HOPE

What are you hoping for? Is it a house? A great job? Healing?

Hope is the thing that gets you through tough times. It's like shifting your car into a higher gear when you're going up a mountain. But maybe you have put your hope in something and had it dashed to pieces, leaving you hopeless. The temptation is to give up on your dreams altogether. What do you do when you've lost hope?

"When the world says, 'Give up,' Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time'" (Author Unknown).

 If you sat in a broken chair and fell through, would you never sit in a chair again?

THE WORST SINNER CAN BECOME THE MOST FAITHFUL

We have seen many bad persons turn to be a very faithful believer after receiving Jesus Christ. Mary Magdala was such person -

“Jesus rose from death early on the first day of the week. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven evil spirits. She went. And she told those who had been with him. They were very sad and they were weeping. They heard that Jesus was alive. And that she had seen him. But they did not believe it. ( Mark 9-11)

 Mary from Magdala had lived a difficult life before she met Jesus. Bad spirits had ruled her life. But Jesus had caused the spirits to leave her. And then she began to travel with Jesus and the disciples. She had helped him in Galilee (Mark 15:40-41). And she came to Jerusalem.

Life by the Spirit

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Jesus Came to Save Sinners

 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

“ And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying,  “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2).

He only called those who knew they were sinners 

“ And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17).

 Walking with Him depends on truly confronting and confessing sin.

YOU ARE CALL TO WITNESS CHRIST :

 All Christians are called to witness Christ. The first Christians spreading the Gospel were ordinary Christians. The Bible says,

 "And those who were scattered went everywhere preaching....” (Acts 8:4)

“Those who were scattered”  were ordinary Christians, scattered to avoid persecution. They preached the Gospel everywhere they go. Thus, you and I also received the Gospel.

GOD DEMONSTRATE HIS GRACE IN ADAM AND EVE

When God created Adam and Eve, He created them in His own image and after His own likeness. He gave them authority over the earth He had created and told them to rule over it, care for it, and be fruitful and increase in number. He placed them in the beautiful Garden of Eden where everything was peaceful and delightful. They had a wonderful place to live, good minds, loving hearts, meaningful things to do, and a great variety of things to eat and enjoy (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:8-9). There were no arguments, no disagreements, and no frustrations. There were no disappointments or failures, no sickness or pain, no sorrow or death, no guilt and no fear. Everything was perfect.

BE WITNESS OF CHRIST

Jesus lived a sinless life on earth. He taught about how to live with God enjoying His blessing and live in Heaven with God eternally after death. He died on the cross for our sin. He rose again from the dead paving the way for resurrection of all who believed in Him and accept His Lordship. He was taken up to Heaven and sit on the right side of God the Father. All authorities over earth and Heaven is given to Him by the Father. He will come again to bring believers to Him in Heaven and judge and condemn all who rejected Him.
Just before He was taken up to Heaven, He commanded His disciples to go to all nations of the world and preach the Good News of Salvation, the forgiveness of God and eternal life in God (Matthew 28:18-20).
His command is for all who received Him as Lord and Saviour. 

HOW DOES GOD DEMONSTRATE HIS GRACE TO US?

God demonstrates His grace to us every moment of our lives. EVERY blessing we receive comes to us because of the grace of God. Every breath we take, every moment we enjoy, every gift we receive, every skill that we possess, every work that we accomplish and every hope we have for the future is ours only because of God's grace. Even the good we do in obedience to God and the love we show to others are possible only because of God's grace. God may reward us for our obedience or for the kindness and love we show to others, but the source of every good thing in our lives is the sovereign grace of our Father in heaven.

God Promised To Forgive Us If Turn To Him

God is all merciful. His love is great. God may be against you. You must know that if God is against you, He is against your old-self to make you new. God is always against sin, and want to destroy sin. He will do whatever is necessary to do away with sin. Therefore, do not worry, be happy with a hope Gd will make you free from your sinful way of life if He ever touch you whether with happiness or trouble. He promised to forgive us if we turn to Him. In earlier verses, God told Prophet Isaiah thousands years ago to tell the people of Israel about His plan of ‘Forgiveness’. Isaiah told the people of Israel about this message of God. This message is for all the people of the world. If anyone repent, turn away from sinful life and turn to God; ask God in prayer to forgive his or her sin God will forgive him/her and will make him/her God’s Child and bless him abundantly with every good things in life and eternal life with Him.

HOW DOES GOD DEMONSTRATE HIS GRACE TO US?

God demonstrates His grace to us every moment of our lives. EVERY blessing we receive comes to us because of the grace of God. Every breath we take, every moment we enjoy, every gift we receive, every skill that we possess, every work that we accomplish and every hope we have for the future is ours only because of God's grace. Even the good we do in obedience to God and the love we show to others are possible only because of God's grace. God may reward us for our obedience or for the kindness and love we show to others, but the source of every good thing in our lives is the sovereign grace of our Father in heaven.

TO AVOID MISTAKE

 "... whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)

Doing in Jesus name means ‘ doing according to Jesus teaching and good in God’ sight’.

If you are weak spiritually like me, you need to pray first to God before doing anything. Only then, we may be able to do, at least not too wrong in God’s sight.

God Wants You Grow in Faith :

As parents eagerly watch their child grow, God is eagerly waiting you grow in spiritually. And as parents want their child mature enough to be able to do something praiseworthy, your heavenly Father wants you mature to do something to glorify Him. God desires that you grow spiritually and enjoy His blessings.

God is please when His children grow in faith and enjoy His blessings abundantly, as parents are please to see their children happy.

Walk by the Spirit

Love your neighbour as yourself

“My brothers and sisters, you were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command:

 “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

GIVING THANKS MAKES A MAN MORE HAPPY

On the way to Jerusalem he (Jesus) was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."

When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests."

And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"

And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:11-19 RSV)

God wants us to praise and thank Him so that we may know how to live a grateful and joyous life. Only those who can appreciate can have a happy life. Appreciate others that you may have a better relationship with them. They will also want to help you more when you give thanks.

JESUS LOVES YOU, WANT TO SAVE YOU

We sometimes face trouble and become hopeless in this life. We even doubt everybody including our near and dear ones. However, there is a loving God, who really loves you and save you from every trouble and from the very cause of problems in life.

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION IS REALLY REWARDING

After Jesus defeated Satan in the latter’s temptation and Satan left Him: “14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.” (Luke 4:14-15)

PROMISES OF BLESSING ON THE RIGHTEOUS IN OLD TESTAMENT

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. . . . For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” ( Psalm 1:1-3, 6)

"For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”( Psalm 5:12  )

"Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. . . . Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.”( Psalm 112:1, 4 )

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the key to the Christian faith

“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live, ” John 11:25

During Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event is the key to understanding the Christian faith. Without Easter morning, what Jesus taught and modeled would only bring us condemnation. “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” I Corinthians 15:17 Let’s learn more about the special Easter gift God has for you.

ALL WHO SEEK THE LORD FIND HIM

The Lord He says, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart,"( Jeremiah 19:13.)

This is the promises of God that we will find Him if we seek Him ‘with all our heart’. ‘with all our heart’ include that we trust Him and fully depend on Him.

The Lord also says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand," (Isaiah 41:10).

Jesus Christ is with all who received Him as Lord and Saviour; all who obey Him and calls Him all the time. Always call Him in prayer, to live in you and take care of you.

God Loves and Cares You

"This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10). 

God loves even the sinner and wants them to turn away from their sinful life and turn toward Him. He will forgive their sin if they turn to Him and accept His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He will help them to become good persons and healthy, wealthy persons physically as well as spiritually if they obey Him.

 "God loved the world (people)so much that He gave His one and only Son(Jesus Christ), so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

THE RISEN KING LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS ALL AUTHORITY ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN :

Jesus lived a sinless life on earth. During His life He said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) He raised Lazarus from the dead.

He also said He gives His life for all. He bore the sin of the people of the world and died on the Cross on our behalf. He was buried on the grave and had risen from the grave. The Bible records thus :