GET TO WORK!!

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it". Genesis 2:15. Humm! Do you see it? God ordained WORK DAYS!! Even before God gave Adam a wife or child, even before God gave britches, God gave Adam a JOB. God honors work! So honor God in your work. Don't be lazy and sitting in front of TV or browse on internet whole day sipping tea or go to sleep when your eyes get tired looking at the screen. God's children especially leaders forge onwards and refuse to enter a spiral of discouragement, depression, or diversion. They keep their goals in the bull's- eye and refuse to allow naysayers, critics, and detractors to poison their determination. Hey, our little time on this earth passes so quickly. Job said "I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death". Job 10:21. The day is passing- so grab the light and race with the sun to accomplish your purpose. Don't sit there expecting hand outs, but role your sleeves and get to work, the GOD'S WAY! Y"all hear me!! GOOD!!

BUDGET!!

"Moreover it is required in the stewards, that a man be found faithful". 1 Co 4:2. My friend I know that you are excited about your new married life. Hey, I want to talk about "Sky high expectation and ground level reality". All of us have "JUNK IN THE TRUNK" when we got married. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. Don't run your life like Federal Government- you know in deficit. Hey, it is increasingly more difficult to identify unhealthy spending habits, because impulsive and compulsive spending appetites are legitimized by our popular culture "PLASTIC" culture, which not only encourages credit card debt but also presents it as "the normal and accepted American Way". Don't even try to start your young life to keep up with your parents standard of living. Hey, they were working for 30 years more than you do. You can buy your toys and expensive cars later buddy. Develop discipline in spending. That may include taking away all so-called security: DO A PLASTIC SURGERY, you know cutting up credit cards and not taking out any bank or family loans. Then, develop a BALANCED BUDGET that will control spending. Don't even think about driving a BMW and living on TUNA FISH. Do I hear a thank you man for free advise!! You are welcome!!

REJOICE!!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice". Philippians 4:4. How can I rejoice when two loved ones were promoted to glory and were buried last Thursday and Saturday? Or someone asks- How's life or How are you? Two weeks ago I preached in an African Church in Dallas area and my Text was Philippians 4:4. Was God preparing me for this? Well, when my every sin in my life has been cast to the sea and every mistakes I have made is nailed to to the tree AND I am a blood-bought and heaven made - A child of God for ever saved, How can I be not REJOICING? Voltaire said- "I wish I had never been born", Beaconfield who had both fame and possession said " Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, old age a regret, and Jay Gould who was a billionaire at his death bed he said "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth". Many, can memorize Psalm 23, HEY HEY I KNOW THE SHEPHERD!!!! Rejoice in the Lord always I say REJOICE **Rejoice in the Lord...

HE IS IN CONTROL

" The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in WHOM I will trust". Psalms 18:2. Worrysome heart pays a high price for doing so. Instead of taking away tomorrows trouble, worry voids today's strength and wastes our energy. Through it all, I learned to put my trust in God, in good times and bad, fully confident that we are in the hollow of His hand. HE IS IN CONTROL!!!

UNFEIGNED FAITH

"When I call to remembrance the UNFEIGNED faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy GRANDMOTHER Lois, and thy MOTHER Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also". 2 Timothy 1:5. Humm, "THE DAY AFTER" the mothers day, can I talk about something? I have talked to many young people who have rejected the faith and the consistent note I hear is " My parents talked the faith, but they didn't live it". I'm not talking about after-dinner faith, daily devotion, or a chapter a day. You know: the religious display of tradition! Even the non- Christian can call themselves religious because of their daily practice. Hey, Are you walking the talk or just talk? In your household, are the members of your family walking on eggshells hoping that Mom and Dad would not explode, hoping nobody would get into trouble for this or that, or even something they didn't even know is wrong? Paul described the faith of Timothy, his mother and his grandmother as "unfeigned' faith. It means "sincere" or "genuine". Our faith must be sincere, genuine, absolute, authentic. abiding, and arousing. In Timothy's household, apparently their faith was CONTAGIOUS. How about you? Or is it a "day after pill"? OUCH!!!!

SUBMIT TO GOD FIRST!

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil, and flee away from you". James 4:7. My friend, one big problem in the church today is that many get so worried about the devil that they see demons behind every bush. That is a wrong perspective. We always emphasize RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU! Hey, how about the first part of the verse, "SUBMIT TO GOD". Our prayer requests are like this, , "Oh, I have a spirit of lust, of greed, of desire. I'm being attacked by this and attacked by that- please pray for me". While the war Satan has declared is very real, not everything wrong in your life can be blamed on Satan. I've heard a story like this: On one Sunday morning Satan was found standing outside a church crying. One of the elders came out and asked Satan "why he was crying. To that he replied, During the testimony time everyone blaming me for everything for which I have absolutely no part- I can't take it any longer". Too often as we find ourselves battling Satan, we simply fail to resist him. While he's always looking for the perfect opportunity to tempt you and me with something attractive, something seemingly irresistible, he only wins when we play his game. If you have problem of lust- don't watch pornographic material- if you want to have victory over your drinking problem, disassociate with your drinking buddies etc.. Use common sense man!! If you are feeling like you are constantly failing in the battle, here is my challenge to you buddy: SUBMIT TO GOD....AND RESIST THE DEVIL. MAKE THAT YOUR HABIT. JUST DO IT MAN, DO IT.

CHURCH DISCIPLINE!!

"Also all the chiefs of the priests and the people trespassed greatly in accord with all abominations of the heathen, and they polluted the house of the Lord which He had hallowed in Jerusalem.... And they burned God's house and broke down Jerusalem..2 Chronicles 36:14-19. Under the reign of Solomon, the place for worshiping God changed from temporary to permanent with the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. The structure may have changed, but God's standard remained. God's work continued to be sacred. Over the passing of time, the temple was ultimately destroyed because God's people compromised His standards. God's work is sacred. So when a person engaged in ministry repeatedly defies God's high standards, that individual is to be removed. The consequence of violating God's sacred work, that which is performed for God's glory and the body's edification, is severe-disqualification from ministry and leadership- because His work bears His mark and reflects His reputation. Because this is true, God sets the boundaries in which His work is to be accomplished. The standards are high and Holy. That's why Paul warned Timothy and Titus to treat with care any accusations against those who minister and in leadership but NOT FALTER WHEN CONFRONTATION WAS NECESSARY. Politics, fighting for Leadership and Chair, groupism, mismanagement of resources, sexual scandals etc. has no place in His kingdom. Cleansing is warranted. Hope this answers your questions about church discipline in our ethnic churches in India and abroad.

GIVE THANKS!

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you". 1 Thessalonians 5:18. My friend, do you understand what this passage is saying? "Give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES". Note that this doesn't say "in all things". Some Christians think the height of spirituality is saying, Thank you Lord, for our house burning down or for the job loss or for the miscarriage or for the divorce or for the accident or for the sickness or for the church split or even for the death in the family etc. Nobody in the right mind would give thanks for that. It's crazy if you do that. But every Christians with the mind of Christ can say, "Thank You, Lord, that in the midst of this tragedy, YOU ARE IN CONTROL. YOUR PURPOSES AND PLANS IN MY LIFE STILL STAND, and YOU will cause this tragedy to work together for good because of OUR LOVE FOR YOU". Don't choose the path of worry my friend. Recently one of my friends said, in a span of 18 hours the commercials and health news over the airways created so much worry in her. Like 'the sun blasts cancer-causing rays, air vents blow lung- clotting molds, potato chips have too many carbs, vegetables, too many toxins and why they have to call an airport a terminal... RELAX MY FRIEND, JESUS IS IN CONTROL AND DO WHAT GOD SAYS! Y'all HEAR ME?

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

"Let nothing is done through strife and vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not everyman on his own things, but everyman also on the things of others". Philippians 2:3-4. Paul explains here what is true servant leadership. True leadership is not self-serving but selfless service, isn't it? World's leadership is heavy- handed, led by threat and force. In Jesus' kingdom- lead by humbling ourselves and serving. It is the meek- not the oppressors, who will inherit the earth. God's leader has anointing without arrogance, boldness without brashness, power without pride. Even though many non- Christians have excellent leadership skills, they do not qualify for Spiritual Leadership. My friend, Spiritual leadership flows from deep personal relationship with Christ, delights in glorifying God and lifting other people, serves Christ by serving needy people, esteem others more highly than themselves. Well, isn't it the JESUS WAY- willing to lay down his life for others and by washing his disciples feet. You see, servant leaders touch the heart before they ask for a hand. TADA!!!

FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR!!

"for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my HELPER, and I will not FEAR what man shall do unto me". Hebrews 13:5-6. Humm! A future without fear! This morning in my Bible study I gleaned three things God wants us to know: 1) The Companionship of His presence. 2) The Confidence of His presence. 3) The Comfort of His presence. 1) I don't know what we're going to face in our near future and we are afraid to face alone something we don't understand . But we know He will NEVER give up on us or abandon us. When the devil comes and knocks at your heart's door, we can simply say, "JESUS, PLEASE GO ANSWER THE DOOR". 2) It is the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God who told us "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee". When we say, "God, I just don't have the strength" or "God, I'm afraid of what is going to happen" or "God, God, I don't know what to do", then our God will respond, " I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE". 3) When you need comfort of His protection remember that verse five which says " HE HATH SAID". When you find your contentment, companionship, and confidence in Jesus, then you will find your comfort and courage in Jesus. Hey, contentment is not what you want buddy, but is wanting what you already have, THAT IS JESUS AND HIS PRESENCE! ENJOY HIM MY FRIEND, IT'S THE REAL THING!!

LIVE DIFFERENTLY!

My friend, life is too short for regrets. That is why it is so important for you to know who you are, what is important to you, and how you want to exist and proceed in the world. Understand that you will spend far more time on the other side of death than you will here. If you can get up every morning and think that you can say good bye to this world anytime, you will live differently. You will start living in the light of eternity and you will handle every relationship, task, and circumstances differently, right? When you laugh, partying, and having fun thousands will be there. But when you cry only your shadow will be there to cry with you. I trust that you will make peace with God today so that the peace of God will immerse you. I trust that you will discover your calling in life and begin to live your life on purpose. Today is the day to begin living in God's image as you were created to be, moving from ordinary to extraordinary, from one level of faith to another, from glory to glory. It's a marvelous journey my friend!!! YOU JUST DO IT!!