REDEFINING REALITY

Redefining Reality !

There once was a king whose subjects were dying in thousands due to hunger, but he solved that problem in a moment. He simply redefined hunger, so that in his kingdom hunger was now an abstract desire. Since there was no dearth of abstract concepts to feed abstract desires, there was no longer hunger in his kingdom he claimed. People kept on dying, but the definition reduced that to a non event!

Christians, influenced by the fads and fashions of the world, have also been playing the same redefining game but with more far-reaching consequences. As a result, commitment, worship, repentance, devotion, faithfulness and piety no longer mean what the Bible means by these things.

Redefining the fundamentals can surely give one a sense of security, but it cannot change the reality. It is reality that the Christian needs to confront in his daily life, not imaginations.

Johnson C. Philip

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

Everywhere we turn, we hear reports about psychics. Tabloids are thirsty for stories on psychics who search for missing children; ads saturate the airwaves encouraging viewers to call their psychic friends and learn their fortunes; and movie stars, royalty, and even politicians consult psychics to receive direction on critical issues of life. Seeking advice from psychics today is as common as consulting physicians or theologians. But what should our position be as Christians on this phenomenon?

The scriptures say there is only one source for true wisdom –– God’s word. (2Tim. 3:16-17) They warn of lying wonders in the end of the present Gospel age. They also tell of the activity of Satan and the fallen angels who would interfere with men’s affairs so as to draw away the faith of many. “...the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders... And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie...” 2Thess. 2:9-11

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. mat 7 15

Armed with the scriptural facts, the true follower of God would be very sceptical of these so-called prophets. Is it any wonder that a fallen angel would be able to inform psychics of the location of dead bodies or tell of someone’s past or present? All this would give credibility to their guesses of future events which may or may not come to pass. Anyone can make educated guesses. As for us, we will leave the future to the true prophets of old whose words were written for our admonition.

The scriptures are clear, “Beware of false prophets...” We must avoid anything akin to spiritism or occultism. There are but two masters. One is God and the other is the god of this present evil world, Satan. (Matt. 6:24; 2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2) This “prince and power of the air” is not the only angel who left the ranks of the righteous angelic realm to practice lawlessness. A host of angels fell before the flood of Noah’s day and are now those who whisper in the ears of any who will lend them. The increasing popularity of New Age thinking has opened wide the door for these evil spirits to influence and deceive. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1Tim. 4:1 See also Acts 16:16-18; Jude 6

The only way to avoid falling into the snare of these seducing spirits is to “Put on the whole armour of God [His truth and character], that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:11-12

If you have given heed to these evil influences, do not despair, but do be aware and heed the scriptures. Call upon the Lord for grace to help and determine not to have anything more to do with them. “...as for me and my house,we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits Psalm 103:2

Forget Not All His Benefits

One of the best ways to wake up our dull souls is to remember past benefits. This requires much effort because we have difficulty remembering good things done to us (though we easily remember offences committed against us. We should set a time apart to remember past blessings. As a child of God we have to acknowledge the blessings received in the LORD

Say thanks for all his blessings , count one by one ...

How many times we committed same sin ? How many times we repented ? Repent from the bottom of our heart . God will enable us to stand for him.

May God Bless you and your family.

Your loving brother in Christ Jesus

Deity of the Holy Spirit

A) The Holy Spirit is called God: (Acts 5:3-4) (2 Cor 3:17-18) (1Cor15:45)

B) Has the incommunicable attributes of God:
1. He is eternal: (Heb 9:14)
2. He is Omnipresent: (Psalm 139:7-10)
3. He is Omniscient: (1Cor 2:10-11) (Isaiah 40:13)
4. He is Omnipotent: (Zechariah 4:6)

C) Divine works are ascribed to Him:
1. Creation (Gen. 1:2) ( Psalms. 104:30) (Job26:13; 33:4)
2. Incarnation: (Matt. 1:18,20) (Luke 1:35)
3. Resurrection: (Rom. 1:4; 8:11)
4. Salvation, redemption, regeneration and sanctification: (Rom. 8:1-27) ( 2Thess 2:13) (1Peter1:2) (2Cor3:18) (John 3:5-8) (Rom 8:11)

D) He is a person; He exercises the attributes of Personality: That which possesses intelligence, feeling and will; Personality does not necessarily require a body (Lack of definite form is no argument against reality)

His personality is indicated by the fact that He was manifested in the visible form of a dove (Matt3:16) and also by the fact that He is distinguished from His gifts (1Cor 12:11)

a. Has a name: (Matt. 28:19) note that even though "name" might be used of a non-person, here, in conjunction with the Father and the Son, it must be used of a person.
b. Has a mind (Rom8:27)
c. Has a will (1Cor12:11)
d. Has Feeling and can be grieved or vexed ( Eph 4:30) (Isaiah63:10)

E) Personal activities are ascribed to Him:
a. He reveals (2Peter 1:21) (Eph 3:3-5) (1Cor2:9-12)
b. Teaches (John 14:26) (1 Cor 2:13)
c. Witnesses (Gal 4:6) (Rom 8:9,16)
d. Intercedes ( Rom 8:26-27)
e. Speaks ( Rev 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22;14:13) (Acts 13:2) (1Tim 4:1)(2Samuel23:2-3) (Matthew10:20) fJohn16:13) (Acts8:29; 10:19)
g. Commands (Acts 16:6-7)
h. Testifies (John 15:26) (1Pet1:11)
i. He directs (Acts 16:6-7)
j. He appoints ( Acts 5:3-4)
k. Can be Lied to and tempted (Acts 5:3-9)
l. Can be blasphemed ( Matt 12:31-32)
m. can give wisdom understanding and knowledge. (Acts6:10) (Exodus35:31) (Exodus28:3, 31:3) (Duet34:9)
n. Can Prophesy and show the future (Numbers11:25-27,27) (1Samuel 10:6,10; 19:20) (Joel2:28) (Acts2:17-18; 11:28) (John16:13-14)
o. He can make mighty signs, wonders and miracles to happen (Rom 15:19) (Gal3:5)
p. Can physically transport a person to another place (Acts8:29-40)
q. He leads us and helps us to overcome sin(Rom8:13-14)(Gal5:16-17)
r. He adopts us as sons into God’s family (Rom8:15-17) (Gal4:6-7)
s. Can be quenched (1Thess5:19)

F) Is the "Helper" or “Comforter”.
a. Is another Helper: (John 14:16) (1 John 2:1) note also that "Helper" (parakletos) was used in Greek always or almost always of persons
b. Is sent in Jesus' name, to teach: (John 14:26)
c. Will arrive, and then bear witness: (John 15:26-27)
d. Is sent by Christ to convict of sin, will speak not on his own but on behalf of Christ (John16:8-15)
e. Will glorify Christ, thus exhibiting humility: (John 16:7-14)
f. He helps us to obey the truth (1Peter1:22)
g. He comforts and is glorified in the persecuted suffering Christians(1Pet4:14)
h. He can give us supernatural gifts (Acts2:4) (1Cor12:4-11)
i. He helps us to pray (Eph6:18)
j. He gives us power, love and a sound mind (2Tim1:7) (Eph3:16)

Other names, titles and functions

F) Is the Holy Spirit, in contrast to unholy spirits: (Mark 3:22-30) (Matt. 12:32) (1 Tim. 4:1) ( 1 John 3:24) (1John4:2-6)

G) Symbols of the Holy Spirit:
a. The Holy Spirit as fire: (Isa4:4) (Matt. 3;11) ( Luke 3:16) (Ex. 3:2-4) ( Deut. 4;24; 9:3) ( Heb. 12:29)
b. Wind (Ezek37:7-10) (John3:8) (Actsa2:2)
c. Water (Ex17:6) (Ezek36:25-27; 47:1) (John3:5; 4:14; 7:38-39)
d. Seal (Eph1:13) (2Tim2:19) (Eph4:30)
e. Dove (Matt3:16) The Jewish tradition translates this verse as follows “ The Spirit of God like a dove brooded over the waters”. (Gen1:2)
f. Oil; perhaps the most familiar and common symbol of the Holy Spirit.
g. He is also called the finger of God (Luke 11:20)

H) He is the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews10:29) (Zech12:10)

I) He is also called the Spirit of Truth: (John14:17; 15:26; 16:13)(1John5:6)

J) He is the Spirit of promise; (Ezek36:27) (Joel 2:28) (Luke24:49) (Gal 3:14)

K) Spirit of Life: (Rom8:2) (Rev11;11)

L) Spirit of Adoption: (Rom8:15)

M) Creative Spirit: (Gen2:7) (Job 26:13; 33:40) (Psalm33:6; 104:30) (Dan5:23) (Acts17:28) (John1:13)

N) Other functions of the Holy Spirit related to preparing believers for service:
a. The Holy Spirit poured out: (Acts 2:17, 33) (Isa. 53:12) ( Phil. 2:17) ( 2 Tim. 4:6 )
b. Being filled with the Holy Spirit: (Eph. 5:18 etc) (Eph. 3:17, 19; 4:10)
c. He dwells in all believers (Rom8:9) (1Cor3:16)(James4:5) (1John3:24) (1John4:13)
d. Miracles (Acts5:12-15; 19:11-12)
e. The Gifts of the Spirit (1Cor12:4-10) (Acts2:33)

P) He is in co-ordinate rank with the Father and the Son:
a. (1Cor 12:4-6) (2Cor 13:14) (Matt 28:19) (Rev 1:4)
b. He is called the Spirit of God and also the Spirit of Christ in (Rom8:9-11)
c. The “Spirit of the Lord” and the “Spirit of God” (Judges11:29; 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:19) (1Samuel16:13; 19:23)
d. "the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit": use of definite article before each personal noun indicates distinct persons unless explicitly stated otherwise; compare (Rev. 1:17; 2:8, 26)

Q) Jesus is not the Holy Spirit:

1. The Holy Spirit is "another Comforter (Helper)" (John 14:16; 15:26) compare an “Advocate “(1 John 2:1).
2. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; 16:7) (Rom8:9-11).
3. The Holy Spirit exhibits humility (John 16:13) always does the will of God, never draws attention to Himself and always seeks to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14).
4. The Son and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as two persons in (Matt. 28:19).
5. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus (Luke 3:22).
6. Jesus is the one that baptizes with the holy Ghost, He is not Himself the Holy Ghost (John1:33).

7. Arguments commonly used to try and prove that Jesus is the Holy Spirit:

a. (2 Cor 3:17) the Spirit is here called "Lord" in the sense of being Yahweh or God, not Jesus; note (Acts 28:25-27) cf. (Isa.6:8-10) The context suggests that the Lord is the spirit of the OT just as “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). All the types and shadows of the OT find their fulfillment in Christ. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty means that wherever Jesus Christ is recognized as Lord or Jehovah, there is liberty, that is, freedom from the bondage of the law, freedom from obscurity in reading the Scriptures, and freedom to gaze upon His face without a veil between.


b. (1 Cor15:45) Jesus is "a life-giving Spirit," not in the sense that He is the Holy Spirit whom He sent at Pentecost, but in the sense that He is the glorified God-man; and as God He is Spirit by nature. All three persons of the Trinity are Spirit, though there are not three divine Spirits; and only one person is designated "the Holy Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:6) (John6:63) He is alive in the Spirit (see 1 Pet. 3:18), to give life to all who believe. This is why Paul speaks of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2)

c. (Rom 8:27, 34) The fact that two persons intercede for us is consistent with the fact that we have two Advocates (John 14:16) (1 John 2:1).

d. (John14:18) Jesus here refers to His appearances to the disciples after the resurrection (compare14:19), not to the coming of the Spirit.

R) The Father is not the Holy Spirit:

1. The Father sent and gives us the Holy Spirit (John 14:15; 15:26) (1Thess4:8).
2. The Holy Spirit intercedes with the Father for us (Rom. 8:26-27).
3. The Father and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as two persons in (Matt. 28:19) (Luke11:13).
4. The Holy Spirit gives us access to the Father (Eph2:18)

5. Arguments commonly used to try and prove that the Father is the Holy Spirit:

a. (Matt. 1:18) (Luke 1:35) It is argued that the Holy Spirit is the Father of the incarnate Son of God; this argument ignores the fact that the "conception" is not a product of physical union between a man and a woman!

b. The Father and the Holy Spirit are both said to be active in various activities; the resurrection of Jesus (Gal 1:1) (Rom. 8:11), comforting Christians (2 Cor1:3-4) (John 14:26), sanctifying Christians (1 Peter 1:2) (Jude 1), etc: The most these facts prove is that the two work together; they do not prove the two are one person.

Just like the son is God so the Holy Spirit is also God, He is the ‘active’ one of the Godhead so to speak, He caries out the will of the Father having been send by the Son.

GREAT STORY

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. "Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge,hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry."She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth."

She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

DIVINE PEACE

My husband and I lived a life of unity for the first seven years of our martial life. But, in the course of time, differences of opinion started to arise between us and our family peace was disturbed as a result. We disagree on almost all matters. He does not like my views and I do not like his suggestions. Our house is like a hell now. Is there a way for this situation to change and for our home to become a haven of peace?

In many families these days, due to differences arising between the spouses, separation occurs, as there is discord, no oneness of mind and lack of peace. The consequence of this is that the family life is like living in hell. In this condition, the question whether the fullness of peace given by God will ever descend upon the family life, may arise in your hearts.

Many names are given to our Lord in the Bible. One amongst them is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The Lord came into this world to grant peace. Therefore, He will enter into the home where the couple give Him utmost importance and invite Him lovingly and then He will abide with them with great joy.

What does the Lord tell us?

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

If the Lord is to enter our home, we have to read the Bible everyday, pray and do good works and live a life pleasing to Him. Then He will come into our home and abide with us.

The Lord Jesus says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

“We” which is denoted here means, God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. When the three of them join together and enter into our homes and family lives as the triune God, there will be no place for any kind of problem, confusion, differences of opinion, disunity, discord or separation. When the triune God who gives true peace comes and dwells with us, these kinds of evil disturbances will never come into our homes.

The Bible says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

A couple who were ministering to God was very devout,one day,due to a small misunderstanding they became exasperated with each other. But when both of them sought to seek the Lord in solitude, the Lord revealed their shortcomings to them. Immediately they hastened to each other’s side. The wife first apologized to her husband, “I did a grave mistake. Kindly forgive me.” Her husband replied, “I should not have spoken to you in that manner.” They apologized to each other and reconciled.

When we kneel down in the presence of God, the Prince of Peace will help us to realize our shortcomings and experience, His divine peace. When we humble ourselves immediately, the peace of God will descend upon us.

My dear friend, humble yourself and confess your shortcomings in the presence of God for the Lord gives grace to the humble. Pray earnestly as, “Lord I have opened my heart to You. When You come into my heart and home, all the conspiracies of the devil to wreck my family life, will be completely broken. One mindedness and unity will prevail. Blessings will abound in the family and it will thrive and flourish. Therefore, You should come into my home.”

Following this, the Lord will grant you divine wisdom to talk and walk with discernment towards your husband. Likewise, He will bless your husband and children with the same wisdom. He will fill your family life with His divine peace.

THE DEVILS PlAN

THE SATAN MEETING

DO YOU LOVE JESUS

A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus for dinner one night. While Jesus was eating with Simon, a woman,whom the people neglected came into the house. She came over to Jesus and knelt down. “What is she doing?” Simon gasped. Jesus said nothing. The woman was crying. Tears ran over her face and on to Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped His feet dry with her hair.

Still, Jesus said and did nothing. He waited for her to finish. But Simon, the Pharisee, thought to himself, “If Jesus were really a prophet, He would know what kind of awful woman she is.”

Then the woman reached into the folds of her dress. She took out a tiny bottle of a very expensive perfume. It was the sort of perfume every Jewish woman held on to all her life, saving it for a special day. She poured the rich perfume over Jesus’ feet. This meant she thought of Him as her King. The room was filled with the lovely smell.

Simon became more and more upset. Jesus knew what he was thinking. So, He started to tell him a story.

“Once there were two men. One owed a great deal of money to the moneylender. The other owed a little bit of money. When neither could pay back what they owed, the moneylender forgave them both. Now which will love him more?”

Simon said, “The one who owed him the most.”

Jesus said, “Now look at this woman. When I came into your house, you did not give Me any water so I could clean My feet. She made them wet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss of greeting but she has kissed my feet constantly.” Because of her humble act, her sins, which are many, were forgiven (Luke 7:48). Her faith has saved her .

Dear friend, do you love Jesus? How much do you love Him?. This woman, who was neglected by the people, loved Jesus and she did not think about others. Her only aim was to serve Him and she did. In the same way, if you love Jesus, show your love to Him not thinking about others but just serve Him and He will forgive your sins.

WATCH AND PRAY

There will be great tribulation unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be equaled again. Matt 24:21

The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. The stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time, my sign will appear in the sky and all the nations of the earth will mourn. Matt 24:29-30

You will see me sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven... Matt 26:64

…with power and great glory. I will send my angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather my elect from the four winds - from one end of the heavens to the other. Matt 24:30-31

As lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will it be at my return.
Matt 24:27

No one knows about that day - not even the angels in heaven but only my Father. Matt 24:36

Keep watch, you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matt 24:42

You must be ready because I will come at an hour when you do not expect me. Matt 24:44

Be careful or your heart will be overloaded with the indulgences, diversions and anxieties of life and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. It will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch and pray that you are worthy to escape all that is about to happen so you may be able to stand before me. Luke 21:34-36

LOVING GOD

“By this shall all men know
that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another..”
(John 13:35 )

LOVING GOD

Many times, we ask, what it means to love God.

The first expression of love towards God is when we surrender our hearts to Him to follow and do His will for our lives. When we do this, we show God He is important for us and we want to know Him. God’s major desire is to have people who love Him with all their heart, mind, and soul, willing to obey Him in all things.

To love God is very important to live a righteous life because that is what shows our obedience to Him. When we surrender to God, we allow Him to transform our lives into His image; and when that happens, He can show His glory through us.

And Now, Israel what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
(Deuteronomy 10:12 )

When we truly love God, whatever He ask from us is easier to do because real love is willing to do anything for the loved one. True love does not need encouragement because does it by itself. The person that really loves God will always try to please Him in all things.
There is a precious promise for those who surrender their heart to God: His presence continuously dwelling in their lives, a presence that overwhelms our being. A presence that gives us that abundant life we all want and sometimes we try to find through the things of the world.
When we love God we become His habitation, He becomes part of our being.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(John 14:23 )
His grace helps us fulfill the purpose He has for our lives, without any effort. This grace is that special gift that makes the people sees something different in our lives. This is nothing but His presence dwelling within us. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. (Ephesians 6:24 )
For us, fleshy human beings, highly influenced by a sinful nature is difficult to love God, as He desires. However, if we draw near Him with a humble heart He will help us grow in love towards Him. This love will make our hearts overflow with joy and peace.

You might have something against LORD which is stopping him to act on you behalf.pipe down and pray, Holy spirit will guide you in prayer. And mostly give the LORD first preference in your life than anything.

Let LORD take care of your everything..

And Finally LOVE THE LORD and see miracles overflowing.