Be holy, for I am holy

Be holy, for I am holy.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Peter 1:15‭-‬16
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We are commanded in this scripture to be holy in all our conduct and behaviour. The word holy simply means to be seperate - separate from sin and seperate from the world. There is no common ground between us and sin, between us and the ways of this world.

The church loses its power the moment she becomes common and familiar with the world. We are called out from this world. We are in this world but we are not of it, we don't belong to this world. You don't live holy to become holy. You live holy because you are holy and sanctified in Christ.

The one who called you is holy. The one who lives in you is holy. Without holiness, you cannot see the Lord, you cannot walk with the Lord and you cannot work for the Lord. The Holy Spirit living in you is proof that you are holy and sanctified. He gives you the ability to live a holy life so He can use you and work through you. 'Be holy, for I am holy', says the Lord.

The end is near.

The end is near.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Peter 4:7
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

The time is short, Jesus is coming back. We are living in the last of the last days and the Bible says, the love of many will grow cold - the love for Jesus and for the things of God will grow cold.

Stay in the fire of God's word. Stay in the fire of God's presence by being serious and watchful in your prayers. Stay in the fire of fellowship by faithfully attending church services. Prayer simply means having fellowship with Jesus. Do not let anything steal your prayer time or distract you from moving up in your prayer life. Seek to go deeper in your prayer life.

Always keep your prayer time with Jesus. Be around people who are spiritual so that they will keep your fire burning. Word based prayer is the foundation of success in every area of life. Be serious about your prayer life. Do not let it slip out of your hands.  Be watchful about your prayer life. The end is near!

Desire to grow!

Desire to grow!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Peter 2:2
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

Once you are born in the family of God, you need to grow in the things of God. Babies cannot and will not do anything for the kingdom of God. Desire to grow!

Just like a new born baby craves for the mother's milk, we are to crave the pure milk of God's word so we can grow in the things of God. The word of God is spirit food. The word feeds you. The word builds you. The word sustains you. As believers, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The word is your growth. There is so much more in the word. The word is so rich.

Refuse to be a baby. Refuse to be stagnant. Grow by feeding consistently on God's word. Hear the word. Study the word. Meditate on the word. Speak the word. Do the word. Keep ever growing and ever progressing in the kingdom of God. Be a blessing for many. This is your time.

Living hope!

Living hope!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

All of us were without God and without hope in our lives but the day we received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we were born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We have new life and new hope in Jesus Christ. The world has no hope, no hope for the present and no hope for the future. We are in this hopeless world but we don't belong to this hopeless world because we are citizens of heaven. Jesus is our living hope. Christ in us, the hope of glory. The word hope in this verse refers to joyful and confident expectation of good. We live in this lively expectation of good because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Hallelujah. You are not seeking the goodness of God, you are in the goodness of God. Believe it, expect it, speak it and celebrate it. Glory!

Every day we experience more and more of His goodness. Expect it with thanksgiving. No sadness, no gloominess, no depression.  Live in this lively hope. One day, Jesus will return to take us back to Him and we will be with Him forever and ever. Amen. What a life we have in Christ! Enjoy your life!

“I am born again into a lively, joyful and confident expectation of good. I experience the goodness of the Lord every moment of my life. No sadness, no gloominess and no depression in my life. Jesus is alive. Hallelujah”

Divine rescue!

Divine rescue!
- Ashish Mathews

Psalm 91:14
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord , “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”

Loving the Lord and acknowledging the name of Jesus guarantees divine rescue and supernatural protection.

To love the Lord simply means to obey whatever He tells you in His word and through His Spirit. Joseph, David and Daniel acknowledged the name of the Lord. Give honour and great respect to Jesus in the way you live, talk and walk all the days of your life. Acknowledge His involvement in your life and be bold about it. Never be ashamed! Give Him credit, glory and honour everywhere you go and in everything you do. Boast about the Lord! 

Many people don't do it because they don't want to offend other people and perhaps they don't want to be in trouble. But look at this verse, If you love Him and acknowledge Him, He will rescue and protect you. We are not here to please people, we are here to please Jesus. Go on with Jesus! Shine!

"I give honour to whom honour is due. Every good and perfect gift in my life is because of my Lord Jesus Christ. I love Him and acknowledge Him in everything I do. I give Him all glory, all honour and all praise. Thank you Lord Jesus!"

Faith in the blood of Jesus!

Faith in the blood of Jesus.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Peter 1:18‭-‬19
knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Jesus gave up His life, shed His blood to redeem you from the clutches of Satan, sin, curse and spiritual death. The blood of animals covered the sins of the people but the blood of Jesus wipes out our sins. Hallelujah to the Lamb.

The blood of Jesus is the price, the payment of your redemption. Your redemption is eternal and it's perfect. Have faith in the blood of Jesus. You are justified by His blood. His blood is our victory. Speak of the victory in the blood of the Lamb. Celebrate the blood of Jesus!

"The blood of Jesus. There is power in the blood of Jesus, there is victory in the blood of Jesus. Through His blood, I am redemeed and justified. Thank you Father for the blood of Jesus."

Manifestation!

Manifestation!
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Hebrews 6:12
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Every promise in the Bible is yours in Christ. II Corinthians 1:20 says, For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. God has done His part of giving you all the promises but receiving and inheriting the promises is your part.

How do you see the manifestation of the promises? Faith and Patience. Faith - believe and speak the promises. Patience - be consistent, refuse to give up. This is exactly how every person in the Bible received the manifestation of God's promises. Faith and patience is the way to the manifestation! Don't slow down, speed up!

Believe the word, speak the word and refuse to give up. As you make a quality decision to do so, you will see the manifestation of every promise God has made to you and your life will be a blessing unto many. Work on the word! Go on with Jesus!