in that I rejoice. Indeed I shall continue to rejoice. -- Philippians 1:18

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. -- Philippians 2:1-2

JESUS HUMBLED HIMSELF

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. -- Philippians 2:5-8

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. -- Philippians 2:3-4

JESUS IS LORD

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -- Philippians 2:9-11 

Recall to yourself that our Lord is the beloved Son of the living God; that He is Himself the God of all consolation, the sight of whom forms the beatitude of the angels and elect. And yet, what does He not suffer! -- St Ignatius Loyola

Published: 11/2/12-4:20PM