GREAT EXPERIENCES OF THE LORD'S DISCIPLES

Mark 16: 1-8 give us an account of the New beginning of the post resurrection experience of the Lord Jesus' disciples.
1. Great question  v 3. Who will roll away the stone for us? 2 . Great obstacle, the huge stone that closed the entrance to the  Lord's tomb 3. Great wonder v 4.  The very large stone was already rolled back. 4. Great victory declaration by angel. ..v 6 Easter greetings. .. Christ is risen! !! 5. Great commission v 7 Go tell the good news to Peter and the disciples. 6. Great assurance v. 7 Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. 7. Great promise keeper , you will see Jesus, just as he told you. Though the women who came to embalm the body of Jesus were caught up in terror and amazement, Jesus himself greeted them on the way. He did appear to many of the disciples and proved himself to be the victorious Savior, who rose from the dead, as the grave could not hold him back. For us, Christian believers, He lives forever in our hearts and will return in glory as our KING. Let us tell the world that our Lord Jesus lives and reigns forever! ! May we live in a manner worthy of this Great Privilege. May the victory over the devil and his company be ours in the Mighty Name of Jesus  Christ the Conquerer. Amen, amen.

The four fold wind of the LORD

Lord Jesus told the Samaritan woman by the well of Jacob, " God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." (Jn 4:24). Christianity is a religion of the spirit. The first reference to the Holy Spirit in Acts.Ch.2 is   'Rushing Mighty Wind' that filled the upper room. The apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit in all their ministry of the Lord's Kingdom. The Bible talks about FOUR WINDS.

THE APOSTLE of HOPE

Peter the apostle starts his epistles with emphasis on the Hope we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. How  did this become possible? After betraying his master, he must have become discouraged and initiated going back to 'fishing'. Instead of 'fishing for people' as Jesus commissioned him, Peter was returning to the things he left for following Jesus. He was 'looking behind' after the crucifixion of Jesus!! Is this what for he followed Jesus and took an oath that 'whatever happens he will never leave Jesus'? Let me trace the stages through which the Risen Lord took him, which made his stand very FIRM.

THE LORD DOES NOT SEE AS MORTALS SEE

As I was meditating on the scripture passage in I Samuel Ch.16 : 1-13, the Holy Spirit taught me certain truths, which I have not thought of earlier, even though it is a familiar passage in the Scripture. It has to tell us about the choices of a 'king' , made by prophet Samuel, Jesse father of David and the LORD himself.

'AS SOME OF THEM DID'

What did some of them do? Who were they? To answer these questions, we need to study the Word of the Lord, as it is written in I Corinthians 10: 1-12. Meditating on this passage from the Holy Bible, the Spirit of God opened my eyes to certain truths and I venture to share them here. For those who love to learn from the Bible, my blog will be helpful, I am sure.

UNEQUALLY YOKED

II Corinthians 6: 14-16, exhorts the believers in Christ, that is the New Testament church, to stay away from 'any unholy alliance.' Whatever St.Paul told the church at Corinth, applies very well to Christians down the centuries. The passage warns the readers, of letting anything or anyone unacceptable to Christ, being let into the lives of believers and to take control, be it personal or public lives. The Christian believer, is the abode of God's Holy Spirit now, and we are expected to keep holiness our prime concern, so that we do not get defiled in spirit, soul and body.

 As I was studying Isaiah chapter 8: 1-20, I was led by  the Holy Spirit, to learn some truths which clarify our minds about the Biblical passage cited in II Corinthians. In this blog post I am sharing these. The truth revealed is much applicable to us, at this point in time also. In fact things are not very different from the historical times that are referred to in this Bible passage found in the book of Isaiah.

'EVEN IF NOT FAITH' and 'IF THEN FAITH'

While I was getting ready to share God's word among my college students, for an early morning brief devotions, the Lord taught me certain lessons, which I share in this blog. Starters in the Christian faith may find it worth reading.

In the Old Testament, we meet some people, who made strong 'faith declarations', in varying situations in their life's journey. I find two such illustrations, fitting to simply clarify our ideas and beliefs about 'faith in God.'

1.  'IF THEN' faith

One of the patriarchs of the Israelites, Jacob son of Isaac, is a case in point. He was running away from his brother Esau, whom he deceived on more than one occasion.[ I am not bringing this character for our study here.] All I want to focus, is the dream Jacob had at Bethel. We have been singing at Sunday schools over the years, about Jacob's ladder. Genesis chapter 28 narrates this incident. After he woke up in the morning,Jacob realised that the presence of his father's God was even there in the wilderness, protecting him. Only thing was that he was unaware of it .

Gen 28:20 tells the readers, that Jacob made a vow to the LORD saying, " IF God will be with me and watch over me....... THEN the LORD will be my God......"  

This is what I learnt, the 'conditional faith' which is spiritually immature, has strings attached and focuses on the gifts rather than the Giver. This kind of faith rests on the particular circumstances of life. It hopes for an immediate deliverance of God.  During the Old Testament days,  under the given set of circumstances in which Jacob lived, it might be justifiable.

[We are not bringing the Abrahamic faith, a more mature faith, as a comparison in this blog.]  

BUT, how many times, we who live under the grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ, having freely received the gift of FAITH in and through Him, still comfortably operate at this level, as 'spiritual babies'? We cannot reason it out. Our level of faith needs to mature more towards the 'even if not' faith. Those of us who are serious in walking close to Christ, have committed our lives to Him, have to aspire in growing in our faith, in Jesus, the only Son of God, who is the image of the Only God, His Father. The Holy Spirit of God is ready to teach us relevant truth. He is our resident teacher, to lead us into the full knowledge of  Jesus Christ. Amen!!