faithful servant

Not another option

Lord I don't want many open doors

My life is Your breath in action

And it is Your will that I adore

When I look inside to feel

The deep desires in me

Roaring emotions slowly fade

And only the gentle sound of Your heartbeat remains.

Trying to focus,

And struggling to find.

The reason for my life.

Lord, what were your thoughts for me ?

When I was nowhere else but in Your mind.

Your perfect Life

Teaches me how to live and walk

Your selfless Death

Makes me wonder

Why did you care about me so much at all?

Your resurrection my King

Proves your power and dominion

Above all that I behold in awe.

Life goes on here for few years alone.

The rest I spend in an eternity

Irresistible though unknown

With arms open wide

Master you are waiting for me.

To show me my mansion

And Your Glory to reveal

When you behold me in your arms

I want you to say

“Well done faithful servant

You've always known my heart

And obeyed my voice

Even through troubled paths”

In this life Father

My strength will always fail.

Oh Lord, My Master

Let your Grace alone prevail.

Distracted heart - Fractured Faith

Sermon Synopsis - 28/06/09

Hebrews 3 :10-11

¹⁰ That is why I was angry with that generation,

and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray,

and they have not known my ways.'

¹¹ So I declared on oath in my anger,

'They shall never enter my rest.'

No doubt, the Israelites were proceeding towards the promised land. But their hearts were wrong. Theirs was an incomplete, interruptive connection to God's heart. Yes, they knew the God of their forefathers, but failed to perceive His ways.God's own chosen priveleged people were always distracted. Therefore they never completely conquered the Promised Land and strife never ceased.

An eternity with the Creator King is the final rest that is kept in store for His precious ones. But while on this earthly tent, God still provides His rest through His manifest presence in our lives. A presence that brings forth an overflowing peace, providence, presence, blessing and guidance which empowers us to fulfill His will.

A gracious God, grieved at heart fails to release His rest on His children when He finds their heart distracted.

The greatest deceit of sin, is to make believe that its ok to 'keep in touch' with it, as long as you don't 'fall' in it.Eventually,it hardens our soul, makes it insensitive to God and progressively drags you away from God.

You may have been warned against falling in sin. God's voice today is to stop you from even looking at sin.

- Fix your thoughts on Jesus -

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3:1[NIV]

We glorify God in our actions and words most of the time. But not always in our thoughts. The thought life of a person provides the design map for the production of sin. A wavering mind, a negative thought life, an unchecked emotional imbalance and immoral thinking are all signs of distractions. Sooner or later we become vulnerable for a wide range of spiritual attacks.

We can prevent this, when we let Jesus rule our thought life.

So how does happen ?

- Through Repentance

So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts" Hebrews 3:7[NIV]

When we repent, we turn back to God. It is not a one time activity that we did on the day of our salvation, rather it is an act of willing submission that needs to be done everyday, whether we're doing it for the fifth of the fifty fifth time.

Repentance gives us a mind set that is always looking at God and depending on Him.It reassures that we are indeed hidden in Christ.Repentance needs to be a lifestyle for every Christian.

Instead, we try doing different things like, getting on a meaningless 'deliverance' prayer spree, talking with lots of people about our problems, trying to serve God for a few days, attending expensive spiritual confrences and seminars. We try all this in vain to connect to God's heart. Nothing moves His heart as much as the silent sighs of a repentant heart.

-And Dependance on Him

So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out] Hebrews 3:19[Amplified Bible]

Many of us claim to depend on God, but deny that in our thoughts and actions. The result is evident in our lives, our heart gets distracted and our faith gets fractured.

To be able to depend on God to meet our needs, dreams and aspirations is our greatest strength. But the evil one, makes us believe that it is a sign of our weakness. And he offers a lesser and destructive source of strength called 'stubborn will'.

We can still have conversations with God, serve God, be loved and appreciated, but if we are going to depend on our stubborn will to complete things. We'll be nothing but pathetic, weak and unsatisfied wanderers.You'll see a temporary high, when things happen as you think and say, but your stubborn will promises much and performs nothing.

Only God knows your potential, because He designed it, and only He can show you how and where to use it.

We were created for His intentions. So when we begin to live for His intentions, He will provide us with the Faith and the Focus that we need to be able to enter His rest.

Get your heart connected again.

Laboring Queens

The last week was berserk.

Mumbai, the most energetic metropolitan of India was paralyzed with fear when terrorists attacked 11 busy and populated places on 26th November.The Taj luxury hotel, a prestigious 105 year old heritage building was under siege holding in custody many hostages. The Oberoi Trident Hotel was also victim to the same.The Nariman House, which is a Jewish outreach center in the city was seized and assaulted leaving 8 of its inmates killed. The total number of confirmed fatalities of the 2 day Islamic militant attack sized up to 195 and more than 300 people were wounded.

In Tamil Nadu, torrential rains created havoc.86 persons died, and thousands became homeless.Roads became inaccessible, and standing crops in over 100,000 acres of land became totally submerged in flood waters.

I was reading the book of Esther as a part of my daily devotion and in seasons of crisis, such as these times, I've learnt many lessons for my own life from the life of Esther.

"...Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" [Esther 4:14]

The Background

King Xerxes ruled over a kingdom that stretched from India in the east to Egypt in the west.

The lives of all the Jews living in this Persian empire were threatened by the order given by King Xerxes who in-turn was poisoned by minister Haman, an anti-semitic.
One Jew was safe, Haddasah, who rose to be a queen and was later named Esther.

She had a choice, she could reveal her identity and fish an opportunity to save her kindred, but if the King was not convinced she could lose her life instantly. Or ; she could stay silent, and live in safety and comfort while her brethren were being massacred.

We know how Esther fasts and prays for 3 days to boldly confront the situation. She meets the king, despite the high risk involved, plans a perfect banquet inviting Haman, and gently revealed to the king his evil ploy , and further created opportunities to provoke his anger and completely destroyed Haman, along with his plan and secured the safety and progress of the Jews.

The Lessons

Some are called to be a queen in the enemy's palace.

I am graduating in Engineering this year, I plan to do a masters in Business Administration and also want to be certified in various technologies.I see myself as an entrepreneur in the near future handling diversified products and services.

But do you know what I am called for?

I am called to be laborer in the field of the Lord's harvest.This is not my wish list, but my confirmed purpose.

Every work, every degree, every business venture for me is an effort, an act of labor in my Father's vineyard.

Esther used her position to maneuver the decision of the king preventing the annihilation of the Jews.She could not have done this, had she been an ordinary Jew girl.[Esther 5:3]

Sometimes God gives His children extraordinary position and power in this sinful world, not just because He loves to "bless" but because there is an assignment that He intends to complete through the position He's given you.
*God uses those who are willing to be promoted but who are not willing to be assimilated.

Greater the position, higher the responsibility towards the Kingdom.

You need Prayer even if you are a queen.

It is strange how some of us label only a few as "prayer warriors", and conveniently delegate the conscious praying habit to them alone.

She was the queen, but she fasted and prayed for 3 days in order to confront the situation with the king.[Esther 4:15]

Fasting is the act of humbling your whole being to the sovereignty of Almighty God.Prayer is the result of my yearning to be connected without interruption to the Heart of the Master.

Esther did not 'brainstorm' or try 'six thinking hats' or operate on 'metaphorical thinking' ,or 'Fuzzy thinking' or 'mind mapping' or 'Synetics' , to solve her crisis situation; instead she prayed.

I don't deny the power of creative thinking, but that comes second to the power of prayer. Don't just do it, Pray first; a prayer of humble submission.A prayer of total acknowledgment of the authority of God. The Master will then speak His strategy and plan for action.

Because she prayed,

1. she found favor in the eyes of the king and found an opportunity to meet him,[Esther 5:2]
   
2. she came up with a strategy to throw a banquet inviting Haman ;[Esther 5:4]
3. God made the king have swings of insomnia which compelled him to read the old diaries where he read the account of how Mordecai had saved his life from an assassination plot years before.He was reminded that he never rewarded him,so early next morning the king make arrangements to reward him.[Esther 6:1-10]
   

All of this further made way to complete her assignment.

On the day of the banquet, Esther intelligently provoked the king's anger by exposing Haman and his evil plot and caused him to be hung in the gallows that he arranged for Mordecai.[Esther 7:1-10]

Divine providence will not come your way, without continuous conversation with God.

Give up your present and step out in courage and faith.

Hadassah, gave up her comfortable average, ordinary Jew girl's life, and proceeded to venture out into an entirely new world, to become a queen in a pagan palace. She had to undergo 12 months of beauty treatment and preparations before she could enter the contest and qualify to be King Xerxes' new queen.[Esther 2:12-18]

It is easy to play a safe game, and stay secure. But it needs tremendous courage to get out of your comfort zone and dare to take the challenge.It takes preparation and perseverance to be promoted.I believe Hadassah believed that she was not ordinary material, so she stepped out and she made a difference in the lives of millions of Jews.

Once she became queen Esther, she did not settle for luxury, and allow her self to become a slave to the new life that had got hold of her, instead she stepped out in boldness risking her life by deciding to reveal her Jewish origin, saying "If I perish, I perish".[Esther 4:16]

As a Christian, we need to face battles in every day life, because we have a very powerful enemy who is afraid of our very powerful potential given to us by our omnipotent Father.

We have a choice, we can fight and move forward or grumble and remain where we are.

You make the decision.

Will you step out in faith and take a risk, and reap the benefit, for yourself and many others whose whose eternity depends on you?

"...Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"[Esther 4:14]

Another king?

"Now appoint us a king to rule over us like all other nations" This is what the people of Israel asked Samuel when he became really old. Samuel is displeased with this request and so is God.

God takes it very personally and He says "they have rejected Me".

When I was reading this passage, I said "God!!! you are over-reacting, all that the people of Israel wanted was a king like every other nation".

And as I was meditating on this, God showed me some stuff that He did not allow me to have in the past, things which I was very passionate about but I was bluntly refused. God asked me "Did you ask for the wrong things?" I said "No". He continued by saying "Had I allowed those things in your life, would you be the same today?". I replied sarcastically, "Definitely not, I would have been a lot more happier". And God said "Exactly!!! you would have been a lot more happier and then rejected me". I tried to argue with God "No that's not true !!!". But I had my own doubts.

Every Christian who knows God personally will agree that getting close to God is a process, it is long, sometimes exciting, sometimes painful, sometimes fun, sometimes dry and sometimes it feels like your in love.

I believe that rejecting God is also a process. The first thing that draws us away from God can be anything that gives us security other than Him. For some it could be money, for some relationships, for some education and for some a career; sometimes even good health can give security.This kind of security that replaces God will slowly rule over us.For the people of Israel a 'king' would give them security.

I stood there reminiscing my past. I was a lot stronger,braver and confident before. I was secure. But the source of my security;was definitely not God. Today I feel week, impoverished, inadequate; by myself, so I have to rely 100% on God; there's no way I can afford to reject Him now.

I said "God!! this makes you look like a bad guy!!". And God said "You've forgotten who I AM child.... relying on me 100% is your greatest privilege.....only this way you get to do things and achieve heights you could never have done by yourself;to get you to do this I have to look like a bad guy..all for love!!!!!!!!!"

Friends, we are talking about a God here, who does not want to stop with just being someone who is there to answer prayers. But He involves Himself deeply in our lives and concerns Himself with every activity that we perform. Don't be discouraged!! You don't need the securities that you are looking for. Let God rule over you.With Him you will see great heights and explore new horizons.If this is what you are looking for, then leave it to God because HIS ways are HIGHER.

This is what I call faith.

II Samuel 9:5
They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."

II Samuel 9:7
And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."

John 11:40
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

Isaiah 56:5
I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

Big Brother

Mom has got those ugly shots of migraine again, I have seen her suffer agonizing pain several times before.In fact I've known migraine from when I've known my mother.It pains my heart to see the otherwise chirpy enthusiastic energetic person curled up in bed whining with pain. When she holds her head and she groans 'Maa I can't bear it, it is killing me', her helpless face and expectant eyes paralysed with excruciating pain looks at me for an answer; I feel totally shattered; because I have no clue about what to do.

Not that I don't believe in the healing touch of Jesus but right now that is not what I want to write about.My heart longs to write about my Big Brother who encourages and strengthens me in times like this.My Jesus.

He is God, He can heal, He can create, He can destroy. Because He is God I cannot question Him, His ways are perfect, and He knows the pain more than I do.He loves my mother more than I do. For some purpose (that is for our absolute good) He is permitting the pain, nevertheless He has provided abundance of His grace. But during these times of frustration He does not abandon me and ask me to have more faith but He stands beside me like my Big Brother and holds me with His strong arms and reassures me that everything will be just alright. Sometimes when an episode of pain and confusion is over, I look back and I wonder 'How did I ever get through that?' and then I can see the Hand of my Big Brother that covered me and led me through those trying times.

Thank you Big Brother.. Thank you very much. Though it seems that everything is on me, You are the One who is in control. Thank you Jesus.. What would I have done without you?

Isaiah 66:13
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;

Psalms 89:21
My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.