The Spirit of truth!

The Spirit of truth!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

John 16:13
When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Notice, what Jesus calls the Holy Spirit. He referred to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth. In other words, He is the Spirit of reality.

The Holy Spirit is the one who makes the things of God real to us. It's impossible to live the Christ life without the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, its just another dead religion with senseless traditions, tiring repetitions and worthless rituals. With Him, Jesus becomes real, heaven becomes real, Bible reading becomes real, prayer become real, worship becomes real, witnessing becomes real and living the Christ life becomes real and a great joy. The Holy Spirit is here to help you live and walk the Christ life effectively. He is your Helper! After salvation, the most important thing for a believer is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Notice in todays verse, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all realities. If you seek and follow His guide, the Holy Spirit will not only unveil the things of God and make it real to you but He will also take you to the depths of those realities so that you can be established. The deeper and stronger your foundation in these word realities, the higher and stronger your life and ministry. Glory!

Friend, is the Christ life real to you? Are you enjoying the life of faith? Your Bible reading, prayer, worship -  Is it real to you or are you just doing it for the sake of doing it? Has the Christ life become a mere religion or one of the religions  to you? Christianity is not a religion, its God living in you. Believer, ask the Holy Spirit to help you and guide you into the kingdom realities. There is no greater and higher life than the Christ life. There is no greater and higher walk than the Christ walk. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit and He will take you deep in the ocean of those realities and you will never be the same!

Divine energy!

Divine energy!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Colossians 1:29
I work hard and struggle for this goal with his energy, which works in me powerfully.

When you read the New Testament, you become aware of the life and the ministry of the Apostle Paul. His impact was impeccable and His work still speaks today. He said, 'With God's grace, I worked harder than any of the other apostles.'

While speaking to the Colossian church, the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit gives us the key that helped Him do what others couldn't do. Christ, the Source of divine energy lives in you. The reason Apostle Paul could do what He did, is because He tapped into the divine energy that God gave Him. This divine energy didn't come from heaven, it came from within Him because the Source of divine energy, the Holy Spirit lived in Him. Because you are in Christ, the same mighty Holy Spirit lives in you and therefore you have in you the Source of divine energy. Activate this energy by speaking much in other tongues. The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 14.18, I thank God I speak with tongues more than you all. No wonder, He walked and lived in this superhuman energy. When you speak in tongues, your spirit is edified or charged, you receive divine energy and that divine energy is released into your body and your soul. This divine energy is also called super human energy and it causes you to do what human energy can't do and more than what human energy can do. Glory to God! You have an inexhaustible supply of divine energy in you. Thank God for the Holy Ghost! Walk with the Holy Spirit and you will experience divine energy like never before. What a life we have in Christ!

Friend, the calling of God can only be fulfilled by the divine energy of God. Activate and utilize this energy so that you can do all that God has planned for you to do. You will never lack energy because you are full of energy by the Holy Spirit in you. Speak much in other tongues! Let these facts be established in your mind and in your speech. "Holy Spirit, the Source of divine energy lives and dwells in me and therefore I am full of energy."

God's guarantee!

God's guarantee!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Ephesians 1:14
The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

The day you received Jesus into your heart, you were sealed, stamped and marked with the Holy Spirit, your spirit became one with the Holy Spirit. This verse tells us, the Holy Spirit in you is God's guarantee that you will receive everything else that God has promised. Hallelujah!

The Holy Spirit is the downpayment and the pledge of our inheritance. He is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. He is the assurance of our salvation and redemption. Romans 8.16 says, The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. He is the assurance and the proof that we are children of the Most High God. Romans 8:9 says, ...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no assurance, no witness and no guarantee that you are saved or that you will get everything that God has in store for you. Since we have the Holy Spirit of God, we enjoy life knowing that we are children of the Most High God and that we will see the manifestation of everything that God has promised us. Glory to God! When the rapture happens, the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that you will be raptured. The Holy Spirit in you is the guarantee that you will have a glorified body and that you will be with Jesus for eternity. The world doesn't have this assurance, they are confused and troubled. But bless God, we have the guarantee in us, God's guarantee, the Mighty Holy Spirit. The world is walking in the dark, hoping and wishing that something will happen, this or that will happen or anything might happen. But we don't hope and wish, we know because we have God's guarantee, the Mighty Holy Spirit.

Friend, know who you have received and what you have received in Christ. These are precious eternal truths and once established in your consciousness will elevate your thinking, speaking and living to a higher and greater level. The Holy Spirit lives in you and He is the guarantee that you are saved, sanctified, righteous, heavenly and that you have eternal life. Face life triumphantly! Christ in you, the hope of glory! Christ, your righteousness, your wisdom, your sanctification and your redemption. What a life in Christ!

Love obeys!

Love obeys!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

John 14:31
But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Jesus loved the Father and therefore He obeyed Him every moment of His life. His obedience was the key to His extraordinary success, His undeniable impact and His outstanding personality which distinguished Him from the world.

Jesus wanted the entire world to know, by His obedience, that He loves His Father. He taught us, love is incomplete without obedience. His obedience to the Father proved His love for the Father. Just like Jesus obeyed His Father, we are to obey Jesus, the head of the church. Your love for Jesus can only be expressed and shown by your obedience to His commandments. Jesus said in John 14:15, 'If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.' He said in John 14:24, 'He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.' Your obedience is a response to the Lord's love for you. We love because the Lord first loved us. Your obedience is an expression of your faith in Jesus Christ and your love for Him. Jesus said in John 15:10, 'If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.' Jesus abided in His Father's love by obeying the word of His Father and therefore the enemey couldn't touch him. Similarly, we abide in the love of Jesus by keeping the commandments of Jesus. I Corinthians 7:19 says, Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. I John 3:23 says, And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. We do what His word and His Spirit says, because we are doers of the word and we are led by His Spirit. Obedience pleases the Lord!

Friend, Jesus is our standard and our greatest example in life, therefore we look to Him and consider Him in every arena of life and every step of the way. His life teaches us, His words feed us and His presence makes all the difference in our lives. His life teaches us the need and the power of obedience. Keep your eyes on Jesus and let His life, His word and His Spirit lead you to the greatest days of your life. Follow your Shepherd and the best is yet to come. Love Obeys!

You are sealed!

You are sealed!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

The day you heard the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the word of truth and received it, something actually happened, something marvellous and beautiful. The moment you accepted Christ, God marked, stamped and sealed you with the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 6:17 says, 'But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with  Him.' The Holy Spirit has joined Himself to your spirit. You have become one with Him.

Isn't it amazing to know that you are a marked person? You are marked as Gods own possession. Glory to God! You are sealed with the Holy Spirit. You are separate from the world because you are a marked person and therefore you have authority over the factors that causes the world to stumble. Marked for divine protection, favour and promotion. Marked as justified, redeemed and sanctified. Marked for heaven. See yourself as God sees you. I Peter 2:9 says, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. You are special just because you have been stamped with the Holy Spirit. A marked person has special privileges. Do you know Satan cannot touch you, sicknesses cannot come near your dwelling and that you are redeemed from destruction, simply because you are marked! Heaven has it's eye on you and the angels of God surround you. Do you know that you are marked? Speak out these realities! Don't stop talking. "I am marked with the Holy Spirit. Glory to God! I am a marked person." When you hear about destruction, sickness and other negative things happening in the world, shout, "I am marked."

Friend, you are so powerful in Christ. The day these realities become established in your consciousness, you will experience the abundant life that Jesus has for you. Mediate on these scriptures and let it overtake your consciousness. Always be conscious that you are marked and sealed with the Holy Spirit. You are a world overcomer because Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. The Greater One lives in you. Live a marked life!

“The Greater One lives in me and therefore I am a marked person. Favour is mine. Prosperity is mine. Shalom is mine. Supernatural protection is mine. Jesus loves me and I have His mark on me. Hallelujah. ”

Are you stressed? Believe!

Are you stressed? Believe!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

John 14:1
Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

Are you disturbed? Are you troubled? Are you worried and upset? Look at this verse, Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled. This means it's your choice. Proverbs 4. 23 says, 'Guard your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.' Guarding your heart is your responsibility. Be careful what you believe and receive into your heart. Whatever you choose to believe and receive, will determine how you respond and react, how you speak, behave and how you lead your life. If your heart is troubled, worried, upset and disturbed then the question is, what are you believing? Why are you not believing what the word of God says? This is why Jesus said, Believe in me and you won't be disturbed or troubled. Believe Gods word. Believe Gods love for you. Faith in Gods word and Gods love will bring rest to your souls and health to your bones. You won't be troubled when you trust Jesus and hold on to His word. You might be in the worst place on earth and still experience the peace of God by simply trusting Jesus. It is impossible for those who cling on to Gods word, rely on His love and follow Jesus, to ever stay disturbed, troubled or upset. The faith way is the stress free way. Romans 10.17 says, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. So, keep hearing the word of God consistently and let the word of God dwell in you richly. Mediate on the word day and night and you won't be stressed another moment in your life. Speak the word of God consistently and let it be established as the only language you know.

Friend, being troubled, stressed and upset is an indication that your faith is in the wrong person or the wrong thing. Jesus said, Believe in me and you won't be troubled. Heaven and earth will pass way, but the word of God will never pass away. Refuse to hear anything that's against the word. Refuse to meditate on anything that's against the word. Refuse to speak anything that's against the word. Guard your heart and fix it on Jesus and His word. Be at peace, at rest and in the joy of the Holy Spirit. This is your time! Jesus is Lord!

Serve!

Serve!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

John 13:5
After that, Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

What an example Jesus has set for us! Think about this, take some time and meditate on this; Jesus, the Son of God washed the feet of His disciples. Life is incomplete and dry without service.

Generally, servants used to wash the feet of people. Jesus took the place of a servant and performed the work of a servant. Jesus said in Matthew 23:11, But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. The world sees those who are being served as the greatest but the Lord sees the one who serves as the greatest. Jesus said in John 13. 14-15, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." Love is incomplete without giving and serving. Jesus said in Matthew 20.28, I have not come to be served but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many. The source and motive of service is love. The love of Jesus compelled Him to wash the feet of His disciples, to serve His disciples. He kept His reputation aside, the opinions of people aside and the trend of this world aside and served His people. Glory to God! This is genuine Love! If you love Jesus, you will serve Him. If you love people, you will serve them. To serve simply means to give up your life in fulfilling the calling and commandment of God which is for the glory of Jesus and for the benefit of people.

Friend, wherever you are, be the first to serve. Whether you are in church, office or in your house, be eager and ready to serve. Serve you way to the top. Love serves! Humility serves! Don't let pride or selfishness or anything else keep you from serving others for in serving others you are serving your Lord Jesus Christ. Keep your eyes on Jesus and serve faithfully, serve with all your heart, serve not for recognition, attention or reward, serve simply because Jesus served. Jesus said in John 13:17, If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Be blessed! Serve! Go Higher!