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Sunday Sermonettes: “Why Are You Crying?”

Sunday Sermonettes #035

God Cares for You

The risen Jesus asked Mary Magdalene: “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are seeking?” It shows that the Risen Lord Jesus has the same compassion as he had when he walked on earth as a human being. He is still even now concerned about you. He sees your tears. Yes, there is someone who sees your tears.

Jesus is asking you today, “Why are you crying?” God sees your pain. He promises his presence and strength. You situation might be looking hopeless and beyond repair. Yet Jesus will not leave you alone. He will walk with you through those lonely roads.

God says, “I am concerned for you and will look on you with favour.” The problem of pain is that each one of us feels that there is no one who cares, no one who understands, no one to stand with us. See, even our best friends and closest family members cannot fully carry our burden. But God can and will. The starting point is the question, “Why are you crying?”

Mary thinks that Jesus is the gardener and asks him to tell where he has taken the body of Jesus. In reply, Jesus called her, “Mary.” It was a moment of recognition. The same voice. The same tenderness. The same compassion. She cried out, “Rabboni,” which means Teacher.

Blood Jesus Cleanse

Your Love for God Will Be Rewarded

The second question to Mary was: “Who is it you are seeking?” She had come to anoint the dead body of Jesus with spices and perfumes as the cultural custom of those days. But she failed to realize that Jesus is risen and was standing right before her.

Let us remember that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a living ever-present reality with us. He can walk in even when we have locked ourselves behind closed doors and hiding in fear. You can enjoy his presence and peace through the Spirit of God whom he has poured out into our hearts.

Mary was at the tomb early in the morning because of her love and devotion to Jesus. Therefore Jesus met with her and gave her the ever-gladdening news that he is alive forever. God in human flesh who bled and died; now risen from the dead. What good news! You too can have the joy of the resurrection in your hearts if you know the answer to “Who is it you are seeking?”

Then like Mary, you too can share the good news, “I have seen the Lord.” She came crying. She saw an empty tomb. And the risen Jesus.

So also for you. God has heard your prayers and seen your tears. He will meet you in a very personal way as he called Mary’s name with great compassion.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV Bible

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Have Mercy on Me O God According to Your Unfailing Love

Sunday Sermonettes #032

“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” This is how the well-known prayer of King David starts in Psalm 51. He is confessing and repenting of his sins in this prayer.

Three Players

“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” There are three players here.

One, is me. Someone who is a sinner. Someone who is in need of God’s mercy.

Second, there is God. He alone can show mercy.

Three, there is “hesed,” the Hebrew word which is translated variously as unfailing love, steadfast love and lovingkindness. This word cannot be fully translated as it talks about the richness of God’s love which talks about God’s loyalty towards his people even when they have failed. He keeps his side of his promise to love his people and you as an individual. And he is faithful.

2 Unchanging and 1 Changing

“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” Again, in this prayer there are 2 that doesn’t change and 1 that changes always. You and I change. But God and his unfailing love (hesed) does not change.

There is no need to guess. You and I know how quickly we keep changing. And we keep falling. Therefore mercy is needed.

There is no need to look at our goodness. It won’t ever measure up to God’s standards of holiness. So we are in need of God’s mercy.
Blood Jesus Cleanse

Come to God

“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” Yes, come to God with the burden of your sins; the shame of them and feelings of guilt. He is willing to forgive and cleanse you from all your sins. The blood of Jesus on the cross will do that for you. What a joy it is to be forgiven.

If this is your prayer from.a broken heart, God will listen and answer.

Mercy is something none of us deserve or can claim. And only God can show mercy. We cannot earn it in any way.

Only a realization of our sinfulness in God’s sight will move us to pray like this.

If our hearts are hardened like clay in the sun we will turn a deaf ear to the Spirit of God showing us our sins.

But if our hearts are sensitive, it can melt like wax and yield to the Spirit of God’s penetrative light revealing our hidden motives and actions based on pride.

Pray

So let us pray: “Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.”

Like David, let us hold to God’s steadfast love, unfailing love or lovingkindness. It won’t let go of you even when you have sinned and rebelled against God. It won’t let you go even when you have failed.

God’s hesed or unfailing love will give you yet another chance to repent, turn away from evil, be forgiven, and have a brand new beginning in life once again.

David is pinning his hope for forgiveness entirely and fully and completely on God’s hesed towards him. It is God’s mercy alone not our goodness. So let us put our hope entirely on God’s unfailing love. He will show you mercy today and now.

Featured image courtesy: Photo by Johannes Plenio

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Sunday Sermonettes | 7 Secrets of How To Be Friends with God

Sunday Sermonettes #031

Who is your best friend? Surely good moments you had together and memories might flood your mind even as you think of him or her. What if Jesus is your best friend. It is possible. For Jesus told his disciples, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15).

#1. Love

The first thing about friendship is love. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). When he bled on the cross he showed the full extent of his love for all he called friends. And those stretched out hands on the cross is welcoming you to be friends with him.

#2. No Secrets

The second thing about friendship is that there are no secrets between friends. Jesus said, “I have told you everything the Father told me” (John 15:15). Jesus took time to be with his disciples telling them about the kingdom of heaven and what the future is going to be. You too can have intimate friendship with Jesus. Tell him everything—your good and shameful thoughts, your worries and anxieties, and your desires, both good and bad. This habit will bring you closer to Jesus.

#3. No Barriers

The third thing about friendship is that there are no barriers separating friends. When it comes to friendship with God; the separation comes only because of sin. God forgives all your sins through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. You need to turn away from what is not pleasing to God and ask him to cleanse you through his blood. Then the dividing wall will come down and there can be continual friendship with God.
Blood Jesus Cleanse

#4. Quality Time Together

The fourth thing about friendship is that friends invest time to build the relationship. Friendship grows over time. It happens through a lot of conversations, sharing, and caring for each other. Sometimes we neglect this principle when it comes to God. Do you give him quality time? The kind of time you spend with God and the time you spend on social media: Which is more important to you?

#5. Desiring the Best

The fifth thing about friendship is that it is desiring the best for the other. Surely, God desires the best for you. Our friendship with God is often strained when life doesn’t go as we hoped. When our plans don’t work out, we might miss this truth: God could be redirecting us. He might be trying to get our attention to lead us toward something better that he has lovingly kept in store for us.

#6. Access

Now think about this. What if you were friends with the President or Prime Minister of your country? How privileged you might feel? What if you had the freedom to speak to them over phone any time of the day or night 24 x 7? That might not be practically possible. But when Jesus says, “I call you my friend,” you have absolutely continual and unrestrained access to God through the blood of his cross.

#7. Guard Your Friendship

Finally, good friendships are about jealousy too. You guard your friendships; don’t you? Likewise, the Bible also warns against things that destroy friendship with God.

James, a brother of Jesus wrote: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 NIV)

John, another friend of Jesus, wrote, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15, 16 Berean Standard Bible).

Yes, to safeguard friendship with God, you must say NO, jealously, to every distraction.

Featured image courtesy: Image by kp yamu Jayanath from Pixabay | Fotor

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Sunday Sermonettes | The Glorious Hope of Seeing You in Jesus’ Likeness

Sunday Sermonettes #029

What Is this Glorious Hope

If you ask me, what is the glorious hope ahead, without doubt I can answer that it is the hope of seeing you and me in the likeness of Jesus. It is the most awaited and anticipated event in God’s timeline for the end of human history.

It will also be the beginning of the glorious and never-ending companionship of Jesus with his brothers and sisters; for Jesus shared in our humanity having flesh and blood.

For then we shall see God face to face and he will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

When and How Is this Glorious Hope Going to Happen

Resurrection of the dead is what happens in the twinkling of an eye sometime soon. It will happen when God makes a trumpet call and those who are dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, Jesus. Instantly they will live and be changed.

This mortal body will be clothed with immortality, what is perishable will be transformed to what is imperishable, what has no honour now will be crowned with glory and honour.
Blood Jesus Cleanse

For Whom Is this Glorious Hope

This promise and certainty of faith is for those who have put their trust and hope in Jesus and his shed blood on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins.

This promise reassures us that we who have borne the likeness of the first man, Adam , who was of the dust of the earth, will one day soon bear the likeness of the man from heaven, Jesus.

Each one of us will bear our own individuality and personality; but at the same time when God looks at each one of us, he will see Jesus in us.

Your body will be released from all its earthly limitations; its weakness changed to power; and it will be glorified like the resurrected body of Jesus.

Why this Glorious Hope of Jesus’ Likeness

The truth is God created men and women in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26, 27). But that likeness was marred and smudged and blurred by sin, disobedience and rebellion against God.

And there came an immediate separation that prevented God from having friendship with us anymore.

But Jesus restored that friendship through satisfying God’s demand for an appropriate sacrifice through his blood on the cross. It was innocent blood shed for the sins of the whole world.

Where this Glorious Hope of Jesus’ Likeness Becomes Reality

This resurrection of the dead will be sudden and universal. Out of tombs and graves, out of ashes, out of the depths of the earth and the oceans; God will bring back to life all those who have put their hope in him.

And they all will be caught up in the air to be with God forever.

All those who are alive and have put their trust in Jesus will also be caught up to God in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.

What a glorious and joyful gathering it shall be. Hope to see each one of you then. Changed. Transformed. Made brand new in his likeness.

“And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven .” (1 Corinthians 15:49 Bible)

But What About Those Who Say No to this Glorious Hope

Then what about those who say No to Jesus now? Hope is lost for them for ever.

For even God cannot offer any hope to those who deliberately walk away from his love that sacrificed his Son Jesus on the cross.

But they too will rise from the dead. This is called the second resurrection at a later time and date.

It is for judgement and hell and unquenchable fire, where there will be darkness and weeping, gnashing of teeth and worms which never die and agony and never-ending torment. Jesus while on earth had warned people of this sad reality.

Those who go there are separated from God for ever. There is absolutely no second chance.

“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

What About You Who Have This Glorious Hope

Know that God never created hell for man. It was originally meant for the devil and his angels (see Matthew 25:41). It is only because men and women reject God’s love that they go there.

For this is the heart of God:

“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, ‘declares the Sovereign LORD.’ Repent and live (Ezekiel 18:30)!”

For the Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).”

So, do not reject this hope and promise given to you.

Who Is Present and What Is Absent in this Glorious Hope

The glorious hope is that you will see God face to face and you will be in the likeness of Jesus.

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2 Bible).

The Spirit of God will complete this transforming work. And we will live with God for ever in a place where there will be no more sin, no evil, no disobedience or rebellion, no sorrow, no suffering, no sickness; no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Heaven!

What a glorious hope of being in Jesus’ likeness for ever and ever!

Featured image courtesy: Photo by Joëlle Moreau on Pixabay | Pixir Fotor

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Sunday Sermonettes | Women Standing Near the Cross and Empowerment

Sunday Sermonettes #028

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25). The nearness of these women to the cross speaks volumes about women empowerment—about their courage, loyalty, and love.

Women Empowered by Their Courage

All the men, except John, who were the closest disciples of Jesus had fled. Only these women stood near the cross. It is sheer courage. Mary the mother of Jesus might have remembered the prophecy made by Simeon as he took the infant Jesus in his hands and had said: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35).

In spite of the brutal and public humiliation and suffering Jesus was going through, these women stood near the cross. They were empowered by their courage.

Women Empowered by Their Loyalty

Looking at these women, we need to ask ourselves an important question, “Where am I staning? Near the cross or far away from it?” See the cross is a sign of shame. Jesus bore the shame of our sins as he hung naked on public display bleeding and dying on the cross.

Standing near the cross needs courage and a willingness to share the shame. In today’s context, it can mean friends rejecting you and saying that you are weird because you stand near the cross. These women were empowered by their loyalty to Jesus. By standing near the cross, they were, in a way, sharing in his suffering and shame.
Blood Jesus Cleanse

Women Empowered by Their Love for Jesus

When you stand near the cross, it gives Jesus a chance to intervene in your lives positively. Jesus seeing his mother standing near entrusts her to the care of John. Beyond this, they all got to know that the cross is not the end but the road to glory, to hope, to life eternal.

Therefore,these women were the first news bearers of the resurrection of Jesus. It was out of love for Jesus that these women went early, just after sunrise, (the men were hiding in a room out of fear beneath locked doors) to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body as the custom of the day was.

They were talking with themselves as to who will roll away the stone at the entrance of the tomb as it early morning and no one might be around to help them. Still they went. And they found the stone already moved away, for Jesus had risen from the dead.

Mary Magdalene gets the honour of running with the news, the good news of Jesus’ rising from the dead: “I have seen the Lord.” It was a time and culture where a woman’s testimony was not valid in court. Yet it is astounding to note that the whole world is still listening to her proclamation of the truth that Jesus is risen indeed.

Yes, these women were empowered by their love for Jesus as they stood near the cross. They were richly rewarded in three days’ time to be the first witnesses of his resurrection, the greatest breaking news the world has ever heard.

The Challenge to Stand Near the Cross and Be Empowered

Standing near the cross is about empowered women. Women who were empowered by their courage, loyalty, and love for Jesus. In a world that talks much about women empowerment, this moment in history should be a challenge to both women and men. To stand near the cross and be empowered.

Featured image courtesy: Photo by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels | Canva Pixir

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Sunday Sermonettes | Excellence in Leadership in the Ministry of Bishop Jesudasan

Sunday Sermonettes #026

The Missed Photograph: An Anecdote

It was the time we had planned to prayerfully celebrate the 85th birthday of Bishop Jesudasan (February 14, 2010) with family members.  I then had a desire to publish a Coffee Table Book that would compile photographs capturing the most significant and finest moments of the Bishop’s life and ministry. I thought it would serve as an inspiration for future generations.

For several days, I visited  him at his home, trying to understand and document the defining moments of his official life.

During one such conversation, Bishop Jesudasan mentioned that during the LMS (London Missionary Society | Later renamed the Council for World Mission) bicentenary celebration in London in 1995, around the theme “Dare to Dream,” only three people were given the opportunity to speak at a special gathering. during the event. One of them was Queen Elizabeth of England. Another was Bishop Desmond Tutu, representing the African continent. And the third was Bishop Jesudasan, representing the Asian continent.

With great enthusiasm I asked my Uncle, “Do you have a photograph of that moment?”

His response deeply disappointed me: “Hey, we don’t go there to speak while thinking about taking photos!”

A man who never sought to preserve even a single photograph to showcase his own greatness—that was Bishop Jesudasan!

Bishop Jesudasan
Bishop Jesudasan

Bishop Jesudasan. That was how people lovingly called the late Most Rev. Dr. I. Jesudasan, who exhibited excellence in leadership in his ministry during his tenure as member of the Central Committee of World Council of Churches (WCC) (1983-1991), as Deputy Moderator (1980-’81) and then Moderator of the Church of South India (CSI) for three consecutive terms (1982 to 1988), and as the 3rd Bishop of South Kerala Diocese for 17 years regarded as the golden period in its history (1973 to 1990).

It was a period of holistic growth—spiritual, material, and social—for the diocese. Bishop Jesudasan, who exhibited brilliant and exceptional leadership in his ministry, led this growth from the front.”

Bejoy Peter delivering sermon on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Bishop Jesudasan

The sermon I had the joy, honour, and privilege of delivering on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Bishop Jesudasan, my Uncle, at the St. Luke’s CSI Church, Kariyilthottam, Amaravila, a village in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday 16th February 2025, focused on the prayer life of Bishop Jesudasan. This church stands where his ancestral home had been and as his last wish it was deeded to the diocese to. build a church.

Excellence in Servant Leadership

Bishop Jesudasan considered himself a servant of Jesus. That is what is name means in his native tongue Malayalam. He found courage in the words of St. Paul, “We are fools for Christ” (1 Cor. 4:10). He showed no interest whatsoever in gaining anything for himself or acquiring fame. He never sought honour for himself. But God exalted this ordinary man, a humble servant of God, in extraordinary ways. Positions and honours sought him out.

Yet in spite of all that we consider his phenomenal achievements in church leadership, ecumenical and social standing; he asked that his tombstone bear the words from the Gospel of Luke (17:10). And also inscribe the words “An unworthy servant of the Lord, falls into they loving hands” along with it.

Bishop Jesudasan’s tombstone in M. M. Church Cemetry, LMS Compoiund, Thiruvananthapuram.

 

Excellence in Democratic Leadership

During his tenure as Bishop, he always gave space to everyone who had something to say, allowing them to share their opinions on the topic under discussion. He came to meetings well-prepared on the agenda items and listened attentively to those who held opposing views.

After everyone had their say, he would finally rise to speak. If someone attempted to interrupt him at that moment, he remained firm and, with decisive authority, declared, “Now the Bishop is speaking.” Those who tried to heckle him would then recognize his true leadership and settle down.

The Writing on the Wall of Time | Fiery Words

When he was the Moderator of the CSI (Church of South India), during a Synod (the highest decision-making body) meeting, some strongly argued that bishops should not retire. They reasoned that, like in other church denominations, CSI bishops should remain in office until death, as this would bring a sense of permanence to the role of a bishop. A heated, intense vocal debate ensued. What brought this debate to a decisive conclusion was the historic response given by Bishop Jesudasan.

Bishop Jesudasan. with his firmness and insight, spoke words that can be called the “writing on the wall of time”—fiery words worth noting:

“Are you permanent? Am I permanent? None of us is permanent.”

Later, in a private conversation, Bishop Jesudasan reflected on this decision, saying, “We must step aside for the new generation. Only they can move forward at the pace that the times demand.”

Excellence in Professional Leadership

He brought a sense of professionalism and a sense of purpose to the meetings he chaired. He never wasted time, was always punctual, and brought discipline to the meetings by conducting them in a business like fashion. After his demise, the then Moderator of the CSI remarked about “the presence of God he brought into every meeting.”

It was his daily habit of early morning quiet times with God in reading the Bible and prayer that helped him bring this kind of a godly leadership to all meetings. His private time with God gave him the professional edge in public life.

Excellence in Community Leadership

Bishop Jesudasan knew that a vast majority of the people God had called him to shepherd were poor, downtrodden and marginalized. His heart was always with them. Even the political leadership of the Indian State of Kerala irrespective of ideologies knew that his heart beat with the thoughts of helping the poor and brining them social justice.

He was gentle like a lamb and always approachable to the least among the people whom he served. But he was like a lion when he championed their cause for justice and spoke against all kinds of corruption within the church.

Excellence in Ecumenical Leadership

Jesus had prayed that his disciples be united in love, “That they all may be one (John 17:21 which is the motto of the Church of South India as well).” Bishop Jesudasan was always looking forward to making this prayer real and tangible by brining denominations together. He always relied on the Spirit of God to bring about this unity among God’s people. He truly championed that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ref. Romans 14:17).

There were several initiatives he took to make this unity happen at the grassroots level. Even today his ecumenical vision and farsightedness is held in high esteem. He maintained a warm and cordial relationship with the heads of other denominations and he was invited to many meetings organized by people of other faiths too.

Excellence in Spiritual Leadership

Bishop Jesudasan was a man of compassion and someone who would weep with the broken hearted. I have heard people describe him as an angel of God who visited them in their time of pain and suffering. His prayers had a tone of familiarity with God addressing him “You,” with reverence and adoration in simple childlike words.

He had a faithful habit of interceding with God for the personal needs of individuals, families, and churches. He observed a fast every Friday. Many were blessed through the fruit of his heartfelt prayers and tears on their behalf.”

His prayers echoed the praises of God. In crises, he stood firm and unshaken. and was often heard saying:  “Praise be to Jesus,” and “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (Jesus)! His often repeated prayer was: “May the love of God that shone through Jesus on the cross . . .”

He authored many books and wrote many essays that showed his deep understanding of Scripture. He believed that when God’s people aligned themselves with God’s purposes the Spirt of God would move and transform not just individuals and families but entire communities.

An Anecdote

Let me share a radiant childhood memory of Bishop Jesudasan. One day, a group of about 20 people comprising of elders, women, and children arrived in a vehicle to meet him at the Bishop’s House located in the LMS compound. From their appearance, I felt they were from a poor church in a rural background.

After they had spoken with him about the purpose of their visit,  the Bishop invited them into a small room inside. I, too, followed them in. Then, drawing aside a curtain, the Bishop revealed the interior of the room and said to them, “This is my prayer room.”

As I looked inside, I saw that the room contained only a table, a chair, a Bible, and a mat. I don’t know why, but that moment has remained vividly in my mind even after forty years.

Looking back at that moment now, I realize how profoundly the Bishop upheld the power of prayer without making any effort to highlight any of his achievements in life.

Excellence in Cross-centred Theological Leadership

Bishop Jesudasan championed the truth that God had opened a new and living way through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross through which we could approach God (Hebrews 10:19, 20), find forgiveness of sins, and also reconciliation between God and men. He also believed that the victory over all evil is possible through the cross of Jesus and the love of God on exhibit there. He spoke passionately about how God came near to us in Jesus, the Word of God become flesh, human just like us.

His theology was cross-centred and people focused. This vision helped Bishop Jesudasan show great trust in God on one hand and be near to the people he shepherded with an empathetic and loving heart. He believed that God “leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
ഒരാളായിരുന്ന

Excellence in The Voice of Leadership

Bishop Jesudasan had the grace of God lighting up his face. As a speaker he did not possess charisma in the way that word is popularly understood. Yet his sermons are remembered for their depth, clarity of thought, and grounding in God’s Word. Kindly see the analysis of his famous sermon, The Feast of Life, delivered at Vancouver Canada in 1983. As he had no vested interests—only the common good of the people he led—the political leadership of the State listened to his opinions with respect.

Excellence in Leadership in Team Building

Bishop Jesudasan was not a one-man show. He understood that culture can only be taught as it was lived out by the top church leadership.

Therefore, he found people of integrity and having a track record of excellence in their own respective fields and brought them to key roles in the church administration and activities. This teamwork was crucial to his success in leading the people. And he was very conscious of the contribution of every one of them. He was very particular about keeping personal relationships and rejoiced in the achievements of others. He encouraged everyone with his smiling face and words of appreciation.

The words he chose for his farewell speech as he stepped down from leadership truly reflect his philosophy of team work: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” (Words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:7).

Excellence in Leadership in Modelling Self-Introspection

Bishop Jesudasan had a manner of conduct that was dignified exhibiting a true knowledge of the Chair he occupied and elevating its stature in the eyes of all. This was more than evident in the way he made the CSI Moderator’s post an honoured one with his reputation of integrity and godly leadership. The more God exalted him in leadership roles, the more he humbled himself before God.

One of his unforgettable habits was to take a day off from all activities on 5th of August, the day he was consecrated as Bishop and spend the day in prayer reviewing and reflecting on whether he is staying true to the call of God in his life.

The cross was his touchstone. In one of his articles he wrote:
“Those who are respected as the best in society must examine themselves before the cross of Jesus Christ to realize how great sinners they are.”
(Christava Deepika: July 2010 Article titled: The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and God’s Church—A Bird’s Eye View). His excellence in leadership was that he was willing to do this self-introspection standing in front of the cross of Jesus before he preached to others.

“Jesus, how beautiful is Your form to my eyes!

Make me, Your disciple, wholly like You.”

യേശുവേ നിന്റെ രൂപമീയെന്റെ

കണ്ണുകൾക്കെത്ര സൗന്ദര്യം

ശിഷ്യനാകുന്ന എന്നെയും നിന്നെ-

പ്പോലെയാക്കണം മുഴുവൻ.

The 282nd song from the Malayalam Hymn Book, which he particularly loved, was one he insisted the choir sing on his 85th birthday. This can be understood as a continuation of his practice of self-introspection:

Excellence in His Leadership Legacy

The legacy he left behind is that even today his name is spoken with great admiration as he had exhibited a life of humility (living in his small cottage in later years) even while he walked with dignity along with the great men of his times. Even today he is spoken of as a role model whom we can look up to and emulate.

He was a man faithful to God’s call on his life till the very last. He prayerfully continued to serve the people even after retirement from office.

He looked to the face of Jesus all his life and that look transformed his life from a lump of coal in obscurity and poverty to that of the enduring shine and brilliance of a diamond. In the words of many, “he was a saint and during his earthly life he truly reflected Jesus.”

Bishop’s Cottage where Bishop Jesudasan lived after his retirement.

Bishop Jesudasan–Positions Held, Books Authored. പ്രവാചകദൗത്യം was published in 2013 while he was on his deathbed.

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For further reading:

Bishop Jesudasan–A Short Speech of Tribute
ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസൻ: ശുശ്രൂഷാനേതൃത്വത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത
The Art and Craft of Sermons and Preaching
Are Sermons About God or Are They to Make You Feel Good?

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Sunday Sermonettes | The Power of Prayer: Discovering How Prayer Works

Sunday Sermonettes #025

Disappointed with Prayer

Most of us do not know how prayer works. When you discover it; you will be confident to pray. And also experience the power of prayer. The truth is that most of us are disappointed with prayer. Simply because God did not answer prayers according to our wishes; many of us have given up on praying to God.

Encouragement to Pray

This post is an attempt to encourage you to pray. For God is always listening to your prayers. There might be a lot of doubts in your mind about prayer. All of them cannot be answered.

But I can assure you one thing–-If you keep on praying in spite of your doubts, and your feeling that God is absent and not listening; there will come a day and a moment when you will have the joy of knowing that none of your prayers were lost.

Prayer Is About Seeking and Finding God

Remember, God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, He has promised that when you seek his face (that is his companionship and not his gifts), you will find him when you seek him with all your heart.

Yes, you will find him if you are earnest in prayer. Finding God and discovering more about him is the great encouragement and joy in prayer.

Prayer as a Relationship Based on Love

Prayer is not all about asking; even though God encourages us to ask, seek, and knock. He delights in us asking him because those who believe and trust in the name of Jesus are his children. So prayer is a joyful time of sharing things in your heart with your Father in heaven. So it is based on a relationship of love and not on fear.

Prayer Is the Ability to Listen to God

Prayer is also the ability to listen to what God is saying. He mostly guides us through words from the Bible. When God speaks there is an unmistakable certainty about it. It will be specific with a calm assurance of God’s peace.

When he speaks he will never contradict what he has already said in the Bible. Jesus has promised his gift of peace to us. So if you have an impression in your heart and it takes away your peace and brings distress and conflict in your mind; know that it is not from God. When God speaks, it will also come with his peace in your heart.

Prayer and Emotions

Prayer can become a time of display of strong emotions too. Sometimes we are too burdened to even utter a word. There is an inward groan from the heart for help while the lips are silent. Often we cry in our distress.

God collects all our tears in his bottle and records them in his book or scroll says the Bible. So there is nothing to be ashamed about crying or weeping as you pray. The shortest verse in the Bible says: “Jesus wept.”

Prayer as a Discipline

A life without prayer is like a barren desert. There is no refreshing, no renewal, no reviving or recharging. If the Son of God could not live without prayer while on earth; how can we?

Even though it is possible to pray anywhere and everywhere at any time during the day or night; it is good to set aside time for prayer regularly at a place which is quiet where no one will disturb you. A place where you can be alone; talk to God and listen to him.

Prayer and Action

A day begun with a prayer of thanks for the gift of a new day, and a seeking of help and wisdom for the activities of the day, will be a day accompanied by God’s blessings. Instead, we often rush to work, get too busy with our daily routines, and forget God.

Prayer is also work. So much can be accomplished if people would pray more for God’s guidance and help and knowing his will than trying to achieve everything in their own strength and knowledge.

It is prayer that gives you the courage, wisdom, and strength to make your faith become action.  It assures you of success in your efforts because God is involved in your attempts because you prayed.

Prayer and Distractions

A problem with prayer is that a lot of distractions come to mind when you try to pray. Why? Because the devil knows that if someone gets connected to God; then he has to flee. So he prevents that from happening.

With the mobile in our hands; it is quite an easy thing to keep us buried in the entertainment it brings. Even the good things you watch can take away the best time you can spend in prayer.

Prayer Starters

The miracle of prayer is that even a child can pray. No qualification is required for you to start praying. If you don’t know how to start praying, why not just say, “O God, I love you.” It is a good starting point.

Or say “Hallelujah.” it means Praise the Lord. All heaven resounds with joyful notes of thundering Hallelujahs in song and praise to the Lamb of God. Oh, it can bring down God’s presence to surround you!

God’s Help in Prayer

There is also God’s help and assistance in prayer. God the Holy Spirit from within our heart, lifts up our inmost desires and heartbreaks to the throne of God. the Father. The Bible presents God as our Saviour who daily bears our burdens.

Jesus, present at the right hand of God, always lives to intercede for us. He shared in our human experiences and prayed to God while on earth with loud cries and tears. So when prays for us, he is merciful and compassionate and a great friend to bring our needs before God.

Jesus the Only Mediator Between God and Men

See, there is no need for any other person, past or present, to come between you and God. For the Bible declares that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men.

He is your advocate who speaks in your defense before God. He speaks on your behalf and through him alone you can approach God in prayer.

The Name of Jesus carries authority. God listens when you pray in the Name of Jesus for his precious blood always speaks the word of forgiveness for you when you are broken in heart and turn away from your sins.

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How to Pray

You can pray anytime. You can keep your eyes open or closed. You can stand, sit, walk or kneel, or prostrate yourself face down and pray. You can pray while in the kitchen, while you are driving, or while you are attending a business meeting.

You can pray in any language or just pray to God silently. Sometimes God gifts you a language you might not know, a language that is angelic or human to help you pray.

What to Pray For

You can ask for help, for wisdom, for guidance, for strength of mind, for grace to forgive others, for courage to face difficulties, for receiving favour in the eyes of others, for health and healing, for mercy and forgiveness; and patience to wait for God to act in your life in his time.

You can ask God to gift you his peace and joy in all your troubled situations and even ask God to help you to pray in the right way. .

If you have sinned against God; ask for cleansing through the blood of Jesus from all that defiles heart and mind.

You should pray for the Spirit of God to touch you with God’s everlasting, unfailing, and compassionate love, because God pours out his love into our hearts through the Spirit of God.

Prayer Changes and Transforms Us

Prayer also changes us. God uses delays and frustrations and cries of “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” to break our wills and make us humble. He prepares us before he blesses us. Therefore be bold and confident to pray to the God of all hope and mercy.

He first of all encourages us and makes our heart strong before he answers our prayers. He also prepares circumstances so that the time of our relief and deliverance will be of maximum impact to strengthen our faith in him.

The New and Living Way Opened for Us to Pray

When Jesus shed his blood on the cross and his body was broken on that tree; the huge curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom supernaturally. It indicated that by the blood of Jesus a new and living way was opened for all to approach God with boldness and freedom. Yes, you have access to God the Father 24 x 7 through the blood of Jesus and the Spirit of God.

Peace as a Sign of Assurance in Prayer

Then, there is the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds like a battalion of soldiers and secures it against all invading worries. It can happen even in the most trying circumstances when we pray.

Therefore we need not be anxious because the peace that comes from God in answer to prayer surpasses all logic and human understanding. Yes, God will gift you his peace and make you bold. The assurance in your heart comes even before the answer to prayer comes and no change is seen in the negative situations you are in.

Why Prayers Go Unanswered

Even though there are so many things that put a roadblock to effective praying; there are a few things that need to be highlighted:

  • If we cherish sin or wrong things in our heart; God cannot answer prayer.
  • If we harbour unforgiveness in our heart; God cannot answer prayer.
  • If we ask with wrong motives, God cannot answer prayer.
  • If there is a lack of faith and there is doubt in our heart; then God is not pleased with that prayer.
  • And if we do not ask according to his will for our lives; God cannot answer that prayer.
  • And often we give up praying before God’s answer reaches us. See he is shaping and moulding your character and strengthening your faith while the answer is on the way. But a lack of persevering prayer can cause us to miss God’s best in our lives.

Start Praying Now

So my dear friend, why not start praying. Come to God with a child-like expectation. Be honest about anything and everything. God listens and he already knows what you need even before you ask him. And all heaven notes a man or woman who prays.

It is a blessed joy and great honour to have an audience with God every time you pray. And signing off prayers, “In the Name of Jesus,” aligns your requests to God’s character and his purpose for your life. Amen (it means “so be it.”).

Discover How Prayer Works

There is no way that any one of us will ever graduate in prayer. Prayer is like an ever-deepening river. You learn to pray by praying. The more you pray, the more you discover about prayer and the God who answers prayer.

As said in the beginning, prayer is an expression of a love relationship. You are God’s child. So talk to your Father in heaven. You can talk about anything; even your secret innermost thoughts and struggles of the mind which no one else can know anything about.

Whatever is your concern; is his concern too. Prayer helps you know God and discover him as your Comforter and Friend and Guide and Helper. May God gift you joy in prayer as he has promised in the Bible.

Simplicity in Prayer

The Bible says in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

God is asking you to call on him. He promises to answer you. You have direct access to God through Jesus. He will show you things you do not know in response to prayer. Just call him.

And speak to him as you would talk with a friend.

The Power of Prayer

Prayer is powerful. It is your direct connection with God. Prayer has got the power to demolish strongholds of negativity and wrong thoughts in your life. Prayer has got the power to move mountains that stand in your way. Prayer has got the power to change the hearts of people. Prayer has got the power to bring you angelic help in times of distress. Prayer has got the power to open doors in your life. Prayer has got the power to make God’s promises real in your life.

So “pray continually,” “pray without ceasing,” “never stop praying,” “pray all the time,” with thanks in all circumstances to experience the power of prayer.

Fight Discouragement in Prayer

The greatest weapon the devil uses to get people to stop praying is discouragement. He will tell you that God will not answer your prayers. He will discourage you through opposition even through your close relatives, family, and friends.

Discouragement can come when you prayed for something positive but its opposite happened. Discouragement can come through delays to getting answers to prayers.

But Jesus is encouraging you to close the door and pray in secret to God and not give up praying. Do not doubt God’s Word. Throughout the Bible we find God answering prayer on behalf of his children. Therefore you need to fight discouragement that comes and go on praying.

Ask | Seek | Knock | Receive

Let me end with this encouragement to pray from Jesus’ words in Luke 11:11–13 in the Bible:

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Read more on The Holy Spirit Who is our Helper in Prayer

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Sunday Sermonettes | Worship Jesus the Victorious Lamb of God Who Has Triumphed

Sunday Sermonettes #024


“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Above all, we are called to look beyond time and into the heavens to see and experience the mighty thundering songs of praise, adoration, and worship that belong to the victorious Lamb of God who has triumphed:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise.”

Yes, in heaven, the songs of praise revolve around the Lamb who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

We see in heaven the Lamb of God mighty like a lion in judgement and awesome in wrath against all rebellion of mankind against him.

We see the Lamb at the centre of the throne of God in heaven lead his people like a Shepherd and wipe away every tear from the eyes of those who suffered for him and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” “Amen.”

“Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns,

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!

For the wedding of the Lamb has come.”

Yes, look to the Lamb of God. Salvation belongs to him, our God, and he will overcome everyone who makes war against him because he is the Lord of lords and King of kings.
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The above post is based on truths from the Book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible. It is a sequel to the Sunday Sermonette published on September 15, 2024 titled: An Unusual Introduction: Look, the Lamb of God

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Sunday Sermonettes | You Are No Failure If You Can Tell God, “I Love You!”

Sunday Sermonettes #022

My dear friend, you are no failure if you can tell God, “I love you.” It was Peter who said “Lord, I love you.” after his dismal failure. And it happened thus: It was early morning by the seashore of Galilee.

“Come and have breakfast,” said the Risen Jesus as he invited 7 of his disciples to the breakfast of fish and bread on a fire of burning coals he had prepared for them.

A great drama was to follow. Jesus confronted Peter because of his failure. Peter had denied knowing his Master after Jesus was arrested and taken to be crucified to bleed and die for you and me.

But surprisingly there was no condemnation in the voice of Jesus. Only the question, “Do you love me?” Peter said “Yes Lord, I love you.”
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God is simply looking for love. What God values is your heart. Your simple expressions of love. Just tell him, “O God, I love you.” It doesn’t matter how much you have failed. Simply say: “I love you.”

You might be hurt and broken. You might not feel like saying it. But say “O God, I love you.” You might be afraid of God for many reasons. It doesn’t matter, just tell, “O God I love you.”

You might not be sure whether God will accept you. He certainly will. Just go ahead and tell him of your love for him; however feeble or weak it is.

Jesus had earlier called Peter to help others to experience God’s love for them. In Jesus’ own words, Peter was called to be a “fisher of men.” But Peter was discouraged by his failure. Peter’s heart was broken by that one look from Jesus before he was led away to be crucified.

Peter had gone outside and wept bitterly that night. But Jesus, after rising from the dead, had sent a special message to Peter and met with him one-on-one to encourage him. Yet he went back to his old trade of fishing in the sea and took 6 of his friends along with him.

But that night they caught no fish, nothing. Though they were experienced fishermen they had nothing to show for their labour. Jesus called out from the shore and said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They did so and caught a huge number of fish.

It was only then they realized it was the Lord who was standing on the shore. That reminded Peter of an earlier miracle which was similar. By the shore of the same sea, Jesus had called him. This was the place of his first love when the holiness and love of God he saw in Jesus had compelled him to forsake all and follow him.

Now Jesus was reminding Peter of his first love. It had grown cold. He was an utterly broken man thinking that God cannot love him anymore.

See, Jesus has nothing to do with people who are full of pride and full of their importance and having no need of God in their lives. But he came to touch broken men and women who are full of sorrow and shame because of their sins, mistakes, and failures.

He is simply asking you, “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt when Jesus asked the same question to him the third time.

But it was love that made Peter say, “I love you Lord,” three times for he had denied his Master thrice. Jesus forgave Peter and got love in return. For Jesus himself had said on an earlier occasion that he or she who is forgiven much, loves much.
Peter was restored to a place of leadership and usefulness. The cowardly Peter, later touched by the Spirit of God, became a bold firebrand for Jesus.

And he truly became a fisher of men because he dared to say, “O Jesus, I love you.” Yes, friend, your life is no failure if with all your heart you can tell God in your brokenness, in your shame, in your defats, “O Lord, my God and my Saviour, I love you.”

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This Post is based on the incident recorded in the 21st Chapter of the Gospel of John in the Bible.

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Sunday Sermonettes | #OpenToWork | Tips to Find Your Destiny from the Search for Lost Donkeys

Sunday Sermonettes #021

The Context

Saul, in response to a request, went in search of his father’s donkeys that were lost. He was an impressive young man, without equal in that land. He went for an ordinary task. But that led him to his destiny. He met with the Prophet Samuel to whom God had already told to anoint the young man coming to meet him, king. This post from Sunday Sermonettes has invaluable tips to assist you in your job search as you are #OpenToWork.

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Be Enthusiastic

When you are #OpenToWork, always be enthusiastic about the work you currently have a chance to do. It might not be something spectacular. But when you do it with diligence and mindfulness, it will lead you to better opportunities.

Believe in Possibilities

When you are #OpenToWork, always believe in possibilities. How can you know if some ordinary task you are doing will not lead you to find a greater purpose in your life? Even after Samuel told him about the kingship, Saul was not fully convinced. When the time came and the people gathered together to greet the new king, Saul was not seen. Finally, they found him hiding behind the baggage.

Your inferiority or insignificance is no barrier for God to exalt you in the time of his choosing.

Seize Opportunities

When you are #OpenToWork, be ready to seize opportunities. It might be a half-chance or might not even have anything to do with your true calling in life. You might get an opportunity for something as ordinary as looking for lost donkeys. But like a goal-scorer in football who anticipates where the ball might come in the penalty area; you should anticipate opportunities to come your way.

Be Aware of What’s Happening Around You

That brings us to the next point. When you are #OpenToWork, be prepared. It requires constantly updating yourself and also having a big picture of trends and changes happening in your domain. As far as Saul was concerned, the political climate of that time was that people were clamouring for having a king like the other nations around them. Even though he least expected it, he became their first king. But you should make yourself aware about what is happening in the job market to be prepared for your opportunity.

Travel with Hope

When you are #OpenToWork, travel with hope. There came a point in their journey Saul was discouraged in his search for donkeys. It was his servant who encouraged him to go and meet the seer (the prophet was called seer in those days because he had a God-given ability to see into the future). His servant told him that the seer would tell them what way to take. As R. L. Stevenson wrote in his essay El Dorado: “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.”

Sharpen Your Skills

Again, when you are #OpenToWork, sharpen your skills. If your axe is not sharpened, all your efforts at felling trees is not going to be effective. And King Solomon shares his wisdom encouraging you to be skilled in your work: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings, he will not serve before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29 Bible)

A Change of Heart

Perhaps, one more thought from the episode of Saul being chosen king is that you and I need a change of heart. Often when you search for a job, you might be rejected multiple times. That can lead to discouragement, resentment, and even a sense of failure. Saul, in response to Samuel informing him that he is to be king, says that his family is one having the least social status in their land. So God had to change his heart to prepare him for his destiny.

Similarly, you too have to realize that your worth and significance come from your value as an individual in God’s eyes. You need to see yourselves from his perspective.

When you are #OpenToWork, do not allow being fired from your work, being laid off, networking without results, enduring long periods of silence when you don’t hear back from your potential employer, or your applications being repeatedly rejected even after many positive rounds of interviews define you or your worth. They are just layers on the core value of who you are in God. He values you for who you are and not based on your performance.

“Follow Me” to Your Destiny

The big lesson to learn is that the lesser things will be taken care of. The donkeys for which Saul went searching were later found. Saul had no role in finding them. But he had found his destiny.

When Jesus asked a man to follow him, he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” What he meant was that he will finish all his household duties and after everything is settled he will come and follow Jesus.

To this Jesus replied, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” What Jesus meant was that those who are not having God’s life in them will take care of the ordinary tasks. You don’t worry about the routine and lesser things of life. But think of the destiny that God has planned for you. Act on it now.

The story of Saul’s search for donkeys and rise to the throne is found in 1 Samuel 9 and 10; and Jesus’s conversation with the man is found in Luke 9:59, 60.

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#OpenToWork #JobSearch #Networking

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Sunday Sermonettes | The Day of Small Things

Sunday Sermonettes #020


“Who despises the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10a Bible). These words should inspire hope in you because they beam a light on what the Spirit of God can do in your life even if it is in ruins right now. So get started on rebuilding your life right now. Do not despise the small beginnings of this change or transformation.

Do remember that if there is one thing that has made people fail, it is that they never get started. Some people never begin because they fear failure. Others think too much about what people will say. A few think about a perfect beginning and postpone it for a later date. And it never happens.

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And if there is one thing about success you would like to know, it is to start small. Most of the things that are begun with the help of the Spirit of God are humble beginnings. They are mostly like a shoot out of dry ground. It doesn’t promise much. But God will see to it that it is watered and it flourishes in spite of extreme circumstances it finds itself in.

If your life is in ruins, and you think all hope is lost; God is encouraging you to start rebuilding your life once again with his help. It will be an effort that will be accomplished not on your human strength or power but by the Spirit of God. It calls for your reliance on God and his unlimited resources.

You need not look at your insignificance and lose heart, for it is God who is on your side. You might face discouragement looking back at the lost glory of your past; the seeming impossibility of the present task, and also the opposition you are facing. But God’s purposes would prevail.

You just begin the task. The beginnings will seem small and humble. But God will do a great work. And its accomplishment will bear the stamp of God’s glory in it as well.

Today, when you begin to realign your life to God’s purposes, you might feel disheartened by the slow progress you are making. God is encouraging you today not to despise the small beginnings you are making.

What you are now attempting can become a source of inspiration, a lampstand that gives light continually with the oil supplied by the Spirit of God, and a significant milestone in the plan of God to call others to his love and care.

And opposition is not a sign that your beginning was a mistake; but it is probably the surest sign that you are on the right track. God is building resilience in you through the opposition. He is teaching you to rise above discouragement like how an eagle uses the might of the wind to rise higher.

Yet there will come a moment when God will demolish the mountain-like opposition and help you complete the task that you have begun to do with his help. When God acts; there is no chance for the opposition to stand against you.

All this requires a shift of focus from your side. Stop looking at your smallness or the smallness of your beginnings to rebuild your life. Instead turn your focus to the Spirit of God who is mighty to accomplish what human strength can never do.

Yes, there is hope for you because there is no limit to what the Spirit of God can do to rebuild and transform your life from small beginnings so that it will blaze with the glory of God.

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Sunday Sermonettes | God’s Compassions Never Fail for They Are New Every Morning

Sunday Sermonettes #019

Sometimes, you are tired of living. Troubles everywhere. No one seems to care. Everybody is busy with their own lives. You have no one to turn to. Then remember, you have God whose compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Like dewdrops that appear each morning bringing in fresh hope and renewal.

It is good to note what David the king and poet has described. He says that God remembers that we are but dust formed from the ground of the earth. So God has compassion on those who fear him just like a father has compassion on his children. There is a gentleness that is reflected here. God has a perfect understanding of your brokenness in life; and he visits you with compassion.
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Yesterday you might have failed. You might have sinned against God. You might have made mistakes that you regret today. Yet do not give up. For God will show you compassion. Morning brings word of his unfailing love. He gives you a fresh start today. For his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Just accept that in faith even as you trust in him.

Remember, your failures are opportunities for God to show his grace to you. Grace means undeserved mercy. He wants you to get up and not lie down in despair. He is showing you what you can be in Jesus. Your future has been sealed with the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Therefore God is showing you compassion today.

So, rise up. Each new dawn is God’s way of saying: “Go on in the strength I will provide. Do not look at the threatening circumstances and lose heart. Do not look at your sins and give up. Instead look to me. I will show you mercy. I will give you yet another chance. Turn away from all evil. Then you will find that my compassions never fail. They are new every morning.”

Therefore when you wake up, thank and praise God for there is hope for you. No matter what you feel, the compassion of God is real, authentic, genuine and true. It will not fail. You can trust in its newness every morning because it comes from God who is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

When you wake up, if your heart is burdened, just think of God’s compassions as a soft bed on which you can sink into and still find it holding you up with needed strength. God promises you today that his love for you will not be shaken even if mountains are shaken and hills removed because he has compassion on you.

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Sunday Sermonettes | God Is the Lifter of Your Head

Sunday Sermonettes #018

Sin, failures, mistakes, and troubles caused by people who are close to you can cause your head to bow down. You might feel defeated. Sometimes you are burdened by sorrow. Or you can think of any number of reasons that pull you down. It is at such times that you need to think of God, who is the lifter of your head.

Life might bring unexpected reversals of fortunes. Sometimes friends and family can act against you. Those who stood by you in your good days and were loyal to you might change sides quickly. You might be forced to lick your wounds. When everyone and everything seems to turn against you, and your head is bowed down in despair, it is then you need to remember that God is the lifter of your head.
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Even when others think that you are finished and there is no fight left in you; know that God is not finished with you yet.

First, he will be a shield around you. You know what that means. It means that God himself will take the hits against you so that you will be protected. It means that he has a stake in your life that no force on earth or hell can disrupt. He has invested in you by the blood of his Son Jesus shed on the cross. He will therefore surround you with help.

Next he will be your glory. You know what that means.

In spite of all the trouble you are going through right now; your value, worth, and significance come from God.

No matter what negatives others are telling about you, no matter how much they shout you are a failure, no matter how firmly they believe that God will not help you anymore, the weight of evidence is on your side. God will come to your help and will be the lifter of your head.

What you should always recall in your mind is that the author of Psalm 3 (where we find the words, “But you … O LORD … lift up my head” ) was going through a great crisis in his life when he wrote these words. His own son was trying to kill him and take over the throne. He had to flee for his life, covering his head, walking barefoot, and being pelted by stones while being cursed by his enemies. Moreover people were saying God will not help King David because he had committed grievous sins.

It was true that he had sinned—adultery and murder. It was true that he had no right to expect help from God. But because he admitted to God saying, “I have sinned against the Lord,” and had sincerely repented of his sins; he found mercy and forgiveness with God. At the same time the troubles he was now going through were the consequences of his sin.

Yet, in spite of his present misery, David had the courage to hope in God. You too can hope in God even when defeated and down. Seek God’s mercy and expect his help. There is no defeat in your life that God cannot bring good out of it.

So David cries out to God for help. He is assured that God will answer him. Therefore even when enemies are closing in on him, he is able to lie down and sleep at night. For his found strength to sustain in his trust in God. And he expressed confidence in God even when tens of thousands are drawn against him in battle on every side.

You too can find consolation in the fact that your deliverance and your salvation does not depend on your goodness but God’s mercy alone. Even when you find yourself in a defeated situation today, lift up your eyes and look to God who is the lifter of your head. He will not leave your head bowed down in shame. He will lift you up. For God delights in showing mercy to those who trust in him.

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD’s wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.” — Micah 7:8, 9 Bible.

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Sunday Sermonettes | When You Feel Forgotten by God

Sunday Sermonettes #017

At some point in life each one of us might have asked this question, “Has God forgotten me?” We ask this question during the difficult times in our life.

The first thought is that delay to God’s answers to your prayers are no indication that God has forgotten you. Often, in the waiting period, when you see-saw between hope and despair, God is preparing you to receive the goodness he has kept in store for you.

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Secondly, God has promised not to forget you. And he does not lie. He never fails to keep his promises. He has said that it is highly unlikely for a mother to forget her new born baby. God says, even if she forgets, I will not forget you.

Thirdly, God is teaching you to walk by faith during those times you think that God has forgotten you. When God seems absent, the path ahead might look dark and threatening. Your friends might fall to help you. But your faith does not depend on sight. You learn to take one step at a time in hope.

Again, many times it is written in the Bible, “God remembered” someone. Does that mean God had forgotten them? No. God remembered is an expression which means the season for God to act in their lives had then come. And suddenly things begin to move in their lives swiftly.

Now, does your complaint that God has forgotten you make you an unbeliever? No. It simply tells us how weak we are and how much ẁe need to learn to depend on God to live our lives. God is bigger than we think and he does not find fault with your honest doubt, “Has God Forgotten me?”

One of the things that helps you rise above despair is looking back on your past and seeing how God has helped you. Think about how God took care of your needs during the very difficult situations in your life. He is the same God and changes not. He will not forget you. He will surely come to your help.

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Sunday Sermonettes | How to Get Your Heart’s Desires God’s Way

Sunday Sermonettes #016

The Promise

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 Bible).

That is an exciting promise. No limits. It simply states that God will give you the desires of your heart. When God’s Word says so, you can put your confidence in it because God always keeps his part of the promise made. As you look at this promise you find God’s part as well as your role in it. God will give, but you have to delight in him.
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God First

In simple words, it means you should not put the cart before the horse. You have to put God first in your life. In all things. It is then that God becomes the delight of your heart.

When your thoughts revolve around God most of the time; he becomes the delight of your heart. This is a simple way of saying it. But it can become a start pointing. Start thinking about God and his everlasting love for you. Think of God sending his Son Jesus to bleed and die on the cross for you. Think of his forgiving love towards you.

Love for God

Delighting in God is all about love for him. He simply desires you to love him “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Love for God and delighting in him go hand in hand.

Again, try to express your love to God. Start to praise him. Just thank him that he has been good to you. Maybe you have gone through great troubles in life. You feel a grudge against God for the bad things that have happened. Still, make a try to tell God that you love him.

It might seem like offering God bits and pieces of a broken toy. But he accepts them all from you because you are genuinely trying to express your love. He accepts it from you as a loving father would accept it from a little child.

Talk to God

If you persist in expressing your love for God and try to talk with him; then over a period of time, God works in your heart. Be honest with God when you talk with him. Bring all your desires to him. And tell him all that is in your heart. He listens to all that you say and even what you do not say. Your heart is an open book before him; so are all your thoughts too. So he knows it all.

When you delight in God, that is when you put God first, something happens. That means you don’t fight with God about your desires. You don’t quarrel with him over it. You just tell him whatever is in your mind.

When God’s Desires Become Your Desires

During this process, God gets the chance to help you understand what his mind is about the desires you have. He will, through different people or situations but mainly through words of the Bible, speak to you. And he will show you what is best or wrong about your desires. And you get a chance to align yourselves with the best that God desires in your life. It is like having the sail of a boat catch the wind.

Then God’s desires for you become your desires. And he will give you the desires of your heart. So delight yourself in the LORD, Let him be first in your life. It will exclude and put to death every evil and sinful desire; and the temptation to do wrong that comes to your mind.

The Cleansing Blood of Jesus

And then when your heart is free of all darkness and is filled with God’s light, there is no limit to God fulfilling the desires of your heart. You might wonder how your heart can be rid of evil! Is that even possible? Yes, it is possible if you ask God to wash you clean by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for you. The power and effectiveness of the blood of Jesus is overwhelmingly real.

Yes, when you delight in God, he will fulfil the desires of your heart. Isn’t that like one blank cheque given you to draw from the unlimited resources of God?

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Sunday Sermonettes | Lessons of Faith and Possibilities from the Miracle of Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand

Sunday Sermonettes #015

God’s Compassion

The basis of any miracle in your life is God’s compassion. This is the first of many simple lessons of faith and possibilities in the miracle of five loaves and two fish multiplied to feed five thousand people..

Jesus is moved with compassion as he sees the hungry crowd. He wants to help them. So he asked his disciples to give them something to eat.

Your Focus

Their response is like how we respond to impossibilities we face. One of them said, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!.” That was true. But they forgot it was Jesus who was with them.

The simple lesson here is to take our eyes off the difficulties facing us and focus it on Jesus. We might not know what to do. But we can look to him with expectation and in faith.
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Possibilities in Small Things

Jesus already knew what he was going to do. He asked how many loaves they had. He said, “Go and see.” Jesus was willing to see the impossible happen in small things.

By this time, another one of the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish.” That was good for a boy’s meal.

The disciple also added his doubts to the introduction. He asked, “But how far will they go among so many?” That was a realistic question. We too often ask such questions that express doubt, negativity, and impossibility.  But we should not forget who is with us and what his plans are for the impossible situation.

Jesus was not disturbed by the question that was asked and the doubt that was expressed. He simply said, “Bring them here to me.” Yes, bring your meagre resources to Jesus and see what he is going to do with them.

A Prayer of Thanks and Expectation

Jesus creates expectancy now. He asks the disciples to seat the people in groups of hundreds and fifties. With nothing but the five loaves and two fish in the hands of Jesus,, the people would have wondered about what was going to happen.

Then Jesus exhibits his calm assurance that his Father in heaven always heard his prayers. He looked up to heaven, said thanks, and broke the loaves. He asked the disciples to distribute. He did the same with the fish. At least for once, the disciples did not doubt. They acted on his command.

Sharing and Multiplication

The five loaves of barley and two fish multiplied to feed the crowd of five thousand men besides women and children. I wonder at the willingness of the boy to share his food. Possibly if we are willing to share, God is willing to do a miracle.

Yes, God is moved with compassion when we are in need. He doesn’t always do miracles of this kind; but often uses people to meet our needs. You too can be a channel of his compassionate touch in the lives of your friends just like the boy who shared his food with Jesus.

Difficulties Can Be Met with an Attitude of Praise and Thanks

You can always take your difficulties to Jesus. You might not know what to do. But you can be assured that he has a plan. The feeding of the five thousand teaches us to thank God even before the miracle happens. It is a joyful expectation of our confidence that God is willing to meet our needs.

When we give thanks, God acts in ways beyond our imagination. We then see impossibilities give way to surplus with very meager resources. They even collected twelve baskets of barley loaves left over for Jesus had said, “Let nothing be wasted.”

What Are Miracles For?

Immediately after the miracle, Jesus dismissed the crowds and his disciples and went up alone on a mountainside to pray. That was the secret of his life. He always kept in touch with his Father in heaven, depended on him fully, and did everything to please him.

The miracles that Jesus did was a natural outflow of his constant and intimate connection with God, his heavenly Father.

The next day the crowds come searching for Jesus. Then Jesus told them something startling. “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”

How true it is that even today many follow Jesus without realizing that he is the One who satisfies their deep spiritual hunger and thirst.

Miracles are meant to lead us to God and not to satisfy our selfishness. Miracles are meant to help us focus on eternity and not on our worldly desires.

Jesus the Bread of Life

Miracles should lead us to Jesus and to the moments his body was broken for us on the cross and his blood shed there for us and the forgiveness of our sins. He is the Bread of Life who alone can fully satisfy, nourish, and gift you eternal life.
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This article is based on Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand Narratives found in the four Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible: Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:30–44, Luke 9:10–17, and John 6:1–14.
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Sunday Sermonettes | The Audacity of Hope in God Who Does Not Disappoint

Sunday Sermonettes #014

Audacity is courage or confidence of a kind that other people find shocking. We are now talking about that kind of courage or confidence to hope in God. It becomes shocking as you continue to hope in God when people are against you and perhaps all circumstances look negative. For the Bible confidently declares, “I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

The audacity of hope in God is what you can hold on to when you lose control over your life, when people turn against you for no reason, when fortunes take a plunge downwards, and money to make both ends meet seems hard to come by. Hope encourages you to persevere in the midst of troubles of various kinds including illness, depression, and burnout.
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Hope is the expectation and the confidence you have about the good that God is capable of bringing out of adverse situations and circumstances you find in your life. It takes a long-term view rather than being shortsighted and having a grumbling attitude in life. It gives you the courage to wait for God to act on your behalf.

In other words, the consumerist world we live in encourage us to grab things now, gratify our desires now, lust for more now, and instantly do things now; be it on credit. That kind of greedy attitude does not work with God. For he delights in those who hope in him and are willing to wait for his perfect time to act on their behalf.

The audacity of hope in God helps you rejoice even when you’re defeated and down. It is not positive thinking but something deeper that expresses its confidence in God even when outward circumstances are gloomy, and dark, and seems to be hopeless. For God is the source of all hope and he is the One who can cause you to abound in hope or overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit given to us.

The Bible speaks about Abraham, who is known as the Father of faith, believing in hope against all hope, and holding on to what God had promised him. And he was rewarded for his expectant faith in God after waiting long years for it. That perhaps is the secret: Looking to God with expectation and anticipating the good that he is going to do in spite of nothing-seems-to-be-happening days, months, or years.

Here we stand on sacred ground. The promises of God seem unbelievable when people and circumstances are against us. There might be delays. And there might be no indication from God that he is going to do something far above what we have asked or imagined. It is at these moments of silence that our faith is tested. Yet let us believe on in hope.

When you keep on praying and no answer seems to come by, it is the hope that God will listen and answer that gives you the ability to ask, seek, and knock without losing heart and courage. Persistent prayer and untiring enthusiasm to seek God’s face is what turns hope into reality.

The audacity to hope gives you the boldness in prayer to claim God’s promises. It says, along with King David, “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (Psalm 18:28). For it is when darkness surrounds us that we need to hope and trust in God all the more.

And it is when you have this kind of a buoyancy in hope or have optimistic faith that you see a small cloud the size of man’s hand rise on the horizon. It is just a small sign of the abundance of rain that is coming. And you can be assured that your prayers are being answered in response to your hope in God.

Yes, believe that hope in God will not leave you disappointed. You’ll certainly be a better man or woman for holding on to hope when despair clouded your mind. Yes, God is able to do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine.
And when the object of your hope is Jesus and his precious blood he shed on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, there is the overflow of hope not only for this life but also for the life to come which is eternal. He is the greatest dealer and leader in hope the world has ever seen.

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” — Romans 5:5

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Sunday Sermonettes | God Is Holy and He Commands Us to Be Holy like He Is

Sunday Sermonettes #012

God Is Holy

I remember the emotion I felt when I read the first five books of the Bible for the first time. The realization that I stand in front of a holy God hit me with full force then.

Often we think of God as God is love. That is true. But the one unique thing about God is that he is holy.

I have no clue how to describe the holiness of God. In simple terms, he is separate from us because of his holiness. Glory, splendour, majesty, worship, awesome, beauty, unapproachable light; are all words that are associated with his holiness.

God’s Holiness is Incomparable

Often we compare ourselves with others and think, “I am better than him or her.” But God is inviting us to be holy like him. And it is impossible by any human effort.

Why? When Moses, who twice spent time with God forty days and nights on a mountain, asked God to show him God’s glory; he was told: “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Prophet Isaiah, likewise, had a vision of God seated on his throne and heavenly angels calling out to one another non-stop in his presence:

“Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

His response as he cried out was: “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.”

Simon Peter, who was a disciple of Jesus, had his first encounter with Jesus when his fishing boat was empty after a hard night’s toil in the sea of Galilee. Jesus told him to put his nets into deep water and there was a huge and miraculous catch of fish. Then Peter fell at Jesus’ knees and said: “Go away from me, Lord;  I am a sinful man.”

All these examples show us that not one of us qualifies to stand before God. The Bible says that all our righteous acts, which means all the good deeds that we do, are like filthy rags or really dirty clothes before God. They cannot earn us our salvation.

God’s Holiness Will Search Us Out

As we stand before God, his light will bring out all the hidden things in our heart and mind—even those things, minute things, that we might have forgotten. There is no escape. Every single thought; every single word; every act that we did will all be shown for what they truly are:

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Can we stand before this holy God? No. There is a huge separation between God and us because of his holiness and because of our sinfulness.

God’s Holiness Demands Sacrifice of Sinless Blood

Therefore God himself made a way for us to approach him. He sent Jesus as a human being to bleed on the cross and die for all the sins that we have committed. As we look to Jesus and accept the truth that he died for you and me; God cleanses us from all our sins by his blood.

How is that possible? It is because Jesus lived a sinless life. And the sacrifice of his broken body and blood has all the merit in the world to give us the right to come before God without fear. For the Bible says,

“And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

And since Jesus shed his sinless blood for you; that is the only way we can go to God who is holy. He is inviting us to be holy like he is.  As you look at your own sins; you might feel like giving up because being holy is impossible. But God is coming near to you in Jesus; loving you and accepting you just as you are.

God Is Commanding You and Me to Be Holy like He Is

But he won’t leave you just as you are today. He will work on you and put in your heart a desire to be holy like Jesus. And he will also make you holy like him.

That is why the Bible calls us to repent of our sins. In popular terms, it is like making a U-turn from the wrong way and moving on in the right way.

As we walk on the roads, dust and other dirt will definitely stick to us. And therefore we take a bath everyday. It is the blood of Jesus that washes us clean every moment from all sin in our lives so that we too can share in God’s holiness.

It is a process; and not just a one-time event. So the bible asks us to purify and cleanse  ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. So let us fear God and shun all evil and constantly increase in desire to be holy like God.

“I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.”

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Sunday Sermonettes | God Motivates You to Cross the Finishing Line

Sunday Sermonettes #011

Can you expect to rise above your defeats? Yes you can, God helping you.

Can you find strength to go on in spite of all failures you have faced? Yes you can. For God’s Word says to you:

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 1

You might have made mistakes; but that is how life is. Not one of us is perfect; and it is foolish to think that all those who succeed do it perfect all the time.
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Now life for you might have slowed down; it might have even come to a standstill.

Hope might be at its last flicker. But there is a God who fans into flame the smoking wick.

He will not give up on those who think themselves failures.

He comes to give you strength. His love is neither weak nor sentimental. What he sees when he looks at you is unparalleled beauty arising out of what has been wrecked.

There is a voice of hope that whispers courage in your heart. He is asking, “What are you doing here lying down on a bed of despair, my child?”

You cannot lock yourself in your room and expect to hide from him. When he has business to do with you; he will walk right in. For he holds the key to your life; didn’t you know?

Your heartaches are his concern even when you think no one cares.

Never will he ask you to walk alone. You might not recognize his presence with you; for he loves to see you walk by faith and not by sight. He is there by your side when you are losing grip on the rocks you climb.

Still believe: When you have lost your strength and you feel that you can longer fly; he will lift you high. And make you climb the heights.

You can soar on wings like eagles on high for it is love that brings him near and touch your hurting life.

Never give up for there is a finishing line. And he is waiting there to see you cross the line.

It doesn’t matter you stumbled and fell many times. But all that now counts is that you did not lose faith in God who bled on the cross for you and did not lose sight of the finishing line.

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Accept Jesus Who Is the Gift of Christmas

Santa Claus brings gifts at Christmas. It reminds us of God’s gift of Jesus. Jesus came to bleed and die on the cross. It was to gift you with God’s forgiveness.

Now is the time to accept his gift. Just thank him for bleeding to death on the cross for you. Turn away from all evil and say Yes to the gift of eternal life. For he rose from the dead and lives forever.

Jesus loves you and accepts you for you are his child. Nothing can separate you from his love. So thank God for Jesus, the indescribable gift.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 Bible

Sunday Sermonettes | How to Get Your Heart’s Desires God’s Way

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Sunday Sermonettes | I Know You: Nine Truths That God Says About You

Sunday Sermonettes #010


Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.

God knew you before anyone else knew you. It is an amazing foreknowledge. You were seen in his radar before any scan could see you.

I know you by name.

God calls each star by name. Such is his immense wisdom and power which holds them. And he is longing to be friends with you. To have a personal relationship with you. He, therefore, calls you by name and says, “You are mine.”

I know your thoughts.

When your heart is proud and unresponsive, he knows it. When your heart is broken and you are humble in your attitude, he knows it. He knows when you feel like a failure and he knows when you are nesting evil thoughts. Everything in your mind is laid open and bare before him.

I know your deeds.

Our system of evaluation is based on what we see. God’s standards are different. He weighs our deeds on a different scale. He looks at our motives and judges our deeds accordingly. Will you and I pass this test?

I know the plans I have for you.

When God’s people were in exile and captivity because of their sin, rebellion, and disobedience; he sent them a message through a prophet. God made a promise that after several decades he would bring them back to their own land. The plans he had were for their good; to prosper them, and not to harm them. His plans for you are also for good; to give you hope and a future even when your circumstances look hopeless today.

I make known the end from the beginning.

God often spoke through prophets and predicted events in the future. As he knows what lies ahead; it is wise to ask him to lead and guide you. He will not only guide you continually; but to the very end. His counsel is always wise and best. Therefore listen to his voice. You will hear him say, “This is the way, walk in it.”

I know your love for me.

The old fire has gone out. The romance is no longer there. You are doing lip service to me but your heart is not in it. What wrong did I do to you that you have forsaken your first love for me? Therefore return to me. I have loved you with an everlasting love. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken,” says your God.

I know your secret sins.

I know that you have tried to avoid them but have failed time and again. Your good deeds will not save you. Trust in the blood of my Son Jesus shed on the cross for you. You are clean and purified because of faith in his blood. Your heart is washed whiter than snow. So don’t be disheartened. Don’t be discouraged. Rise up from your bed of defeat. Walk away from evil. And be clothed in garments of praise.

I know your prayers.

God says: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.” He sees your unspoken desires; your inaudible groans, and silent lifting up of your heart to his throne of grace. He listens to your every sigh; and even what you are unable to share with your most intimate friend. Therefore do not lose heart. He is near you. He is with you. He is in you. And he is for you. He answers when you call. And he will show you great and mighty things you do not know in response to your prayers.
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Sunday Sermonettes | Your Heart’s Overflow Is What Your Mouth Speaks

Sunday Sermonettes #009


Do you consistently speak words of hope or do you speak words of despair? The power of words we use is immense. Some of their impact even time cannot erase.

But from where do words pour out? Jesus spoke the truth when he said: “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Yes, speech is an outflow of the abundance of good or bad we store up in our hearts.

Words spoken do carry great power. In fact, the wise King Solomon said, “The tongue has the power of life and death; and those who love it will eat its fruit.” It is no secret that words affect us, influence our emotions, and colour our relationships.

So let us strive to build others up through our words. Let us encourage others; and let us avoid diminishing people in front of others. A little bit of kindness in our hearts can make the words we speak have a healing touch. It can become a lifeline of hope to a discouraged person.

But an empty vessel cannot pour out water. Likewise life-giving thoughts have to be stored up in our hearts to give life-giving words to others.

In other words, motivational speaking is effective only when the speaker is overwhelmingly thinking of uplifting the audience and painting for them the possibilities that life and the future holds for them.

His or her words should help the listeners look away from their current reality which might look like a wet blanket of despair to the future that is like a door wide open to what each of those persons can become.

Your words therefore can throw open God-gifted possibilities in the life of people. So store up God’s Spirit-filled wisdom in your heart; and your words will truly ignite hope for others. Let your mouth always speak the good, the lovely, and the inspiring that your heart is full of.

But inspiring words do not happen by chance. It has an intense and intimate connection with what our character truly is. And character is not formed in a day or two. It is shaped over the years.

For we are shaped not only by what we allow to influence us but also by what we make an honest effort to avoid. For if we avoid the baggage of words that are acidic like slander, gossip, and mocking others; our mouths will speak only of the beautiful things stored up in our hearts.

Then when we talk; our conversations will turn out to be pleasant; filled with kindness like food seasoned with salt. It will taste good and preserve relationships in contrast to having a bad taste and destroying others.

Let us therefore keep our eyes and ears open to store up good things in our hearts so that when we speak they will bring words of cheer, hope, and comfort out of the abundance stored up there.

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.” — Jesus Christ

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Sunday Sermonettes | Friend, Your Sins Are Forgiven

Sunday Sermonettes #008

Jesus told the paralyzed man “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” People were crowding around Jesus. So his friends had lowered him on a mat before Jesus from an opening made through the tiles in the roof of the house. They had faith that Jesus would heal him. And they were desperate to get him to Jesus.

It was clear to all that the man needed physical healing. Some of our needs are obvious like this. But when you come to Jesus, he often confronts you with a deeper and greater need than the physical. It is a need that nobody can help you with. It is your need to find forgiveness and peace with God.

When Jesus said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven,” the religious people who had gathered there began to think, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” They were right. Only God could forgive the sins of any man or woman. But they failed to understand that Jesus was God in human flesh.

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus asked them whether it was easy to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up , take your mat and walk?”

It brings us to the question of authority.  The government or a bank can decide to cancel debts that individuals or organizations owe them. This is because they have the authority to do so. But when it comes to sins; no human agency or individual has the authority to forgive. It is an act of God’s mercy alone.

That also tells you there is nothing you can do to earn God’s forgiveness. No self-punishment, no pilgrimage, no acts of charity, no good deeds are enough. But if your heart is broken and you humbly seek God for his mercy; he will certainly forgive. Remember, no man or woman on earth can forgive sins. Only God alone can forgive.

And there is no limit to God’s forgiveness. There is no sin, however greatly it has stained your life, that God cannot forgive. Jesus shed his blood on the cross so that all can find forgiveness for their sins. He not only forgives when you tell your sins before him; but his blood also cleanses you from all sins.

Sometimes, you look at your own goodness and think there is no need for God’s forgiveness in your life. But is that true? The Bible declares, “There is no difference, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” And all of us know that there are thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions that are not right in my life and your life as well.

The point is that when such wrong things happen in our lives, you and I owe God a huge moral debt that not one of us can pay. The only solution is to take it to God and seek his forgiveness. Then, if you are truthfully earnest, God will tell you. “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” That settles it forever.

God hurls your sins into the depths of the sea and sweeps away your offenses like a cloud when he forgives you. Even though he has kept your secret sins in the light of his presence, when he forgives; he will remove them from you  as far as the east is from the west. How sweet and comforting to hear Jesus tell you: “Friend, your sins are forgiven!”
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Read more on the healing of the paralytic man in the Gospels of Matthew 9:2–8, Mark 2:1–12 and Luke 5:17–26.
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Sunday Sermonettes | Fall in Love with the Name of Jesus

Sunday Sermonettes #007

Each one of us has stared into the face of despair at some point in our lives. No hope. No one to say words of comfort. No one who understands. We, at such moments, question God’s care for us. But there is one Name that you can call upon at such times. It is the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus brings to you God’s love and compassion. For God is merciful to those who call on him. When you speak the name of Jesus, all heaven is ready to come to your help and aid.

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Many people, even those who have not known Jesus as an intimate friend, have called upon the name of Jesus while in danger and have found help. The Bible says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” You find that true in the name of Jesus. Yes, there is divine protection in his name.

The name of Jesus is also a lover’s password. The more you love God, the more you fall in love with the name of Jesus. For in that name is contained the fullness of God’s being and character. When you speak the name of Jesus with love for him in your heart, it draws you close to God.

So fall in love with the name of Jesus. When he becomes the object of your thoughts and conversations, he draws near to you. There is no other name like the name of Jesus to release God’s love and power and authority in whatever situation you find yourself in. His name means your salvation.

For, the primary meaning of the name Jesus is that he will save his people from their sins. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Your burdened heart because of guilt or shame of past sins will find a sweet medicine in the name of Jesus. His name is forgiveness if you are willing to turn away from wrong.

The Bible also says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” So there is hope for you. There is healing in his name and deliverance from all kinds of oppression of your mind for God has given the name of Jesus extraordinary power and authority. Even demons are subject to the name of Jesus who made peace between God and you through his blood shed on the cross.

When you trust in the name of Jesus, you are moving from ignorance to truth, from darkness to light, and from death to life. When you trust in the name of Jesus, you receive a rich welcome to God’s family as his child.

Like how one of the thieves crucified along with Jesus became one. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with me in paradise.” Yes, today, now, this moment, you can become a child of God in Jesus’ name.

And when you are his child, prayers in his name are always heard and answered. It is a child’s privilege to ask; for there is freedom to access God the Father’s presence at all times. Be bold. Ask with confidence in the name of Jesus. It is God’s great joy to listen to you speak the name of his Son. And he will answer your prayers.

Finally, when you speak the name of Jesus and proclaim his name to your friends; there will come a change in you. Slowly but surely, you begin to capture the loveliness of the character of Jesus in you. So fall in love with the name of Jesus, the name that is above every name!
Sunday Sermonettes | The Glorious Hope of Seeing You in Jesus’ Likeness

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Sunday Sermonettes | When Your Boat Is Caught in the Sudden Storm

Sunday Sermonettes #006


Life is like that. The calm of life is suddenly broken by the unexpected changes that come. And it is quite natural that we become afraid when our boat is caught in the storm.

Remember it was the same sea Jesus and his friends had travelled many times before. But the challenge of the storm this time was totally new. And all the wisdom of past experiences failed to give the friends courage in the sight of this present danger.

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As we look at this incident; there are many simple lessons we can learn from it:

One, just because Jesus is in the boat with you and me, doesn’t mean that the storm won’t come. Life’s struggles are common to all. Some storms do threaten to drown us. And being afraid is a normal reaction at such times.

Even though the friends of Jesus who were with him in the boat were experienced fishermen; they were afraid. They came to Jesus, sleeping on a cushion, woke him up and asked, “Teacher, don’t you care, if we drown?” For the waves threatened to sink the boat.

Second, Jesus sleeping is no sign that he does not care. Often, we expect him to do something in our desperate situations. And he seems to be totally not available to attend our frantic prayers and calls of distress.

At such times, it is quite natural to find fault with God for the troubles we face in life. But don’t ever forget that Jesus, the Son of God, is with us in our boat; even in the storm.

Third, we find the disciples waking Jesus up. It was after talking to the crowds and teaching them during the day that Jesus was sleeping. He, as a human being, was just like us. He became tired, hungry, and thirsty like any one of us.

But Jesus did not become angry with his friends for waking him up. He immediately got up and took care of the storm. So don’t you worry to call him 24 x 7 in any of your crises in life. He understands. And he helps because he too was caught in the storm.

Fourth, we find Jesus having authority over the winds and the waves. There is no situation or difficulty in our lives he is not able to handle.

When frightening situations seem to overwhelm and destroy us, our emotions will give us no rest. We will be tossed about on the rising waves. Yet, let us find courage in this true incident that Jesus is in control even when the circumstances are all against us, and threatening to drown us.

Again, one word from Jesus, the wind died down and it was completely calm. He stood up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet, Be Still.” The storm is not the end of the story. The command of Jesus is.

He, with you and me in the boat, is the greatest assurance we can have in life. He won’t throw you or me away. But will act when it is needed.

Finally, his question to his friends, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” is a challenge to each one of us. His friends had seen him do a lot of miracles. They had seen impossibilities turn to triumphant possibilities with Jesus. Yet the storm drove the wits out of them!

But when calm had come, the friends were terrified and they asked: “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” The storm had rocked their boat; but it also made the friends of Jesus get a real glimpse of who he truly is.
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Based on Mark’s Gospel Chapter 4: Verses 35 to 41
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Sunday Sermonettes | Jesus Is Calling You: “Come, Follow Me”

Sunday Sermonettes #005


Jesus is calling you to himself. You cannot stay where you are to answer that call. You have to take a step forward. He is inviting you to a life of daring into the unknown. He is not promising you a bright future. He is simply promising himself.

Many people are disappointed because they look for material benefits when following Jesus. But Jesus pointed out that he had no place to rest his head unlike birds of the air which have nests and foxes which have holes or dens to retire to at the end of the day. So he was not promising an easy life to anyone who chose to follow him.

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Jesus also demands for himself the highest priority you can give when he invites and commands you to follow him. He is asking for your best love towards him. All other loves you have will appear like hate compared to your love for him. Perhaps this is hard to swallow.

Then look at role models; we have many. But when we look closely; there are so many things we find in them that can disappoint us. With Jesus, the more you look at him, the more you talk with him, the more you think of him, his loveliness only increases. He is not asking you to follow rules; he is simply calling you to follow him.

That also means that even when he seems to be absent in our struggles of life; he is always there. Though at times, he seems to have forsaken us; he is there. For he who said, “Come, follow me,” will not leave us or forsake us in times of our distress. He has gone ahead of us. Our role is to keep our eyes focused on him; and him alone.

Following Jesus can be a lonely journey at times. Some of your best friends might hate you because you follow Jesus. Your close relatives might not be as enthusiastic as you are in following Jesus. But Jesus is not calling you to follow him with a crowd. His call to you is personal.

Following Jesus demands that we focus on him; and try to avoid distractions. It is not easy. We are surrounded by gadgets that steal away much of our precious time. So to focus on Jesus, you need to make deliberate choices:

Instead of reaching out for your mobile to check for messages or updates the first thing in the morning; why not spend five minutes thanking God for the gift of a new day. Ask him for his help, presence, wisdom, and guidance to do all that you need to do that day.

“Come, follow me,” is both an invitation and a command. You are free to accept or disobey. The choice is entirely yours. But if you reject Jesus and his call; you are missing a journey along with the One who loved you and gave himself on the cross for you where he bled and died.

There are so many broad paths in this world that lead to destruction. But Jesus is inviting you to follow him along the narrow way and find life.

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Sunday Sermonettes | That First Question: “Where Are You?”

Sunday Sermonettes #004


“Where are you?” That was the first question God ever asked the first man and woman. Even now he is asking that question to you.

The question “Where are you?” is full of mercy. It shows that God has not given up on you. You might have made mistakes and also gone away from the right ways. God doesn’t want to lose you. So he is calling out to you.

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“Where are you?” God is asking because you belong. If you did not belong to God; he would not be searching for you. You have been lost. But God is coming after you to find you and celebrate it with joy. That is why Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

“Where are you?” God is asking not because he doesn’t know where you are hiding and why you are hiding from him. He already knows what you are thinking. He knows that you are afraid to face him. But he is asking the question to give you a chance to become friends with him again. Will you listen?

The question, “Where are you?” is so simple. But it has potential in it to bring you back to your senses. The question should make you think: “Am I now where I am supposed to be?” The question will help you to know that now there is an opportunity to return to the love of God. Those who will return to him; he accepts without finding fault.

The question, “Where are you?” is God calling out to you to come out of your hiding from him. He is hurt by your disobedience. But he is looking at you with love.

The question, “Where are you?” finally is a chance for you to be honest with God. It is easy to put the blame on others for your moral failure. But God’s question is an invitation to you to confess to God what you have wrongly thought, said, or done. And find in him a father’s love and a mother’s comfort.

Now what will be your response to God’s question? Will you come to God with a grateful heart, seeing that he cares for you and came to seek you? For the ultimate need of any man or woman is God’s forgiving love. You find that in Jesus, the Lamb of God, who came to reach out to you.

Remember, God is asking “Where are you?” not to the crowds, but to you as an individual. It is a very personal question; because he is concerned about you and cares for you.

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Sunday Sermonettes | An Unusual Introduction: Look the Lamb of God

Sunday Sermonettes #003


No one in all human history has been introduced to the public in this fashion. The forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist, cried out when he saw him: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” The question is what does this intro mean to you?

First of all, it is an invitation. To look closely at this person.

He is described as a Lamb. Gentle. Not rebelling and crying out against all the sufferings inflicted on him as he was led to the cross. To bleed and die for all of us.

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Secondly, lambs were used for sacrifice. An innocent animal’s blood had to be shed for God to turn away from punishing someone who had done wrong. The Bible calls all wrongdoing and rebellion against God, sin.

When the forerunner said, “Look, the Lamb of God,” he was saying to the people that all those animal sacrifices in the past were looking forward to this Man sent from God to die for all.

Thirdly, he was like a sacrificial lamb roasted over the fire as God’s judgement and wrath against all our sins fell on Jesus on the cross.

In that sense, Jesus is your substitute. He died in your place. The punishment for all your sins that should have rightly come upon you; the whole of it came upon him. Yes, the Lamb of God has taken away your punishment.

Finally, in the sacrificial system, a lamb that was to be sacrificed had to be without blemish, without spot, and without defect of any sort. So the priest would examine a lamb carefully to make sure it is perfect before sacrificing it.

The invitation to you is to look and examine this Man closely. What is the fault you can find in him? If you can’t find any; look to him in faith. It was sacrificial love for you that took him to the cross. If that doesn’t prove that God loves you; nothing else will.

One look of faith is enough to fall in love with him.

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Above all, we are called to look beyond time and into the heavens to see and experience the mighty thundering songs of praise, adoration, and worship that belongs to the victorious Lamb of God who has triumphed:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise.”

Yes, in heaven, the songs of praise revolve around the Lamb who bled and died to remove our sins from us.

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” “Amen.”

“Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns,

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!

For the wedding of the Lamb has come.”

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This post was last updated on 6th February 2025.

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Sunday Sermonettes: Let There Be Light

Sunday Sermonettes #002

The first words God spoke: “Let there be light.” He can speak that word again in your darkness. It might be chaos at the moment in your life. There might be despair. And you might be losing hope. It happens like that sometimes. But when God speaks, there will be light.

We, who are used to seeing the darkness, often tremble in fear. But that is precisely when the Spirit of God hovers over you just as he did over the waters and darkness that was over the surface of the deep at the beginning of Creation. He prepares the circumstances so that when God speaks the word, there will be light.

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Light that God causes to shine will dispel all your doubts. It will reassure you of his unfailing love for you. It will guide you. It will never shine a beam across the years; but enough light to guide you one step at a time.

Light that God causes to shine in your life will cancel all negativity. The more you have been in darkness the more your thinking has become tuned to failure and defeat. You might have counted yourself useless and might have lost your self-esteem. All these will bow down to the might of the light that God speaks to come to pass in your life.

Therefore hold on to hope. No darkness in your life is beyond God’s light. The Bible says about God that even darkness is as light to him. I read somewhere of a time when a cave inside the ocean depths invited the sun to come and experience the power of darkness inside it. One day, the sun came and stepped inside the cave and asked: “Now, where is your darkness?” Oh, it is just like that when God steps into your situation of darkness!

The night might have stretched long for you. But joy comes in the morning. Light will break. Invite God to speak a word of hope in your life: “Let there be light.” When God said those words, the Bible says, “And there was light.” God is unstoppable.

You need to believe that God is willing to help you. Don’t dictate how he should do so. Leave the methods to him. He is a God of creativity and joy. Let him speak light to blaze in your darkness in a way that surprises you; beyond all that you could ask or imagine or pray for.

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Sunday Sermonettes: In the Beginning

Sunday Sermonettes #001

The opening verse of the Bible does not introduce God. He needs no introduction. He was, is, and always will be.

He created everything out of nothing. He created everything with a purpose.

The heavens are vast. They are beyond the stretch of human imagination and its ends beyond discovery.

But the earth he created for you. That you may know him and love him. He does not yield to your intellect. Because your intellect is like a spoonful of water beside the oceans. You cannot know him with your intelligence.

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Like every kingdom has a currency; the kingdom of God too has a currency. It is faith. Therefore the Bible says that “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

This faith is more personal when it comes to the cross of Jesus. When the world demands that we find God through knowledge and wisdom; God says find me through my message of foolishness.

The cross of Jesus is the message of foolishness. Why? Because the cross says you can have a new beginning in your life by simply looking to Jesus in faith.

He shed his precious blood there for you; that you might find peace with God. Yes, you can be friends with God right now as you look to the cross and put your faith in the Son of God who bled and died for your sins.

When you trust in him who lives forever, he makes you a brand new creation. It is a new beginning for you. For he puts his own life within you.

Circumstances might not change but the power of this new life will give you the lift to fly above all that pulls you down. You too can enjoy this new beginning in life.

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