Man and Mammon

Man and Mammon

When Alexander the great was dying, he told his generals at death bed.

When you take my funeral procession make sure you leave both my hands out of the coffin.
Let people see that though I conquered the world I am not taking anything.

"Empty handed i came to earth,
Empty handed i am Leaving the Earth."

The Holy Bible says

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 
But if we have food and clothing, 
we will be content with that."
- 1 Timothy 6:6‭-‬8

In the current world one of the biggest scheme of devil is to trap man in the pursuit of money.

Nowhere they understand how much ever they earn, they cannot take anything with them when they die.

1Tim 6:10
Love of money is the root of evil.

It's not money itself the evil.
But the love of money.

There are many godly people and Enterprise who handle money the way God want it to be handled. And honor God.

For example - 
Chick-fil-Ais a big hotel franchise in united States. (Like KFC). Their owners are devout Christians and they shut their shops on Sundays (the day where they can get Max profit).

They let go of their profit so they and their employees can worship God and spent time with their families. They have been content with their profits from other six days.

Many people go through stress and sorrow in pursuit of money. How much ever they earn they are not satisfied.

Holy Bible teaches that godliness with contentment is a great gain.

Those who have godliness and contentment in life.
They have peace in their life.

They are not worried or jealous about others blessings. But they are happy and praise God for blessings in others life.

When we understand that
" we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."

Let's not waste our lives in pursuit of riches which vanishes with this world.
If God brings riches as we are faithful in whatever we do. So be it. But let's not Chase that which is vanishing.
But whatever we do let's do it according to the will of God.

Let's Chase that which is eternal.

Let's be humble and use our lives,
our time and effort in pursuit of
things that have eternal significance.

Fruit of the Spirit

Key verse Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,joy,peace,Patience,kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Context of  5

* Life in the Spirit and love - Galatians 5:12- 6:10

* Believers have died with Christ to sin and therefore have renounced flesh -Gal 5:24

* Spirit is the source of power and guidance in a Christians life. He produces love and faith in a believer.Gal 5:6,16,18,25

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
joy,
peace,
Patience,
kindness
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness
and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:24‭-‬25 

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

Luke 6:44

Importance of bearing fruit

Mathew 7:15-23

15 ‘Watch out for false prophets. Theycome to you in sheep’s clothing, butinwardly they are ferocious wolves.

16 By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles

17 Likewise, every goodtree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 Agood tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot beargood fruit

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.

True and false disciples

21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom ofheaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform manymiracles?”

23 Then Iwill tell them plainly,“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

A tree bears fruit based on what it receives through its roots.

Unless we bear good fruit being rooted in Christ Jesus. We might be cut down and thrown into fire.How much ever we might be doing things without the being in Christ.

Our doing should be an outpouring of our being in Christ. Out of the love and relation with Christ our actions should flow.

Else we might be surprised at judgement day.

One of the traps of devil is to get people busy in unfruitful work. That will occupy their hours and give a false satisfaction doing something in their lives. Especially in ministry. But at the end if know it was all useless. What will be our situation?. That's the destruction devil is seeking?.

Bearing fruit if the Spirit is a life long process.

What will happen when we bear fruits of Spirit.

Bearing fruit that matters/patience

*** Story of plantain and the coconut tree.

Plantain bears banana only once and then dies. It takes years for coconut tree to bear friut. Once it bears fruits hundreds coconuts will be there every year there after.

*** Story of Nabeel Qureishi/faithfulness

Great anti Christian, Muslim apologist who surrendered his life to Christ. Was used mightily by God. Diagnosed with final stage cancer. But his message on Facebook, sharing this news with world still holding to Christ and choosing to serve him till death.

A Hindu girl who attended our fellowship back and now in North India is inspired to follow Christ due to his faithfulness to Christ even in face of sure death.

Great revival in Rome/dangerous Love

Many great historians credit the rise of Christian faith in Roman empire to the loving way Christians responded to their persecutors during the great plague during Aurelius.

The plague which killed two thousand per day and wiped one fourth of Roman population.

When pagans deserted and ditched those who got plague. Christians heroically risked their lives to serve and take care of the Romans who persecuted them. Best of the Christians lost their lives in the process and they were treated as martyrs for sharing Christ even when in sure death. Then the miracle happened, Christian workers who served the plague affected became immune to disease and they started surviving plague. They were now sought after all over Rome to serve. While pagans deserted and ditched their loved ones and their homes and cities. Christians fed the population, took care of them and served them with love. Rightfully Christians took over Rome in next century eventually leading to conversion of emperor Constantine to Christian faith.

Joy in the Rise of Christian faith in China.

Christians persecuted and jailed for faith in Christ rejoices when they are beaten. As they have been chosen to suffer for doing good and their rewards are great in heaven. No wonder people in China would love to join Christians who are joyful always no matter what be it good or bad.

Peace during persecution and Korean revival

World famous revival leader pastor of once the world's biggest church , Paul yonggi cho. Has written most of the initial believers in his church were from North Korea who migrated during rear south Korea. When thru heard gospel they immediately accepted Christ. Later pastor came to know that. In North Korea Christians will be persecuted. If they are find and they don't denounce Christ in public. They will be killed one by one. The absolute peace in which Christians faced death shook the hearts of people who were called to witness this event. Add they were buried alive. Christians peacefully singing songs glorifying Christ till death.

Kindness /Mother Teresa

Kindness to the ones who were discarded by everyone.

I  see Christ in every person i meet.

Whatever you do unto the least of the brethren you do unto me.

Countless people have turned their life to Christ due to this voiceless preaching.

Nations were transformed wherever bold Christians decided to allow God to proon them to develop fruits Spirit.

Francis of assisi -a great evangelist of medieval times once said

"Share the gospel always, use words if needed".

Pray for fruits of Spirit to be developed in life.

Rainbow of humanity

From my childhood I was deeply in love with rains...
I loved the smell of the earth when rain embraces her for first time...
I loved the goose bumps given by the spraying rain...
I loved to find reasons to allow rain to do a hip hop on my head...
...

I had so far enjoyed only the romantic side of rains!!.
But this week I saw her as a roaring lioness ;
tearing everything apart in her way.
So far I have seen her with fondness.
Now I see her with fear in my eyes...
Even as the sky is covered with Black clouds ;
mirroring the doubts in my heart...


I can see a rainbow rising across the horizon of chennai...
At the end of which is a treasure of kindness and
an ocean of love and humanity...
_______________________________________________________________________
***dedicated to all brave hearts sweating it out in rescue missions across chennai.
***especially dedicated to the unknown angel, the man who braved the waters and provided drinking water for my baby and us yesterday.
-Dec 3,2015

Tent Makers - The Market Place Missionaries !!!!

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. -Zechariah 4:6 

Year - AD 100-200
Location - Rome

A handful of People who are followers of Christ have gathered for worship in a secret gathering place called 'catacombs', underneath majestic buildings of great Roman Empire. They have gathered secretly as they can't openly worship or practice their faith in Christ without risking their lives. 

Who would have ever thought this tiny group of People would bring the mighty Roman Empire to its knees? These prayerful, sacrificial Christians with their minds set on their savior Jesus Christ & his second coming transformed mighty Roman Empire. 

Year - AD 2000's
Location-corporate buildings of India

Beneath the mammoth infrastructure of IT giants, escaping the ever prying eyes of surveillance cams a group of dedicated Christians pour into the basements, car parking areas, stair ways, and terraces for time of prayer and Fellowship. 

The Real Meaning of success 

They don't believe in the 5 point success formula propagated by the world, namely a great wife,2 good children, a 3 BHK house, 4 Wheeler & 5 figure salary. For them success is not about a secure and prosperous life on earth. Rather, Success is not calculated in worldly terms. For them joy is not in seeing their salaries hiking to astronomical heights. Their joy is in seeing lives transforming through power of Holy Spirit. Their happiness lies in sharing the gospel and healing wounded hearts. Their hearts and minds are set on Christ Jesus and the eternal life. 

Tentmakers - the market place missionaries

Welcome to the world of TentMakers. The market place missionaries just like Apostle Paul in Holy Bible. They work not for earning money or power or position. But to share, the good news and glorious faith in Christ to their colleagues. To lead a life that reflects Christ to everyone around, breaking all boundaries of caste, race, religion, color with love of Christ. Their efforts focused on building the Church of Jesus Christ. 

The countless number of first fruits (first Christians in their family/community/tribe/place) is the result of these TentMakers. From Brahmins in agraharams to the muslims from their mohallas. From tamilians to punjabis, malayalees to marathis people from all tribes and tongues are being transformed by love of Christ displayed through these TenteMakers. 

Rise of the Nameless, Faceless army of God God is raising an army. 

A nameless, faceless army, led not by men but by Spirit of God. To bring the lost sheep back to the shepherd. This army has weapons that capture hearts and souls, trained by God to encourage and build lives.Their protection under the Sovereign Lord.

 This is not an army that keeps People with them by striking them with fear.
 But which makes people surrender willingly bound by the love of Christ.
 This is not an army that fights humans. 
But fights against the powers and dominions of darkness. 

This army of God will definitely capture this nation in a revolution washed by blood, 
not of the humans but of the blood of the lamb slain at the cross, Our Precious Lord Jesus Christ. 

A Final question Do you want to join the countless millions who just go through the cycle of working, marrying, birthing, marrying off and dying. 
OR
Do you want to be a TentMaker for Christ and his Church and change the course of history? 
Choice is yours.

People that do know their God shall be strong, and do great exploits.
-Daniel 11:32 

HE IS RISEN !!!

      "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins"
-1 Corinthians 15:17

There have been many in history who claimed to be God. 
Everyone invariably met their match in death finally. 
Except Jesus Christ !!!. 

The Resurrection sets Christianity apart. No other religious figure has ever broken the power of death and conquered sin. While all the religious heads and so called Gods were defeated by death. Jesus alone defeated death and resurrected back to life. 

Resurrection- It is history's most significant event. 

The Resurrection proved and confirmed that Christ was divine. Jesus proved His deity by fulfilling the prophecies of His death and by His return from the grave. The Bible declares that by being raised from the dead Christ was proved to be the mighty Son of God, with the holy nature of God Himself -Romans 1:4.

The Resurrection confirmed Christ's power to forgive sin. Hence ultimately confirming his divinity. The Bible says, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins"  -1 Corinthians 15:17. 

By rising from the dead, Jesus proved His authority and power to break the bondage of sin and to give forgiveness and eternal life to all who accept His gift of salvation. The Resurrection revealed Christ's victory over death. The Bible records, Christ rose from the dead and will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him -Romans 6:9.
When Jesus Christ arose, the power of sin and death was forever shattered. 

In a world where there are lots of opinion about reaching heaven. How you can be sure which path is right?. when you consider eternity how you can decide which teaching to follow. We have to follow one who has fulfilled his claims. 

Jesus overcame death and resurrected back to life. Hence Jesus and Jesus alone holds the right to show us the life after death. No one in the history of mankind had gone to realm of death and returned alive forever. We should hold onto teaching of Jesus alone for eternity. 

Resurrection of Jesus also points to another great upcoming event in world. 

Second coming of Jesus Christ !!. 

When all who were dead in Christ will resurrect and those alive will attain rapture. All who are dead and alive shall be judged by Jesus Christ. Let's join along with the host of witness that surrounds us. Who in spite of every adversity through past twenty centuries sing to the eternal king.

He is risen !! 
He is risen indeed !!!. 

WE JUST PRAYED !!!

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will Never enter it."  - Mark-10:15

Faith like a child

Jesus demanded a child like faith from his disciples to inherit kingdom of God. Children are the epitome of faith. Who else can kiss away the pain & smile, just after falling down. But that's the kind of faith that is the recipe for obtaining miracles from God.

Let's see what happened when two new believers in china decided to believe God with a child like faith. It’s a real life testimony recorded and verified by Harvest Asia missions.

The mustard seed of faith

During 1990's two sisters in china came to faith in Christ through a radio broadcast. A Hong Kong Pastor handed a Bible to them. And when they read it they wanted to share gospel. Later they came to know about need of evangelists in Hainan Island. They felt strongly in heart that God is calling them.

To go to this place and share gospel.

They had much against them.

They were less educated.

They were poor.

They were women.

They were in rural china.

The people over there were vicious.

But they had faith and a huge dose of it. They went to Hainan Island. For two years there was no news about them. Then one day they came back to their Pastor.

Faith that moves God

Pastor asked about their work. After long set of apologies they said "we couldn't do much.

The People were against us. They were threatening us. We did only little.

We could plant only 30 churches."

The Pastor and the visiting American pastoral delegation were taken aback by their faith. With tears in eyes they asked "how many believers are there in your church?". With another round of apologies they told "we couldn't save many. Smallest church has 220 and biggest has only 4900 People".

The Secret of answered prayer

Astonished the pastors asked them how they did it. Two sisters told "we did nothing". Pastors again asked "you were able to lead so many people to faith. But you say we did nothing. How is it possible?.

What is your secret?".

The two sisters said "yes we did nothing. We just prayed. Then Holy Spirit will show us what to do.

We will do it. Then we will pray again. And will do what Holy Spirit shows us again".

What an amazing faith!!. They had faith enough to put their logic at back seat. And trust and obey the voice of Holy Spirit. The result is the salvation of thousands of souls in the Hainan Island in china.

The Challenge

We ask God for great things, mighty revivals.

BUT

How many times we are ready to obey the voice of Holy Spirit with a child like faith?.

Even if the advise of Holy Spirit defies natural logic.

Are you ready to have a child like faith in Christ Jesus?.

Then greater things are in store from your heavenly father.

Power of a God given Vision

The Holy Bible says that the revelation and visions given by Lord will be fulfilled. 

Though it may delay it will happen at the appointed time of the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 

Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;it will certainly come and will not delay.

Starting from Genesis till revelation, Holy Bible is full of examples of God speaking to humans 

through dreams, visions and revelations.

The God of visions

God almighty is searching for humans who are faithful & prayerful to receive and fulfill the desires of heavenly father; through dreams, visions and revelations. In the end times Lord promised to pour out his Spirit on all people.

And Lord gives dreams and visions.

Joel 2:28
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

The thrilling short history shared below shows how God used a eight year old boy who believed in the God given vision. And how plan of God for humanity (through Christ Jesus) is getting fulfilled. Through one who believed in God given vision.

The vision that lingers

In the world war 2 , the allied fighter planes were bombing across Prussia(province of Germany).

He was then a child, who along with his mother ran across a frozen sea along with thousands to escape death. Separated from father, bombs killing people all across. He developed a compassion and love for people. 

With divine protection he escaped along with his mother and was reunited with his father.

At the age of eight he received baptism of Holy Spirit in the church pastored by His father.
A woman prophesied over him and he saw the vision of hundreds of black people following a white man.           

And it was to be him.

The vision that breaks through obstacles

Later when he was a young man God spoke to in a vision that Africa shall be washed by blood of Christ and be saved. He believed it with all of his heart and went to Africa as a young missionary. Started missionary work in mountain kingdom of Lesotho, steeped in idolatry and witch craft.

His faith was big enough to accommodate an entire continent in the plan of God.

BUT

His mission agency could not understand his vision.
His church did not have enough faith.
He built the worlds biggest tent for gospel meetings only to find it ripped apart by storm.
Fellow preachers were against him.
Governments banned his entry to nations.
Witch doctors tried all their evil power against him.
Riots erupted against his meetings .
Islamic terrorists wanted him dead.

Every thing was against him but he still clung to the God given vision with the faith of a child.

Plundering hell ,Populating heaven

Nothing, absolutely no obstacle could erase the vision given by the Lord. That Africa shall be washed by the blood of Christ and shall be saved. He went to disco club and preached gospel when he could not find youngsters in church.

He went to markets in search of souls. God used him to break through the racial division of South Africa to save the souls. He went to places where gospel was never heard nor welcomed. Such was the power of the vision given by the Lord to him.

That child had grown old to be 74 years. He has seen African Christian population grow from 10% to 40% of the total population of the continent in last half a century. He has seen many nations becoming Christian majority.                  

He has seen millions saved, accepting Christ in a single crusade.
More than 50 million People came to the salvation of Christ Jesus through his crusades.

He is the greatest ever evangelist in the history of Christianity, probably behind Apostle Paul alone.
His name is Reinhard Bonnke !!!.

Hold onto God given vision till completion

Holy Bible says don't despise the small beginnings.                                                                                                  

Remember all these started when Reinhard Bonnke was an eight year old child.                                                          

Who believed the God given vision with all of his heart that it will come to completion.

Do you have a God given vision?.                                                                                                                                        

Never give up on the God given vision.
God shall fulfill the vision at his appointed time.                                                                                                                       

If not you, He shall appoint someone else who is willing to fulfill HIS vision and mission.

Hold onto God given vision & never give up !!!.
If you believe you shall see the glory of God !!!.