The power of praise!

The power of praise!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

You are in the wonderful light of God. In this light, we declare the praises of Him who redeemed us from the kingdom and the authority of darkness. We praise our Lord and Saviour, our love King, Jesus. What an honour!

David said in Psalms 34:1, 'I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.'  Praise is powerful! Your praise opens the door for the manifestation of God's presence because Psalms 22:3 says, But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. God inhabits and dwells in the praises of His people. When the Lord shows up, everything changes! Hallelujah! When Paul and Silas began to praise God in prison, there was an earthquake and all prison doors opened. Praising God opens doors which are naturally impossible to open. 

Become an all time praiser. Praise by faith. Praise from your heart. Praise now! Exalt, magnify and boast about the Lord! When you praise the Lord, you are giving Him thanks, you are focusing on Him, you are celebrating Him, you are giving Him all your problems and you are resting in Him. Keep praising, keep rising! This is your time. Go on with Jesus!

“I bless the Lord at all times and His praise is continually in my mouth. I am an all time praiser. Praise God. Praise God. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah.”

Love is more than words!

Love is more than words!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Love is more than words. God didn't just say, 'I love you' but He showed, He demonstrated His love by giving His best gift, the gift of Jesus.

Jesus is God's love in action. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest demonstration of God's love for you. Never doubt God's love for you. You are God's beloved. God loves you and Jesus is the proof. As God's beloved children, we imitate God in the love walk. Without actions, love has no life, has no meaning.

Let's make a quality decision to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Love is demonstrated in forgiving one another, praying for one another, serving one another, blessing and caring for one another, sharing with one another and standing up for one another. God is love and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him. Love never fails! Go on with Jesus!

“God demonstrated His love for me. I demonstrate my love for others in deed and in truth. I love because God first loved me.“

Know thyself!

Know thyself!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Thessalonians 5:5
You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

As a believer, one of your greatest responsibilities is to discover who you really are. Who are you in Christ? What do you have in Christ? What is your position, your place in Christ? What can you do in Christ?

Once you know who you really are in Christ, you will believe right, think right, speak right and live right. A believer who doesn't know his identity in Christ lives a defeated life. There is an abundant life, a higher life in Christ waiting for you. Know thyself! The word of God is your mirror. God has given you His word so you can discover yourself in the word. For example, this verse shows us who believers are, we are sons of the light, sons of the day and we don't belong to the night nor to the darkness. This is who you are! You are light in the Lord and you are the light of the world in Christ. Can you see yourself as God sees you? It will change everything!

Say what God says about you. Let these realities be established in your consciousness. The day you become aware of who you are in Christ, that day will be the end of every struggle in your life and the beginning of a new dawn of victory, peace and joy. What a life in Christ! Go on with Jesus!

"I know and am aware of the In Christ Realities. I am in Christ and Christ is in me. I live the Christ life with Christ consciousness. Christ is my wisdom, my righteousness, my sanctification, my redemption, my life, my peace, my ability and my sufficiency. Jesus is Lord. Hallelujah"

Are you shaken? Hold on.

Are you shaken? Hold on.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Thessalonians 3:3
that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

The Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica and admonishing them not to be surprised, disturbed or troubled by the pressure they face for their faith because persecution and affliction is an inevitable part of faith.

Genuine faith has persecution. A faith that faces no pressure is a fake, dead faith. Every one who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted. Persecution simply means pressure to quit, to give up the word, to stop preaching the Gospel, to stop taking the name of Jesus and to stop living the Christ life. It's nothing new, it's been happening since the beginning of times. Jesus said, if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. Couple of reasons why believers face persecution - because Satan is the god of this world system - because of many unbelievers in the world and lastly because of carnal believers, who walk by their five senses instead of faith.

When you face pressure, refuse to be shaken but rather know persecution develops patience and patience builds your character and brings you to a place where you lack nothing. You can never be disadvantaged. Never give up! Fight the good fight of faith!  No matter what, forgive and keep walking in love. You are victorious in Christ!

Attitude of gratitude!

Attitude of gratitude!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Thessalonians 5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In all circumstances, no matter what happens - God's will for you - Give thanks! Giving thanks to the Lord keeps you aware of the presence of the Lord, keeps you conscious of the blessings of God and helps you have a good attitude.

The word of God is for your benefit. When you do what the word says, irrespective of how you feel, you will experience God's peace and life in every area of your life. Develop an attitude of gratitude by focusing on who Jesus is and what He has done for you. Have a grateful mindset by spending time in the word and discovering who you are in Christ, what you have in Christ and your position in Christ. Jesus has made you way more powerful and successful than you think. If you only knew, you would overflow with thankfulness! Thankfulness positions you for greater manifestations of the glory of God.

Refuse to grumble, complain and blame others. Change your language! Start thanking the Lord for His love, His grace, His mercy and His life. Thank Him for the great plans He has for you and for the right people He is bringing to your path. You can never be disadvantaged because all things are working for your good. Thank Him for it's because of Him, you are in Christ and Christ is in you. Give thanks! Your attitude of gratitude will increase you altitude!

"I am a grateful person. In everything I give thanks to the Lord. All I am and all I have is because of my Lord Jesus. My attitude of gratitude increase my altitude in life. I refuse to complain, grumble, accuse and blame. In everything, I choose to give thanks to the Lord. Thank you Lord. Hallelujah"

The word works!

The word works!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Thessalonians 2:13
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

The Bible is not the word of men, it's the word of the living God. It's important we give great honour and respect to God's word.

The word will work for anyone who will believe it. For the word to work, we must receive it. To receive the word simply means to agree with it and give it first and final place in your life. Our attitude should be : If the word says it, then that's it. Give yourself to the word of God where the word governs your thinking, your speech, your behaviour, your decisions and every aspect of your life. As you give honour to God's word and receive it, the word will work in you.

When you receive the word, the word goes into your spirit and begins to work in you. Just like medicine, the word starts working. Glory! The word will build you, strengthen you, empower you and create in you godly desires, changing the way you see life and live life resulting in immense prosperity and joy unspeakable, full of glory! Every time you read or hear the word, say, 'I believe the word of God and I receive it. The word is working in me and I am growing in the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ.'

Escape the pollution!

Escape the pollution!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

II Peter 2:20
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

The world we live in is polluted. It's not the air or noise pollution but rather the pollution caused by lust. All that is in the world is - lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. Lust, selfishness and pride causes self destruction.

The only escape to the pollutions of this world is by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This knowledge refers to having a precise and correct knowledge, to
become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly and to know well. How do you grow in the knowledge of Jesus? You grow in His knowledge by growing in His word and by growing in your communion with the Holy Spirit. Once we are born again, we are to grow in the word of God and become rooted and established in His word. Desire to grow! Refuse to be a baby!

As you grow in your knowledge of Jesus, grace and peace will be multiplied to you. As you grow in His knowledge, you will partake of the divine nature in you and you will escape the pollutions of this dark world and your life will attract many to Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Submerge yourself in the word. Total immersion in the word. Escape the pollution! Escape the self destruction! Go on with Jesus!