BETTER TO BE ALONE

 BETTER TO BE ALONE THAN TO BE IN PAIN,

BETTER TO BE ALONE THAN TO BE REMINDED TO PAST HAPPY MOMENTS

BETTER TO BE ALONE THAN TO BE ALONELY IN CROWD

BETTER TO BE ALONE THAN TO HAVE FAKE LIFE

BETTER TO BE ALONE THAN TO BE JEALOUS

BETTER TO BE ALONE.....

BUT GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US ALONE.

OPPORTUNITIES IN MISSION IN INDIAN CONTEXT

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work, one finishes nothing. The Prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The day when you get satisfied in your mission activities you are done with your mission. Don’t get satisfies but be curious, emphatic, enthusiastic, passionate for the mission of God.

After the death of my son I came to the conclusion that we all are selfish, I mean in a positive way. Why do we follow Christ? The answer is simple that we want to be in heaven. Our desire is to be in heaven. When our son went to be with the Lord, we had one desire added to it that to be meet him too. So everybody has a desire in their heart to be secure, safe, have peace. But they don’t know where to find it.

I want to have small thought on opportunity what the bible says about it. Many times, we get opportunities but many times we don’t. What can be done at that time? If we ask Paul about it, he would say create it. Let’s look in Acts 17: 16: “his spirit provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” - There was a provoking in him, some inspiration from inside.

Then in ‘vs 23, he speaks about the unknown god’- He is creating opportunities in to make them know about Christ, we can see him speaking in synagogues and marketplaces. He created an opportunity to speak to the common men making their unknown god concept without diluting the theology or the doctrine of Christ.

                In 1^st century, Paul; did it, then we in this advanced technology we can do many things. In the 1^st century or today, our focus to share the Gospel and remaining work is done by the spirit. 2nd century onwards we can see opportunities for the mission were always less but God worked in the least expected situations and places.

                Our ultimate goal is to share the Gospel not to convert anybody in any form. That the part of the Holy Spirit.

                I strongly believe opportunities are very rare that we get but we need to create opportunities to share the Gospel.  I think we should learn a few things from businessmen, many times we don’t need a product but they make the opportunity to buy that particular product.

-          Many times we may get opportunities but at the same time, God expects us to create opportunities.

-          Mission these days is not easy but at the same time, it is not impossible too.

-          We have vast opportunities for doing missions these days as technology has grown up like anything.

So how to create opportunities; hence we first need to know the society very well. Let’s see how is our society.    In my finding, I found out there are 4 types of people.

1.         People of God
2.       Receptive people
3.       Resistant people
4.       None of these groups.

          1.       Children of God:

Children of God are considered believers, i.e. the church-going people or people who are trying to live in Christlikeness. These people need to be developed spiritually; we need a direct word of God through sermons, counseling, etc.  The ministries towards them are; Sunday worships, Sunday schools, youth, women, men gatherings, Bible studies and Weekly prayer groups etc. 

2.   Receptive people

They are the non- believing body but are very religious or can be good people in society and also in family. What they lack is salvation. They are receptive to listen to the gospel and will respond to it positively. The ministries towards them are; making good relationships, Praying with them, Film shows, etc. For example: when we were in Bihar, one of our missionaries went to the book, he met a person, he asked him and he said what he is doing and all. That person told I want to meet your pastor, he referred to Rev. Jerish Varghese, he met Achen, after a couple of questions he said I want to be a believer. Rev. Jerish told to come to church as possible to him. He used to live far. He was always there whenever possible. He was a medical representative. He got married in a Hindu way, after his marriage he bought his wife to Rev. Jerish and told him achenji (Reverend) whatever you told me, tell her also so that she can also be a believer. He even started giving tithe and helped in other needs of Patna mission-field. 

3.       Resistant people

They are also non believing body, resistant to the Gospel and its activities. They are basically anti- Christian elements of society. It is tough to share the Gospel to them. They can hurt us or abuse us. At the same time, we cannot run from the responsibility of sharing the Gospel to them. To reach them, we need to have schools, Hospitals, tailoring training centers, etc. There are many examples in history where ministry was done by our compassion projects and other social development projects.

4.       None of the above

They are might be believers, or might be non believers. They have a peculiarity that, they are very much passive to Gospel. They don’t have any response to the Gospel and also are tough people to reach. For them what can be done, they obey us. Get them involved in mission work and give them leadership in some or other things in the mission field. I found these kinds of people in Gujarat. What we did is that, we organized missionaries and told them to take few selected people according to their maturity level for mission work and give them leadership in the prayer meetings and other things like ladies' meetings, elders meetings, etc.  as believers are concerned. About non- believers we can try many times as possible to reach them. In Gujarat, the main reason why we organize so many meetings is that just making it sure that we share the gospel as many times as possible until they receive it.  This is applicable in Gujarat, I don’t know about other places.

We have many opportunities in which we can do mission in possible ways; we just need to be alert and see possible ways to share the gospel. As I said earlier, we just to have that passion, zeal above all Ambition to do it for the faith we have in Christ. We just need to take the risk, we will have a result of risk for the Lord.

Note: This is the seminar that I took at Jubilee Memorial Bible College. 

Magnificent Salvation

1 Peter 1:10-12:-

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.”

Background:

            Peter writes this letter to the people who are suffering from the persecution in the Roman Empire by the Nero emperor. Church in Jerusalem especially the Jewish Christian got scattered throughout Asia Minor. Peter is written to them encouraging to be in faith don’t lose hope. That is why in the first chapter itself he speaks about the hope of eternal life. Being part of that hope he mentions the worthy or the glory of the salvation.

Vs. 8 & 9 says, “⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

--- you reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

 Then he speaks about the worthiness or the magnificent salvation

Jesus said to his disciples once, "Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it" (Matthew 13:16-17).

--Many wanted to see what we saw and many wanted to hear what we heard. The same thing is peter saying to the people who are grieving in their sufferings. I want to emphasize what peter has emphasized about the Salvation to people who were suffering.

I strongly believe, in these times of our life, what should we be more concerned or thinking about when all around we have news of depression, cry, death, punishment, etc. Today whatever be our situation or the situation of the world, we as Christians or believing Christians or born again Christians, we need to focus on our salvation, the beauty of it. It has much worth but I would like to touch only things which peter has mentioned in his portion of his letter.  

            Our Salvation is a magnificent, why:

He does this by telling us three amazing things about our salvation—things that we may have never thought of before. I will briefly mention them and pray that they will stick in your heart and bear the fruit of faith and thanksgiving.

1.     Vs. 10, 11, and 12. Prophets Prophesized it:-

It was predicted or Prophesized by the prophets at an early ages. They not only prophesized and they wanted to know more about it but they were not able to. The prophets’ prophesized about the salvation by grace but to their logic, it is impossible because without the law how can anybody have salvation by grace. That’s why Peter says, they had many questions. They were not able to understand what it meant. They were eager to know about it, that's why in vs 11. Peter says, “they wondered when and to whom all this would happen.”   

Actually, they wanted to be part of it but didn’t happen. They were told in Vs. 12 that it is not for you, actually they were serving us. We know Isaiah prophesized about the Christ long back approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ and He didn’t see him coming. Just imagine Isaiah was serving us in this process of Salvation. The Lord's answer to that yearning cry of the prophets is given in verse 12: "It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you."

The Spirit of Christ said to Isaiah, "Isaiah, be patient, you're not serving yourself or even merely your own generation. You are serving saints hundreds of years from now. They will see in your prophecy of me the proof that I am who I say I am. And its truth will make its infinite value unshakable in their lives. You will not have lived in vain."

2.     Vs. 11- 12. Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Christ Predicted It and even Brings to Us.:-

 Vs 11. Peter points out the amazing fact that Christ himself—the Spirit of Christ—hundreds of years before his own death and resurrection, was predicting his own death and resurrection. Look at the middle of verse 11: "The Spirit of Christ within [the prophets] . . . predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow." Christ predicted the sufferings of Christ.

This means that Christ, the Son of God in Heaven, has been contemplating his suffering and his death for us for centuries. Indeed as far back as the plan of salvation reaches in the mind of God, so far back has Christ has been willing and ready to give himself for our sins. You were not loved for just a bloody moment of sacrifice in history. You have been loved for endless ages in the eternal plan of the Father and the Son to save sinners who trust in him.

Vs. 12. Peter highlights the value of our salvation by telling us in verse 12 that the Holy Spirit himself sent from heaven has brought us the news of our salvation through the gospel. "These things . . . now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven."

This is the right place to stop. This is what is happening right now. I am preaching to you the gospel—the good news that Christ came into the world to save sinners, with the salvation of tremendous value—far more valuable than anything else you own or know.

But it is not just me that is calling your attention to the worth of Christ and of salvation; it is, I believe, the Holy Spirit sent from heaven speaking through me. And my prayer is that you will not resist his call on your life: That you will open yourself to believe and to experience an ever-growing gratitude for such a great salvation.

3.     The Angels Love to Look into It or Angels were Astonished:-

The next thing Peter says to highlight the value of our salvation is that angels love to look into it. Verse 12 (at the end): "things into which angels long to look."

This does not mean they want to but can't. It means they want to because in a sense they are outsiders to the drama of sin and redemption (since they never sinned) and they love to watch the great work of God's salvation unfold in history and in the lives of the saints.

Peter's point is this: if angels get excited about our salvation, how much more should we. If angels love to look at the work of God in saving sinners like us, how much more should we who are the very beneficiaries of that salvation (not just onlookers) love to look into it and be thankful for it and say with Peter, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. . ."

The Patriot’s Plaint

Psalm: 102 –

A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.

¹ Hear my prayer, Lord;
    let my cry for help come to you.
² Do not hide your face from me
    when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
    when I call, answer me quickly.

³ For my days vanish like smoke;
    my bones burn like glowing embers.
⁴ My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
    I forget to eat my food.
⁵ In my distress I groan aloud
    and am reduced to skin and bones.
⁶ I am like a desert owl,
    like an owl among the ruins.
⁷ I lie awake; I have become
    like a bird alone on a roof.
⁸ All day long my enemies taunt me;
    those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
⁹ For I eat ashes as my food
    and mingle my drink with tears
¹⁰ because of your great wrath,
    for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow;
    I wither away like grass.

¹² But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
    your renown endures through all generations.
¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
    for it is time to show favor to her;
    the appointed time has come.
¹⁴ For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
¹⁵ The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
    all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord will rebuild Zion
    and appear in his glory.
¹⁷ He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

¹⁸ Let this be written for a future generation,
    that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ “The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
    from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners
    and release those condemned to death.”
²¹ So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion
    and his praise in Jerusalem
²² when the peoples and the kingdoms
    assemble to worship the Lord.

²³ In the course of my life^[b] he broke my strength;
    he cut short my days.
²⁴ So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
    your years go on through all generations.
²⁵ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
    and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.
²⁸ The children of your servants will live in your presence;
    their descendants will be established before you.”

Introduction

Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ….

This psalm is known as the prayer of afflicted. We don’t know the author of this psalm. As per the author is concern, there are many debates I don’t want to go into it in details but it is more to Davidic psalm because there are some Davidic style of writings.  Some say that David wrote when he flew from Absalom. The author is overwhelmed and pours out his pain before the Lord. Charles H. Spurgeon says “This psalm is a prayer far more in Spirit than in words.” We don’t know his distress is personal or cooperate but it seems he is deep pain and pouring out himself and his situation before God or his helplessness is very much deeply expressed in this psalm.    

I would like to adopt the title given by Charles H. Spurgeon ‘Patriots Plaint’ in his commentary.

DIVISION:- In the first portion of the Psalm, Ps 102:1-11, the moaning monopolizes every verse, the lamentation is unceasing, sorrow rules his heart. He expresses his pain by saying “I am in distress (vs.1-2), my bones burn like glowing embers (vs.3), I forget to eat my food (vs. 4), and I am reduced to skin and bones (vs.5), like an owl among the ruins (vs.6), All day long my enemies taunt me (vs.8);  those who rail against me use my name as a curse (vs.8),  For I eat ashes as my food  and mingle my drink with tears (vs.9), because of your great wrath  for you have taken me up and thrown me aside (vs.10),  My days are like the evening shadow I wither away like grass (vs.11).” he is not only lost strength in heart but also outside.

 The second portion, from Ps 102:12-28, He starts vs.12- “But you O Lord sits enthroned forever.” He has a vision of better things, a hope, and a view of the gracious Lord, HIS eternal existence, and care for HIS people, and therefore it is interspersed with sunlight, and it ends up right gloriously with calm confidence for the future, and sweet rest in the Lord. 

I would like to bring out three points in light of this psalm:-

1.    The Grace in Affliction

As far as a believer is concern, suffering is never a new thing; it is always part of every believer’s life. Jesus himself said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  So we have Lord who has overcome this world. The psalmist here is in great affliction. What does it mean by affliction? I would say, a situation where we feel we are helpless, nothing more to do or unable to handle this situation or situation has gone from our control.

God allows us to go affliction only to make understand that we cannot handle everything. Even this unbearable or uncontrolled or unhandled situation, God gives us the GRACE to face it or go through it. When Paul prayed to God for a particular thing which he wants to get rid of, “But HE said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”……..”(2 Corinthians 12:9).    

    I and my wife are experiencing this GRACE every day from the day when our son fell sick, and nothing was in our hand or it was more than we can handle. And when he left to his heavenly abode at the age of 3 years and 8 months, it was unbearable, something which was unexpected. All these happen all of the sudden but God in HIS grace is still leading us through our life.  

Why does God allow these in our Life? God wants us to put our whole trust in HIM. In 2 Corinthians 1:9, Paul says, “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

In nutshell, as Paul says that this happened that we might not trust in ourselves but in Christ. Paul emphasizes the God who raises the dead. The power of God or HIS Almightiness is the reason behind Paul’s trust in God.    

2.    Faithfulness and Hope of God in Affliction

The psalmist here is at the bottom of all his troubles, He is under a pile, which he describes in exquisite detail. He is a flitting shadow. But he then turns to describe God (v. 12). “But you O Lord sits enthroned forever.”  Here is the logic, running on a straight line. God is eternal because His character is constant; Zion will be restored (vs. 13) and when Zion is restored, God will regard the prayer of the destitute (vs. 17). Luther once wrote that “the heart of religion lies in its personal pronouns.” For example, this is my God, and so this is my promise.

God is faithful and hope in HIM has always played a great role in the life of every Christian. During the time of affliction, the psalmist is very much hopeful and trustful in the faithfulness of Christ. God is the same forever, as Hebrews says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hence, HIS character is stable and unchangeable. So, we can depend on HIS faithfulness and can hope the best in Christ. God’s character of eternity is something Psalmist is more confident than his afflicted situation.    

3.    Victories future

²⁶ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
    Like clothing you will change them
    and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.
²⁸ The children of your servants will live in your presence;
    their descendants will be established before you.”

Vs 26-27- “They shall perish, but YOU shall endure.” 

The power which made them shall dissolve them, even as the city of your love was destroyed at your command; yet neither the ruined city nor the ruined earth can make a change in YOU, reverse your purpose or diminish your glory. Psalmist says everything will pass away but your glory and your plans will always remain. So in this time of distress, he is totally trusting in God who is unchangeable.

There is some more given in vs. 28-The children of your servants shall continue.” Here the psalmist is declaring a clear fact looking forward to a future generation, and with confidence, he declares that his servants would arise and be preserved and blessed by God. Some translation says, "Let the sons of thy servants abide." So let’s be faithful so that our plea for Lord’s favor be heard and as we expect that the cause of God and truth will revive in future generations. Let us hope that those who are to succeed us will not be as stubborn, unbelieving and erring as we have been. Let’s pray to God that He may rise up better order of man who has zeal and obedience shall win and hold a long HIS blessings. God doesn’t neglect the children of his servants. It is the rule that Abraham’s family was taken forever servant of God. Grace is not hereditary but God loves to be served by the same family in time to time.  Here is Zion's hope, her sons will build her up, and her offspring will restore her former glories.

Our God is God of wonders, whoever trusts in him and whoever overcomes this world has a happy ending. Let’s trust in God fully so that in this time of our distress where the whole world is fighting with Covid-19, we as servants or children of God may find God’s faithfulness and Hope and let’s overcome our helplessness by trusting God so that we can have a glorious future with Lord not only in this world but the world to come.

God bless you….