December 2008:His love

Dearest in the Lord
 
What a time are we living in.The luxury and money power could not save the precious lives of people in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.Fear and panic all around and how much does the world need our Everlasting Father,Wonderful COunseller,Prince of Peace and the Mighty God.
How much we need the government to be on His shoulders and am sure that the Lord's coming is near.Let us prepare ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to do His precious work.Lets open up our hearts and homes and hands for His precious work.Traditions and beliefs cannot save us.THERE IS ONLY ONE NAME UNDER HEAVEN AND AMONGST MEN TO BE SAVED AND LETS LIFT HIS BLESSED AND PRECIOUS NAME -JESUS
 
John 3:16 is a well known passage for all of us.Let me tell you a truth.When we see the violence,hatred and selfishness around I have a Goodnews for you.GOD LOVES THE WORLD,HE LOVES YOU AND ME.He has already displayed the precious love He has for us when He sent Jesus to die for us on a cross.O How He loves you and me.What can we do in return for His great Love
 
1)Appreciate His love(1John 3:1)
Behold,what manner of Love the father has given unto us that we might be called the children of God.Talk about His love this season.Take a decision to reach out with His love to your collegue,to your boss,to your neighbour.Appreciating His love ,talking about the greatness of His love will draw people unto Him.He gave us His everything,so that we might be saved.Precious soul,You are loved by God and the cross at Golgotha is a proof for that.WIll you appreciate His love,talk about His love.Worship Him for His love?
 
2)Appropriate His love(John 3:16)
Take possession of His love.We read whosoever believeth in Him.You can appropriate His love by Believing in Him.Belive in Him for your salvation and deliverence.He can save you.He is mighty to save.Your family,your unsaved friends are not far off from His love.If we appropriate His love,we will be saved

3)Associate with His love(Rom 5:5)

We should not only be on the receiving part,we should be on the giving part,where we show the love of God,where we become carriers of His love.In the verse above we read that THE LOVE OF GOD is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit He has given us.Can we be ambassadors of His love so that the world can be a better place to Live in?

Lets appreciate,appropriate and associate ourselves with His love.

It was a joy writing to you for the past months.I believe these thoughts on the beginning of each month were encouraging you and helping you in your walk with God.You can see these thoughts anytime @http://ashleybenjamin.blogspot.com

May you be blessed and empowered by God

Lets Pray

Our precious heavenly father,

We thank you for this new month.We thank you for your mercies are new everyday,every moment of our lives.Lord I pray that our eyes may be opened to see the greatness of your love,to receive you love and to be carriers of thy divine love.keep us safe and sound so that we may serve thee.may answers to our prayers happen before the end of this year.Holy Spirit,hasten your work,we invite your precious presence into our lives once again.Thank you Lord for blessing our lives.Help us to have a heart of gratitude and to live this life for your glory.We remember Mumbai and all states of India that the Love of Jesus will cast our fear and cause a great revival.

 

We thank you Lord,We bown down before your awesome presence

This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

Have a blessed Christmas season and a great new year ahead in Advance

 

Maranatha

Ashley n Sheba

P.S.If you are in Bangalore and is looking forward for wholesome christian growth do join our church..IPA shelter house in bannerghatta road.

Visit www.ipashelterhouse.com

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks

With Best Regards

Ashley Benjamin

Infosys Technologies|Bangalore|9900427670

.....Ancient Paths

Thanks be to God who was so gracious to us in bringing us to the eleventh month of this year.When we hear the news of Bomb blasts,communal violence and conflict between nations,caste and creed,we need to lift up our heads in anticipation for the coming of the Lord.His coming is so near.The Spirit of the Lord took my attention to

Jer 6:16
Stand at the crossroads and look;ask for ancient paths ask where the good way is,and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls

If we look at the characters in the Bible,we see that those who were really committed in walking in the "ancient paths" were blessed of the Lord.
Let me tell you in these "modern times" God looks for people who walk in those "ancient paths".Let me take you to some examples from the scriptures.

1)Jer 35:14
'Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command

The Lord commends the recabites for their determination in obeying their forefather's command.So we read in the last verse of this chapter that

Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.' "

What a testimony were these recabites to the so called "children of God"

2)II Chronicles 7
17 "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws,
The Lord was asking solomon to follow the ways of his father and if he did that his kingdom would have been established.We know how solomon destroyed the inheritence of His father.He tried adopting "modern principles".He followed the policy of "confirming to the world" like many churches follow these days.
CHildren of God do you remember the ways of your Godly parents.Their path of faith and holiness.

3)Heb 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith

Old or new testament the word of God admonishes us to look walk in the ancient paths of holiness ,faith and prayer.
Let not our worship be dictated by the loudness of the music,but by the brokeness of heart.Let our prayers invlove more of fasting than feasting.May our lives be sacrificial that being stuffed up.Lets be givers rather than receivers.

Lets not walk in "modern pathways" and destroy the rich blessings we gained through out Godly parents and leaders.
This month may we stand at those cross roads and take a decision.Let us pray "Lord in changing times may I not be confirmed to the pattern of the world,let me be transformed and be made useful for thy use"


Lets pray
Heavenly Father we thank you and praise you for this new month you have given to us.Father please shower thy grace thy power thy wisdom to live in these dangerous times,Lord God help us to live lives of faith and not filth.Help us to pray more.love more and serve thee.Help us to distinguish between good and bad.Lord we pray for India,please grant us peace.We pray that you will be supreme over everything and thy name be glorified.Help us to walk in those noble footsteps of our Godly leaders.

This we pray in the name of Jesus our Lord

Welcome to the World of God(4)

Welcome to the world of God(4)

 

During the past lessons we talked about the world of God and how when we are born again enter a new world ie the Kingdom of God where we have a loving father and elder brother in the Lord jesus.We also saw about the diet in the world of God,the Milk and food.

Lets see this time from the Epistle of Paul to Ephesians. Once we have understood the earlier expositions,the passages that we come across in this epistle will bless our lives immensely

There are 5 fold blessings mentioned here once we are in the world of God.Look at the passage below.Kindly see the highlighted

 

Ephesians 1

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he^[c] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

 11In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

 

Once a person is born anew ,what matters is the SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS He possess.The Spiritual blessings dictates the person’s outlook.No more a person longs for the material wants,His mind is set on things above.His yearning is for the Spiritual.Its sad that these days we covet a lot of the world inside us.Our prayers are filled with material blessings required.The Lord Jesus proclaimed’See ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”.We do not make use or even are aware of the Spiritual blessings and inheritence we possess>

 

Blessing  1

Election.

Now when a person is born again,its not the choice of that person.Its the power of God.Its He who chose us,we are chosen by God to be Holy and blameless.How blessed is to be chosen by God to come out from the unholiness of the world and its filth

 

Blessing 2

Adoption

We should understand that we are ADOPTED into the family of God. Adoption doesn’t strip one off the inheritance you have as a son. We do not deserve to be the sons of God,but He adopted us in His mercy.Adoption brings in a new dimension to our lives.We become co-heirs with Christ.In other words,whatever privilege Jesus enjoyed,we enjoy that.Its a big topic.Please spend some time in meditating on this

Blessing 3

Redemption

Redemption  is the purchase made by the Lord.He shed His own precious blood and redeemed us and changed our lives.The forgiveness of all our sins,wow,whatever we did in our worldly nature that was sin to our inner being,that prevented our lives from experiencing God was washed by the precious blood of the Lamb.We are redeemed.Confess it loud.I AM REDEEMED BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB

 

Blessing 4

Salvation

Salvation is the fourth blessing. When we accepted whole heartedly the gospel of truth,we were included in Christ.Salvation is getting included in the Lord Jesus Christ.We need to work out our salvation with Fear and trembling.

Blessing 5

Possession

Having believed,opened our heart to the Lord,a big heavenly transaction occurred.We were marked with a seal.The seal is the promised HOLY SPIRIT.The world of God as said earlier is life in the Spirit.From the time we believed the Gospel,the Lord has sealed us with His Spirit.When we feel the Spirit,when we obey His guidance,when we have fellowship with Him,we understand that we are the LORD’s POSSESSION.Being possessed by the Lord,what a truth these verses add!!.

Many a time we don’t live that.We live like being possessed by the evil one,walking according to the flesh,living in sin and grieving the precious Spirit.If you have not had a close encounter with the Lord,accept the Gospel,goodnews now,believe that the Lord Jesus came for you to the earth and died for your sins.You will feel the blessed fellowship of the Spirit inside your heart,guiding you.Ask the Lord to fill you with more of the Spirit.I rely on the Spirit this sacred moment to instill an new level of fellowship with you.Being Possessed by God you is the greatest blessing.You have a heavenly possession.

 

Lets live in the WORLD OF GOD!!

Maranatha

Ash

 

October 2008-DO mot Miss out on Grace!!

 

 

Heb 12:15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

 

Grace is something we should not miss. Grace is what that takes you to the throne room of God and makes all your wants and wishes known. Grace is that important that it covers your sins and enables you to seek His face.

 

The world that was distancing away from God and His Holy word, when the Law brought by Moses couldn’t make anyone righteous with God.The Son of God brought Grace into our lives.

John 1:

17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

 

Grace is not the license for us to sin,it’s a that brings us closer to God because from Jesus grace flowed.

 

Be careful of the Bitter roots.

 

Roots are in our hearts.Roots in our hearts determine the fruits we bear.Bitter roots give rise to bitter fruits and we need to guard our heart with all diligence for out of it flows issues of life and when God sees a bitter root ,we will not be able to experience His grace.One bitter root in your life can defile many.So lets be careful of what we cultivate in our heart.If there is any wicked way.Any wrong thought.Any emotional hurts,any unbiblical relationship,lets uproot it.Lets take some time this month in accordance to what God wants us to do.TO keep our hearts cleared of any bitter roots.

 

Be careful of the Choices you make.

 

Many a time like esau we end up making wrong choices that disturb the relationship which we have with God and the Grace we possess gets affected.Esau was having his inheritance.he did not ask it.Grace is the position we enjoy in God’s family which we got without us asking for it.Grace is unmerited favor of God.

Like Esau we most of the time do not realize the great position we are in. We forget the glorious riches of His inheritance in us and SELL off the inheritance for MONEY ,for FAME,for a meal. We lose sight of who we are and choices dismantle the grace from our lives. Children of God living in grace period, don’t forget if DEVIL wanted to strip the son of God from the grace and power He possessed in the desert, the enemy will offer us many “good-looking” “mouth-watering” choices. Lets be careful of the choices we make

 

Be careful of the LIVES we live

The writer to Hebrews warns us” See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau “Godless lives will lead to graceless lives. Sexual immorality and the so called “cool” culture has invaded our culture. Sexual immorality and Godlessness are so prevalent that the Grace factor in our lives is in danger.

Lets live our lives in the fear of God.

 

Yes the message is clear, if we are careful of the roots we have, the choices we make and the lives we live, we will receive His grace poured out.Its all that we need.

May God bless us as we appropriate His grace in our lives

 

Father we ask you for grace more and more in our lives. See our hearts o Holy God and test whether there is any wicked way in us and lead us in the path everlasting. We just want you. We need you so much. Help us to guard our heart with all diligence so that we will live a life appropriating thy grace.We pray that thy grace will abound and work in our lives. Grant us thy grace this month.We remember our brothers and sisters in Orissa in persecution.Thy Gopsel is thy power.Show thy power o God and bring about a great change in the lands.We pray for our parents,siblings,churches,pastors.Grant mercy unto all.May Healing and power flow.May closed doors open and wounds be healed.

This we pray knowing that our prayers are answered when we pray it in Jesus mighty name

Amen

 

Have a beautiful October

 

Maranatha

Ash

 

 

Thanks and With Best Regards

Ashley Benjamin

Infosys Technologies,

Bangalore

Mob:9900427670

 

Ashes:Welcome to the world of God(3)

Welcome to the World of God(3)

The Diet

During the past 2 expositions, the Lord enabled us to understand the differences between the Physical world one is in and the change that happens when he is born again.

When a person is born again His desire and appetite changes.His hunger and thirst is different.We are looking briefly today at the “diet” in the world of God.

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."  32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."  33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"  34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work

The Lord Jesus tells that doing the will of God and to finish his work was his diet.

Lets take a moment of introspection,many a time we use the Spiritual world to reap material benefits.

Before taking up ministry we enquire about the “FACILITIES” provided.We check up what is the “salary” the church may give or they pay.

To know the will of God and to do it we need to hear the word of God.

If we see 1 Peter 2:1-2

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,^[a] 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The pure milk of the word.Wow….How much time do we long for His word?What is the time we spend reading His word?You can have spiritual growth only if you desire the pure milk and drink that.

The Lord says in Matthew 5:6

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled

The hunger we have ,the thirst we have to live a righteous life.We are not called to compromise with the worldly system and patterns.We are called to set a standard by living a righteous godly life.

Rom 14:17 tells us a bit more about the World of God

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

just take some time and ponder on these 3 words RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE and JOY in the Holy Ghost.This is the world of God,the kingdom of God.Our appetite and desire changes.Our yearning changes.

 

Let our food be doing the will of God,lets thirst for the word of God,lets be in atmosphere of righteousness,joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.This is what is important in the world of God.Are we having that righteousness.Are we bubbling with that Joy in the Holy Ghost.Do we possess that peace that passeth all understanding?

 

If not ask God for His grace to truly be in His world and lets pray “Lord let thy kingdom come,let thy will be done”

 

Thanks and With Best Regards

Ashley Benjamin

Infosys Technologies,

Bangalore

Mob:9900427670

 

Ashes:Welcome to the World of God(2)

The New Family

After a new born baby is born, it is a transition from the WOMB into the world. Its noticing carefully the Mother that Pats and who is always behind the child,notices the hugs of the dad that it gets,the adapting process.It recognizes its name when called by mama and dad.It starts crawling,the diet and mental system develops.Its really a joy when we see the little ones starting to communicate,when it starts adapting to the Family.

 

When the Lord revealed to  Nicodemus to be born again.He definitely meant a transition from the worldly system to the Godly system.In other words the world of God.

Once a person is born again,I mentioned in my previous post that there is great tremendous joy in heaven.The citizenship is done and to take things further,the new born child should be accustomed to hear the voice of God,the new born baby is in the safe hands of the Father and the new born believer who is born of the Spirit will experience the Spirit of the God the most like how the child gets the warmth of the Mother the most.The Spirit will teach the new born believer to adapt to the world of God to hear the savior’s voice.When the new born believer finds itself in this new system,it doesn’t find lonely when there is the gentle communion of the elder brother which it has in Jesus.Have we known this truth.He is our brother,our older brother.Hallelujah!!

 

He is the one who opened the new world where the believer could experience the warmth of the Spirit and relation with the Father.O How I wish you my precious reader to grasp this eternal mystery.hallelujah.praise The Lord.The elder brother is in the house!!:-)

 

He makes known our needs to our Father.Our heavenly dad.

 

Let me close this section,by not going more further.Are you in the world of God.

Are you experiencing the warmth and affection and Guidance of the Spirit.Are you hearing your elder brother’s voice.have you understood the great love the father has shown on us that we may be called the CHILDREN OF GOD.?

 

Grow closer to Him,Let Him who has an ear hear what the Spirit says.Let us not be of the world,lets be in the World of God.

 

Welcome to the world of God

 

Prayer

Father,I come to thee again.Thank you for reminding me that am in the household of God.many a time I feel lonely,frustrated that I don’t open my inner eyes to see the glorious riches and the glorious family am attached to.Thank you Father for loving me for thy son Jesus who brought me into thy house.I yield my body to experience the warmth ,care and guidance of the Holy Spirit.I don’t want to be worldly but want to be truly in thy world.

 

May my life be a blessing to others as I invite them to also be in thy family.

I love you so much

Open my eyes that I may behold the mysteries of the Scripture again

 

This I pray in the precious name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Amen

 

 

Ashes:Welcome to the WORLD OF GOD!!

Dear all,

I want to start a series of teaching on WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF GOD!!Do not miss out.May God bless as you read it!!

 

Welcome to the world of God

 

When a child is born,that is the best thing to happen.We love its actions,its language and we welcome the tiny little thing into our world.God sent His son to welcome the fallen Human race into His world,into His kingdom

 

John 3:16:For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish,but have everlasting life.

He was disclosing an important truth to Nicodemus.

 

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”.

In other words you can see the kingdom or you can enter the World of God if you are born again.

Nicodemus had a genuine doubt

How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You^[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

The Spirit must give birth to Spirit.There should be a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit to be born of the Spirit.Its like, the Spirit is the one who gives birth to you ,like in the flesh how your mother gave birth to you.We need to be Spiritual not in the flesh to enter the World of God.Still we see in our “spiritual world” many of the flesh claiming to be of the Spirit.

 

In other words if you are influenced by the Spirit that you get convicted of your sins and repent from your worldly ways,then you are a PRODUCT of the Spirit and you will enter into the world of God.

The Lord said BE BORN AGAIN,BE BORN OF THE WATER,BE BORN OF THE SPIRIT.Enter into my kingdom.

When that happens 2 things happen

1)           In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents

2)           do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven

Like how in the world we rejoice at the birth of a new baby,in heavens there is tremendous rejoicing when a wretched sinner turns to the Lord,.Like how we maintain birth register and validate citizenship.When we are born again,our names are entered in the heavenly register.We are no more of the world but of the Lord.We do not live as others live but we live for God.

 

Hallelujah..Welcome to the world of God!!

Let me ask all of God’s people reading this a question.

Have you been born again?or are you living an amphibian life sometimes in the land sometimes in water.God longs for truly spiritual people who are focused on God and his kingdom.Churches are demolished,what is our response?Missionaries are struggling to find food and a day’s meal while we are working FULLY for the world?

In the coming days I am relying on God to share some insights on WORLD OF GOD and How it looks like and How people of the World and People of God’s world differ.

 

May God bless you.If you have not been born again or living an amphibian life,in these moments of powerful working of the Spirit in your heart,just recollect all the past sinful acts,thoughts that pained the Lord.He wants you to be in His world.Will you pray with me with deep conviction and true repentance

 

Father I come to you.I acknowledge and confess my sinful activities before your throne.Lord make me and mould me.Cleanse me from my sinful acts and thoughts.I repent of living and making my life worldly.I want to have righteousness,joy and peace of the Holy Ghost.Father,write my name in the book of life and do not blot my name from there.I open my heart to you.Take your place.

This I pray in the name of jesus our Lord

Amen

 

Dear all,

In these days where churches are being demolished,we are planning  and led by the Lord to plant one in Bangalore.There is a huge need before us.We have found the place,rather God worked miraculously to provide us with this.Now we need some funds,to keep going,We need good chairs,carpets,Microphone set,podium and other needs.If the Lord is burdening you,please open up your hands and help His work.Do reply to me if you are prompted and if you have prayed the above prayer and rededicated your life to God please let me know so that you can be on our prayer list.

 

 Maranatha

Ash

 

Ashes:When things go beyond your control..........

 

There was panic in the house.The guests who turned up were more than what was calculated or the wine intake was more than what was expected.Lack of wine in the house of feast is the most miserable time one host can have. Reputation and everything was at stake. Things went beyond control. Mary knew something that no one else knew.Mary had the knowledge of who Jesus was.The host did not know what Jesus could do, though he invited him. Many a time we are like that host who just invited Christ. Sounding quite similar to people being born and brought up in Christian families. The knowledge of who Jesus is and the knowledge of His power can give us significant breakthroughs in our times of panic.We panic because we do not know the power of Jesus whom we have invited into our homes and hearts. The Jars were within His sight, the water was within His reach.The molecular structure of H20 changed to CH₃COOH.Hallelujah

 

The boat in which the disciples were travelling was many miles away from the shore. To make the matters worse,the wind was against them and the boat was tossed about by the waves. It was a tuff time for the disciples to control the boat.Imagine having a roller coaster ride.The waves were putting the boat up and down. Such a terrifying time. The story doesn’t end there.Hallelujah.You might be facing a problem that is threatening to capsize your marriage your finances your ministry. Praise God your story is not over. The one who made the sea will walk over the sea and come to you. When things go beyond ur control.,its always within His reach.He will not pass you by. He will come to you.

 

See those fearful disciples,not knowing whom they served,forgot all what the Lord told them.Now that their “rabbi” was dead.They were all “united” and closed the door fearing that the jews may find and kill them.Fear takes you to a place where you lose control.

They could not do anything.The one whom they followed was no more.The master died the most cruelest form of death.All their hopes were shattered.But the story didn’t end there.Through those closed doors came the one whom the world crucified.Jesus rose again and when things went beyond their control,it was always within His reach.

 

End Note:The persecutions in orissa,the times we are living in are evil.Want to encourage you that when things go beyond your control.The one who saw the Israelites and came down for them will come down for us.He will come and save us.

Yes when things are beyond our control its always within His reach.

Maranatha

Ashley

http://ashleybenjamin.blogspot.com

 

 

Ashes: September 2008-The Lord who watches over us!!

 

 

The Lord our watcher

 

Children of God,what a start to this month.Hundreds homeless and shattered in Bihar due to floods and many escaping to jungles in Orissa and living in fear because of the communal riots and persecution.The Lord reminded me in my time of meditation that He is our watcher.We are not people who have are orphans,we are not without a protection.His children is His possession and he watches over us.What a consolation is the word of God.David also as he wrote Psalm 121 was living in catastrophic times like we are in.Lets see some qualities of our God who watches over us.let me put it in simple terms for us to understand

 

1)ALL time protection

He will not let your foot slip—
       he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.

 

There is never a moment that He slumbers or sleeps.Imagine if the Lord closes his eyes for a second what a calamity we all will face.As a small baby crawling on the ground is under the watchful care of the mama,more intensely,more effectively ,more passionately He takes care of you and me.Cant we have a praise break here.For all those innocent in Orissa I believe they are under His watchful eyes.Thank you Lord that you never sleep nor slumber and you always watch over me

 

1)All Round protection

By all round protection I mean He encircles and protect us.In this Psalm we read that

5the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

 6 the sun will not harm you by day,
       nor the moon by night.

More closer than how the sun rays hit you is His invisible layer of protection around you.The Moon or sun,the cosmic elements not within our reach they cannot harm you,because you are His child and you are encircled by His presence and power.

Zechariah 2:5
And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within

 

3.All Life protection

 

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
       he will watch over your life;  8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
       both now and forevermore

All through your life ,all your life He protects you!!

He will not neglect your life.He protects your life as a whole your coming and going,your life is precious to Him and He watches over you.Be confident,be assured and thank Him for He is our watcher.

 

Lets pray

Father we thank you for the new month you have given us in your mercy.Times are in your hands and we are also in thy hands.For whatever purpose you caused us to see September let that come to pass.We need you so much Lord.Thank you for reassuring that you watch over us every moment,every way and all our life.Father if at all anyone is sick raise them up,encourage every discouraged soul,anxious fearlful ,weak one I place them to thy hands.Let thy Spirit of liberty and power descend on them and revive them .Lord God they have read thy word.Now work in their lives I pray.Prepare us to be a sanctuary pure and Holy unto you.

 

Protect us from evil and we once again come back to thee,Help us to pray like never  before,serve thee like we never before,love thee like never before.

We praise you..Hallelujah..In Christ’s precious name

Amen

 

Sing with faith this song

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Verse 2

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Verse 3

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

alternative Verse 1

Why should I feel discouraged,Wherefore do I weep at knowing the joy, the warmth, at feeling the the peace the fire

 

Maranatha!!

Thanks and With Best Regards

Ashley Benjamin

Infosys Technologies,

Bangalore

Mob:9900427670

 

Ashes-Initiators of God's presence

 

Red Sea has a surface area of about 438,000 km² (169,100 square miles ). It is roughly 2250 km (1398 mi) long and, at its widest point at 355 km (220.6 miles) wide. It has a maximum depth of 2211 m (7254 ft) in the central median trench and an average depth of 490 m (1,608 feet ), but there are also extensive shallow shelves, noted for their marine life and corals. The sea is the habitat of over 1,000 invertebrate species and 200 soft and hard corals and is the world's northernmost tropical sea.The Israelites who were around 40 lakhs in number crossed this water body after Moses,the man of God stretched his shepherd’s staff over the sea and the Lord brought an east wind that divided the sea.After they crossed Moses stretched the rod again back and the waters came over the mighty egyptian army.all were amazed,some started just talking how great the escape was but Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:
       "Sing to the LORD,
       for he is highly exalted.
       The horse and its rider
       he has hurled into the sea."

 

We need initiators of worship,not silencers.We need hearts full of awe rather than mouth full of talk.We need Miriams with “tambourines” and not with “Cell-phones” and “files”.

 

Look at David, who progressed from being a “celebrity” in today’s terms to being the King of Israel. We read that when the Ark of the Lord that signified the presence of the Most High was brought into the city, David who was responsible danced with all His might. When churches and fellowships these days become just “formal” than “sincere” gatherings we need responsible David’s to bring the presence of God back. It is a struggle, it may cost even life but how we need His presence. Seeing this beautiful entry of God’s presence into the city david danced with all His might. He saw something which no one else saw.hallelujah.Lets worship, seeing the beauty of His presence. We need David’s who dance in His presence not Saul’s whose anointing is gone. We need the presence of God back in our homes and lives and churches.We need David’s who count the presence of God of much worth than the positions they hold. We need Men of God,not kings,doctors or reverends.!!We don’t need plans, we need prayers. We need not discuss, lets act. Lets bring back the ark.

 

 

See the imprisoned disciples in the prison of Rome. Paul and Silas were their names. The world tied them in chains, beat them badly and bruised them. It was not a place of comfort unlike “modern prisons”. Their bodies were in pain and hands tied, but their mouth of praise and lives of worship could not be tied up. They started singing and praising. Heaven could not stop working for them. Child of God who is going through the darkest times, let me tell you, don’t give up, praise God with all your heart. Human chains will break. The roman prison became the “work area” of the awesome God that night.If your situation, binding situation, blinding situation invokes praise from the bottom of your heart, your chains will be God’s work area. Angels will descend, the earth will not be able to contain it.O God come down and save us.We praise you Lord. We worship you Lord. may Miracles and healings flow,may souls be saved,may prison doors open and chains break.!!

 

“hold me close.let your love surround me

Bring me near draw me to your side

And As I wait,I’ll rise up like an eagle

And I will sour with you,your Spirit leads me on

By the power of your love”

 

 

Maranatha!!

Ashley

 

August 2008-Jehovah-Jireh!!

 

Abraham and Issac, it’s a passage where we have heard lots about. I remember hearing a lot of sermons on the great obedience Abraham showed .The Bible is so unique that as we read a passage again and again we get new thoughts and insights which give us great encouragement in moving forward in our Christian life. The word of God is LIVING and ACTIVE. The passage read over and over a thousand times give thousand unique revelations!!Hallelujah I praise God for the written wordJ.Let me share some insights about Abraham from this passage in Gen 22

 

1)Abraham knew  how to realize God’s voice (REALIZATION OF GOD’S VOICE)

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
      "Here I am," he replied.  2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about

 

This was the same voice that called him from the land of UR,the same voice that promised him a multitude of descendants.Abraham did not think twice,He never thought that this was from the devil.Humanly all of us can think,the same God promised something,will He take it back?.If we were in Abraham’s place,we would have considered that to be “the devil’s ploy”.No, Abraham knew the voice!!Child of God we should be in a realm where we clearly hear and discern  God’s voice.!!Its so important.The Bible says in John 10:27My sheep listen to my voice

In Rev 3:20,we read”If any man hears my VOICE”.This month let our prayer be “O Lord tune my ears to hear your voice”

 

2)Abraham knew how to Respond to the Voice of GOD.(RESPONSE TO GOD’S VOICE)

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about

 

Early next morning,what a phrase!!It was not because He was going to get some riches.He was so eager to obey God no matter what it costed.Abraham who interceded for Lot didn’t intercede for his son.He just wanted to obey.Delayed obedience is disobedience.Whatever God says Lets do it.Do it as soon as possible.Help a ministry which God has given you a burden,reconcile with broken relationships..whatever be,hear God’s voice and obey God instantly!!

 

Lets take abaraham as an example of doing what God says!!

 

3)Abraham knew how to rely on God’s character(RELIANCE ON GOD’S CHARACTER)

 

The voice of Abraham never stuttered when He said “GOD Himself will provide”(Gen 22:8)He knew who His God was. He relied on God’s character. When we are sick, we need to know to rely on God’s healing character. When we are in desperate need we should rely on God who provides. Child of God let me tell you,HE WILL PROVIDE. Abraham named the mount as JEHOVAH JIREH!!Name your point of sacrifice as Jehovah Jireh.Missionaries in the field,servants of God laboring for Him,young christian layman… get encouraged, name the point of your obedience JEHOVAH JIREH.No matter what He demands, I will obey Him gladly.I will surrender to Him whole heartedly!!

 

Rely on God’s character. He gives strength to those who are weak. I pray with all my heart that this month we will see God as Jehovah Jireh providing for every need of yours.He will provide. God Himself will provide

 

Lets faith arise in your soul..may Healing flow,may closed doors open,may the weak get strong!!In the name of Jesus be made whole!!

 

Father we thank you for bringing us into august.Thank you for your blessed presence that led us thus far.We request thy presence in our whole being.In our eyes,in our minds we need thy presence to permeate.Father God help us to name our testing places to JEHOVAH-JIREH .Lord you will provide.hallelujah…!!Cover us by thy precious blood,deliver us from the evil one.

Give us a month where we will literally experience Jehovah-Jireh!!

We love you and give you our praise

This we pray in Jesus’s mighty name

Amen

 

Have a blessed August!!Claim His promises,Its written in your name sealed by the blessed name of Jesus!!:-)

 

Maranatha

Ash

 

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Ashes:Victory over SIN!!

 

Rom 6:1-3What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

 

SIN….A three letter word that God hates and our flesh loves.The word first occurs in the Bible in Genesis 4:7

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

The Bible personifies SIN.Its equivalent to a person whom you encounter.You meet that person only after a particular step.WHEN YOU DO NOT DO WHAT IS RIGHT,SIN crouches at your door.At the door of your heart,you will find SIN.This guy desires to have you.It will pull you away from the communion you need to have with God.

 

The Lord wants/expects you to MASTER over this guy called SIN.

 So SIN is not an ACT,it’s the effect of an ACT.You do something not right,you meet this guy called sin.

Then there can be only 2 results.EITHER Sin will pamper you or You will subdue it.

CAIN succumbed to SIN..Let me explain about effects of sin from this chapter(Gen 4)

1. Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him(v8)Sin justifies your act.The most evident nature of sin is you get pampered that you do not know what you are doing.SIN satisfies your momentary sinful desire.It makes you blind on what you do.
2. Sin causes you to sin more.Its effect is exponential.Here after the Lord enquires about Abel,Cain tells a lie”I do  not know where he is”
3. Sin causes you to go away from the Presence of God(v16)

The cycle of sin is common in every case mentioned in the scriptures,

We do something not right(in our thoughts or deeds)àWe encounter sinàWe try to justifyàWe try to cover upàPresence of God is lost

 

 

The Holy Spirit in one’s life signifies the presence of God in Him.In Psalm 51 after David understood his sinful act he cries.

 

Cast me not away from thy presence O God and take not thy HOLY SPIRIT from me.

NOW God didn’t design man to be overcome by SIN,but He wants man to overcome the sinful nature he is in.

Paul writes to HEBREWS.

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood

So it’s a struggle,a struggle lifelong between 2 natures in you,the flesh and the SPIRIT.When you succumb to the flesh you encounter sin,when you submit to the Holy Spirit,you encounter His presence!!

What should be our response when encountering sin

1)Confess it clearly to God the father.(1 John 1:8-9)

8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

 Ps 51:3 For I know my transgressions,
       and my sin is always before me.  4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
       and done what is evil in your sight

 

2)Claim the deliverance from the Lord Jesus Christ.(Isaiah 1:18)

The Lord says Come now, let us reason together,"
       says the LORD.
       "Though your sins are like scarlet,
       they shall be as white as snow;
       though they are red as crimson,
       they shall be like wool.

 19 If you are willing and obedient,
       you will eat the best from the land;

God promises to cleanse you through and through.He promises deliverance through the cross and resurrection power of our Lord Jesus.The act of deliverance from your sins belongs to God.Jesus did it all.This is the power of the gospel,the good news,yes we can be delivered from the power and bondage of sin.

Sin offers a wage and that is death.Rom 6:23”The wages of sin is death”

We read in 1 cor 16 Where, O death, is your sting?"^[h] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

JESUS CHRIST CAME TO OUR WORLD to save us and deliver us

Heb 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Child of God claim your deliverance.

God made him who had no sin to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 cor 5:21)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.(1 peter 2:24)

 

3)Cling to the Holy Spirit for power from above to fight the good fight of faith.(Acts 1:8)

Lives yielded to the Holy Spirit is powerful.Sin’s clutches cannot torment us again,only if we hear the voice of God and live accordingly.Our Lord did not leave those 12 disciples without power.He said”When the Holy Spirit will come upon you,you shall receive power”.O what a difference the Spirit makes in our lives.

He gives a purpose and a passion in our lives for more of God and less of flesh.

See Isaiah 35 for understanding that realm which God wants us to be.

Remember GOD IS MIGHTY,though we are weak.lets say bye to our sins,our egos..Live the Life God wants us to have.Abundant life and not stolen life!!!

 

A famous hillsong chorus goes like this.

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave