Imagine that night. In a few hours from the time he spoke, he would be betrayed with a kiss and arrested. All of his best friends would be scattered. One of his best men would deny knowing him. Suddenly the lives of his closest friends were going to be disrupted.
Then would come his hour of bleeding to death on the cross. His flock of sheep would lose their shepherd.
But there was this promise—the gift from the Father in heaven. The Comforter: A guide to show you the way forward, a counsellor to give you wisdom, a helper to give your inaudible sighs and groans a voice that will surely be heard by God, and when you fail and falter and fall down an advocate to plead your case with God. He truly is Someone called to come alongside to help when you are in need of him.
Awesome friend to be with you always is he! He makes Jesus real to you and makes the words of the Bible come alive and speak to you.
You’ll never be left alone. God will never be far away; but in you. You can always know his presence because this Comforter—the Holy Spirit—is with you.
Gentle like a dove, mighty like a wind, and burning to death from your life all that is not pleasing to God; he always points you to Jesus. And he says, “Look to him!”
What a joy it is when he is within you. He is the one who helps you experience the great love of God for you, and he is the one who gifts you the peace that Jesus promised.
Yet again his is that gentle warning when you are about to do wrong; he sorrows and grieves when a child of God strays from what is right and sins!
Yet when you turn back to God he holds you close like a hen gathering her chick under her wings or like a mother comforting her child. He is in the business of blazing truth in your hearts. When he walks with you, you cannot keep company with darkness but you can only walk in the light!
The Comforter—God within us! Gently wooing you to fall in love with God. Aren’t you feeling that nudge in your heart?
Oh, what a joy it is when the comforter has come; when the comforter has come!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
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He came to save people from their sins. No other person has ever addressed this basic need of men and women. And if you ask what sin is; it is anything that separates you from God. It can be your possessive love for anyone or anything; it can be rebellion in your heart against God; it can be pride or even attitudes and habits that are wrong. The name Jesus should remind you that you have a Saviour. He is always willing to save. There is absolutely no situation in your life where he cannot step in and no darkness in your life where his light cannot shine!
Immanuel
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Think about this. God became a single cell invisible to the human eye in the womb of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born a child. God with us. Artificial intelligence, Nanotechnology, nuclear fission and fusion, supercomputers, interplanetary space missions and whatever marvellous else you can think of does not compare with God becoming a child. Immanuel. It means God with us. Jesus came as someone who could be seen and touched and one who mingled with the common people and the untouchables of society. He is with you today as a loving brother and faithful friend. Immanuel.
Wonderful Counsellor
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Google maps can help you when you travel. PAPI lights can help planes land safely. But what about situations in life where it seems a thick fog has come down on you? And you are unable to decide what to speak, whether to answer yes or no, and not sure about how your present action is going to impact your future? What about situations in life where you have messed up already? Don’t you think you need Jesus who has absolute knowledge of your life, is compassionate to you in your failures and doubts, and most willing to guide you continually? You might not hear angelic voices, neither see visions or dreams. Yet this Wonderful Counsellor will guide you. In spite of all the chaos you feel, the end of it will be peace; for in the abundance of his wisdom is safety.
Mighty God
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Calling Jesus a great teacher, a good man, a powerful prophet, a worker of miracles, or one who brings God’s blessings to people; all even when true fall short of who he is. When descriptions and adjectives don’t scale the heights of the majesty and holiness and supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus who is Mighty God above all; then you fail to know who he is. And when you come to know him for who he is; there is only one response that is possible—worship! And that is not possible unless you repent and turn away from all that is false and evil and turn to God in humility and tears.
Everlasting Father
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God, who is from eternity to eternity. He is, was, and will be. Jesus. He never can fail to be your strength and source of hope and comfort. Never will he leave you alone; never will he forsake you. When he steps in to your present moment, he will take the sting and bite and shame away from all that is past and take absolute charge over your future too. Death then becomes a curtain that is parted, and you will see him beyond life’s final farewell on earth. Eternal Father he is! Always there, always present, Jesus!
Prince of Peace
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Peace requires no definition as you know it when you don’t have it. But one thing is common to all: everyone is in search of peace. It is not to be found in pleasures nor is it to be found in living alone like a hermit in the forest. Peace with God can be found through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Have you found the peace that Jesus the Prince of Peace can give? It is not absence of trouble in life that he promises but his presence with you and his peace in the midst of life’s difficulties
Lamb of God
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Sinless One. Blameless. Innocent. Yet he was slain. He willingly laid down his life. His body was broken; and his precious blood was poured out for the forgiveness of your sins and mine. It was love for you that made him do that. Jesus, the Lamb of God. May this Name resound with the praises of his children time without end. May the corridors of heaven echo his praises for ever throughout all eternity! May his sacrifice be the subject of songs for ever and ever. Amen! Read 7 Names of Jesus on LinkedIn
— The above Christmas Day 2020 Special Post is inspired by the following texts in the Bible:
“You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” — Matthew 1:21b
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means “God with us.” — Matthew 1:23.
“And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6b
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” — John 1:29b
God did not give up on man when he rebelled aginst him. Instead God sent his one and only Son Jesus to this world; born a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. It was love that came down from heaven that first Christmas night.
I might not understand the logic behind God becoming man and tasting death for us all. But love that did not hesitate to give up his life for me holds no mysteries.
But then can I? One look at his face then bleeding with a head which was crowned with thorns; but now glorious like the sun shining in all its brilliance is all that is needed for me to bow down in worship saying, “My Lord and My God, I love you!”
The Bible declares:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6
Again the Bible says,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8
When your future looks uncertain and no one seems to be in a situation to help you; look to this promise of God for strength and encouragement.
It has remained a favourite with me ever since an elderly priest gave a short sermon on this promise while visiting our home at a very difficult time during my college days years ago.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.1“
Since you have such a precious promise to hold on to, remind yourself that God has chosen you and not rejected you. You belong to him and no power in the entire universe can snatch you out of his Almighty hand.
Again, remind yourself to focus on God and not your problems. God is bigger than all your troubles. Listen to his affirmation that he is with you. What an assurance that is. He, like a loving Father, a faithful brother, a true friend stays by your side at all times. Therefore do not fear nor be dismayed.
Be assured that when your strength runs out, God will strengthen you. When all other help fails, God will help you. He will uphold you. It is only when you hold on to God there is a chance that you’ll let go of his hand. But when God is upholding you, there is no fear of him letting you slip and fall.
Yes my friend, even as doubts cloud your mind as to whether this promise is as true as it sounds, clutch on to it like a drowning man clutches the life jacket thrown at him.
When God makes a promise his word itself is its guarantee that he will make it good and prove it true. Just believe it, hold on to it, and put your entire weight on it. The promise stands with the ring of authority of God surrounding it. May you find the promise true in your life even as I have found it true in mine. Amen!
You need the touch of an angel today. Have not all the troubles that you are facing wearied you down? And you feel like giving up?
Do not be disheartened. God will send an angel to touch you today.
See, when all have forgotten you and given upon you, the God who sleeps not is watching over you. He sees that your strength is gone. And you are no match for the journey ahead.
Yes, he will send an angel to touch you today and bless you with resources needed to move forward.
Is it that you are finding yourself in the midst of a tough battle against negative thoughts and habits? And in spite of all your repeated attempts, earnest and sincere, you find yourself failing and falling time and again.
Ah, you need the touch of an angel whom God will send your way today.
Life is not easy. When worries and fears and losses mount, and when your heart is broken and torn apart by sorrows that are expressed in groans and sighs that words cannot utter, it is then that the Spirit of God will share your burden and give voice and wings to your deepest longings in prayer.
And it is then in a joyous daybreak at a time of mourning that the touch of a God-sent angel would lift up your spirit and cheer you up on your journey ahead.
Oh, troubled child of God, may God strengthen you by the touch of an angel today!
—
“The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
—1 Kings 19:7 Bible NIV
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” — Psalm 30:11 Bible NIV
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts.1
Hey, you can bounce back from a defeat always. Bouncing back from a defeat is not an option but a must for all who wish to succeed. You must always keep a burning desire within your heart to push forward, maybe inch by inch, and edge onward towards victory.
My dear friend, a defeat is not a dead end. It is not a showstopper. It doesn’t have a life of its own unless you inflate it like a balloon and make it big in your mind. A defeat might look like a giant having made a fortified city on the mountains, but look at it as a hurdle kept and preserved to make your conquest all the more glorious.
You should never stay comfortable in the valley of defeat. That is where dry bones lie. You should get up, leave behind your past, pray to the Spirit of God to come and breathe life to your vision and press on to victory. If there is some known cause in your life that is causing your defeat time and again, search it out, bring it out in the open, seek God’s help and get rid of it. Eliminate it.
It can be lethargy, complacency, laziness, worry or anxiety, or even a negative habit that is pulling you down. Your love for self-pity, airing victim stories of helplessness, and analysis paralysis of indecision; they all should be disarmed and discarded like a dirty piece of clothing if you have to bulldoze to victory.
Time does not wait for those who rehearse and play back a defeat in their minds. Look up and aim for the summit. When you focus sharply on that one aim and goal and ambition and passion, all lesser things will fade out. The Spirit of God will fill you with strength to rise up and soar on wings like eagles.
There is no reason why you should remain a loser and there is nothing to prevent you from bouncing back but your own doubts.Life can be lived in the valley of defeat or in the plain of daily routines or on the mountain tops. You might be lonely out there at the top and no one might be there to share your joy.
But you will not be alone because God is there where the skies kiss the mountain tops to bless you with his presence and give you the vision for your life forward.
Therefore decide to break out from self-imposed prisons of defeat. And with God’s help bounce back from that defeat you think you can’t break out from. When the Spirit of God moves like a mighty wind in your life; there is sure strength and resource needed for that leap forward.
The Bible declares that the present world is reserved for burning with fire and a time is coming when elements will melt in the intense heat. The possibility of a nuclear warfare can make this come true even as God’s Judgement Day will burn like a furnace.
Jesus also spoke about hell as a fiery furnace where there will be continual weeping and gnashing of teeth, torment, and consciousness that makes anyone there cry out desperately for a drop of water to cool the tongue because of the agony of the fire!
When the love of God towards men and women is spurned, mocked, rejected, and rebelled against; nothing else remains but for the wrath of God2 to fall on them. It’s a kind of invited disaster. Yes, the end of the world is near!
Jesus himself asked the religious leaders of his day: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” At a later time he wept over the city of Jerusalem thinking of the future judgement coming on the city saying that they did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them.
The world is moving towards a one world order where there is going to be a one world economy and a dirty marriage of politics and religion. Trade will be the lynchpin on which everything revolves as the world is slowly converging towards the mark of the beast 666 as prophesied in the Book of Revelation. And it is related to who you will worship—whether God or Satan? Permission to buy or sell will be granted according to this choice you make.
Natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, famines and pestilences, wars and revolutions, signs in the sun and moon and stars,pollution, global warming, tsunamis, and pandemics are but signposts reminding us time is running out for Planet Earth.
Therefore great is the urgency to decide your destiny. Life on earth is a chance given to you to get to know your Creator and the salvation he has provided to all freely through his Son Jesus through the blood of his cross.
If you look to him in faith, then you find peace with God. Many have postponed this life-changing encounter with the Son of God only to find the sun go down on them to rise on them no more!
Other Biblical References: 2 Peter 3:7, 10, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 13:42, Luke 16:24, Luke 19:44, Revelation 13:17, 18, Matthew Chapter 24, Mark Chapter 13, Luke Chapter 21
The resurrection of Jesus Christ challenges us to see life through a larger frame. If death is not the end of life and there is a beyond; then surely life on earth is a preparation. The longest years on earth are but a drop in the vast ocean of timelessness that awaits man beyond life’s final curtain. So let us see life in the perspective of eternity.
A Better Attitude
The resurrection of Jesus Christ challenges us to live life on a higher plane: To have hope instead of despair; to have joy in difficult times; to be courageous even in defeat; to find acceptance in God’s love when others reject; to persevere in faith, and to step out free from fears that hold us prisoners. So let us put on this new attitude and “soar on wings like eagles!”
A Better Certainty
The resurrection of Jesus Christ challenges us not to be uncertain any more.
He came to “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death,” by tasting death for everyone. This he did on the cross where he shed his precious blood for the sins of all.
And having tasted death, he came back to life; for it was impossible for death to hold the Author of life, Jesus Christ, the sinless One, the Son of the living God.
Yes, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has destroyed death’s dominion forever. Therefore the gateway of hope stands open. “The earth will give birth to her dead”; “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake,” and those who had put their trust in him will enter into the joy of unending life!
In conclusion, let me tell you that:
Ultimately, the resurrection of Jesus challenges us to answer the question “Where am I headed to?” Is it to heaven? Or to hell? Like a fork in the road he stands, asking you to repent and choose life. The gate is small and the road, he said, is narrow. But it leads to eternal life.
—
“To this day many a man refuses Christ, not because he puzzles intellect, but because he challenges his life.”
He could have stayed in heaven and watched us toil and struggle hard to make both ends meet. But he chose to come and be part of us to sweat and labour.
He who flung 100 thousand million stars in the Milky Way1 could have spread a mattress of soft silky wool; but chose a cattle shed and a manger for his birth on earth. There was no room for him elsewhere.
“Where do you see yourself five years from now?” is a typical question in a job interview. It is a tricky question and is used to assess the candidate’s commitment to the job and to find out his or her career goals. [Find multiple resources on this question at the end of article.]
What if the same question is changed into “Where do you see yourself at the end of life’s journey?” Then it becomes a question that pales everything else to insignificance.
But in case, you want to consider the possibility, think about a question Jesus asked: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”1
That means the entire possessions of the world, its pride and glory, riches and kingdoms, wealth and pleasures, selfies and social media, are nothing compared to finding life beyond the grave.
Therefore life on earth is just a preparation; an interview where you are given a chance not to answer the question, “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” but instead “Where do you see yourself spending eternity?”
The choices are clear: heaven or hell, God or judgement. The decision is made now and here. Like there is a final bell for every exam, there will be one in your life as well.
Let me end with the poetic words of John Donne:
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
Yes, there will be one last and final call. But then it will be too late to decide. Vote for God today; and that election will stand the test of time and all eternity!
Have you tried to find satisfaction in work, in play, in entertainment, in relationships, in love, in pleasures, and even surfing the internet or chatting in social media platforms? Did you succeed?
Look at advertisements. They aim at creating the impression that it will satisfy one or many of your needs. The needs can be varied—it can be your need for comfort, for security, for a greater sense of pride, for happiness, for being loved or respected, for intimacy, for success or for health.
Advertisements promise much, but do they deliver as much?
Well, I know at least one Advertiser who delivers what he promises. It is none other than God himself. One of his invitations and promise made is this.
“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance1.”
It was made to a people who were about to go into captivity and exile for their sins.
God is promising to satisfy free of cost. There are many thoughts related to this:
One, man is always dissatisfied with the best the earth has got to offer. There are limits to what money can buy.
Two, the best satisfaction a man has is incomplete. There will always be left a vacuum that no earthly pleasure can fill. That is why addictions and enslaving habits need more kicks to satisfy as time passes and they thoroughly deceive at the end.
Three, God sees what is driving you in your pursuit of satisfaction. He not only sees your action, but also sees what that emptiness in your life is that you are seeking to fill.
He cries out to you today: You have forsaken me—the fountain of living waters—and have made broken tanks that cannot hold water!2
Therefore consider. God is simply asking you to come to him. He will satisfy you with the gift of himself. He is no killjoy. Instead in his presence is fullness of joy!3 Drink of the waters he gives; it will quench your deepest longings and ultimately satisfy!
Allow some time to pass. It can be a few minutes, hours or days depending on the situation you are in.
The second step when in doubt is, ask God for wisdom1. Do not worry about how he is going to answer you.
If you are a genuine seeker, God will listen to you and he will give you the right guidance.
The third step when in doubt is to talk to people who genuinely care about you. Their advice can be coloured by their own fears, biases, or ambitions. That is okay. You still get a variety of colourful lenses through which you can see your situation.
Take time to think through all of them. At some point, like crystal clear water flowing over rocks in the stream bed you will hear, “This is the way; walk in it2.” When that happens it will be music to your souls.
The one thing you need to remember is that you alone have to take the final decision and accept responsibility for it.
Finally, when you are convinced about the merit and goodness of your decision, act on it with courage. Don’t look back.
There still will be challenges and criticism, setbacks and failures. But that will not shake you because you had dealt with your doubts already.
So here are the 7 takeaways when you are in doubt about anything, especially about taking a decision on a future course of action.
#1. Wait.
#2. Ask God for wisdom.
#3. Get opinions from others.
#4. Think through.
#5. Take a decision.
#6. Act with courage.
#7. Don’t look back.
These are simple things you can do when you are in doubt.
1 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him” — James 1:5 Bible NIV 1984. 2Isaiah 31:21 Bible
A mother comforting her child is the picture God has used to tell us that he cares.
A mother’s comfort is not just about calming our troubled minds. That is just a starting point. More of it is about her presence nearby which gives us a sense of belonging, an assurance of security, and a knowledge that someone understands what one is passing through.
Yes, this is the triumph of the motherlike love of God. He holds us near in his loving embrace. In your troubles he knows that you are helpless. Like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings, you too will find a place of safety and refuge there.
Come and experience the motherlike love of God today. Is your heart broken and you feel like giving up? Do not miss this comforting love of God.
He is watching over you. When everyone says ill of you and there is none who comes to help and all your hopes are dashed; there is God who will comfort you like a mother comforting her child.
When you experience it, you’ll know that God has not given upon you; that you are his child, and that he loves you.
He looks forward to that day when he will wipe away every tear from your eyes. But till then, he comes near to you as your Comforter in your perplexing moments and comforts you.
So dear brother/sister; just open up your heart to the comforting love of God. Do not doubt the reality of this comfort.
Blessed are you if open up to experience this comforting love of God. Yes, like a mother comforting her child God will take care of you; support you; hold your hand and carry you through as if carried on the strength of eagles’ wings!
—
Title inspired by Isaiah 66:13 Bible.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
Standing still is difficult. It does not come naturally to any one of us. Like a child who has just learned to walk; our hearts and hands constantly try to grab things fast.
With mobiles in our hands that can compute real fast if some page takes more than a few seconds to load we become impatient.
In the midst of such daily experiences, God commands us to stand still. But those who have tried to do so know that it is more than difficult. We would like to engineer our ideas and try to help God somehow.
Yes, standing still goes against our wisdom. We are used to connect with people, use money power, or influence to get things done. Waiting for God to act is not in our scheme of things.
But God waits. He waits to allow us to come to the end of our strivings. He waits till our strength and resources and wisdom are all exhausted. He waits until we are truly helpless.
Unable to fight one more round when we lie down in the dust; God steps in. He acts decisively.
So today make a deliberate attempt to calm your hearts and minds before God.
He is on his throne and in absolute control of all that is happening in your life. He is concerned for you. Negative circumstances and giant opposition is no match for his wisdom and power.
The only thing he is asking of you and me is to put our confidence and trust in him. Standing still is an outward sign of our faith in God. In such moments our focus is on God himself, how big he is, how great he is, how wise he is, and how great power and resources he commands.
So my dear friend, tell God that you have come to the end of all your ideas. Ask him to step in and tell him you feel helpless. Remember that the battle is God’s. You role is to stand still and watch what God is going to do for you.
When you stand still without running here and there in desperation, there will come people asking you, “On what are you basing this confidence of yours?” Do not let their doubts or their ridicule shake your faith. Stand still. Stand firm and see the deliverance God will bring in your life.
“Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity<” so said John Flavel . Sometimes God acts only when there seems to be no hope to go forward and no possibility of going back. It is then that you have to stand still and not give in to panic.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For it puts on exhibit a man crucified in weakness–scorned, mocked, rejected and despised by men.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. Yet this public display of the one who was wounded and bleeding for the sins of all mankind is the good news and means of salvation to all.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. It is foolishness because human wisdom does not account success or achievement in the manner in which Jesus felt forsaken by God on the cross.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For there is no sign or demonstration of the miraculous as the Saviour of the world lay dying.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. But Jesus on the cross then had and still has a magnetic attractive power that is incomparable to anything else in this world.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For it demands that man accept that in his pride and academic brilliance he cannot find God; that he cannot earn his own salvation; but that he come to God in humble child-like faith.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For there on the cross the judgement of God on man’s sin and rebellion fell on his innocent Son Jesus that we may receive forgiveness and pardon and freedom from the guilt, shame, and power of sin.
Yes, the preaching of the cross and its message is foolishness to many who reject it; but it is the power of God to those who believe and accept its life-changing message.
—
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. . . . For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
Get up!
Life is more about second chances than you can dream of. Champions and winners script success stories by rising up from the ashes of defeat. They are heartbroken when they see someone else lift the trophy for which they fought with sportsman spirit till the last moment. But that does not prevent them from pursuing their goal to win. You too should be like that. Don’t stay in your bed of despair. This is the time to get up!
Get up!
It might have been years that you stayed in this defeated mode. That doesn’t matter. God is not only the God of your past but of your present and your future as well. He is not limited by all that went wrong in your life. He is not limited by the victim stories you have told yourself and others countless number of times. He is not limited by all your negative circumstances, all those people who tell you that you can’t succeed, or any other force that is bulldozing you at this time. He wants to act decisively in your life. Therefore, get up!
Get up!
This one single act can change the way you think, act, and move forward. It is by taking this first step that you will realize all that the locusts have eaten away in your life. It is this one act of getting up that can change your destiny. Do not wait. Now is the time. This moment is your opportunity. Get up!
“Why are you downcast,
O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God”
Yeshua Messiah2
Jesus Christ3
Son of God 4
Son of Man 5
Lamb of God 6
Lion of the Tribe of Judah 7
King of Kings and Lord of Lords 8
Immanuel 9
Word of God 10
Redeemer 11
Word Made Flesh 12
Suffering Servant 13
Good Shepherd 14
Bright Morning Star 15
Prophet and Priest 16
Lily of the Valley 17
Rose of Sharon 18
Light of the World 19
Bread of Life 20
The Way, the Truth and the Life 21
The True Vine 22
The Resurrection and the Life 23
I Am 24
Altogether Lovely 25
Indescribable Gift 26
Saviour of the World 27
Firstborn from the Dead 28
Branch of the LORD 29
Wonderful Counsellor30
Mighty God30
Everlasting Father30
Prince of Peace30
Ancient of Days 31
The Holy One of Israel32
A Man of Sorrows33
The Hope of Glory 34
The Sun of Righteousness 35
Son of Abraham 36
Son of David 37
Friend of Sinners 38
Beloved 39
The Carpenter 40
Angel of His Presence 41
Horn of Salvation 42
Our Brother 43
Mediator of a Better Covenant 44
Christ the Lord 45
The Salvation of God 46
The Lord of the Sabbath 47
My Lord and my God 48
The Firstborn from the Dead 49
Wisdom of God 50
Power of God 50
Lord of Glory 51
Our Passover 52
Spiritual Rock 53
The Last Adam 54
Creator 55
Alpha and Omega 56
One Mediator between God and Men 57
Judge of the Living and the Dead 58
King of Righteousness 59
Author and Finisher of Our Faith 60
A Lamb Without Blemish or Spot 61
Living Stone 62
The Daystar 63
Word of Life 64
The Faithful Witness 65
Root of David 66
I Am . . . the Almighty 67
Lord God Omnipotent 68
The Amen 69
Jesus 70
The name of Jesus is the sure hope of salvation to all who believe in him. Jesus—the name that is above every name.
The Bible declares, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name, under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 71
Again, the Bible says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” 72.
Jesus also linked his name to answers to prayer. He said, “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” 73
Finally, the Bible declares: because Jesus humbled himself, and became obedient to death—even death on a cross—God exalted him to the highest place, gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.74
One of the things that people easily forget is the fact that the name Jesus reminds us that we all need a Saviour. For this was the message that the angel gave to Joseph at the time of the birth of Jesus: “You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Yes, the coming of Jesus to this world was as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus, the name that has the authority to forgive the sins of men and women. In his name repentance for the forgiveness of sins is preached to all the nations and to the ends of the world, today. Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
In his name you will find pardon and forgiveness and reconciliation with God and acceptance wtih God and a home in heaven for ever and ever.
Jesus—his name is the sweetest name which you can utter on earth or in heaven time without end. Jesus, the name which rings with authority and power. There is no other name like the name of Jesus.
Therefore, to the question, “What is in a name?” the answer is, everything.
Perhaps a rose, like Shakespeare said, might still smell as sweet by another name; but life and love and peace and joy and forgiveness and healing and compassion radiates with brilliant light in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ who bled and died on the cross for you!
Let me conclude saying there is no other name like his matchless name!
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
— John 1:29 Bible
— 1“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.” — William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
God-given dreams take you through opposition, hatred, and standstills. Circumstances will seem to kill your dreams. But God-given dreams cannot die.
God-given dreams will often bring unlikely people acting a part in its fulfillment. They might act against you, might forget you, might say false stories about you, and even try to shut you in somewhere. But in all these events, God who put the dream in your heart is watching over you.
God-given dreams have an appointed time when all that you thought were lost hopes will suddenly come to life, gather momentum, and roll forward at dizzying speeds. Then all watching will know it is the hand of God that has done it and he has acted on your behalf.
God-given dreams bring great power and authority over people and situations. If you remain humble and do not forget the hardships God took you through to make you reach there, and if you have a forgiving spirit towards those who tried to do you harm; then God will prosper you and make all that you put your hands to, to succeed.
God-given dreams need wisdom from God to act with foresight in trying situations. Such dreams demand that you guard your character and keep it without spot. When all these combine with care and compassion for people, royal doors will open for you.
Finally, God-given dreams are given to those who are tested and tried in the furnace of afflictions that their hearts might be prepared to handle fame, fortune, authority, and power that will be given them. In their hands God-given dreams will find its intended fulfillment and success!
The truth will set you free if you stop looking at your past and lost opportunities to the new thing that God is willing to do in your life.
The truth will set you free if you stop thinking that you are good enough and instead come to God realising that like everyone else you too are a sinner in need of God’s mercy.
The truth will set you free if you are ready to give up the spirit of despair you entertain in your mind and exchange it for a clothing of praise and joy that God wants to gift you with.
The truth will set you free if you are willing to believe that God invests in people who count themselves failures and will build a future for you even when others have rejected you.
The truth will set you free if you can remember that at no point in life are you outside God’s love, outside God’s reach, and outside God’s care and compassion and mighty power to help.
The truth will set you free if the only thing you have to offer God is a broken heart; the only prayer you can bring him is “Have mercy on me,” and the only promise you can make is “I love you, O God.”
The truth will set you free if you can look at the cross and see the forgiving love of God and trust that he hung there bleeding in your place and there is nothing that will separate you from his love; ever!
My best friend and I were standing outside our church premises talking. This was early 1990’s.
Sunday morning it was. Time around 11:30am. From the footpath where we stood, suddenly we saw a man walking barefoot on the tarred road.
He was lean and thin. His eyes looked fierce and piercing. He had a slight beard, face weather-beaten, and hair raven-black. He was wearing a white shirt and dhoti.
He looked like a fiery prophet of old leaping straight out of the pages of the Bible to life.
He was looking at no one and speaking to no one; but simply walking ahead on the royal highway of the Trivandrum city just in front of Museum gate near LMS Compound.
Hanging from his neck were two cardboard placards on the front and back, one in English, the other in Malayalam.
It was written in bold black thick letters:
Prepare
to meet
your God
–Amos 4:12.
It was a silent fearless proclamation of a great truth. That man is destined to die once, and after that face judgement.1
Neither the intense heat of the day nor the traffic distracted the stranger. He kept walking on and on.
Pandemic Covid-19 the likes of which the world has never seen before triggered in my mind the memory of that lone stranger walking.
I wonder how long it will be before his message becomes real; frighteningly real?
1Hebrews 9:27
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts– Malachi 4:1
If you are broken in heart because of your sin, your mistakes, your failure or any other reason you can think of, come to God who will show you mercy.
If it is sin, there is a fountain of cleansing opened for you.
If it is mistakes you have made, there is with God the possibility of making good to come out of them.
It it is failure of some kind, and you are thoroughly defeated, still God will give you hope and strength to rise up.
All this because you cannot exhaust his mercy.
“O God, help me” is a prayer to which he responds with full attention.
“O God, remember me” is a cry he hears even when death is creeping in through the doors.
When you feel forsaken, rejected, alone, and having no strength to take even one more step; then cry out to God. You will find mercy.
Oh, the riches of God’s mercy! It is undeserved kindness towards us. He remembers that we are but dust and has great compassion on us.
The hands that stretched wide on the cross and bled is the surest sign of God’s great mercy to you that is wider than you can think or imagine. So come and find mercy.
Do not delay to come to God. The Bible says soon someday this world will see the wrath of God against sin and evil; and the judgement of God. Then the door of mercy will be no longer open. 1Psalm 51:1 Bible
A sunset is a beautiful moment. Watching it from the beach is lovelier still.
A sunset paints the sky a glorious canvas of blazing colours. If it isn’t God, who else can paint like this each day? I don’t know one.
A sunset can bring sadness. For it means saying goodbye, looking back at opportunities missed, and regretting words and actions that could have been avoided.
A sunset is a mystery: We standing at the edge of a ball hurtling through space at immense speed watching a ball of fire seemingly go to sleep far far away. Isn’t man truly small in this big, vast, immeasurable universe?
Finally, a sunset can remind you of dreams and visions. Centuries ago, one unforgettable dream came to a man called Jacob who rested his head on a stone pillow. He saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder resting on earth and its top reaching heaven. Above it stood the LORD.
Jesus, when he came centuries later, identified himself as that ladder Jacob saw bridging heaven and earth, God and mankind.
Next time, you watch a sunset, think of the promise that God made to Jacob that night: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go1.” What better promise to have than God watching over you and being with you.
1Genesis 28:15 Bible
Blessed sunset and the hope it brings to our lives.
God’s love is for the whole world. It includes you, as well as me. Therefore, you can be assured you are loved.
God’s love is sacrificial. God gave his Son Jesus to shed his blood and die on the cross because of his love for you.
God’s love is a gift. The best way to respond to it is to say “thank you Lord” and accept it.
Do not tell God you are not good enough; for he knows all about you and still loves you.
God’s love brings joy and peace to your life–peace because God forgives your sins, and joy because he accepts you as his child even when you are far from perfect.
Therefore tasting God’s love should make us grow more in humility even as his love drives out fear from our hearts.
God’s love is not just about emotions. He loves you so much that he disciplines you to make you better. He doesn’t leave you to be comfortable with your sins. His love shines a penetrating light in your darkness so that you see who you really are and what God wants you to be.
Finally, there is no place on earth where you are outside the love of God. His love is long, wide, and deep, it is higher than you can reach.
Today, you can open up your heart to God’s love for he has said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love!”
His light guided people to a change of heart and inspired them to move away from sinful living. He came to set people free from what held them in slavery and bondage.
His light made people aware of who God really is like. Not as One against them but as their Father in heaven who desired to forgive them and rebuild their lives!
In spite of shining God’s love in the lives of people, he was despised, hated and rejected. And while he who created light lay bleeding on the cross the sun stopped shining and darkness came over the whole land.2
But then his light burst forth with great joy when he rose up again alive from the dead. And he lives forever. And he upholds you each day in prayer before God and his throne of grace.
“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap about like calves released from the stall (Malachi 4:2 Bible NIV 1984).”
Joy is more than happiness. While a lot of good things make us happy; joy is not attached to things or achievements.
This is because joy is a God-given gift. It is an outflow of what God is. He is full of joy.
Well, that itself should surprise you with joy. More so, because he desires that you have joy in life; and not just happiness.
Joy can bring health to your internally. It can bring healing to you as much as medicines can.
Joy looks forward to long-term goals with hope instead of looking at present day difficulties and giving up in despair.
Joy is not limited. The best example is the angelic announcement to shepherds at the first Christmas. He said, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”1
Joy is easily lost if we allow the worries of life, wrong habits, and relationship problems to choke it in our hearts.
But joy can bubble forth and flow over when you are at peace with God, having your sins forgiven, and enjoying friendship with him.
Finally, joy is found in prayer. It is God’s promise. So just walk up to God, talk with him, unburden yourself, and carry back his joy with you.
Listen to the Risen Christ speak with authority: “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” 1 These words have put courage in the hearts of countless men and women down through the centuries.
And today, if a closed door has left you feeling helpless and stranded, here are a few thoughts to think on:
Secondly, look up to God. He can create opportunities where none exists. What he shuts no one can open and what he opens for you, no one can shut. But looking up to God does not mean there are easy answers.
You might have a long wait ahead. And it is often this test of patience that wears you down. Nothing seems to happen while you wait. But that is how it is.
Thirdly, even while you pray to God, sharpen your skills. Learn something new that will help you make the leap when your opportunity comes. If you fail to update your knowledge you will never be able to make yourself prepared and ready for the new thing that will come to your life.
See, when God sent the rain and the flood, he asked Noah to build the ark. Neither had Noah seen rain before; nor had he ever built even a small boat. But he was ready when the flood came. Then the LORD shut him in inside the ark.2 The shut-in experience became a blessing; a place of safety, and an open door to a new beginning in life.
Fourthly, ask, seek, and knock. Look around you. A closed door can mean that you have to change directions. What might have been a success in the past might not be what is needed for the hour. Your willingness to change can be tested at this time. Keep looking for the next opportunity maybe in a new area or domain.
Finally, the most difficult one among all this, thank God for the closed door in your life: Thanking God means that you are admitting that the situation is beyond your wisdom to handle. Thanking God that you trust God to make the next move for you. Thanking God that you understand that God is preparing people and circumstances to match the moment that will make others look at you and say, “See, what God has done!”3
We all fear death. The reality of death should make us think. Why is life on earth brief? Why is there pain, sickness, suffering, and finally death?
I am not trying to be pessimistic but truthful. The Bible declares that the wages of sin is death! Sin here doesn’t refer to some particular wrong in your life but to the problem faced by entire humanity.
Sin as a virus has infected all human beings. No one is exempt from its infection. in fact, the first social distancing happened in the Garden of Eden when man sinned against God. The virus of sin then created a separation between God and man.
Just like one virus infected person can spread the infection to another all mankind got this sin infection in their blood because of the rebellion of our first parents, Adam and Eve, against God in the Garden of Eden.
The Bible also says that not one of us can escape death or earn our salvation or forgiveness by doing good deeds. The bonus points we gain through our good deeds simply do not add up. It falls short.
Why? Because we all are sin-virus infected; we owe a moral debt to God so huge we simply cannot pay on our own. Someone else had to do it for us.
Therefore God send his Son Jesus as a human being to this earth to pour out his innocent blood on the cross to solve the sin problem. This was possible because the blood of Jesus was not infected by the virus of sin as he was born of a virgin. And his sinless life on earth made sure that his blood was not infected by the sin virus.
Therefore Jesus is able to gift eternal life to you who believe in the power of his shed blood on the cross to completely, thoroughly, wash away your sins.
Therefore the Bible declares: “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”*
Therefore the gift of salvation.is given free to all who say “Thank You” and receive it.
But that is not all. Jesus came back to life from the dead. He lives forever. And to those who receive the gift, death is not the final curtain. Instead it is the bridge to life never ending!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
—
*Romans 6:23 Bible
“having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross”
It is not easy to build again from ruins. For you need to fight against discouragement to attempt rebuilding.
But then think about the cost of not attempting to rebuild your life. Think about all the influences that will make inroads into your life and make your life miserable.
Therefore, now is the time to arise and rebuild your life.
First of all, look to God for help. Human help has limitations. Even with good intentions there are moments when no one can step in to help you. So plug in to the source of your power and strength–God Almighty.
Secondly, you should have a vision about what your life should look like when you finish rebuilding. The most important being the wall or fence that you build around you and your family. See, family is your base camp. Through prayer and trust in God you can build firewalls all around with even angels standing guard.
Thirdly, rally around you people who will encourage you. When you start to rebuild, there will come so many people who will shout at you at every turn that your work cannot be completed. They will point out the huge amount of rubble that needs to be cleared. Do not listen to them. Instead turn your ears to a trusted few who will help you find strength in God.
Finally, do not compromise on watchfulness. When you take a lazy approach to your relationship with God, with your family, towards your work and relationships, you once again are trying to build upon sinking sand. When rains come down, streams rise, and winds blow against; it won’t hold together.
Regrets are there in every life. Wasted years can be one of them. There is no point looking back and crying over all that was lost.
What you need now is a promise of hope. There is Someone who can enter into your past and bring meaning out of time lost, opportunities gone by, and mistakes made.
You need not worry how God does it. He has promised that if you seek him with all your heart and you turn away from wrong ways and habits in your life he will draw near to you.
Patiently, lovingly, and with a firm hand of discipline, he will taken the broken pieces of your life and stitch, merge, fuse, and mould them together. It might retain the scars of the past. But now the difference will be that they too make the design of your life beautiful.
But believe it or not, you need to yield the control of your life over to him. Unless invited to take over the driver’s seat, God won’t step in.
At times, you might feel like advising him what to do. Avoid this backseat driving tendency. Ah, it takes time and many failures and mistakes to learn that he knows what he is doing.
My dear friend, God loves you. He simply won’t give up on you. He is concerned for you. He will not forget you.
