They do not Compromise

"They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths." Psalms 119:3 (NLT)

We are living in times when compromise has almost become the rule of life. But its not always called as compromise. Sometimes compromise is shielded under words like tolerance, patience, endurance, love for each other, respect for one another etc. Have you ever thought about it. Most of the time we compromise something or other in our life. There are times when you don't have any other way but to compromise.

But today I want to divert your attention towards things your compromise in your spiritual life. Compromise is a slow poison that ultimately destroys respect for truth. What does that mean? You start with small and end up compromising on big things. This is very much true with our beliefs and convictions about truth and doctrine. First thing we must check in our life that how strong we are in our beliefs and convictions. It will have a direct impact on the fact that how easily we compromise.

I have seen people who preach/teach and instruct others on matters regarding doctrine and belief. But when they have a chance to take a stand for it they will not do. They will compromise and say they are being loving and caring. They don't want to take a stand for the truth. But as I read the Bible, one thing I notice is that people whom God used never compromised. They had to go through tough times and circumstances but they stood fast for their faith.

Joseph is a good example. He decided not to compromise and what he immediately got was prison. But later God lifted him and fulfilled the promises. See Daniel's story. How many times he stood for his beliefs and how many times he ended up or could have ended up in trouble. He was once in lion's den. But God whom Daniel trusted was making ways out of all this to lift him up. His three friends ended up in burning furnace for not compromising. But there also God rescued them. Well there are many other examples. There is also stories where people compromised and had to face the consequences for that.

So what are we supposed to do. Do not Compromise with evil. Its difficult to take a stand and at times to stand all alone. But God will definitely bless and lift a person who stands for truth. So we have a choice. Either take a stand and suffer for sometime but be right in the site of God or Compromise now and enjoy life with people for whose sake you are compromising. But remember that compromise will slowly make us to slide away from God's word and ultimately destroy our respect for truth.

May God help you not to Compromise but take a stand for truth.

Holy Spirit in Acts of Apostles (ACTS) Part 1

For last few weeks I had been doing a personal study as well as preaching on a subject which I found to be very helpful and blessing in my own life. Few weeks ago as I had this privilege of studying and meditating on the work or role of Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. There is no doubt that in the book of Acts, we see Holy Spirit work in a clear way than any other book. If you do a search then Holy Spirit is mentioned almost 42 times in 28 chapters of Acts in NIV Bible. It's amazing to see the ways in which Holy Spirit worked in the first century church.

Many times we read the book of Acts and get excited. I have to admit that I have got excited many times after reading few chapters from Acts. The main reason is that we see the work of Holy Spirit manifested through the church and people in a mighty and powerful way. We have to admit that it is our desire also. We also want to see sick getting healed, people coming and asking "what we should do to be saved?", evil spirits casted out, people being filled with Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, Spirit taking as to a place to be witness of Jesus etc. All of these are exciting.

When we look very closely at the work and the way Holy Spirit moved in Acts, we can understand many things which can help us personally in our walk with God as well as help us to be more effective and be a blessing for others. It's like opening up our life for the Spirit of God to work in a way God wants. It's not limiting or controlling in the way we want or we desire. But its simply submitting our lives.

The first thing we must understand is that the Holy Spirit is a Gift. There is nothing we can do except praying by faith or asking God. Now faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). So the best thing to do is hear the word of God.

In this post as well as some of the following post I would like to share with you some facts about Holy Spirit as it is found in the book of Acts. All verses are from NIV Bible. Otherwise it will be specified.

1. Acts 1:1-2 -¹In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ²until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. - So Jesus gave instructions to Apostles through Holy Spirit. So the first thing we see about Holy Spirit is that it gives instructions. So we must understand this fact very well. We must be ready to accept the instructions which Holy Spirit gives us. Mostly Holy Spirit gives us instructions from the written word of God. Holy Spirit may give us power to understand the Bible words in a better way. We must be open to be instructed by the Holy Spirit.
   
2. Acts 1:4-5 - ⁴On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." What a beautiful this is this. God the Father promised the Holy Spirit and Jesus, the Son spoke about it. And it is a Baptism. You may be knowing what is a Baptism. Immersion in water takes place during Baptism. So the promised Holy Spirit Baptism is for the children of God. Jesus word are like this - " you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit".
   
3. Acts1:8 -⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In these verses Jesus explains as to what will happen when Holy Spirit comes. First Jesus said that you will receive power. What a wonderful thing. We are powerless but Jesus promise is that Holy Spirit will empower us for a purpose. What is that purpose? It's nothing else but it is for us to become witnesses. These days many people think that Holy Spirit main purpose is something else like expanding our ministry or showing in front of others that we are something etc. Nothing else but the main purpose is that we should be witnesses of Jesus Christ in the world. Have you ever thought in that angle. See these were almost the last words before Jesus was taken in to the heavens. God desire is that we should be empowered and we should become witnesses. Do we really pray that God should give us Holy Spirit to become witnesses? If we have already received the Baptism of Holy Spirit then are we really becoming witnesses or at least praying to God about it? If you sincerely pray then God will baptize you with the Holy Spirit so that you will be receive the Power and be witnesses of Jesus Christ in this world.

I will continue with this subject in the next post.

May God Bless You!

New Year New Expectations & Crisis

So 2008 is over and we are in New year 2009. This year has started in a different way than previous years. We are seeing the economic crisis and people losing jobs. Reports suggest that 1st quarter of 2009 will be tough as more stores are going to be closed and it is predicted that market conditions are going to get worse. People are living in fear of losing their jobs.

But in mist of it we should also notice another crisis. Its the spiritual crisis. We are seeing moral depravity increasing and spiritual conditions going on a lukewarm way. Spiritual circles are floating with false teachings and doctrines and there is large market for such things and lot of people are being deceived. The high standards which believers used to have is being compromised for pleasures. Preachers are afraid to preach on issues which will make them unpopular and make people upset. Everyone wants to attract people and grow in number. In nutshell more focus is on quantity rather than quality.

So many programs where conducted at many places during December with Evangelism as motive but seldom the true gospel of Jesus was preached or presented. People were invited for celebrating Christmas and given foods or snacks. The true gospel was never preached. Repentance from sin was never mentioned. Lot of programs which will never lead a person to salvation experience were conducted which will give people satisfaction that they did something.

So in mist of all these things, its also a wake up call for people of God to seek his face more and get close to God and prepare for Jesus coming. Every thing which is happening all around us make us believe more on the Biblical prophecies. A person who read the Bible and carefully follows the events happening all around him can easily agree and acknowledge within his heart that yes Jesus will come soon.

In Luke 18:8 Jesus asked a question.
8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Even as we are thankful to what God has done during the last year and days, let us prepare ourselves more to see him face to face. Let our focus be more on spiritual crisis than the economic crisis.

Have a Blessed Year 2009!

Maranatha!!! (Our Lord is Coming Back Soon)

India Persecution Update - Orissa

You may already know that there is some severe persecution happening in some states of India. Some of the stories are really heartbreaking. Visit the link below if you have never to read some of the things which has happened. I am sure that after reading some reports we will understand how much prayer support our brothers and sisters in those places need.


To read about whats happening in Orissa read this:-

http://orissaburning.blogspot.com/

http://orissaburning.blogspot.com/2008/09/father-they-are-going-to-burn-me-rajnis.html

http://orissaburning.blogspot.com/2008/08/they-ordered-me-to-have-sex-with-nun-fr.html

Acts 4:23-31

23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
" 'Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One. 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Lets pray that God will enable his servants to speak the word with great boldness.

May God Bless You!

God’s Love- Is it Really Unconditional? – Part 2

If you haven’t read the first part of this post then I recommend you to first read it. Otherwise you will not get the whole picture of what I am talking here. So read it first here
http://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2008/08/gods-love-is-it-really-unconditional.html

So in my last post I tried to raise my concern over the repeated use of the word “Unconditional Love” by people to make people feel better and make them realize that God loves them irrespective of whatever they do. I received some comments both positive and negative about it. Even I had some discussion with few people about it. You can read some comments by an Anonymous person who has sharp disagreement with what I have written. I respect his zeal and appreciate the effort he has put in writing all those comments. So I decided to write a Part 2 giving clarification on certain aspects so that no one will misunderstand me.

Again I want to stress that God is Love and God loves every person in the world. His love is so great that He gave his son Jesus Christ to die. But use of this word unconditional in a wrong way is the concern I have tried to raise here.

You talk to a person who is running away from God thinking that God will never accept him because of his Sin. It makes sense in that case that God loves you irrespective of what you have done. You can repent and God will accept you. There are lots of articles written for and against the subject as to whether God hates sinners or not. You can do a search and read some of them to get a better understanding.

But my concern is against the use of this term to point to the fact that sin is not an issue with God. Your past, present and future sins are already forgiven, God has no issue if you commit sin, you don’t commit sin just to keep Satan away etc. If you are a person who have never heard these terms being used by preachers then chances are that you will hear about such things very soon. It’s a fast spreading teaching. It’s already there in America and if you are in any other part of the world then you may soon hear things like this. I know many people who subscribe to such ideas and teach people about it. If you carefully see then you will find that all these concepts actually hide behind the concept of Unconditional love understood in a wrong way.

Anyone who has listened to these types of teachings will understand and agree to what I am saying. So from the point of view of a person who is growing in his spiritual life, this word in wrong sense can create an issue. The question is why should I need spiritual growth since God’s love is Unconditional to me? Why should I need any spiritual discipline in my life? It will ultimately lead to a dangerous concept of liberal Christianity. It’s no wonder that it’s already being reflected and seen in many places. Concept of Casual Christianity is growing not only in western countries but also in other places. We have already reached a time when it has become difficult to find any difference between Christians and non-Christians. I agree that exceptions are always there but the radical difference which was reflected through the first century church and believers is lost to a large extend. We all need to take the blame for that. When I write this blog, I am not excluding myself from that list. There is a need of true revival. What we need is not another emotional revival but a revival which will change the life style and make us radical in our life style for the world to see Christ through us.

If our goal is this then I don’t think we need to just highlight the word unconditional to attract people. The reason is that a spirituality which takes man’s responsibility away completely and puts everything on God alone is not true in itself. Word of God has lot of condition set for different things. No one can deny that. If a person has to be saved then he has to believe in Jesus Christ.

So we have to careful with the use of this term. If we use it then we have to make sure that we explain both sides. In this post I don’t want write more as it will go out of scope of this post.

Let me remind one things- My failures or weakness, let it be spiritual, should not force me to believe things differently to accommodate and justify my failures and weakness. I should submit myself and pray for God’s grace and help in overcoming everything and leading a victorious life which is pleasing in the sight of God. Hiding behind concepts like unconditional love to justify my weakness or lifestyle or my preferences is dangerous. If I am not able to follow something which Bible asks me to follow then I should not take the cover of unconditional love to justify my actions in the site of God as well as other people.

I hope things are clearer now. If not then you can write to me and I will be more than happy to elaborate more about it.

So even though God’s love is not conditional, it’s simply not unconditional in the sense that it forces God to agree to all my actions and ignore my sin. God’s love does not take away his righteous judgment and holy anger against people who don’t do his will.

Numbers 14:18
'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'

Nahum 1:3
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

Romans 2:5
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

May God Bless You!

God’s Love- Is it Really Unconditional?

In the beginning let me admit one thing. If you don’t read this carefully, there is a chance that you will misunderstand.

Have you ever heard the word “Unconditional Love” being used again and again from pulpits by preachers to make people understand the love of God? They base this concept on the basis of few verses which at times they interpret in a way to fit their own idea. For example Ephesians 3:19
“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. “

Do a search about this word "Unconditional" in your Bible. Can you find this word anywhere in reference to God’s Love?

So what does this mean? No matter what I do, God still loves me. Yes, when I was a sinner, God first loved me. When we were yet sinners, God showed his love towards us by sending his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

Now there is some danger of over emphasis of this word unconditional. I want to bring it out.

Paul Brownback, in his book The Danger of Self-Love, tells it this way:
"... by unconditional love we are speaking of love on the basis of being rather than doing. One implication of this teaching is the place of grandeur that it gives to the human being. I am lovable just because I am human; therefore being human, in and of itself, regardless of what I do with my humanness, must have some sort of independent value or worth. It is by itself a sufficient claim to respect and esteem" (p. 66).

In human society it can mean to give and to expect unconditional love from one another with no strings attached. While unconditional love and acceptance supposedly promote change and growth, they make no requirements. But God, who is love, requires change and enables his children to grow in righteousness.

God’s love to us is great and is available to us by grace. We cannot gain it by doing some rituals or we cannot simply earn it. There is no work of human beings which will be good enough to earn this love. So does that make God’s love “Unconditional”?

Now let’s see a famous verse i.e. John 3:16-
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

So in this verse there is no work demanded from people to be saved but there is a condition- Whoever believes. It is simply a condition to be saved.

God loves us but the use of the term “Unconditional” gives us altogether different picture. Did Jesus really talk about Love of God in an “Unconditional” way in human sense?

See John 14:21 ‘Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

What is this verse saying? Can you see any condition in that? You see it yourself.

Now let's look at the story of prodigal son found in Luke 15. This is used by my many people to explain God love as Unconditional. Is it really a story of unconditional love? Did the father go out seeking the son and support him for his foolishness of going out of house? It is true that the father waited patiently for his son to return. If the son would‘t have ended up in trouble and returned back to his father with repentance then what would have happened? This story reflects God’s love, mercy, long suffering and forgiveness. Can you see the concept of unconditional love of God anywhere in that story?

So if you purely think of God’s love as unconditional in the sense that God ignores all your actions and loves you then there is some problem with that thinking. The father forgave his son who came back and repented. So what does that mean? God so loved the word. It is true. But there is Justice and righteousness also in God.

If it is Unconditional Love then why did Jesus preach the sermon on mount teaching people how to conduct their life? Why did he ask people to be born again? Well if it is fully unconditional then I think every human being will be saved on the simple fact that they were born in this world and God loves them. Otherwise how can that love be called us Unconditional. If it is unconditional then there should not be anything attached to it. You do what you want. That will lead us to the universal Salvation concept. Then there is no need to preach the Gospel.

So can we suspect that this phrase is used by enemy to deceive people and give a different, wrong and false idea about the God of Bible? Yes that’s the truth. Few days ago I was in a meeting where a young man who has been taught this lie stood up and said that “God doesn’t care about my Sin. God loves me.” What a terrible lie. God loves him but God hates his Sin. I am not sure if that is clear to that young man.

This dangerous concept is in sharp disagreement to the Justice of God found throughout the Bible. Any person who reads the Bible with an open heart can easily understand that God of Bible hates sin and he punishes sinners. He loves everyone. That's why He gave His son Jesus Christ. Some may argue it’s the Old Testament and old covenant. You can look in the New Testament also. Bible has many instructions as to how to conduct our life. Read the Gospels or the Epistles, you will see it. Almost every book of New Testament has practical exhortations regarding how a man is suppose to lead his life in this world. Can we hide behind the word “Unconditional Love” and do what we want. It will deceive many if it is understood in a wrong way.

I did a study and research about this subject and found lot of things about it. This phrase is not found in the Bible. This is a buzz word used by enemy to promote casual and easy going Christianity. The results may not be evident now but a time will come when things like this will start reflecting on churches. What’s the message the young people in the churches are getting? They already they have so many pressures to go behind the things of this world. On top of that these type of teachings which does not focus on the whole picture will lead many to be deceived. Let me quote few verses I found on a website here. Read for yourself and think about it.

Jer. 5:12-13 (NIV) "They have lied about the Lord; they said, 'He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.' The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them..."

Jer. 8:6-9 (NIV) "I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, 'What have I done?' ...My people do not know the requirements of the Lord. How can you say, 'We are wise...' Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?"

Jer. 23:16-18 (NIV) This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise me, 'The Lord says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.' But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?"

Jer. 23:21-22 (NIV) "I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds."

Lam 2:14 (NIV) "The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The oracles they gave you were false and misleading."

Luke 3:7b (NIV) "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?"

John 3:36 (NIV) "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Rom 2:5,8 (NIV) But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed... For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Eph 2:3 (NIV) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Eph 5:6 (NIV) Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

1Co 2:13 (NIV) This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

2 Tim 4:2-4 (TCN) Proclaim the Message, be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, encourage, never failing to instruct with forbearance. For a time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching. They will follow their own wishes, and, in their itching for novelty, procure themselves a crowd of teachers. They will turn a deaf ear to the Truth, and give their attention to legends instead.

Heb 13:9 (NIV) Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

I may sound strong in this. May be negative to some people. But I want you to read these verses for yourself and carefully examine.

Let me tell one more thing so that no one will misunderstand me. I strongly believe God is Love. I know I am saved by grace. It’s by the mercy of God that I am alive and what I am. But..

God’s Love- Is it Really Unconditional?

May God Bless You!

Video Messages Update

All the messages of Dr.Muralidhar and Dr.Stanley is upload in gospel-link.com. The link is :-
http://www.gospel-link.com/Video_Messages.aspx

I encourage all of you to see those videos as some have solid teachings in it. I you want those videos in better qualify then contact me. I have those in High definition also.

May God Bless You!