THE HOPE OF HEAVEN

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.    (Hebrews 12:1)

  Dearly beloved, Lord Jesus tells us, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Yes! How much are we to rejoice because our names are written in heaven.

A soldier, on his death bed, was murmuring something. His colleagues who noticed his unusual behavior asked him in surprise: “Why do you keep saying, ‘I am here! I am here?’” He responded: “Lo! I see the doors of heaven open. My name is called there. I am answering the roll that is called there.” And soon he died.

Lord Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit…” (John 15: 1 and 2).

We read the same thing in Romans 11:22. On many occasions, we were about to backslide. When the call of God came, we were indifferent and caused pain to Him. There were times when we grieved our parents. However, the Lord was gracious unto us. Whenever temptations and problems came, the Holy Spirit poured the love of God on us (Romans 5:5). That is why we are still united with Him as branches of the vine. Our Father has not cut us off. Our names are not blotted out in heaven. He does love us all the time.

Arnold Alson was the President of the Evangelical Church in USA. Once when he went to a town to preach, he stayed in a room. Another elderly pastor also stayed along with him. He was a saint. One day while he was shaving, he told Alson: “Alson! If I do not recognize you in heaven, please do not get angry with me.” Greatly shocked by those words, Alson inquired: “Why do you say like that?” The pastor answered: “When I go to heaven, I will be constantly watching the face of Lord Jesus even for 1000 years. I won’t have time to see you.” See his love for God!

Yes, our names are written in heaven. The hope that one day we will go to heaven and be with God, makes us rejoice exceedingly. The Scripture exhorts, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). According to the afore-mentioned Bible verse, let us abide in Lord Jesus Christ and live righteous lives in order to receive the eternal crown.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

You are full of grace and mercy. I thank You for the gift of salvation which You have given me through your grace. I will rejoice in my salvation for I now belong to You. Enable me to live righteously according to your Word. Give me the grace to continue in faith and abide in You. Enable me to rejoice in the hope that my name is written in heaven.

In Your matchless name I pray.

Amen.

"In peace I will lie down and sleep,for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm (4:8)

 

 

"Main salamti se late jaon ga aur so rahun ga kyun ke aiy Khudawand! Faqat tu hi mujhe mutmayeen rakhta hai."Zaboor (4:8)

 

 

"میں سلامتی سے لیٹ جاونگا اور سو رہونگا کیونکہ اے خداوند! فقط تو ہی مجھے مطمئن رکھتا ہے."
زبور 8:4

HEAVENLY HONOUR

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.    (Isaiah 53:4)

Dearly beloved, Lord Jesus will honor us by giving us rewards for the things we do for Him. How will He honour us? “He will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them” (Luke 12:37). That is the gift awaiting us in heaven. So let us rejoice! The Scripture exclaims, “For great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5:12).

My father used to speak often about my uncle, the late Brother George. While he was struggling for life in the hospital, my father was also in great agony due to his heart ailment. We were in great fear as to what would happen. 

One day, my father had a vision while he was lying in his bed. My uncle was climbing upstairs very elegantly dressed. An angel of the Lord was leading him. When my father asked him: “Annan, where are you going?” he replied: “I hear a lovely song above. I go there.” When my father said: “Annan, there is a lot of work for you here. Please do it,” he answered: “Yes, I will come.” But within two days, my uncle entered into the presence of God. 

My father saw in the vision an angel of God waiting to receive him. He was introducing everyone who was entering heaven while Lord Jesus was seated on a golden throne. When my uncle’s turn came he was introduced: “King George Everlasting is here.” Lord Jesus stood up and embraced him saying: “My son! How much have you suffered for Me! What impressed Me most in you is how much you have suffered in arranging the ‘Jesus Calls’ Good News meetings. You must know that through you, several lakhs have come into heaven.” 

The Lord then escorted my uncle to the place that had been prepared for him saying: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” (Matthew 25:21).

Friend! If we have done anything for Lord Jesus, we will greatly rejoice. The blessings we enjoy are not meant for this world alone. Lord Jesus has prepared greater blessings for us in heaven. "He will reward each person according to what he has done" (Matthew 16:27). So let us be exceedingly glad.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

You have created me with a purpose. I fully surrender my life to You. Help me to know your will and give me your grace to lead my life according to your will. Accomplish your will in my life. Help me to lead countless people towards You. Enable me to live for your glory. Crown me with your reward in eternity. Give me the grace to inherit the greater blessings which You have in store for me in heaven.

In Your matchless name I pray. 

Amen.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

Philippians (4:19)

"Mera Khuda apni daulat ke muafiq jalal se Masih Yesu main tumhari har aik ahtiaaj rafa kare ga."

Filipyion (4:19)

"میرا خدا اپنی دولت کے موافق جلال سے مسیح یسوع میں تمہاری ہر ایک احتیاج رفع کرے گا."
فلپیوں 19:4

HOLY SPIRIT IN ABUNDANCE

God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.    (Romans 5:5)

Dearly beloved, the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He will comfort us and strengthen us to live a joyful life.

This is what the Lord did in my life. Immediately after my marriage I lost my mother, brother and later my father also. Those days, I used to weep all the time. One day my husband told me, “Why are you weeping over the lost? God has done so much of good to you. Why not count all your blessings and praise Him?” Only then I started realizing the great things the Lord has done for me.

I started praising Him for all His blessings. Then He filled me with the abundance of His Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the love of God is poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5). The Lord poured His love into my heart also. Only then, I could see a change in my ministry.

During the initial stages of my ministry, it was very tough for me. When I got up to preach for the first time in a youth meeting at St. Patrick’s Church in Tuticorin, a kind of fear arose within me. I started to speak softly. Unfortunately, the P.A. System did not work properly that day. So many in the crowd pleaded with me to talk loudly and my fear increased. My voice began to tremble. My sister who was sitting near me came to me and said, “Talk loudly.” My fear increased further.

Somehow I delivered the message and began to pray. The moment I started praying, the Holy Spirit came upon me in a glorious manner. Many among the youth were filled with the Holy Spirit that day. When I opened my eyes after the prayer, I was amazed to see everyone in the crowd being filled with the Holy Spirit. Many youngsters came and testified happily and glorified God.

The Scripture declares, "For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:20). When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we will receive God’s fullness. Even on that day, that Church was filled with the fullness of God. When the Holy Spirit comes into us, He will strengthen us. He will transform our lives. He will perform wonderful and mighty things through us. People will see God’s glory.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

Your love surpasses all things. I want to know You. I seek the fullness of your love. You have chosen me as your holy dwelling place. I humbly ask You to fill me with the abundance of the Holy Spirit. Empower me through your Spirit and do mighty things in my life. May your presence change my life completely.

In Your matchless name I pray.

Amen.

"I (Jesus) tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life."

John (6:47)

 

 

"Main (Yesu) tum se sach kehta hun ke jo emaan lata hai hamesha ki zindagi uski hai."

Youhana (6:47)

 

"میں (یسوع) تم سے سچ کہتا ہوں کہ جو ایمان لاتا ہے ہمیشہ کی زندگی اس کی ہے."
یوحنا 47:6

 

 

DWELLING IN PROSPERITY

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.    (Psalm 112:1)

  Dearly beloved, the Lord cares for every one of us (I Peter 5:7). It is His desire to remove all our sorrows and bless us. He richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (I Timothy 6:17). He says, “Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it” (Jeremiah 33:9).

The above mentioned promises of God will surely encourage us to a great extent because they are the words of the Almighty God. He never changes in His Word. King Solomon has written that the Lord who has promised with His mouth, will certainly fulfill it with His hand (I Kings 8:24).

Let us now meditate as to how the Lord will fulfill the above promises in our lives today.

In Exodus chapter 20, we read as to how the Lord revealed His glory to the Israelites. They saw the thunder and lightning, heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke when the Lord descended in their midst. They also heard His voice that day (Exodus 19:16). When the Lord descended, Mount Sinai was covered with smoke (Exodus 19:18). Then Moses told the Israelites, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning” (Exodus 20:20).

The Lord has said, “I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me” (Jeremiah 32:40). What a great blessing! The Lord has made a covenant with us for us to fear Him in order to receive His abundant blessings. The Bible says that those who fear God will do better (Ecclesiastes 8:12). Let us analyze our lives today whether we have the fear of God in us.

These days, rarely we find people leading God-fearing lives. Only a handful of people love God, fear Him, shun the pleasures of the world and lead righteous lives. Let us analyze our lives today. As we are living in the last days, let us surrender ourselves at the feet of God and lead God-fearing lives. Then He who never changes in His Word, will certainly bless us with abundant prosperity. He will also fill us and our families with His joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.

I used to quote this incident quite often in my sermons. There lived a family in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The head of that family was a drunkard. Therefore, there was no peace in their home. On account of his evil habit, he lost his job also. But his children were very God-fearing. Hence with great faith, they sent a prayer request to the Jesus Calls Ministry. They sought the Lord faithfully. He heard their prayers and transformed their father completely. He was reinstated in his job. That family was filled with the peace of God. The neighbours who called their home as “The house of the drunkard,” now started calling their home as “The House of Prayer.”

The Lord granted such a great blessing to that family. He is willing to do the same for our families also. The Bible promises, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways” (Psalm 112:1; 128:1). “He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land” (Psalm 25:13). Let us seek Him faithfully and receive His blessings.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

You are the rich provider of all blessings. I surrender my life at your feet. Help me to meditate on your Word that I may receive wisdom to lead a righteous life. May You be pleased with my blameless life and let your favour bring blessings into my life. Let your promises be fulfilled in my life. Provide me abundant prosperity and peace. Fill my family with abundant joy.

In Your matchless name I pray.

Amen.

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Matthew (21:22)

 

 

"Aur jo kuch dua main emaan ke sath mango ge wo sub tum ko mile ga."

Matti (21:22)

 

"اور جو کچھ دعا میں ایمان کے ساتھ مانگو گے وہ سب تم کو ملے گا."
متی 22:21

 

EXALTED BLESSINGS

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.    (Psalm 1:1)

Dearly beloved, the Lord has promised us that He would fill us with His bounty. He says, “I...will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36:11). 

The Bible says, “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” (Psalm 1:1). When our ways are pleasing to God, He will shower His blessings on us. So let us praise Him with all our heart.

Joshua was a student of the Karunya University. Today, God has blessed him in an abundant measure. He is running a company. One time, he arranged a function in order to give the awards for the best staff of his organization. He invited me and my husband to be the Chief Guests for the function. 

After giving away the awards, Joshua stood up and testified, “I started my company in a very difficult situation. But today, God has blessed my organization in such a way that we have branches in many parts of India. Lord Jesus Christ is the only reason for my success.”

“When I studied in Karunya, they taught me to do everything after a prayer. Accordingly, every day I would start my work with a word of prayer. In the same way, I close my office only after offering praises and prayers to God. I also make all my co-workers to pray. Many who are in the same field as mine, have lost a great deal of money. Nonetheless, the Lord has blessed me and exalted me in life.” When we heard his amazing testimony, we too joined him and praised God.

When we seek the Lord diligently, He will bless all our undertakings. Our difficult situations will turn around to our benefit. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

He will protect us from difficult situations. “ ‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.’” (Psalm 91:14). He will bless the work of our hands and prosper us according to the following bible verse: “May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem” (Psalm 128:5).

The love of God is so great! He will give everyone of us this love. When His love is poured into our hearts, we will be exalted. So let us praise God with all our hearts for choosing us, calling us, glorifying us and making us righteous.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

You have promised to bless me with your bounty. Help me to lead a righteous life that I may receive your blessings. I need your grace to live a blameless life. Let my ways be pleasing to You. Deliver me from my problems. Turn around difficult situations to my benefit. Bless the work of my hands and prosper me. Grant me success in all my efforts. 

In Your matchless name I pray. 

Amen.