The deceitfulness of riches.

The deceitfulness of riches.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Mark 4:19
and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

To decieve means to make someone believe something that is not true. Jesus taught a lot about money so that we won't be deceived as far as money is concerned. Being rooted and grounded in the revelation of Gods word will keep you from being deceived in these last days.

What is the deceitfulness of riches? It simply means to believe that life is measured, valued and secured by riches. If a person has more riches and possessions, then He has a good life, His life is secure and that His life is valuable. It means to believe that money is God, money is security, money is life and that money makes us valuable. This deception causes people to run after money and go to any extent to have it. The deceitfulness of riches causes a person to love and serve money and to place his trust on riches. Proverbs 11:4 says, 'Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.' Proverbs 11:28 says, 'He who trusts in his riches will fall.. ' I Timothy 6:10 says, 'For the love of money is a root of all kinds  of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' Financial prosperity is God's will for you. God not only desires that you be financially prosperous but He is also well able to make you financially prosperous. It's God responsibility to make you rich and wealthy. Proverbs 10. 22 says, 'The blessing of the Lord makes rich and He adds no sorrow to it.' Money is not our security, Jesus is our protection. It's not money that makes us valuable it's the presence and love of Jesus that makes us valuable. How blessed we are if know these things and are established in them!

Friend, its not your responsibility to make yourself rich, it's God's responsibility to make you wealthy. Our responsibility is to fellowship with Him, to obey Him and to be faithful wherever we are. Running after money and chasing after riches leads to self destruction. It's not worth it and it adds much sorrow. Let God make you rich and wealthy. Refuse to be deceived. Know the truth and the truth will set you free so you can set others free. You are not everybody. You are a child of the Most High God. Remember who you are!

The Lord's pleasure!

The Lord's pleasure!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Psalms 147:10‭-‬11
He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

The Lord's pleasure is not in strong armies or in mighty warriors. The Lord has no pleasure in what the world has pleasure in. He doesn't see things as men see them. His delight is with those who fear Him.

The ones who honour and respect Him are the ones who please Him. Some translations say The Lord enjoys, treasures, values, favours and gives attention to those who fear Him and hope in His mercy. To fear the Lord doesn't mean to be afraid or scared of Him. It simply means to have great honour and respect for the Lord which is evident in your thoughts, your words, your actions, the books you read, the conversations you have, the places you go, the way you manage your finances and the friends you keep. The Lord enjoys those who fear Him - those who give him first place in their lives and make Him the top most priority of their lives. When you have great reverence for God and His things, you have just positioned yourself for supernatural favour and success. For those of us who love the Lord Jesus, this verse is extremely powerful because it tells us what the Lord enjoys and delights in. The world is pleased with skills, talents, beauty, possessions, positions, achievements, assets and other things but the Lord has great pleasure in those who fear Him, those who do what He says. The God fearing are the ones who have His attention, favour and protection, they are His joy. Glory to God.

Friend, Goliath was a mighty warrior who had great strength and ability but God had no pleasure in Him. The Lord says in I Samuel 2.30, '..those who honour me, I will honour but those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.' Whereas a young boy named David who feared the Lord greatly was God's joy and delight. David had God's attention and the rest is history. Joseph was thrown in prison for refusing to sleep with Potiphars wife, every one turned away from Joseph but the Bible says the Lord was with Joseph in prison. Hallelujah! You may not have the world's attention but you have God's attention and that's all you need and He will raise you up to the very summit of prosperity and opulence. This is your time. Go on with Jesus!

Bless the Lord everyday!

Bless the Lord everyday!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Psalms 145:2
Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

We have a language in the heavenly kingdom and it's different from the language of the earth and this world. You are a citizen of heaven and Jesus has sent you on earth to manifest the culture of heaven and reveal the nature of your King.

Our language, our words speak a lot about us, our source, our destination and the quality of life we are living on earth. Blessings, praise and thanksgiving constitute a major part of our speech and form our language. Every day we bless the Lord and every moment we praise Him - this is the culture of heaven. "Thank you Lord!  Praise you Lord! Bless you Lord" is the language of the heavenly citizens. Psalms 34.1 says, 'I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.' Such a lifestyle is born out of gratitude. Having a revelation of who Jesus is and knowing what He has done for us, the price He paid, the unconditional love He demonstrated and the blessings He poured out on us, we just bless Him, praise Him and thank Him at all times. Complaining, grumbling, accusing, lying, gossiping, backbiting and filthy talk is not appropriate for heavenly citizens. Choose to live the heavenly life and speak the heavenly language. Though we are in this world, we are not of it because we are from heaven.

Friend, when you bless and praise the Lord at all times, things begin to happen supernaturally and it impacts every area of your life. What complaining and grumbling cannot do, thanksgiving and praise can do. What accusing and blaming cannot do, blessing the Lord can do. Tremendous power is released when you develop a habit of consistently praising, blessing and thanking the Lord all the time. Heartfelt gratitude helps you keep your focus on God, preserves your blessings, positions you for greater blessings and makes you a blessing agent on the earth. Always keep it up!

Heavenly calling!

Heavenly calling!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the biggest thing on the planet right now. Media around the world refuse to show it on the big screen. The Gospel is causing multitudes of people to turn to Jesus and at the same time tremendous persecution is happening because of the Gospel.

Every child of God is a partaker of the heavenly calling. You are called by God to do your part in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called each one of His children to be a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter whether you are a businessman, teacher, student or a minister, it doesn't matter what field or profession you are in, it doesn't matter what your age or gender is, you are a partaker in the heavenly calling of God. This is a high honour bestowed on us by God. God has given you His grace and His Holy Spirit to be an effective witness of Jesus. Being a witness and witnessing that Jesus is alive is your heavenly calling. Revealing Jesus and manifesting Him in our words, actions and daily behavior is the greatest privilege God has given us. If you are a business person, then reveal Jesus in and through your business so your employees, clients and others will know about your King and Lord. Jesus said in John 20.21, As the Father hath sent me, even so I send you. Fix your mind on your heavenly calling and be determined to fulfill it with excellence.

Friend, do not despise this heavenly calling for this is what your were called for. We all have different place, different positions, different gifts and different graces but the same heavenly calling of making Jesus known to this dark and dying world. John 14.6, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father except through me. We have the greatest message of all times, His name is Jesus and He is the one the world is looking for. Refuse to be quiet and fulfill your heavenly calling!

Oil of gladness!

Oil of gladness!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Hebrews 1:9
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

There is a great blessing in loving what is right in the eyes of God and hating what is wrong in the eyes of God. This shows why some believers move ahead in life and others don't, why some make progress and others are just stagnant.

Every believer is a child of God and is in the kingdom of God but that doesn't mean every child will make progress in their kingdom life. God the Father desires each of His children to make outstanding progress in every area of their lives and bear much fruit. One who hates what is wrong and loves what is right is the one who will make significant progress in the kingdom of God and in his own life. God himself anoints such people with the oil of gladness above their companions, friends and every one else. Oil of gladness means extreme joy and gladness, it also means divine power and majesty. Such a person doesn't love whats popular, He loves what is right in the eyes of God. He doesn't hate what the world hates, He hates what God hates and is well rewarded by God. Love what the Lord loves and hate what the Lord hates. This is the key to promotion in every area of your life. Psalms 75.6 says, For exaltation and promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. It comes from God. The reason many believers don't progress in life is because they have compromised and taken sides with the world instead of honouring God and giving Him first place in their lives. John 12:43 says, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Friend, in these last days make yourself available and yeild to the ways of God, He will make you a grand success in front of your companions and you will be an example to all your friends, companions and to every one else. Your life will become a lesson for many - The lesson will be that God honours those who honour Him and lifts up to the heights those who give Him the first and foremost place in their lives. What a life! Be ready for elevation!

Jesus owns everything!

Jesus owns everything!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Hebrews 1:2
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

God has given Jesus ownership of all things.  Think about this - Jesus owns everything. Appointed as heir of all things. Everything belongs to Him. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Psalms 24.1 says, 'The earth is the Lord's and all it's fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.' In the kingdom, everything belongs to the King. Colossians 1. 16, 17 says, 'For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominion or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things consist.' Everything came out of Him and He is the owner of everything. Jesus said in John 16. 15 'All things that the Father has are mine..' Let this sink in your heart and mind : Jesus owns everything. Be it fishes, mountains, galaxies, governments, banks or companies - He owns everything. Nothing and no one escapes His authority. He can give anything He desires to anyone He wants. He needs no permission, no approvals and no passing of bills. No one can question His decision and His authority.  When He says Jericho is yours, then it's yours. Because it's all His to give - every country, every tribe and tongue. He owns everything and can do whatever He desires to do with His possessions. This is the reason He said, Ask what you desire and I will give it to you. Glory to God!

Friend, because you are in Christ, Romans 8.17 says you are a heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. This simply means whatever belongs to the Father belongs to Jesus and whatever belongs to Jesus belongs to you because you are in Christ. Beloved, you are so wealthy. You are as rich as Jesus because whatever He owns, You own. This is who you are!  When you discover yourself in the mirror of Gods word, your thoughts, words and actions will change and you will never be the same. Be bold. Know Jesus. Know yourself. Glorious life!

Jesus - God in action.

Jesus - God in action.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact image of God. The thoughts, words and actions of God are manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect expression of God. In John 14.6 Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life, No one can come to the Father except through me.'

No one can see God for God is a spirit. John 1. 18 says, 'No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.' Jesus came to reveal and manifest God. Every thought of His is God's thought. Every word of His is God's word. Every action of His is God's action. Some one might ask, How does God look? What would God say? What would God do? How does God talk? Look to Jesus! In John 10.30 Jesus said I and the Father are one. He said in John 14.9, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Jesus is the way to God. There is no other way you can know God. There is no other door through which you can come to God. Only Jesus! People say there are many doors to God but as far as God is concerned, He has appointed and ordained just one door. He doesn't see many doors as people see it, He just sees one door. Jesus is the only name God has given to mankind through whom they can be saved and have fellowship with the Living God. Jesus is the perfect and the exact copy of God. Jesus is God in action. God loves you, cares for you and has great plans for you - Jesus is the proof.

Friend, it is God's great love to send Jesus so we can know Him through Jesus. The more we know Jesus, the more we will know our Father. Jesus is called the word of God in the book of Revelation. As we study the word of God and meditate on it with the objective of knowing Jesus, the Holy Spirit will give us deep revelations of Jesus and you will thereby know more about the Father. Knowing Jesus is knowing your Father and knowing your Father is the foundation of a great, successful and prosperous life. Submit to the way that God has ordained, not what people make and Go on with Jesus!