Sunday Service @ Irumbuliyur Headquarters - 08 November 2009

[Excerpts from the Word of God through our Deputy Chief Pastor Wesley Peter, at Irumbuliyur Faith home on Sunday, 08 Nov 2009:]

John 17 verse 4: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

God's purpose concerning everyone of us is to glorify Him when we live on this earth. Man has been created for God's glory. So whatever we do, it should bring glory to God. God saves us by His grace, baptized us with His Holy Ghost, and brought us into the fellowship of the True Church and God's doing a deeper work of transformation in our lives. So whatever we do in this life should bring glory to God. When we stand before the Lord, He should say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant.!"

Our actions and reactions should bring glory to God. Our words, conversations, behaviour etc should bring glory to God. In everything, we should see that the glory goes to God and to God alone! That is the expectation of God concerning our life in this world.

This morning, we are going to see some of the things which bring glory to God.

In Psalm 50 verse 23 it is said, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." God expects that we must be praising God for everything that takes place in our life. It is the desire of God that we must be praising Him for all things He has done in our life. So when we offer praises with a heartful of gratitude, we glorify God. I Thess 5 verse 18 says, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Sometimes we may not be able to see the good in certain things that happen in our life - which in the beginning may bring bitter experiences in our life. However, in the long run, we will be able to see that the Lord did it only for our good. Whatever God does in our life is to fulfil His eternal purpose in our life. Sometimes our prayer may not be answered. We may think that God's not concerned about our life. The devil might also put a thought into our mind that God doesn't love us or God's not with us. But we should believe that all things work together for good to those who love the God. (Romans 8 verse 28). Only when we believe in this scripture, we will be able to give thanks in everything.

Whether our prayers are answered or not answered, we should praise God.

Whether our desires are fulfilled or not, we should praise God.

Whether our petitions are granted or not granted, we should praise God.

When we praise God in everything, God will be glorified in our life, and we'll have the testimony like Jesus to say, "I have glorified thee on the earth."

In Romans 1 verse 21 we read, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." So when we fail to offer praise in God's presence, the protection of God in our lives will be removed. God will not be able to preserve us in His presence. By praising God and glorifying God, we are protected by His power.

Psalm 29 verse 2 it is said, "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." It means, when we give the glory due to His name, we are able to worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness.

If there are praises in our mouth, there wont be any murmurings or complaints, and we will not question the ways of God. The devil brings doubts and unbelief in our hearts and he makes us to murmur and complain in the presence of God. That will make us to go down in our spiritual standards which God expects from us.That's why, when there are praises in our mouth, complaints and murmurings will not be found in our life.

In I Corinthians 6: verses 19,20 we read, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." How do we glorify God in our body? by doing the will of God in this life we glorify God in our body. That's why St.Paul says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (I Cor 3:16).

This body has been given only a short while - this body's called a temporal tabernacle or earthly tabernacle. This is called a mortal body or a vile body - the habitation of the triune God. So you and God are dwelling together in this body.

In Romans 12 verses 1,2 St.Paul says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." God is not demanding something that's unreasonable from us. He will not ask us to do something impossible by us. That is why presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is called a 'reasonable service.'

When we live in unity and oneness we glorify God. "That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom 15;6,7) So, living in unity and oneness brings glory to God. This world is divided on various basis. But the Lord is building up a people living with unity and oneness.

When we are divided, God's name is blasphemed. The work of the devil is to bring schism in our minds. He doesn't want us to fight him and so he brings fights between us - and so, by forgiving one another, we can live with one mind - and hence glorify God in this world. (Psalm 133:1) When brethren dwell together in unity... - there the LORD commands the blessing, even life for evermore.

In Exodus 32:6, we read, "the people sat down to eat, drink and rose up to play..."

We should not live to eat, but eat to live. That is why God has ordained fasting in our spiritual life. We should be faithful to fasting - We should not always desire to satisfy the desires of the stomach. Even if we have a stomach full, after a few hours, the stomach will ask, "give me my quota." Our belly should not be our God. If so, we will be enemies to the cross of Christ (Phil 3:18,19). Whether we eat or drink, we should see if God's glorified through it.

By bearing much fruit, God will be glorified in us. (John 15:8).

When Christ Jesus was upon this earth, He cursed a fig tree without fruits. Straightaway, that fig tree withered away. That tree was full of trees, but there were no fruits in it. God has blessed us with all the blessings we need. We should bring forth fruits unto repentance, holiness, righteousness, fruits of the spirit etc.

If you are full of leaves only, and no fruits, then you are glorying in your self-righteousness. In order to bring forth much fruit, God prunes and cleans us, because every spirit-baptized child of God is a branch in this vine. In John 15 verse 2 we read of the 3 classes of branches:

The branch that does not bear fruit

The branch that bears fruit, and

The branch that bears much fruit.

Finally, even in death, we should glorify God. (Jn 21:19)

To recap,

by praising God in everything, we glorify God

by doing the will of God in our bodies, we glorify God

by living in oneness and peace we glorify God

by seeing our good works, others will glorify God

in our eating and drinking, we should glorify God

when we bear much fruit, we glorify God, and,

in our death also we should glorify God.

May the Lord help us to lead such a life wherein we glorify God when we live in this earth. Amen.

- [thanks to Bro.Andrew and Bro.Joy for their neat inputs]

Sunday Service @ Kellys TPM Faith Home - 11 October 2009

I Samuel chapter 17 verse 32. And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

Who is this 'him'? It is Satan, and that is the challenge before you. That challenge may be a sickness, a thing that creates troubles and fears in your life - but God knows your heart, your situation and circumstances - that's why He says "Let no man's heart faint because of him".

All the people in the world (including the things of the world) trouble our heart, but only the Lord Jesus says, "Let not your heart be troubled." This "troubling" is not only for sinners, but it is also for saints.

What is the reason for our heart being troubled? It is stated in Psalm 40:12 - It is because of our iniquities and our sins which is becoming a challenge to more and more children of God. Many children of God are troubled in their mind, heart and body. We don't know with what problem you have come here this morning, but the Lord says: "Let not your heart be troubled because of him".

In the place where you're working or in the place where you are living, sins or iniquities may be abounding - but the Lord who knows your situation says, "Let not your heart be troubled."

Even though sin and iniquity have power over us, we should believe in the word of God that we are overcomers through Jesus.

In Psalm 30: 7 we read: "LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled."

For some reasons, the Lord hides His face from us. That means He is not answering our prayers. Jesus was also similarly troubled when His Father hid His face momentarily when Jesus took over all the sins of the world on Him. That time, His prayer wasn't heard by God, and so He said, "Why did you forsake Me". In the same manner, God may hide His face from us for a few moments - whoever he may be, - a prayer warrior, a saint of God or a believer - when the face of God is hidden, he will be troubled only. But we must be always beholding the face of God the Father and only then we won't be troubled.

In Isaiah 54: 8 we read: "In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. " Sometimes God leads us in this manner in the world. When the Lord hides His face, pain goes on increasing, we pray a lot - cry and pray - but still disease has not left - what should we do then? The answer is written in Isaiah 8:17 - "And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him." When i'm troubled, i'l not go astray from the Lord, but i'll wait upon the Lord. Who are these people called the house of Jacob? We are the house of Jacob. The explanation is given in Obadiah 18: "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it".

We are the fire of Heaven. There's fire in the world - but we have the fire that has power many times more powerful!

How many of us are giving light and power to this world and revealing the power of God through our fire? If you are having a doubt that the fire of God has decreased in your life, remember that God has the power to fill you with His fire. Everyone of us is the fire of God. With a great purpose, God is sending His power in our life and ministry. If we are unable to reveal the power of God to the world, then there's no use of the fire. You should have the testimony that you are the fire of God. To this house of Jacob, God is hiding His face - because He knows nothing will happen to the people of God who are fire of God for Him. When we are faced with trials and temptations, we should wait on the Lord - that's why God's making His believers as fire and His saints as flames of fire.

Satan and his powers will not fear you - but it will fear the fire of God within you. If you're having sufficient fire in your spirit, soul and body, even if God hides His face for a moment, you'll not be troubled. If the fire is always burning in your life, you'll not be slothful in spiritual things when you live in this world. If you are keeping that fire within you, you'll be always willing to pray and be in the presence of God.

You might say, "For me alone all these trials and tribulations happen" - Dear child of God the Lord is saying, "My son, my daughter, fill with my fire today. You're having a lot of trials and problems - and to come out from these, you are seeking various ways. But the only way is to obtain the fire of God. The Lord wants you to join in the house of Jacob this morning.

But some of you are unable to feel and see the power and the presence of God. That's why you're unable to sing. Once in a particular faith home, were i was ministering, a particular sister from another Church came - tormented with many evil spirits - I asked, "you belong to another Church but why you came here?" she said, "the evil spirit told your name and said go and pray from him, he'll heal you. That's why after searching a lot, we came here. We all were singing songs at that time filled with the Spirit - we sang many songs - all evil spirits departed at that time. Evening I went to visit the house of the sister. The house was filled with numerous evil spirits. We all filled with the power of God and gave the command to vacate the house - standing on the Grace I say, "I saw evil spirits depart from the house, and angels coming into the house." The next day onwards, many blessings came to that house - next day, they got an appointment order for a Govt.job. Till then, satan was an hindrance to their blessings but then on blessings started coming into their life.

Do you have proper songs in your house during the family prayers? Are you clapping your hands, and singing songs in your family prayer? Are you conducting family prayers regularly in your house in the morning and in the evening? Yes! the Lord is asking you, "I want to visit your house if you conduct family prayers"

Yes, indeed, the Lord is here to remove all evil spirits. If you believe now, you will see the glory of God. It's sad that many children of God come only after the singing time when they can be filled with the Spirit of God - so the spirits giving trouble are not departing from them - Yes the Spirit of God worketh much through the songs in our homes and churches. Colo 3:14 - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Jesus visited a house of three people. When He entered, one sister sat at His feet and discussed heavenly things with Him. At the same time, one was working in the kitchen and came with a great complaint list to Jesus saying, "Send my sister also to help me." What was the answer of the holy Jesus Christ? "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things". (Lk 10:41) Martha needn't have worried about all these things as there was a Christ in their house. He was able to feed five loaves and two fishes to 5000 people. Yes, He was able to do any miracle at that time. Then why are you troubled?

Jesus says, "Let not your heart be troubled, because, I'm in your house - you are careful and troubled because you do not feel My presence - that's why you feel I cannot do anything for you. This morning also the Lord is telling us "I'm in your house to do any miracle. So you need not care or be troubled about any of these things. Let not your heart be troubled because of the ministry in your hand - because I am in your ministry and in your house to do miracles for you. Your heart should know that He that's in you is greater than he that's in the world.

You need to do only one thing - Be in His presence - if you are in His presence, He will do many signs and wonders for you - we are not living by sight but by faith - we are not believeing in things visible, but things invisible.

When you're having many enemies, when you see the fort of Jericho before you - when you are in the banks of the river Jordan, when you are standing on the shore of the Red Sea, when the Egyptians are following you to capture you - the Lord says: "Let not your heart be troubled"

There is a God in our midst who can do any miracle for you and me. He fights all our battles. (Deut 20:2,3,4) It is written in Isaiah chapter 59:19 - "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." Sometimes there may be enemies on all sides - but do not look at the enemies - look at the flag that our Lord has hoisted for you - the flag of victory! Amen.

[Thanks to Bro.Robin and Bro.Samuel for the neat inputs]

Sunday Service @ Irumbuliyur Headquarters - 04 October 2009

Let's turn our Bible to the book of Micah 2:12,13

12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.

We just heard two beautiful verses read out from the Bible. It's written, "I will surely assemble you."

Here we find that there was a great grievance between the Lord and His people - the Israelites. Gos was leading Israel, but they asked for a king to rule over them. In the first place, God explained through Samuel the prophet, the effects of having a king - but the Israelites were oblivious to the price of having a king - and so God gave them a king - Saul, who later disobeyed God and was rejected by God - then David ruled over Israel - a person after God's own heart - then came his son Solomon - who later in his reign became an idolator - because of his sin, God sent him a prophet to tell him that after his death the kingdom would be divided - and hence the kingdom was divided into two - two tribes would be loyal to King David with Jerusalem as capital, while the other ten would establish their own kingdom, with Samaria as their capital. Children of the same father - but it was a sad fact that quite often there were wars fought between them - and it is a fact that in the whole of the human race, most of the killings and deaths have taken place only in this community - the Jews.

Even in the World War I, during the last stages of the War, Italy, France and other like-minded countries resolved to wipe out the entire race of the Jews, but eventually they failed. During the second Word War, the allied forces including Germany, Italy and Japan decided to wipe out the entire community from off the face of the earth - but they floundered in their efforts. In the History of the entire world, only two communities don't have a land/nation state of their own - one is the present Tamils of Ceylon, and the second is the Jews of Israel. Israel had no land of their own - they were wandering the face of the earth - Two thousand six hundred years after the prophecy of Isaiah, the Jews lived in the midst of the nations of the world, dispersed in every corner thereof -

This is what the Lord has said - "I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel;"

Jacob - represents the state of life before Salvation. [Genesis chapter 32]

Israel - means 'one who striveth with God' - signifies one who lives an exemplary life to others. The state after Salvation.

We find the word 'surely' repeated twice, which represents the Lord's great work of Salvation.

Today we find Jordan joins up with Egypt to fight against their common enemy - Israel. Whenever there's Jews vs Islam conflict, we find Jordan sides with Egypt. This Jordan is the country of Esau - they are always against the generations of their brother Jacob - and even till today, there's continual problem between these two countries. Elders seated here will remember the war in the year 1967 - a very costly war in the history of the world in one day's time - centering around the Suez Canal - In one day, thirteen countries were bombarded and Israel took the victory.!

Bozrah is the capital of the land of Esau and located in such a location that none can capture it - It is situated within the second largest mountain ranges of the world - an extremely fertile place - and the first quality sheep are found there. These sheep are cleansed and sanctified once a year and brought to Jerusalem, unto the Lord. Because they were idolators, the Lord scattered them - The Lord says, "Once again I will cleanse you and gather you together". It could probably be because of this reason that the Third World War is kept at abeyance.

"As the flock in the midst of their fold.." Fold represents Church. There are sheep within the fold and outside the fold. Fold has a door and a Shepherd. Shepherd denotes Servants of God - door denotes Christ - (I'm the way).

The Lord desires that all the sheep be brought inside the fold. Things pertaining to the sheep within the fold are different from things pertaining to sheep outside the fold - We had a pastor - Pastor Solomon who used to give very good concepts in his preachings on sheep. Once i asked him, how come he knew all these intricacies about sheep, to which he replied that he was once a Shepherd - tending to sheep - where he used to tweak the ears of the disobedient sheep. The Shepherd has so much authority over his fold.

So, if you are sheep inside the fold, we'll definitely give you a chastisement to correct you. Even if one sheep has soiled itself, the whole fold will come to know about it. But, if you are outside of the fold, even if you see cinema, television or indulge in horse racing there's no problem at all for you - because things pertaining to sheep outside of the fold are different from things pertaining to sheep within the fold.

"They shall make a great noise" - I will send you a revival, saith the Lord - All the sheep within the fold will communicate with one another. In villages, it is customary in the evenings at around 6.30 to 7 pm to see ravens and crows gather in certain trees - when it leaves the trees it just flaps its wings and ascends - but when they come back, they talk to each other - they hop from one branch to the other and speak in its own language to each other - "Which direction you went? what did you eat? Did you go alone or together?" etc etc. Similarly, when you enter the fold, you find sheep talk to one another, and because of it there will be a great noise - a great sound of revival when God gathers His people together.

Remember, one who removes hindrances goes before you. In Tamil it is said, "one who removes obstacles", but in English it is said, "One who breaks all obstacles" Why does God break all the obstacles? Because, if the obstacles are removed, satan can easily place them back, but they have to be broken to pieces completely!

Do you find your financially poor situation hindering you in growing in your spiritual life? Do not get discouraged! God says "I will give you the treasures of the darkness". Are you facing hindrances in your body that prevent you from advancing in your spiritual life? Do not be disheartenend! The Lord says, "I am the Lord that healeth thee!" We are healed by His stripes!

Do you have problems in court? Do not fear. The Lord says that the Lord will fight all your battles. Isaiah 49:24,25 -

24. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
25. But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children
26. And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD [am] thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

When I was undergoing a terrible, bitter phase in my ministry, Pastor Lazarus gave me these same comforting verses.

Even if you are lawfully captive, God will deliver you! Do you find hindrances in your workspot? The Lord says, "I will make all your the crooked paths straight".

Who is it that places such hindrances before us? It is the work of the devil. Why has he put up such obstacles? So that we might not enter in through the gate! ( you have to diligently read the Word of God and meditate on this carefully. Only if you read it a thousand times you will be able to understand its full import!) The place we are going to enter is New Jerusalem or Zion. Door signifies the Lord Jesus. We can inherit the kingdom of God only through the Lord Jesus and not through any other means. Every gate represents a doctrine, and it is only by these truths that we can inherit the Kingdom of God.

Our Lord Jesus entered through the gate. (Neh. chapter 3). He entered in through the Fish gate (will of God) and died - the devil puts hindrances so that we might not do the will of God. Jesus broke all the obstacles and did the perfect will of God the Father. Valley gate - represents humility - the devil would attempt to destroy us with pride - Our Lord became a servant to rulers and those in authority. Dung gate - Fountain gate - Water gate - Horse gate - Prison gate (putting on patience) - etc have their own symbolic significance.

Our Lord has crushed all these obstacles. It is said that "their king shall go before them - Why is it mentioned "their King". Because no one shall resist Him. Even the most powerful atom bomb in the world cannot stand before Him. Our King Jesus is going before us. So do not fear or be discouraged. Press forth courageously and obtain the victory. Dear child of God, believe in these promises that the Lord has given you, and go forth in your spiritual life, and the victory is yours. Amen!

[Our sincere thanks to Bro.John for the neat inputs]

SUNDAY SERVICE SERMON..: - THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WALLS

Pastor began the Sunday Service (at Irumbuliyur Headquarters Faith Home,) with an exhortation to the believers to come to church on time. He spoke thus:

For the past five years we have been telling our beloved believers to come to church on time. Whatever work you may have at home, abandon it and come to church on time. Its thirty nine years since I was saved, and I’ve never for once come late to service.

Before 9 am if you come to service, God will be greatly pleased, and even we wont be grieved.

On no account should you remain at home during Sunday service, cos evil spirits and sicknesses might attack you if you do so. I tell you this cos I know about it.

Thirdly, believers who have reasonable health, should, on no account come to church having sumptuous meals. If you do so, you can’t have the blessings of God that God has in store for you in the Service.

Pastor spoke on a very comforting verse…

“Gnaan ninne ende ullamkayil varachirikunthu; ninde madilugal ellaipolum ende mumbil irikunthu.” Is. 49:16

In English: The Lord says, “I’ve graven thee on the palms of My Hands." It is not like drawing a picture of a man or a bird on a sheet of paper. It’s a work of engraving.

“Thy walls are continually before me.”

If you consider a house or a garden, you will find a wall surrounding it. But there will be only one wall around. But here the Word of God says in plural, “Walls”.

The Walls represent seven things: If an evil spirit has to touch a Child of God, it has to destroy all these seven Walls in order to hurt him.

So what are these walls?

The Wall of our Salvation.
The Wall of the Life of Separation. (Acts 2:40)
The Wall of our Baptism is always before God. (Mark 16:16)
The Wall of our Anointing. (Titus 3:5, 6)
The Wall of our Divine Healing (James 5:15)
The Wall of doing the Will of God. (II Thes 2:13)
The Wall of Waiting for our Redemption. (I Peter 1: 5)
The body, as the HOUSE, has these seven walls.

Whatever your need, a true child of God should look up to God in faith for everything in his life. That’s why the eyes of a servant of God look up only to the Mercy Seat. You should be like the Lion which does not look back at all. It is the king of itself as well as 250 acres around it.

Similarly, your resolve should also be, “I will not turn back, looking at reproaches, battles, etc. I’d rather die than turn back.”

When people throw bundles and bundles of currency notes in your path, you should have the courage to trample on it and pass over it. Otherwise, you are not a real Servant of God.

Will any among you take filth from the road and carry it on your head? No.. you wont. Similarly, we should suffer the loss of all things and count all things as dung.

You should be like a sweet smelling flavour unto the Lord. Like the Brindavan Gardens in Bangalore, which needs no advertisement. People are attracted towards it cos of its fragrance. We should also be likewise, unto Our Lord. Amen..!

IS HEAVEN RESERVED ONLY FOR A SELECT FEW..?

God has not predestinated any individual for Zion, New Jerusalem, New Heaven, New Earth or Hell. However God predestinates a standard for each place in Eternity. If God predestinates any individual for a particular place, man will not have any free will or freedom of choice.

God wants everyone to be saved. (I Tim 2:4); but He has set a standard for one to get saved. If anyone comes to that standard, he will be saved. Salvation is not all - "Who will have all men to be saved And to come unto the knowledge of the truth." God wants everyone to come to the highest life. But at the same time, all are not given that holy calling. This standard is expected from the saved ones and not from the unsaved. To those who have not come to the first standard, God will not reveal the next standard.

God has predestinated the humblest to be the greatest in heaven. He didn't predestinate any particular individual for this place. Even if you work hard or preach well, God is not going to make you the greatest in heaven. For that, you have to come to the standard that God has kept (or predestinated) - that is, be the humblest. Similarly, God has designed that those who show mercy should receive mercy (Matt 5:7). Even if you have many good qualities in your life, if you dont show mercy, you don't receive it.

In the same way, we don't see God saying anywhere that Judas Iscariot was predestinated to be a betrayer. But God set a standard of iniquity for such a person, and Judas willingly chose it, that is to be a lover of money etc. We read that before God hardened Pharaoh's heart, Pharaoh himself hardened his own heart (Exo 5:2)

See Revelation 12:4. God did not predestinate one third of the saints (with their names and addresses) to fall away, but the Lord set the standard for falling away. In Romans 8:29 we read that God "foreknew" those who are His, those who do His will. See Matthew 7:23 also. Here the set rule is that God will know only those who do His will. Does this mean that an omniscient God does not know others? In one sense, He knows everyone - all the sinners and all the saints; but in the sense of showing favour to enter Heaven, He knows only those who do His will.

The same truth of predestination is applicable to "anti-Christs" (I Jn 2:18), and the Antichrist. If God has predestinated an individual to turn against God, and go to hell, how can that person become responsible for his sins? How can he use his freewill to obey or disobey God?

Dear reader, God has given you a freewill to choose the right way, the way of peace and eternal joy. Don't harden your heart like Pharaoh but use your freewill to choose the perfect will of God so that you may heaven on earth and all through Eternity.

- TPM Publication No: 35

ABRAHAM'S FAITH - STEP - 7:

Step 7: Fully persuaded, he confessed his faith, that what God had promised, He was able to perform.

He praised God until there was no more doubt left in his heart, mind or feeling. He reached the perfection of a faith fully persuaded, a faith without doubt, a faith which nothing could dissuade, disturb or destroy. It was then that the Lord stepped in to accomplish what He had been promising twenty-five years. Having started as a child, he learnt to walk with God in faith and obedience, and thus grew to the stature of "father of faith".

We also should confess that, what God has promised, He is fully able to do. Let us finish our course saying that the God of Abraham is our God, and that through Jesus we are all the sons of Abraham, and thus all the promises of Abraham are ours (Gal.3:14,29). Fully persuaded of the goodness of God and of His power, we will become partakers of the faith and of the blessings of Abraham.

God is not only able to heal; He is also willing to heal, and that is why Jesus, while on this earth, healed all who came to Him (Matt.12:15). Jesus has not changed, neither are you an exception. He can and will heal you.

- TPM Publication No: 2

ABRAHAM'S FAITH - STEP - 6:

Step 6: He was strong in faith giving glory to God.

Till the "set time" arrived, Abraham praised and glorified God. Those who praise God for His faithfulness, for His faithful promises, for His love, for His compassion and for His power, will find no time to murmur, to doubt, or to fear their trial of sickness. They will spend their time either in prayer or in praising God. In his hour of trial, David says, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psa 34:1). Those who continually express their doubt and fear and complain of the symptoms of their sickness, not only lose their faith, but without their knowledge, praise and glorify the devil. St.Paul exhorts us to give "thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:20). Again, he says, "And whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Col 3:17).

When we steadfastly praise God, a glory comes upon us and the enemy is defeated. At the dedication of the temple of Solomon, when they made "one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord... the house was filled with a cloud... (and) the glory of the Lord filled the house of God" (II Chron.5:13, 14). Again when the singers before the army of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, began to praise the beauty of God's holiness, saying, "Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever", fear and confusion took hold of their enemies, and "every one helped to destroy another" (II Chron. 20:21-23).

Praise destroys the power of Satan who is the author of sickness; at the same time it glorifies God. We are therefore exhorted, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Heb.13:15).

Praise pleases God, destroys Satan's power, and makes us strong in faith.

ABRAHAM'S FAITH - STEP - 5:

Step 5: He staggered not at the promise of God.

Those who doubt the promises of God limit the way in which God can work in their lives. St.Paul says, "For he that cometh to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb.11:6). When doubts come, the following three points will help us to resist and overcome them:

(i) All the promises of God are perfect and infallible. Even in the Old Testament, the testimony of Solomon concerning the word spoken through Moses was, "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant" (I Kgs 8:56). How much more then, are His promises "yea" and "Amen" in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 1:20)!

(ii) God is faithful to fulfil His promises. Because "she judged him faithful who had promised", Sarah received strength to conceive and bear Isaac (Heb.11:11). Even Balaam, a heathen prophet, said, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Num.23:19). When we fully realize that when God speaks something, He cannot but accomplish it, then all our doubts will leave us.

(iii) The above being true, He will accomplish His promise in due time. We have already seen how there was a set time appointed by God for Abraham to receive the promise. We also read of Joseph, that God permitted him to suffer "until the time that his word came". He was then set free and elevated to high office (Psa.105:17-20). There is a set time for us, and therefore while we wait, let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering. For He is faithful that promised (Heb.10:23), and we will surely see God accomplishing His word in our lives.

- TPM Publication No: 2

ABRAHAM'S FAITH - STEP - 4:

Step 4: He considered not his own body now dead neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb.

When we consider something, we look at it attentively, and meditate carefully on reading it, filling our mind with it. But Abraham did not do it with the symptoms which he and Sarah had according to the laws of nature. Such symptoms are real when there are only natural laws working, and no spiritual laws. Doctors deal with symptoms and according to these symptoms apply their remedies. They do not deal with real spiritual cause of the sickness.

When Lazarus fell sick, the thoughts of Mary and Martha might have been preoccupied with all the dreadful symptoms of his illness. He was finally overcome by death. When Jesus arrived, and wanted to bring him back to life, Martha said, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days" (Jn 11:39). Jesus was not concerned about the symptoms of the sickness and death, but in building up the faith of Mary and Martha in order to do a miracle for them.

Many lose faith by comparing their sickness with others whose condition is worse than theirs. Fear drives them to believe that their condition will become more serious and that they may eventually die.

Others depend on the ability of their doctor for healing, while at the same time, they want God to heal them. But they do not realize that doctors base their analysis on what they have gathered from their symptoms they have studied. If we consider symptoms, or medical reports based on the symptoms, we will destroy our faith, the faith we have so carefully built upon the Word of God.

Therefore, never talk about the seriousness of your sickness, or allow someone to exaggerate its gravity. Above all, never revel in self-pity thinking that no one cares for you in your illness. Dwell on the promises of God and each moment expect Him to quicken and revive you. Think of the words of St.Paul who said, "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Cor 12:10); "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil 4:13). When He was buffeted by the messenger of Satan, by a "thorn in the flesh" and the healing was delayed, he realized that three supernatural blessings rested upon him:

i) The abundant grace of God which was all-sufficient.

ii) The strength of God, which made him strong when he was weak.

iii) God's power to resist and crush the power of the messenger of Satan (II Cor 12:7-9).

So never go by the symptoms of your sickness.

- TPM Publication No: 2

ABRAHAM'S FAITH - STEP - 3:

Step: 3: Against hope he believed in hope.

There is a difference between faith and hope. Faith is something we can use to claim immediate results from God. Hope, on the other hand, sees the promise through faith and patiently waits for the set time appointed for the fulfilment of the promise. For example we are now saved by faith (Rom.10:9); Eph.2:8), but it is with hope that we look for our final salvation at the Rapture. So we need faith for the present to be able to walk with Christ and we need hope to go on to perfection. It is for this reason that St.Peter says that our faith and hope should be in God (I Pet.1:21). If we use only faith but have no hope we may soon get discouraged and lose our faith. When we have a genuine hope, we will not lose faith in getting it, even if we have to wait a long time for it. St.Paul says, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Rom.8:24,25).

God told Abraham, "Sarah shall bear unto thee (Isaac) at this set time in the next year... At the appointed time I will return unto thee... and Sarah shall have a son" (Gen.17:21; 18:14). Abraham against hope believed in hope. Though all physical and natural circumstances and evidence were contrary to or "against hope" yet he believed in hope through the word of God as the Psalmist says: "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope" (Psa.130:5), and "The Lord visited Sarah as he had said... for Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him" (Gen.21:1,2). Thus trusting in His word and living it out, we need to build faith and hope together to reach God's appointed time for healing.

- TPM Publication No: 2

ABRAHAM'S FAITH - STEP - 2:

Step 2: He believed in God Who calleth those things which be not as though they were.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb 11:3). This speaks of God’s creative power which operates through His spoken word, by which He calls “those things which be not as though they were”. When the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep, God by His word, commanded the light to shine out of darkness, gave form to the earth and filled the void. He still continues to operate in the natural realm through His word (Psa.147:15-18). However, even the greatest inventions of man in science and technology are only of things which already exist, or “do appear”: for example, he makes medicines from chemicals, and tools and machinery out of iron.

God’s promise to Abraham was only by word, when He said, “I have made thee a father of many nations”, and pointing to the stars in heaven, “So shall thy seed be”. Abraham believed the word of God and continued to build his faith on it. Finally, when he was an hundred years old and Sarah’s womb was dead, he waxed strong in faith, believing in God Who “calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Like Abraham, the second step for us is, therefore, to build our faith on the Word of God which is quick and powerful and creative. Even in the wilderness, when the children of Israel had sinned and then repented, He sent His word and His word healed them (Psa 107:20). Jesus cast out evil spirits by His word and healed all that were sick (Matt. 8:16,17; Jn. 4:50-54). However, God has a set time or season for His word to be fulfilled and we have to wait for it. This brings us to the next step of building up hope with faith.

ABRAHAM'S FAITH - STEP - 1:

STEP 1: He believed in God Who quickeneth the dead.

If we do not believe that God can and will heal us, how can we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of the saints?

Jesus had to convince Mary and Martha that He was the resurrection and the life, before He raised the dead Lazarus. Jesus does the same thing with us. Unless we are sure that He is our resurrection, and that He is able to quicken and heal us, we cannot even begin to build our faith to receive our healing. To receive faith, we need to be convinced by the Word of God, just as the words of Christ convinced Martha and Mary. St.Paul tells the Romans, "He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Rom. 8:11). He prays for the Ephesians that, the eyes of their understanding being enlightened, they may know, "what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead" (Eph. 1:19,20).

St.Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, speaks of some of his many trials. He says that the sentence of death was upon him, but that God delivered him (II Cor 1:8-10). He was prepared to suffer any affliction, knowing that the power of Christ would raise him up. He bore in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus, "that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest (His) body... knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise (Him) up also by Jesus" (II Cor 4:10,14).

TPM Publication No: 2

SEVEN STEPS OF ABRAHAM'S FAITH..:

As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness" (Rom 4:17-22).

These things were not written for Abraham's sake alone, "but for us also" (Rom 4:23,24). God promises to accomplish His promises to those "who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham" (Rom 4:12). We will now consider seven steps of faith taken by Abraham.

Who created God? How can we know Him?

First of all, we should know that the creator and the creation are distinct in identity and meaning. It is a fact that everything in the universe is created. Now, a creation has to have a creator, and that creator is called the Almighty God. If a creator is created, he cannot be called a creator but a creation. This leads us to conclude: since a creator is essential for any creation, the question "Who created God? is eliminated. Our God is self-existent from Eternity to Eternity, and is a great mystery that is to be fully disclosed to the saints only in heaven (Rev 10:7).

How can we know this great God? Some go on pilgrimage, some others offer various sacrifices and money to religious institutions, and still some others perform various rituals - all in an effort to know God. But all these are fruitless human efforts to know God and reach God. In a deep sense, the greatest blessing God bestowed on man was to make him after His own image. However, man, in trying to reach God, has ended up committing the greatest sin against God by making God in his own image. (Rom 1:23).

God is love and therefore we can know God only by loving God - "everyone that loveth... knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (I Jn 4:7,8). The more you love God, the more you will know Him and enjoy Him.

To love a holy God, we need a pure heart. The purer our hearts, the greater our love for God. That is why the Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matt 5:8). If anyone hates God, one thing is very sure - his heart is full of filth. God created man so that he may enjoy God, the embodiment of pure love. [God manifested His unselfish love by sending His Son to die for our sins and redeem us from eternal hell].

In the world, you love a person only after you know him and understand him; on the contrary, only when you love God will you know Him and understand Him. Similarly, in the case of all the books in the world, it is when you read and understand them that you may love them. However, in the case of the Bible, the more you love it, the more you will understand it.

Dear friend, you will not find fulfillment and satisfaction until you learn to love Jesus with a pure heart fervently. The more you love Him, the more you will know Him. The more you know Him, the more you will enjoy Him. He is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him (Psa 34:8).

- TPM Publication No: 35

OUR TWO-FOLD RESPONSIBILITY...!

Our personal influence either edifies others or destroys them. We are members one of another in the body of Christ. Through our influence, life or death flows into the life of others. We are channels of blessing or channels of curse. We shed our light on them or we blind them with the darkness we carry. Consciously or unconsciously, we carry our influence with us, whether good or bad, constructive or destructive. It is as good as our shadow that follows us. By our behaviour, attitude, appearance, and way of life, we give either life or death to those with whom we come into contact, help someone to run the race or make him stumble, build one's faith or destroy it, strengthen someone or weaken him.

Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth... Ye are the light of the world" (Matt 5:13,14). Both salt and light are not aware that they are useful to the earth; similarly the serpent and the scorpion do not know how harmful they are. In like manner, we also carry a power that is highly magnetic, drawing others to Christ or to Satan.

Our first responsibility is to see that we ourselves do not fall and endanger our own spiritual life with the questionable pleasures of these last days; secondly, we must see that our bad example does not cause others to stumble. Some of the things we do, may not be harmful to us, but they may be disastrous to others. God's Word teaches clearly that we have to give an account to God for causing others to stumble; it is counted as "sin against Christ." Thus, our responsibility is two-fold.

There were some believers in the early Corinthian church who felt that there was nothing some others who felt that there was nothing wrong in eating meat offered to idols; but there were some others who felt that it was wrong. It is evident from the context that those who ate that questionable meat were supposed to be more spiritual and elderly than the younger. Thus they stumbled. So Paul writes to the older Christians thus:

"But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ? (I Cor 8:8-12).

The older believers were concerned about their own knowledge and conscience only. They thought that a Christian has the liberty to please himself. They did not realize that the evil influence of their (supposedly justifiable) liberty would serve as a "stumblingblock to those who were weak." Some other weak Christians were "emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols" - which they would not have done before. By the (false, imperfect) knowledge of the older believers "the weak brother perished for whom Christ died."

Our actions may cause new souls to stumble, be rendered weak, and perish; this is reckoned as "sin against the brethren" and "sin against Christ." Therefore we conclude that we should set an example to those who are newly saved, or those who are younger in experience; we should avoid every appearance of evil, lest they stumble.

Some quote the verse "give none offence neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles" (I Cor 10:32), to justify "compromise with the world." They say that we should not shock the world with our Christian doctrines and dress. We must realize that Paul talks about "conscience" and Christian behaviour which must be right with God. If Paul was for compromise he would have justified those who ate polluted meat. But we see him condemning them in every way. Paul evidently means that the Jews and the Gentiles who are saved by us, should not stumble because of our unchristian example.

We are expected to set them an example, because they are in darkness while we have received the light through the gospel. His whole argument, therefore, is "that they may be saved" (vs 33). If we compromise with the world, doing just what they do, how can they be saved? Does not God say, "Come out from among them... Be ye separate... Touch not the unclean thing" (II Cor 6:17).

- TPM Publication No: 10

THE PROUD JUSTIFY THEMSELVES...!

Pride will not allow you to admit your mistakes. You will always find a lame excuse or put the blame on someone else in order to justify yourself. Why? Unlike many other sins, pride makes you blind - you cannot see your own faults, but find many in others. Our first parens, Adam and Eve, having the 'pride of life', acted like this (Gen 3:11-13).

Christ's humility is exemplary. Pilate, the chief priests and elders charged Him with many crimes, but He kept silent. While hanging on the cross, many passers-by mocked at Him and spoke insulting words, but He kept silent. Joseph of the Old Testament too had a similar humility. Potiphar's wife accused him of immorality, but he kept silent. Think for a moment - if Joseph had defended himself and accused Mrs.Potiphar, who would have believed him? But as Joseph kept his mouth shut, when the right time came, God raised him above them all and vindicated him. How true the Word of God is!

"He sitteth alone and keepeth silence... he putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope" (Lam. 3:28,29). What does this verse teach? If you open your mouth to defend and justify yourself, it means you have no hope! The converse is also true. Joseph had the hope of a bright future because he kept silent; Jesus had the hope of a blessed resurrection because He kept silent. Dear child of God, are you being falsely accused and mis-understood? Unless the Lord permits you, do not open your mouth to justify yourself. When the right time comes God will justify you. And when God defends and justifies you, all the mouths that speak against you will be shut.

Pride makes you impatient with the mistakes of others: You do not realize how patient God has been with you. This is a true saying: "The more perfect you are, the more you will bear with the imperfections of others and the more imperfect you are, the more impatient you will be with others' mistakes." The proud in spirit can never be patient in spirit. Also, the patient in spirit will have a better end - "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit" (Eccl. 7:8). "You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about" (Jas 5:11 NIV). In other words, since Job was patient, the Lord worked out a better end for him. The only way you can get the spirit of patience is by driving out the spirit of pride. The more humble you are, the more patient you will be. Only such people can patiently wait for the Coming of the Lord. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the Coming of the Lord" (Jas.5:7).

- taken from tpm publication no. 23

Can a Christian Commit Suicide?

Whether one is a Christian or a non-Christian, taking one's life, whether one's own or another's, is murder. And, "no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (I Jn 3:15).

It is clear from the Scriptures that Satan entered into Judas Iscariot before he betrayed Jesus. Consequently, he committed suicide (Jn 13:27). Anyone who takes his own life is no better than Judas Iscariot.

Suicide is not a shortcut to heaven as some foolishly think. "All my problems will be gone," they think. On the contrary, they are virtually jumping "out of the frying pan into the fire" even into the Lake of Fire. Let no sincere born-again Christian ever imagine that he will be safe in heaven after ending his life in this way.

In the Bible, the men who committed suicide - King Saul, Ahithophel, Judas Iscariot, etc., were all terrible backsliders. If a sinner commits suicide, he goes to hell. But when a born-again Christian commits suicide he goes to a place worse than that; he goes to a place meant for backsliders - Outer Darkness, where there shall be more torment, and weeping and gnashing of teeth, than in hell (Matt 8:12).

It is true that God is gracious, compassionate and forgiving. While alive, if anybody genuinely repents for any sin, he will receive forgiveness. But once a person commits suicide, he doesn't have a chance to repent and turn to God. There are some cases where the person may not die immediately on attempting suicide - he gets a chance to repent and ask forgiveness from the Lord. But such cases are very rare.

Perhaps someone who is reading these lines is being tempted to commit suicide. Dear friend, not only will your soul be in eternal torment, but the Lord's name will also be greatly blasphemed through this shameful and sinful act.

Today, the gracious Lord is calling you: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. God is our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble. "I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears," testifies David (Psa 34:4). Open your heart to Jesus. He understands your pain. He is the Good Samaritan. He will bind up all your wounds. Please pray that the Lord may graciously forgive you for entertaining the very thought of suicide, and give you new life. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Cor 5:17).

- taken from tpm publication no. 35

How should we lead singing and worship in church..?

Singing is the protocol to go to God's presence. "Come before His presence with singing" (Psa 100:2). It is singing that brings God's glory and presence into a service or meeting. Singing prepares the hearts of the people to experience the presence of God, to praise and worship the Lord, and to receive the Word of God. People are also instructed and edified through songs (Col 3:16). Music and singing have the power to soothe, comfort and uplift troubled souls, to encourage and to inspire (see I Sam 16:23). Singing together (as a congregation) brings everyone into oneness of mind and thus paves the way for the moving of the Spirit, for the working of the Spirit.

Songs must be selected by prayerful guidance. Songs that help the congregation to pray, praise and worship the Lord, songs that inspire the people to trust and love the Lord, and songs that enable them to abound in hope and in the grace of God, must be sung. Singing a little about the grace of God in every meeting can be a great blessing. Songs that speak of our heavenly bliss and life in Eternity greatly help the people to abound in their glorious hope, and encourage them to run their race with a longing to obtain the glory and the crown reserved for them.

Zion is the joy of the whole earth. Zion is our hope. Zion is our homeland. So songs of Zion must be frequently sung. But songs which glorify the saint rather than God, must be avoided.

Songs of dedication and surrender should be sung prayerfully, meditating on the words. People would be able to experience the love of God and the power of God better if they are led to sing with understanding and from the heart. Avoid singing too many songs, as then, the people will not be able to hear the voice of God.

We must realize that the Holy Spirit has the right and freedom to come upon His people at any part of the worship. Therefore those who lead the singing should sing, and not after tradition, but as the Spirit of God guides. The stanza or chorus that is most inspiring, can be repeated a few times, as the Holy Spirit guides, so that there might be a continuous flow of the anointing.

We must follow the scriptural pattern - "The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after" (Psa 68:25). Care must be taken to see that the words of the song are not drowned by the loud music.

If the song leader is too loud, the congregation tends to passively listen - they will not join in the singing. Youth could be encouraged and prepared to sit in front (as back-up singers); this will greatly encourage congregational singing.

For the congregation to really experience a touch from the Lord, the song leader should have waited in God's presence and prayed with tears before the meeting. The songs should be sung from the heart, and in the Spirit. The song leader and musicians need to be united in the Spirit if there is to be perfect harmony.

In past history, singing in the Spirit and worshipping the Lord brought great and lasting revivals. May the Lord raise up anointed singers and worship leaders, not to show off, but to lead cold Christian congregations and set them on fire for the Lord.

- taken from tpm publication no.35

Why is horoscope harmful?

Many sincere people are being deceived by the horoscope, stargazing, etc. Many do not know why horoscope predictions, etc. can be accurate.

For every human being, God has a plan, and the devil too has a plan. The devil's plan is "to kill and to destroy" (Jn 10:10). However, God's plan is ever grand - "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (I Cor 2:9).

Many parents, anxious to know the future of their children, consult horoscope. When horoscope predictions contain frightening or tragic future events, no doubt, these things will torment the parents and they will virtually serve a life sentence in the dungeon of fear. Moreover, when the children grow, they too will be tormented with a fear of the future. Parents who are concerned about their child's future should read the Bible, the Word of God, because the Bible says, "In the volume of the Book it is written of me" (Psa 40:7). God is so loving and caring that He has already written the words needed for your child's well-being and future. God was careful to send an angel to Manoah's wife, Elizabeth, Mary, and many others, to tell them what to do with their children; in some cases information about their future was also given. God is well able to advise you regarding your child's future without the aid of astrologers, sorcerers, and other agents of the devil. Indeed, God loves your child so much that He has done much more than merely sending an angel; He has given you the Word of God. Some tragedies (not all) happen in children's lives because parents do not obey the Word of God.

Going to the astrologer, sorcerer or horoscope book for information about the future, when God has not revealed it, is a form of rebellion against God. When you believe the horoscope, palmistry, etc. and desire to know your future through them, you are ruining your own future; you are already in the pocket of the devil - for him to fulfil his plan in your life. The devil will capitalize on your unbelief in God's Word and use it against you. [Remember, unless you give room for the devil he cannot attack you with his destructive weapons.]

- taken from tpm publication no.35

How can we overcome DISCOURAGEMENT..?

Discouragement is faint-heartedness, a state in which we lose all hope. We lose confidence in God - God has'nt answered my prayer. I've been praying for so long. It's no use! Maybe He doesn't love me. "We lose confidence in ourselves too - I'm a failure. Everything I try to do is a failure. I have no success in my job. In my future also everything is going to go wrong." You also lose confidence in others - I dont think anybody can help me. Nobody understands me. Nobody loves me."

Discouragement makes you hit rock bottom. Spiritually, and sometimes physically also, you become weak. You become a burden to others and the devil makes you feel even more discouraged. As this continues, your discouragement grows to such an extremity that thoughts of committing suicide begin to cross your mind. You are a burden to yourself and to others, and you no longer want to live.

Look at the many cased of suicide in the past. In most of them, the underlying problem was discouragement. In the Bible we read of a man named Ahithopel who got discouraged and hanged himself and died. Even Elijah, the man who was on fire for God, ran away from the presence of God when he got discouraged, and said, "Enough Lord, take me!" It was the same with Jonah. Maybe you too have prayed that prayer. Beloved one, that is a most dangerous prayer to pray. The Word of God says in Proverbs 8:36, "All they that hate Me love death." When you love death you are hating the Lord Jesus. You may say, "I love Jesus." But when you love death, when you pray, "Lord, take me," unconsciously and maybe ignorantly, you are hating Jesus. When Elijah was discouraged he went into the wilderness. When you are discouraged, spiritually you are going into a desert - everything is dry.

The Lord leads His people in two ways. Sometimes He delivers us from troubles - we're kept from falling into troubles. At other times, however, He chooses to allow troubles into our lives, and then He saves us in the troubles. "I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psa 91;15). This is the greater experience. There isn't much honour in being kept from trouble; but emerging unscathed from trials brings us great honour. The Lord didn't prevent Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from getting thrown into the fiery furnace. But when they came out in flying colours in their trial they were promoted. Similarly, the Lord allowed Daniel to be cast into the lions' den but when he came out unharmed the Lord's name was exalted.

Child of God, trials are not sent to destroy you, but to bring you spiritual promotion. So take them in the right spirit. Don't let your troubles trouble you. Don't give room to self-pity; don't give room to discouragement. If you do, you'll become a liability to God and to others.
Child of God, today the Word of God is coming to you.

The Lord has not planned failure for you but a grand success.

"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" JER 29:11.

How can we keep from getting discouraged? To overcome discouragement we need to first know how it comes. Discouragement comes when we, instead of looing at God and His Word, look at the surroundings and the situation we are in – that pulls us down. Your eyes are on the problem and not on the One Who solves the problem. Elijah looked at the empty threat of a woman and was discouraged. So, to overcome discouragement we should take our eyes off the problem and the surroundings, and fix them on the Lord. That’s why we read in Hebrews 12:1,2, “Let us run with patience the race… looking unto Jesus.” Looking at Jesus is, looking at the promise He has given us. When you look at the promise of God, the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit will encourage you. II Corinthians 1:3 says our God is the God of all comfort. In the original tongue, it is “God of all encouragement.”

Dear child of God, when going through sickness, instead of speaking of the symptoms, the weakness, the problems you’re facing, and the pain, confess, “By His stripes I am healed.” In your poverty confess, “My God shall supply!” At times when no one is near to help you, shout, “The Lord is my Refuge and Strength, a very present help in time of trouble!” When sad things happen, say, “God is my exceeding joy.” When you are weak, say, “The Lord is my Strength”; when thirsty, say, “He is the Fountain of water”; when everything is dark and gloomy, say, “He is my Light”; amidst confusion, say, “He is my Peace”; when it looks as though you’ve lost all, say, “He is my All-in-all!” Then you’ll not only be encouraged, but will also be able to encourage others.