Christ the Hope
One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head. Micah 2:13
The Israelites when they came out of Egypt and as they journeyed through the desert had different experiences. He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. I wanted to picture before you 3 kinds of unpleasant experience through which they could behold the miracle working power of God.
God’s Deliverance: Read Isaiah: 11-15, The Lord will dry up the Gulf of Suez, and he will bring a hot wind to dry up the Euphrates. Similar to this manifestation we see in Exodus14: 10 to 21. Here the Israelites have pitched their tent before the red sea and suddenly notice the army of the Pharaoh following them from the back. They are in a ‘land locked’ situation. They can neither go forward nor go backward. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. And the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind. The water was divided and the Israelites went through dry ground. Dear friend are you in a land locked situation in your finance, health or in your job or business? Don’t be afraid! Stand your ground and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today. The Lord will send a strong wind and make a way where there seems to be no way. You will never go through this situation again. Give all the Glory to God and only to God.
God’s Provision: Read Numbers 11: 4, 5, 20, 21 to23. Here Moses the leader who brought them out of Egypt was distressed. The people had a strong craving for meat and murmured against God and Moses. Lord told Moses I will give them meat not for a day or two but for a month. But Moses with his human wisdom and limitation of vision questions the Lord how is it possible? The reply of the Lord to Moses is an eye opener to you and me. 23rd word, Is there a limit to my power? You will soon see whether what I have said will happen or not! Are you going through a situation that something is lacking in your life, though you are praying for long? Your hope and faith are slowly fading? (It could be a life partner, childlessness, an own home, a job abroad, peace in the family….). Be of good cheer. Our Lord has limitless power to meet your lack with just a word. The Lord will make a provision that will fill you till you need no more. Jehovah Jireh is your provider and he will meet your lack at the right time.
God’s Power: Read Psalms 107-29, 30. He calmed the raging storm and the waves become quiet. They were glad because of the calm and he brought them safe to the port they wanted. Dear ones are you facing raging enemies in your family or work place or business. Do not Fear. We have a saviour who will silence the raging enemies and take you to the port you want to reach. He can use a wind to deliver and protect you and can silence the raging wind to sail you safe to your destination. God Bless You.
Author of Faith
What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him
We read this in Mark 10:51, where Jesus on His way to Jericho encounters the blind man. It is quite obvious that a man begging Him to show mercy may not expect a question like this. But why did Jesus ask this question? He wanted to give an opportunity to the blind man to express his trust or faith in Him which will give glory to God. This is expressed implicitly in Luke 18:42 and Jesus said to him, Receive your sight! Your faith (your trust and confidence that spring from your faith in God) has healed you. (Amplified Bible) If you read the incident from the beginning, He cried all the more in spite of being rebuked by the crowd. This brings out another aspect of faith that is persevering faith. Though this happens to be a miracle performed by Jesus it has an in depth reflection on the inner fibre of Faith which is required for healing.
Dear ones to day the Lord is standing in front of you (see it through the eyes of faith) and tell him what is that you have been longing for. If your supplication is delayed it could be(one of the reason)may be due to shallow or faith with an element of doubt. In John 15:7 Jesus said “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. Secondly read Nehemiah2:2, so the king said to me, why do you look sad…This is nothing but sorrow of heart. (Amplified bible).This may not be an experience of all But God gave me an insight that many who look happy outward are sorrowful within. Through these verses I would like to encourage you. What is your sorrow which is eating your peace and Joy? Sometimes your hard ship could be due God disciplining you. Heb 12:11 says “but god discipline us for our good that we may share in His Holiness.
No discipline seems pleasurable at that time but painful (sad). Later on it will produce a harvest of righteousness and Peace”. Have you ever asked God, what do you want me to do to please you? Read Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now Israel( we are the spiritual Israelites) What does the lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul.
Here God tell us his expectation from us that is a) Fear of God b) to love Him with all your heart and be humble(Mich6:8) Read Numb14:8,If the Lord is pleased with you, he will lead us in to that land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Your life will be like a watered Garden. God bless you.
Wings of Blessings
The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel. Under whose wings you have to take refuge. Ruth 2-12(Amplified Bible)
Dearly beloved, the wings of the Lord bring 3 kinds of blessings to us. I would like to meditate the same with you.
1) Wings of Protection: If we read Psalm 91-1, says He who dwells in the secret place of the highest remains stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty. That means you have made him your refuge in adverse times and his power no enemy on the earth can withstand. Because you have made the Lord your refuge there shall be no evil befall you nor any plague (disease) or calamity come near your home. Not only that as you go out and come due to your business or personal work the Lord will send his angel to accompany you. What a privilege! Why does the Lord show such a profound grace to you, because he has set his love up on you. Dear one on whom you have set your first love?
2) Wings of Provision: It is incredible the way Elijah was fed when there was a severe famine in Samaria. If you read 1Kings 17-4,6. In the 4th verse the Lord said “I have commanded the crow to supply you with food”. When you see the choice of food the crow brought was amazing, bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening. What is awesome is the food like meat (it must have been a cooked one and hot) and fresh bread. It implicitly implies the power of our “All mighty God”. He can call something which is not in existence and bring it to existence. You may go through a situation which totally hopeless and no remote possibility of getting help. But the Lord will use a winged avian and meet your need. Be of good courage.
3) Wings of Healing: Malachi 4-2….the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings. This pictures a supernatural healing. Like when Peter and John went to the temple they saw a man lame by birth for 40 years. Peter spoke the word of faith, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth walk”. Instantaneously the man’s feet and ankles became strong .He jumped to his feet and began to walk. God will work awesome miracle when you pray in Faith and glorify His name through you. May God bless you with these three blessings in July. ERIC SUNDARARAJ- NEW HOPE MINISTRIES.
Be a LightHouse!!!
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” Matthew 5:14
We all know about a lighthouse and it’s intended purpose. It is a very crucial equipment for the sailors, much so in the earlier days and is still in use in the GPS days also. I visited a lighthouse recently and it was my first look at a lighthouse on the inside and so close. I was stunned to see the size of the bulb, which was almost the size of our normal cfl bulbs that we use at home.
So, how is that then, so much of light is generated from the bulb, so that the sailors can see it far away from the sea?. It is through an arrangement of reflectors and lenses!!!.
As we read in the verse above, we called to be the light of the world. How can we shine in this dark world, so that we can be beneficial to many?. It is by reflecting and focusing on Christ and not on us.
Today, if you are seeing at yourself and saying that you are so small (not physically) in stature in many aspects, and not able to be a shining light for this world – look up to Jesus, reflect Him, let Him be your lens to magnify you, then the result will be glorious!!!. You can reach many people, guide many people who are struggling in the deep seas, to the safe shores of the Lord.
Go ahead and be the light of the world, with Christ!!!.
ALONE IN THE COCKPIT (TIME TO REFLECT)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthews 5:8
Jesus sat down on the mountain and began to teach his disciples the message they have to take to the people. When Jesus said “blessed are the pure in heart” , has a deeper meaning in the sense in which the world understands purity, like free from that which is sensual, pure from lust but true in the hidden purposes and motives of the soul, free from pride and self seeking, humble, unselfish and child like.
We read in James 3:17, The Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. This wisdom finds expression in your good life, by deeds done in humility. But the earthly wisdom harbors bitter envy, selfish ambitions at the bottom of heart. Where there is envy and selfish ambition there you will find disorder and evil practice. But if you practice Peace in your relationship with others you will reap a harvest of righteousness. Therefore in all your relationship have the same “attitude of mind of Christ, Philippians 2:5.
Pure in heart see God in a new and enduring relation as their Redeemer; and while they discern the purity and loveliness of His character, they long to reflect His image. They see Him as a father longing to embrace a repentant son, and their hearts are filed with joy. In Psalm we read “I love you Lord, my strength”. We also read in Nehemiah 8:10 the “Joy of the Lord is your strength”.
We who are going to be the dwellers in the City of God will have to be pure in heart. If you love Jesus with all your heart you will manifest a growing distaste for careless manners, unseemly language and coarse thoughts. Revelation 21:27 says, “nothing impure will ever enter it nor will any one who does what is shameful or deceitful , only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
So we who are living in this World need to discern the ultimate reality, we will meet Jesus face to face. Apostle Paul calls it a mystery. 1 Corinthians 15: 51, Listen I tell you a mystery. We will not sleep but will all be changed (translated) in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. This is possible only when we do not conform to the pattern of this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). The renewed heart is a pure heart.
(Adapted from Ellen. G. White)