Reflections

  The Holy Spirit - The Gift  Exodus  19:10-21   V.11: and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.    God liberated the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and brought them through the Red Sea into the wilderness of Mount Sinai to go to the promised land that He promised to their father Abraham. Their lives were dependent on God to meet the basic needs of food, water, and protection in the wilderness with no natural resources. God told Moses to get the people ready by washing their clothes and consecrate themselves for God’s revelation of Himself at Mount Sinai. The scene of God’s revelation was most majestic with thunder, lightning, thick clouds, and smoke. God is a spirit with no form and the Israelites witnessed the presence of God in the fire. The punishment for crossing the boundary to gaze upon God was severe and the people were trembling with fear. In the Old Testament time, t...

  The Holy Spirit - The Gift  1 Corinthians  2:10-16   “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12  During the Resurrection, Jesus tells his disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they have received the gift that the Father had promised them. Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit had fallen upon the disciples, they began to speak in different languages. At the time, the disciples were staying in Jerusalem, with God-fearing Jews from different nations. When the crowd heard them speaking, they were in utter shock as they each heard their native language being spoken. They asked in disbelief how the Galileans were able to speak in different languages. Some even accused them of drinking too much wine. However, Peter addressed the crowd, quoting what the Lord had spoken through the prophet Joel, “I will pour out my Spirit on al...

  The Church has to be on the watch    EPHESIANS  6:10-20 VS 10.   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devils’ schemes.   Ephesus was the most important city in Asia Minor, and they were under the influence of the pagan church. Through the letter to Ephesians Paul explains the high goals God has for the church and the different steps one has to execute for its further fulfillment. God displays His manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Christian existence though we live on this earth is not merely one on this earth alone, but it receives its meaning and significance from heaven where Christ is exalted at the right hand of the God. The Lord gives gifts to the members of the church to resist the devil and destroy his evil schemes. God enables His church to promote healthy living, unity, and maturity and provide the tools and right e...

  The Church has to be on the watch   John 14: 14 - 21 Jesus in his farewell discourse informs the disciples that though he will be going to the Father, they will experience His presence and care and the Holy Spirit will be given to them to continue their mission in the world.  This Spirit is given to the faith community as an advocate or Paraclete (parakletos). This word evokes a rich, all-embracing picture of the Spirit as a constant presence, teacher, comforter, guide, helper, friend, consoler, spokesperson, and witness. The Paraclete is intimately tied to Jesus’s preparation of his disciples for their life after his ascension into heaven.                                                                                               ...

  Ascension of our Lord    Luke 24:36-53 Luke 24:51"While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven" Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on the 40th day after Easter Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven according to Christian belief. 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus and his disciples went to Mount of Olives, near The Bible says Jesus promised the disciples that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and asked them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come. As he blessed them he began to ascend into heaven to take his seat at the right hand of God. The Ascension is meaningful to Christians as it signifies the end of his work on Earth and allowed him to prepare a place for followers in heaven. The ascension reminds Christians that Jesus has gone to Heaven to prepare a place for them, so they do not need to fear death. As Jesus is no longer restricted by time, he is always with them. Four reasons why the As...

  Witness as Praise and Plea    Psalm 40:1-17 . Knowing God through the miraculous experiences is never a one-time experience. At times we feel God through the success of our lives, however, those successes come with more challenges. We understand God through pains that turn out to be our deepest prayers. Psalm 40 is one such, where Psalmist praises God for all the gratefulness and also plea God to rescue him from dangers. Our life is never a static thing but rather that which experiences every sort of emotion in the world. Witnessing is not just about praising God for good deeds but also experiencing God in our deepest fears which we find in this Psalm.                                         The first part of the psalm is a song of thanksgiving and praise to God for all that he has done for David. The second part is a call for God to come and help David without delay...

  The Church has to be on the watch    Acts  1:12-14 Vs 14:  They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brother. Waiting on the Lord may be one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life. When Jesus promised that he would return, he instructed his followers to wait and be alert. That is easier said than done. So what do we do in the meantime? When Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, he was telling them that this was means of experiencing his peace, prosperity, and  power. In waiting they would see God spirit in action. In this passage, we have the encouraging account of the church immediately after Jesus ascended into heaven. The disciples were told to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit, and this is what we find them doing. Christians are called to humble obedience, believing the promises of Christ.  The apostles find a room on the 2nd floor of a  home, ...

  The Church has to be on watch  THE SCARECROW OF THE NATION    EZEKIEL  22: 23-31 In today’s portion for devotion prophet, Ezekiel mentions a systemic failure in the nation of Israel. We see the glory of God disappearing from the Jewish temple. Here in this chapter rather than surveying behaviors prophet surveys the personal issues of the people. The issue is still the impurity embedded in the people, Vs 24 it reads “son of man says unto her. Thou art a land that is not cleansed nor rained upon in the day of indignation, “    This oracle almost serves as a commentary on Ezekiel 7: 23-27 where prophets, priests, and kings misled the city although an earlier similar model is seen in Zephaniah 3: 3-4. The sum is a web of it as those pillars of the community are seen as colluding.     The conspiracy of her prophets:                                     ...

  The Church has to be on watch Colo.4:2-6   2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. We all are called to be His witnesses where ever we are. In this portion Apostle, Paul explains two ways through which we could join in evangelism.  1)Our Prayer (Vs.2-4) It is an indirect way of involvement in evangelism. Prayer is designed as a walkie-talkie for the spiritual battlefield, not as an intercom between God for just our domestic comforts and us. The Soldiers to the rear with the Walkie- Talkie of prayer are very crucial in the frontline success of evangelism. Paul tells them...

  Lord Worthy of Praise Psalm 98:1-9 V9“let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.” What makes you burst into song?  Is it the negative test result after months of treatment?   Is it the acceptance letter to your dream school?  Or is it hearing that first newborn baby cry?       In today’s passage of Psalm 98, the Psalmist gives 2 main reasons to burst into song: O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. (Psalm 98:1) Let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98:9) We will have no problem bursting into song when we reflect on the “marvelous things” God has done for us.  Most of the songs we sing in church are just those kinds of songs… songs giving praise to God for His continued favor in our lives.   The challenge fo...

  Lord Worthy of Praise Luke 1:46-56 This song, used in our worship liturgy, is full of joy and praise because Mary recognizes that God has acknowledged the life of a simple girl living in a small place– who in the eyes of the world is a person of no consequence. But not so with God. Where God is concerned, everyone is of equal value. All this is very much in line with the picture of Jesus that Luke will show emerging as one reads through this gospel. It is a gospel where the poor, the weak, the marginalized, the outcast, and the sinful have a special place in the eyes of Jesus. This note will often be stuck in the preaching of Jesus - the humble will be exalted and the exalted will be humbled. And there are ‘beatitudes’ praising persons whose lot in this world is a hardship. The whole of history – who is victorious, who is downtrodden, is in the Lord’s hands. Mary’s response to the loving action of God is to give praise and thanks. She is the lowly servant who acknowledged the fav...

  Lord Worthy of Praise Philippians 2:1-11 V9-10” Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. In this passage, Paul exhorts the church at Philippi to be like-minded,  have the same love, and be one in spirit and purpose by setting before them the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. Being united with Christ was a prerequisite to achieving this unity in the church. v1-2 When we have accepted Christ as our personal savior, we are comforted by God’s love for us, demonstrated in the sacrificial death of Christ. We take the forgiveness offered to us for our sins and are assured of the hope of eternal life. We are encouraged to carry on with our responsibilities and to live out God’s will because of the righteousness that comes through faith in him. When we hav...

  Lord Worthy of Praise Acts  16:19  - 31 V25” 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them”. Every time we face a challenge in life, among the multitude of thoughts that flash through our minds, a fleeting thought would be, "Oh Lord, how did you allow this to happen to me." And in this context, if somebody advises us that our Lord is always worthy of praise, we may feel, "Ok, I agree! But I don't feel like praising Him today". In Acts  16: 25 , Paul and Silas went through one such episode of persecution when they got imprisoned for healing a woman with an evil spirit. But their response to this challenge is most surprising to me. Verse 25 says, "About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." What a commendable response of faith to praise the Lord, undeterred by their circumstance or mental state! This teaches us one truth-Our Lord is always worthy of prai...

  Lord Worthy of Praise Exodus 15: 1-18 Exodus Chapter 15, verses 1-18, tells of the story of the children of Israel along with Moses singing praises to the Lord following their safe passage through the Red Sea. The ferocious sea hurls the chariots, horses, and the best of the Pharaoh’s army, while it offers a safe passage for the Israelites. While water is death for the Pharaohs, it is symbolic of life and salvation for the Israelites. In many ancient cultures and religions, inducing Hinduism, the ritualistic use of water for purification is a common practice. Followers of John the Baptist, known as Mandaeans, even today continue their religious practice called “Mandaeism.” A key feature of their faith practice is baptism, not as a onetime activity, but as a regular ritual for salvation of the soul. Here again the power of water as a source of transformation is obvious.  In this chapter, the God of Moses is also the God of his forefathers. It is an everlasting relationship an...

    Lord Worthy of Praise Acts 16:19-30   In 1 Cor 14, Apostle Paul directs the hearers about their spiritual gifts and encourages them to choose the ones that do the most good. In vs 14-15 the apostle is posing the question, what to do when you are filled with the Holy Spirit and want to share your joy with others? Our response should be very similar to Paul’s: to pray with “your spirit and minds.” That means to sing praises to the one Lord, Who is worthy! Let’s praise Him with words that others can understand (vs16). May we be clear on why we are praising him. Let us not just mumble our words but be bold and clear about why we are praising the true Lord, moving others to know more about the attributes of our God and what He has done for us.    The Lord is worthy of our praise! We praise Him for who He is and for what He has done for us. God’s Holiness is revealed in both nature and in scripture yet he remains immeasurable. He is the Omniscient (All-knowing), O...

  Lord Worthy of Praise Acts 16:19-30 V. 25 –About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them   Every time we face a challenge in life, among the multitude of thoughts that flash through our minds, a fleeting thought would be, "Oh Lord, how did you allow this to happen to me." And in this context, if somebody advises us that our Lord is always worthy of praise, we may feel, "Ok, I agree! But I don't feel like praising Him today".   In Acts  16: 25 , Paul and Silas went through one such episode of persecution when they got imprisoned for healing a woman with an evil spirit. But their response to this challenge is most surprising to me. Verse 25 says, "About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." What a commendable response of faith to praise the Lord, undeterred by their circumstance or mental state! This teaches us one truth-Our Lord is always worthy of praise ...

  Journey with the Risen Christ Psalm 23 V. 4 – Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  This Psalm displays the great love and cares the Lord has for us. The main focus of this passage is in verse 4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me..” This verse reflects how even though our journey may be dark, the Lord is still guiding us and providing us with the strength and courage to face our biggest obstacles. 1 John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” God is our shield Through God, we are able to continue with His purpose. God is our shield by protecting us from succumbing to trials and tribulations. He is the light we hold in our lives to bring His good news to others and cherish it ourselves. God is our sword Through God, we are able to triumph over ...

  Journey with the Risen Christ St. Luke 24:13-35 This passage communicates to the reader about hope and salvation, importance of table fellowship, fulfillment of scripture, and how those who have not seen Jesus get to know Him.  This passage communicates all these things during the journey to Emmaus.  The town of Emmaus is a very little known, it is about 7 miles from Jerusalem.  Two men journeying to Emmaus was met by Christ who went along with them.  Jesus asked them the question "What are you walking and discussing?"  They replied how this man (not knowing it was Christ) was not aware of the events that took place.  They were upset of the outcome of the events took place because it did not go according to what 'they' had envisioned.  The thing to note is the word 'they'.  We should understand that whatever is the will of God, should not be what we should vision but rather we should pray for God's perfect will that surpasses our expectatio...

  Journey with the Risen Christ Ephesians 5: 1-10 Ephesians Chapter 5 verses 1-10, written by the Apostle Paul, informs us to try and live our lives with the same lovingness and heartfelt actions that God has shown throughout the years. It tells us to be imitators of God. It is basically telling us that we should be children of God. In our current society children are growing daily and as they grow they tend to imitate the actions of their parents. In the same way as children of God, we should imitate the actions and love God has shown us. Paul writes that as Christians we should stay away from committing sins, such as sexual sins, foolish talking, and dirty behavior, as human beings on this earth we have to try and fall away from being a victim of sin. This chapter also addresses the consequences of falling into these sins, Paul states that we as Christians will not inherit the kingdom of God if we continue to conform to the evil ideas of today. We as Christians of the new world s...

  Journey with the Risen Christ Acts 8: 26-40 In Acts  8: 26 , we identify the Lord coming in the form of an angel to Philip telling him to go south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. Here we can see Philip encountering an Ethiopian eunuch who was an official, in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake. The man was in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet, and the Spirit told Philip to stay near the chariot. Philip then asked the man if he understood what he was reading, however the man needed further explanation of what he was reading. They traveled with one another and came to the water in which the eunuch wanted to be baptized. Both Philip and the eunuch went to the water and Philip baptized him, however the Spirit of the Lord immediately took Philip away and the eunuch hasn't seen him since. The eunuch continued to rejoice and call on the Name of the Lord. We can identify two major claims represented: 1) God puts us in the right place at right tim...

  Journey with the Risen Christ 1st Kings 19: 1-13 In 1st Kings 19, we find a prophet on the run. The prophet Elijah had been informed by a messenger that Jezebel seeks to take his life. This message alone was enough to drive Elijah into the wilderness. There, Elijah prayed a melancholic prayer “that he might die” (1st Kings 19: 4 NKJV). A prayer of this nature might be perplexing to us as modern day readers and believers of Scripture. At that moment, Elijah did not have the energy to continue running the race of faith. He was, on the surface at least, a defeated prophet. In our study of Scripture, do we fail to humanize the men and women that God mightily used? Looking ahead to the New Testament, Elijah is referenced quite a few times. James writes in his epistle that “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours” (James 5: 17 NKJV). In other words, he was just like one of us.  When the enemy presses near in our lives, we may feel as discouraged and hopeless as Elijah did. In his...