Persecuted? A part of life.

John 9.22
His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

Jesus had healed a man who was born blind and he could see perfectly. Jesus did things which wasn't appreciated by the religious people and hence they decided to exclude from the synagogue, any one who confessed Jesus as the Messiah.

Persecution is part of a believers life. None of us should be surprised about persecution. Jesus said if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. Paul said every one who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted. Rejoice, Jesus said, when people speak evil against you, curse you and want to kill you. In this situation, the persecution people were facing was exclusion from the synagogue. The question is not whether you will be persecuted or not, the question is about your response to persecution. Daniel refused to worship the image of King Darius and he was thrown into the lions den.  Three of his friends refused to worship the image of King Nebuchadnezzar and they were thrown into the fiery furnace. But God protected Daniel and his friends. They responded to the persecution by saying, we will not give up our faith in God and we know our God will save us and even if He didn't save we will not compromise. That's powerful. We live in a planet where Satan is the god of this world system and therefore persecution for a believer is inevitable.

Friend, how strong is your faith? What would you do, if believing in Jesus could exclude you from the synagogue or you could lose your life, family, house or everything you got, would you still be faithful to Him? Everything that Satan meant for your harm, God will turn it around for your good. Be faithful to him.
Be strong and hold fast to Jesus and He will strengthen you and you will see his glory. Don't be afraid and don't give up. Remember, his grace is sufficient.

Satan has no truth.

John 8.44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

This verse gives a good deal of information on Satan's character. Satan has no truth in him therefore you cannot believe anything he says. He's a liar and the father of lies.

Satan is a deceiver and he's an expert in deceiving people from the truth. He has no truth in Him and therefore everything that comes out of him is a lie. He cannot speak the truth because there is no truth in him. Jesus said the word is truth. Even when he quoted Psalms 91 to Jesus, the intention was deception. It's very important to know Satan's character so you know what kind of a being he is and you won't be deceived. His ultimate objective is to steal, kill and destroy. He uses all kinds of people to display his lies to attack the truth of Gods word. For example: 'Evolution' to attack the existence of a Creator God. 'Many gods' to attack the one true God. 'Jesus was a good man' to attack the deity of Jesus. He can go to any extent in creating a lie because his only objective is to keep people away from the truth.

Friend, as you grow deeper in your understanding of Gods word, his lies will not affect your life. The only defence we have against his lies is the word of the living God. Any peice of information that is not in line with the word of God is a lie from hell irrespective of who said it. The word of God is truth. Be on your guard and gird your waist with the belt of truth. Be deception free. The word of God is first and final. Glory to God.

You are from above.

John 8.23
And He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

Jesus was born of the word of God. John says the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus came from above and He knew it and He lived according to it.

Well, the day you accepted Christ, you were born again by the incorruptible seed of God's word. You were born of God, born from above. Just like Jesus you can say, I am from above and I am not of this world. Philippians says we are citizens of heaven. Each and every believer has been sent to the earth by God to fulfill a specific assignment. Remember, you are from another planet called heaven. Paul says though we are in the world, we are not of it meaning we don't belong here. We are here on the earth for a specific task. This is why Jesus was so consumed with the work that He had been sent to do. During the last days of his ministry He said, I have glorified the Father by finishing the work He has given me to do.

Be conscious that you are from another planet, therefore things that trouble the earth shouldn't trouble you because you have heavenly protection and provision. Heaven is not moved by politics, terrorism, inflation or corruption or some sickness or climate change. Heaven is stable and therefore you will never lack provision and protection. Fix your mind on heaven because that's where you have come from. 'I am from heaven'. Make this a reality of your life and it will help you focus on the right things and help you with your priorities and you will never be the same. Jesus is Lord.

Throw away your stone.

Throw away your stone.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

John 8. 7
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

A woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus and was asked whether she should be stoned. Many times people are quick to judge, criticize and condemn others. They are eager and quick to throw their stone like the Pharisees.

The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one has the right to judge and condemn others because all have sinned and none is better than the other. We have been saved by grace, not by works. It is the gift of God. We didn't earn our salvation. We didn't work hard to get it. Jesus saved us simply because He loves us. When we are conscious of the grace that has been bestowed upon us, we won't be so quick in judging and condemning people. People who are quick to despise and judge others don't understand the love and grace of Jesus. People are struggling in many areas of life and the last thing they need is someone to judge and condemn them. They need love, acceptance and grace. That's exactly what Jesus did, he didn't focus on the woman's weaknesses and mistakes instead He forgave her and extended his love towards her. His words imparted grace to her and her life was changed at that very moment. Hallelujah. We love others because God first loved us. Jesus forgave her and imparted grace to her!  Come to Jesus! Religion kills, Jesus gives life!

Jesus, who never sinned had the right to judge but He told her, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.' How much more should we extend grace, love and mercy towards people just as Jesus did towards us. Friend, throw away your stone of judgement and condemnation, let's receive and accept people just as Jesus received and accepted us. Be a blessing!

“In my mistakes, Jesus poured out His grace and mercy on me. He didn't judge or condemn me. Therefore I don't judge or condemn people when they miss the mark. My words impart grace and love. I love them because Jesus first loved me. Hallelujah.”

Challenges? Get excited .

James 1. 2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Many people don't understand these verses because they ask, how can you be joyful when you are facing trials and pressures. It's a very genuine question.

You see the word commands us to consider Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. The cross was not an easy thing.  For Jesus, it was a place of severe suffering and it was a place of seperation from the Father. But the Bible says he endured it joyfully. How can you endure such horrible events joyfully? He could endure it joyfully because his eyes was on the results produced by these trials. We look on things that are unseen, for the things that are seen are temporary but the things that are unseen are eternal. Jesus saw the joy of bringing many sons to glory and therefore He could endure the trials joyfully because he knew the results.

The testing of your faith produces or brings out patience and when you allow patience to do it's perfect work, meaning that you don't quit or give up on the word, the result is, you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Trials come to make you perfect and complete so that you lack nothing. Without trials, pressure and persecutions, you can't mature. Hebrews says even Jesus was perfected by the things He suffered. Friend, next time when you face trials, be very happy and glad, for it's time for you to be complete and perfect so that you lack nothing. Don't you ever quit on God and His word. The best is yet to come. Jesus is Lord.

Taught by God.

John 5.20
For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

The statement made by Jesus here reveals that everything Jesus did was shown or in other words was taught to Him by His Father.

You see, no man or man made institutions could have taught him to do what He did because everything He did was against the protocol and structure of their traditions and rituals. He healed a paralytic man on the Sabbath which is not in line with the traditional practices of the Pharisees. He was taught by God concerning what to say and what to do. Jesus said the Father loves him and this is the reason why He shows and teaches him everything He himself does. Everything Jesus said and everything He did was taught by His Father. No wonder the people asked, Where did this man get this learning, authority and wisdom from?. Jesus said my teaching and doctrine is not my own, its from the one who sent me. Jesus said to us, if you believe in me the works that I do you will do also and greater works than these you will do because I go to my Father.

Jesus gave us the key to get things done. Friend, seek the Father on what to say and what to do. Seek not whats popular or what the current trend is or where the majority are moving. Get it from the Father. He has given us His precious Holy Spirit, His eternal word and His precious servants through whom He teaches every thing we will ever need to know. I encourage you to open your heart and receive the teachings of the Father God and step out bodly to make a difference in and for your generation. Jesus is Lord.

I am with you.

I am with you.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Judges 6:15‭-‬16
So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord and therfore the Lord delivered them into the hands of Midian. The Midianities made their lives very miserable, they were greatly impoverished and they cried out to the Lord. God responsed because of His great mercy and sent them a deliverer.

When the Lord came to Gideon and revealed that he has been chosen to deliver Israelites from the hands of the Midianities, he couldn't believe it because in his estimation he was insignificant, weak and good for nothing types. I am sure people around him and his family members would have said the same thing about Gideon. But bless God, God doesn't see as man sees. He doesn't judge as man judges. The Lord said it doesn't matter whether you have a strong or a weak family background, all you need is Me. The Lord told Gideon that He will be with him and he will defeat the Midianities as one man.

It doesn't matter how weak or insignificant you or your family background or status is, all you need is the presence of the Lord. His presence makes all the difference. You could have all the PhD of the world and could have great skills, talents, contacts and a strong family status but without His presence, all of it is useless. Moses said to the Lord, if your presence doesn't go with us, we will not go forward. The bible says Joseph was a successful man because the Lord was with him. Be conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you and with his help live a life pleasing to the Lord and He will take you places you have never dreamed of. The best is yet to come. Hallelujah.

“The Lord is with me always. Therefore I fulfill the work that He has given me in excellence, holiness and joy.”