[ecko_quote source="Galatians 2:20"] I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me[/ecko_quote]
There is a story about some of Caesar’s soldiers who were warriors in a ship. They docked off the coast of Britain and planned to raid a small island. The villagers thought they could defend their land.
They gathered sticks, pitchforks, rakes, rocks, and anything they could get. Then they started down the hill to meet these soldiers. They weren’t prepared for what they saw.
The soldiers got out of their boat, turned around and set fire to it and shoved it out to sea. The villagers laid down their weapons and surrendered. Do you know why? Caesar’s warriors had not come to retreat. They had come to conquer or die.
How about you? Have you kept a boat pulled up on the beach? You say, Well I am going to quit drinking, but I am going to keep this fifth of liquor just in case company comes over. Do you know what? You’re setting yourself up for defeat because you are already backing up. The devil has already intimidated you.
What you need to say is, I am going for God. I am going to conquer. I am going to die to self and let Christ live in me.
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Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church - Auckland, New Zealand; LMF
[ecko_quote source="Colossians 1:9]For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding[/ecko_quote]
The best way to study a subject often begins with a definition of that subject. What do mean by the will of God? It is that holy and stated purpose of the Father to make His dear children as much like Christ as possible.
The first step in knowing the will of God is the surrender principle. It’s an insult to tell God, “I want to know Your will, but I’m not willing to do Your will.” See this principle in Ephesians 6:5-8. A portion of that passage reads, “…in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men….”
Another principle in knowing the will of God is the Scripture principle. Jesus said, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) First surrender: “You abide in Me,” then Scripture: “My words abide in you.” God speaks to us not in some loud voice, but through the Scriptures.
Do you want to know God’s will? Then here’s your test: How much time do you spend in God’s Word? Do you think God really believes you when you say “I want to know the will of God,” but you don’t read the one book above all books that God has specifically written to show you His will, to reveal His will to you, to unfold His will to you? Romans 12:2 tells us, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
What is the will of God for us? The will of God differs from believer to believer. But here are four aspects in the will of God which apply to every Christian.
1. It is His will that we learn more about God (Col 1:9)
2. It is His will that we grow in grace (1 Thess 4:3); God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.
3. It is His will that we study His Word (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
4. It is His will that we share our faith (Acts 1:8)
GOD WANTS TO REVEAL HIS WILL MORE THAN WE WANT TO KNOW.
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Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church - Auckland, New Zealand; LMF
[ecko_quote source="Mark 11:24"]Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them[/ecko_quote]
Let me make an important observation. The Church world as a whole has missed it in the prayer business and in the prayer life(in the spiritual sense). And this is where we have missed it. We have put all prayer in the same sack and shook it all out together. We said, in effect, “Prayer is prayer.” We failed to realise that the New Testament teaches there are different kinds of prayer. And different rules apply to different kinds of praying. The same rules will not apply to all kinds praying.
I use sports as an illustration. In the realm of sports, there is football; there is baseball; there is golf; there is tennis. All of them are sports. But they are not all played by the same rules. It would be foolish to say “Sports are sports. All sports ought to be played by football rules.”
It would make just as much sense to say, “Prayer is prayer. All prayer ought to be prayed by the same rules”. That would be unwise. But that is where we have missed it.
For instance, when you pray a “prayer of dedication and consecration” you do not use the same rules you use when you pray a “prayer to receive something from God.”
When I pray a “prayer of consecration and dedication,” I am not necessarily praying to receive something from God. I am dedicating myself to do whatever God wants me to do. I am dedicating myself to do whatever God wants me to do. I say, “God, if You want me to go to Africa, I will go” That means I don’t know whether He wants me to go or not. But if He wants me to go, I am available. So, I can put an “if” in that prayer.
When I pray a “prayer to receive something from God,” I cannot put an “if” in it and ever get an answer. In this kind of prayer, “if” indicates unbelief – “if” is the badge of the doubt.
In the “prayer of consecration and dedication,” I can put an “if” “if You want me to stay home, I will stay home. If You want me to preach, I will to preach. Whatever You want me to do, I will do. If You want me to go talk to that person about being saved, I will do it”.
There is another kind of prayer where we are not asking for anything, not trying to change anything. We are just worshipping God. This is the “prayer of worship” Different rules apply to this prayer.
I do not have space to go into all the different kinds of praying and the rules that apply in this devotion. But I am making these brief observations about the different kinds of prayer here, so that you will understand and appreciate.
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/prayer.jpg]
Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church - Auckland, New Zealand; Kenneth E. Hagin Sr
[ecko_quote source="Psalm 119:105"]Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path [/ecko_quote]
The Psalmist said, “The entrance of thy Words giveth light (Ps 119:130). The entrance of God’s Word gives light. When there is light in a room, it is no problem at all to walk around in it. But with all the lights out on a dark night, you may stumble and fall over objects in that room. As long as the light is there, you can walk fine.
The entrance of His words gives light. The reason many fall and fail is because they have left the light of the Word of God. They are walking in presumption or foolishness. What does God’s Word say? Too many answer, “Well, I don’t know”
Find out what it says. Find the Scriptures that promise you the things you are praying for. You are always on safe ground when you are on the Scriptures. When you get away from them, you are in a grey area. Therefore, my dear ones, never discourage those who labour in Word and brings the engrafted Word to bring the light into your life. In these last days’ people, will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and more interested in listening stories than the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:3). I consider those who lose faithful preachers are most unfortunate people in this world.
Some people want to step over into the dark and whether or not the Word of God promises it, they say, “I am just going to believe”. Believing God is believing His Word. Oh, how necessary it is to know the Word of God. Thank God, He has given us His Word. We need not be in the dark. The entrance of His Word gives light.
What does it mean to walk in the light? It means to walk in the Word! Walking in the Word is walking in the light. To walk away from the Word means to walk into darkness.
I am a believer, I am not a doubter, I do have faith. My faith works. My faith is in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. My faith is in the Holy Bible, the Word of God. God’s Word is true. I believe the Word of God. Therefore, I believe God. God’s Word works!
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/light.jpg]
Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church - Auckland, New Zealand; Kenneth E. Hagin Sr
[ecko_quote source="2 King 7:1-2"] Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”[/ecko_quote]
This man, this government official, acted like he believed in God, but he was a practical atheist. To me the biggest fool is not the man who says there is no God (Psalm 14:1),but the man who says there is a God and then doesn't live like it. Here was a man who had a sterile religion. He believed in God in a way. He had a form of godliness, but he denied the power thereof(2 Timothy 3:5)And he was the loser.
He was robbed by the thief of unbelief. I want you to see what the man of God said to him. “Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof.”
Unbelief always withholds God's blessings from us. Your sins are withholding good things from you and unbelief is the chief among them. Confess any unbelief.
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/VALUE.jpg]
Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church - Auckland, New Zealand; LWF
[ecko_quote source="2 King 7:1-2"]Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’”So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it[/ecko_quote]
This man, this government official, acted like he believed in God, but he was a practical atheist. To me the biggest fool is not the man who says there is no God, but the man who says there is a God and then doesn't live like it. Here was a man who had a sterile religion. He believed in God in a way. He had a form of godliness, but he denied the power thereof. And he was the loser. He was robbed by the thief of unbelief. I want you to see what the man of God said to him. “Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof.”
Unbelief always withholds God's blessings from us. Your sins are withholding good things from you and unbelief is the chief among them. Confess any unbelief.
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/VALUE.jpg]
Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church - Auckland, New Zealand; LWF
[ecko_quote source="2 Timothy 4:7"] have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith[/ecko_quote]
I can truly say it was a privilege to attend uncle Rama Rao Bathula’s (also known as Christudas and Bible Ramarao) funeral service last weekend. The service went really well, and every testimony was truly anointed, and the Word of God was just power-packed & challenging. The Bible states that “The memory of the righteous is blessed”- Proverbs 10:7; therefore, we are truly blessed to remember uncle Christudas “stalwart and hero of faith”. I believe most would agree with my assertion. This man finished his difficult and rugged race considering his family situation in raising two young children without his spouse. I could see his commitment and consistency in his Christian walk which enabled him to complete his race faithfully.
There is much satisfaction in finishing something you have begun. The success of a race is determined not only by how well you begin but also by how well you end. Many athletes can begin a race impressively, but if they stumble or are injured or lack the stamina to finish, their good start is useless. Paul rejoiced that he had not only begun the race, but he had also finished it. His prize was a robust faith in God and a life filled with God’s powerful presence.
Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they become children of God, their struggles are over. Many Christians begin their walk with Christ enthusiastically; but as the pressure mounts, they start to lose heart and abandon their pilgrimage.
Paul described his Christian life as a battle. There were times when he struggled, and only through perseverance could he continue on. It may surprise us to know that the great apostle had to struggle at times to be faithful to God. Paul faced persecution, misunderstanding, betrayal and death threats. His Christian life was anything but easy, yet he persevered.
Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring till the finish. Publicly announcing your commitment to Christ in your church does not compare with a lifetime of devotion to His cause. Use Apostle Paul as your model. Live your life in such a way that you can one day conclude, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the Faith”.
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/fight-the-good-fight-of-faith.jpg]
Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church - Auckland, New Zealand; Henry and Richard Blackby
[ecko_quote source="Matthew 10:39"]He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it[/ecko_quote]
We have nothing that God needs. Think about that. If I were to give God my riches, I couldn’t make Him richer. He owns everything. If I were to give God my wisdom, I wouldn’t make Him wiser. He is the all-wise God. If I were to give God my power, I couldn’t make God more powerful. He is omnipotent.
God wants only one thing from His children—our hearts. Proverbs 23:26, "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." Isn't that a strange request? God is using the words "Give me.'' Usually, we are the ones who say, "Give me,"' and now the table is turned. That is not the creature saying to the Creator, "Give me,'' but rather the Creator saying to the creature, "Give me.'' The great Benefactor becomes the petitioner. The great Giver becomes the receiver.
The Landlord becomes the tenant. The Provider becomes the beggar. The Satisfied becomes the seeker. The Door seeks entrance. The Living Water thirsts. The Bread of Life is hungry. The Prince of Peace fights to get you. God wants your heart. Not for His benefit but for our prosperity for both spiritual, mental and physical (3 John 1:2).
Why does God want our hearts? There is only one possible reason: He loves us! There is nothing that He needs that we have apart from our love. He simply seeks after our love. That is why He made us. He wanted somebody to love Him and to fellowship with Him voluntarily. It seems so strange that we should not gladly accept this offer when the great omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God wants our hearts.
It is so necessary that the Christian give his heart to God first. To give wealth without giving the heart is an abomination. To pray without giving the heart is a mockery. To sing without giving the heart is a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. To work without giving the heart is an insult. To teach without giving the heart is ignorance. To preach without giving the heart is hypocrisy. To serve without giving the heart is fraud. To witness without giving the heart is perjury.
God is saying to you today, “Give Me your heart.” How will you respond? He has a right to my heart, and He has a right to your heart, for He gave His heart to us. When He died on the cross, a soldier pierced His side, and the Bible says there came forth blood and water. Doctors tell us that this means the heart had ruptured. He died of a broken heart. He gave you His heart; He wants yours. He says to you today, "Give me thy heart.'' The happy Christian responds in the affirmative.
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/fellow.jpg]
Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church- Auckland, New Zealand; Pastor Jack Hyles
[ecko_quote source="Micah 6:8"]He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you; But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?[/ecko_quote]
I love Micah 6:8 It is one of the greatest verses in all of the Old Testament. It says, “He hath shown thee, O man, what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee.” Historically, Micah 6:8 has served as one of the most celebrated verses within Scripture. This passage has served as the basis for numerous songs, sermons, and conferences. This text has become the core text deployed by the Church as a rallying cry for justice and advocacy.
Number one, what is good? Number two, what does God want? Do you want to know and hear what is good? The rest of the verse tells you:“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God? God says, “Show mercy to people, do right yourself and just walk with Me.”
If you ask people, “What does God want?” some might say, “Well, God wants us to serve Him.” Friend, if all God wanted was service, He could just use the angels. They would do a better job than we—always innocently obeying, always on the job, full of power. God doesn’t want mere service, even though we should serve Him, but that is not why He created us.
Some might answer, “Well, God wants scholars. God wants us to learn all the facts about Him.” No. He wants you to study, but what is the bottom line? God wants to walk with you. Why did He create you? He created you in His image so He could have fellowship with you. You are created for fellowship with Him. ‘To walk humbly with thy God.
Can two walk together unless they be agreed? (Amos 3:3). For walking with God there must be communion, based in love, and resulting in imitation. And that communion must be constant, and run through all the life, like a golden thread through some web.
The message of Micah is still relevant today. Religious rites, no matter how extravagant, can never compensate for a lack of love (1 Corinthians 13:3). External compliance to rules is not as valuable in God’s eyes as a humble heart that simply does what is right. God’s people today will continue to desire justice, mercy, and humbly walk with God.
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/walking-with-God.jpg]
Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church- Auckland, New Zealand; LWFM- Andrian Rogers
[ecko_quote source="2 Timothy 3:16-17"]All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good works[/ecko_quote]
In November of 1991, a freak dust storm caused a massive pileup along Interstate 5 near Coalinga, California. Over a dozen people were killed, and many more were injured as the massive cloud reduced visibility to zero.
By the end of the storm, a three-mile trail of twisted, burning vehicles lay in its wake. It was then that what happened began to make sense. It wasn't just one collision. Rather, over the course of the storm, motorists continued to drive blindly ahead into the disaster.
How many people, like those motorists, drive blindly ahead into spiritual disaster? They go about their days and weeks making decisions like normal, but failing to realise that the road they've put themselves on will ultimately lead them to harm.
So how do we steer clear of being spiritually blindsided? We stop trusting in ourselves and let God's Word lead us. We don't do what "feels right," but what we know is right because we've searched the Scriptures. Because when the things of the world keep us from seeing clearly, you can trust God's Word to bring clarity and conviction!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight(Proverbs 3:5-6).
Ask God to use His Word to guide the path of your life and bring clarity and conviction where you need it.
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Pastor Jonah Ravinder- United Telugu Church- Auckland, New Zealand
