Word of God 27.03.2016 (Easter Service)

Resurrection (Hope for the life and hope for the mission)

·          We may come across the tough times in our life today. Doesn't matter what is happening now but there us a hope in our life and that hope is Jesus. He fought a fight and defeated the death to give hope for us.

1 Corinthians 15:5-7-  ( there is a hope. Jesus is alive )

 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

·         There two promises God given to us.

·         Lord calls us

·         Lord equips the called.

1.     Lord calls us to be His witness

·         Who does He call?

1.1 God chooses the weak

        1 Corinthians 1:27

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

·         God doesn't call the qualified but He equips the called. (Moses, David and etc.)

·         There is an eternal life promised for us because of what He has done in the Cross for us. (Like 24:36-39)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

·         Though we die in this earth there will be an eternal life because of d resurrection.

·         Analogy: A missionary visited a village to save the villagers who got sick due to a particular virus. He wanted to take them to a nearby town to treat for their decease. But they got the belief that they shouldn't the cross the river flowing in the borders of their village else they will lose their lives by the devils assumed to be lived in the river. A missionary wanted to break this presumption and in-front of them he dived in to the river and He swam in the river to reach the other end. From there He waved his hands towards the villagers and said come now. By see him all the villagers started diving in to the river to reach the nearby town to get the treatment for their decease. (Today Lord Jesus did for us and defeated death to give the hope for the eternal life to us. Though there is a struggle don’t give up. He has done for us already)

1.2 God chooses women

·         First appearance of Jesus was to a group of women.

·         Men and women are equal in God’s hand.

Mathew 28:1-10

Little girl Miriam, Esther, Pricilla and so many Women were used for the glory of the lord.

 1.3 He chooses the failed and who has walked away from Him.

·         Peter 3 times denied but God called Him back for His glory when he surrendered his life to Jesus.

·         John: 21:14-17, 20

¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 

·         Feed my sleeps (children, relationships, Family, society and the needy are the sheep Lord gave to us) are sheep's. 

·         Our Lord is the Lord is the one who gives the second chance. So Repent and come to God.

  

2.    Lord equips the called

·         Jesus said, “Focus on me (Lord) and follow me”

Most of the time we compare ourselves with others. Please don't look at others and compare. Look at God and correct.

·         He opens our minds with His scriptures

Like 24:25-28

 ²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 

·         Receive the Holy spirit

We can't win people with wisdom or arguments but by the Holy Spirit.

So come out of the arguments and pray for them. We need the holy spirit to accomplish the race of this world.

·         Acts 1:8New International Version (NIV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

• ·    John 20:21  New International Version (NIV)

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Word of God (NLAG OMR 25.03.2016) Good Friday Service

(Good Friday is the day to celebrate because, we were set free from the bondage)

·         Experience the Power of cross

·         Cross was shame, punishment earlier before Jesus Christ birth but for us it is d power of God. Why? It is due to Good Friday (Sacrifice of Jesus in the Cross)

·         Jews still not accepting Jesus as their messiah because they can't imagine their messiah in d cross hanging. Greeks are not accepting Jesus. As philosophers, they are not accepting a savior because He can't be killed is their philosophy.

·         Power cross to be experienced every day

            Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom,

·         For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

7 symbols of the cross before and after Jesus Christ @ the Cross.

1.     Symbol of death – (Jesus converted it into the symbol of life)

·         One among the two thieves - death converted to eternal life.

·         Also mediate on (Rom 2:1-2 , john3:16)

(Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Romans-2:1

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them  which commit such things.

Romans-2:2

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John-3:16)

2.     Symbol of punishment-  Jesus turned into symbol of forgiveness

·         At the cross Jesus said, “Heavenly Father forgive them they don't know what they are doing”.

·         Please meditate Isaiah 53: 5-8

(But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah-53:5

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah-53:6

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Isaiah-53:7

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Isaiah-53:8)

·         Experience the power of forgiveness.come out of guilty

3.     Symbol of separation turned into Power of bringing the reconciliation

·         Jesus was separated from the heavenly father for a while. To bring us close to eternity. We should capitalize it by obeying Him.

Romans: 5:10-11,

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

4.    Symbol of suffering turned to power to bringing healing.

·         No words can describe the suffering Jesus went through (terrible suffering and no one can describe. It is the worst ever execution in this world and no human can understand the pain. head to toes felt the pain, till the last drop of blood dropped at the cross.

·         Isaiah 53 2-5

·         2. He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

5.     Symbol of hostility/ hatred was converted into peace and oneness

·         Please meditate, Eph 2:14-16

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle    wall of partition between us;

Ephesians-2:14

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments    contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Ephesians-2:15

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the[jb1]  enmity thereby:

Ephesians-2:16)

·         Good Friday will not be good if we carry hatred

6.    Symbol of disgrace converted to abounding Grace

·         Rom 5:15

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

7.    Symbol of rejection was converted to treasured possession.

·         He went through a terrible rejection but still He has went through all these for a divine plan.

·         1peter 2:4-5

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

·         1 Peter-2:4

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter-2:5

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 [jb1]

NLAG – OMR (Word of God -13.03.2016)

Living the Gospel

·         Life Worthy of the Gospel

Philippians 1:27 (NIV)

(Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, [a]striving together as one for the faith of the gospel)

Introduction: In the current world, family is isolated and lagging more in the relationship within the family. People are not connected with affection. Parents are against to Kids and Kids are against to Parents and so on (Ex:  due to Love marriages in the inter caste marriages). All these happens because we are not conducting ourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Let us ask God to pour out His spirit to abide with the Gospel.

G-O-S-P-E-L ( 6 Points we need to make it into our action)

1.       God Aligned Life 

·         People says living like Jesus is not possible because He is a God. We must understand He came down to earth as a normal man and lived righteously even though He had a struggles like us.

·         Hence, We should live like Jesus as we are His Children and He always helps in our weaknesses to overcome and conquer

·         Philip 2: 12-15 says,

(Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 

15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 

)

·           Do Good, progressively with sanctification.

·           Live Christ centred life to live for what you are made for.

2.       Others Centred (Live for Others)

Philip 2 :3-5 says,

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

Philip 2: 19-22 says,

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.²² But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

·         We should generously considerate others.

3.    We Strive together & Stand firm as one in the Spirit- S

·         Forgive others and forget the past

·         Move forward in God’s direction.

·         Ask & seek God to love even your enemies.

·         MEN should know “ submission is not suppression and Men should treat their Wife with equality” ( women is made from Man, In the meantime neither from the head ( to rule him) Nor from the foot(to be ruled) but from the side to live with him equally )  

4.   We Partner in the Progression of the Gospel

·         One church ( Church that makes a relationship(community) and handles the scripture correctly)

·         We should believe there is one church in this world that’s God church. We should not consider any divisions or denominations. Work for “One Church”

·         Partner by praying ( all can do without any excuses – Philip 1:4-6)

·         Partner by going ( Rom  10 : 14-15)

·         Partner by sending ( Philip 4 : 10, 14:19)

5.   We Engage with the world community for the sake of gospel

·         Philip 1:12-13, Titus 3:8)

·         ¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ

·           Titus 3:8, This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

 6. A. Leave what is behind & Look forward to what is ahead

Philip 3:13 says,

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

·        Forget what is behind to go ahead. Stand firm for Jesus Christ.

·         B. Leave the Worldly things & Look forward to the heavenly things.

·         Philip 3 : 18-19 says,

¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things

May the Lord give us strength to forgive our enemies and to live according to His word to receive blessings from the Heaven.