Showers of Blessing!

The blind man (Bartimaeus) said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Mark 10:51.

Whenever I read Mark 10:46 – 10:52 I always say to myself that I was also once blind like Bartimaeus. I was a traditional Christian who regularly attended church on Sundays. Matthew 15:8 says, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” I was exactly like this.

One day, Jesus opened my eyes too and I was never the same again. My relatives and my friends left me as soon as my eyes were open. They treated me like a leper but I have Jesus on my side forever. He is in charge of my family and my life. What more do I want?  Isaiah 42:16 says, “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight…” This is what happened to me when I started following Him; miracles, signs and wonders and everything happening until this moment is supernatural.

Bartimaeus wanted a change in his life and he knew only Jesus could do it for him. When Jesus came into his life his days of begging were over and he ended up being a follower of Jesus (Mark 10:52).

There are a lot of people who worship Jesus Christ but sad to say their eyes are not open. They do not see the way Jesus Christ wants them to see Him. Psalm 146:8 says, “The LORD opens the eyes of the blind…” 

When Jesus opens your eyes you will “worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23 – 24.

Be Blessed!

Showers of Blessing!

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; He shall call upon Me and I will answer him…I will deliver him and honor him” Psalm 91:14-15.

We find in Daniel 6 that King Darius thought of setting Daniel over the whole realm because he saw that Daniel had an excellent spirit in him.  The governors and the satraps were jealous of Daniel, who was so faithful to His God and to the King that they tried to find fault with him concerning the law of his God.  They established a royal statute that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except King Darius, shall be cast into the den. In fact, King Darius did not know the real purpose behind this decree.

Although, Daniel knew about the statute, it did not hinder his prayers to the living God.  Daniel 6:10 says, “And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”  

We read in Daniel 6:16 that Daniel was cast into the den of lions and the following morning the king asked Daniel, “…has your God whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the lions? Daniel’s reply was, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

If you are going through tough circumstances like this in your life, please do not get troubled. Jesus Christ is there for you. He is standing beside you to help you. He will send His angels for you whenever you call upon him for help. Psalm 91:11 says, “For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up…You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.”

Be blessed!

Showers of Blessing!

“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be Christ?” John 4:29

These are the words of the Samaritan lady whose life was completely changed because of an encounter with Jesus Christ at Sychar. This lady met Jesus at Jacob’s well and it was the turning point in her life. All of us might still remember how we all turned to Jesus. She did a wonderful job in spreading the word about Jesus Christ and thus turned many more in the city to Jesus.

In verse 28 we read, “The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men… The water pot was a hindrance for her to spread the word about Jesus Christ. It must have been heavy to carry around. I have often thought that some of us who are called to spread the Word of God are carrying similar water pots. The water pot can resemble our jobs, future of our children, financial matters and so on. It can drift us away from our call to spread the Word of God even without our knowledge.

My dear friend, as the Word says in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Be Blessed!

Showers of Blessing!

Many a times I have asked this question to the Lord Jesus Christ and to myself, “What am I doing here?”  I know that the Lord has great plans for me so as to fulfill His greater plans. The other day when I asked this question to myself I added this too.  “What did I do to deserve this?” I know that I have no reason to complain at all against the Lord because I walk and live supernaturally in this part of the world.  What really made me ask this question is the tensions and the negative attitudes of those at my workplace.

As soon as I asked this question, my wife answered me, “This is your training period.”  I know most of us have asked this question to ourselves even after receiving a promise from God.

Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace and had all the best in life. God had chosen him to be the person to lead the Israelites out of bondage from Egypt.  God had planned beforehand the route from Egypt to Canaan which was through the wilderness. It was exclusively for this purpose that God took Moses out of the palace into the wilderness so as to teach him about the wilderness.  In Exodus 3:18 we read, “The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now , please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.”  The Lord, “I AM WHO I AM” did not want to surprise Moses about the wilderness. Therefore, the wilderness experience was given to him ahead of time so that he was ready to take the Israelites out of Egypt at God’s time.

Now, when I say the wilderness experience, I do not mean suffering, sickness, poverty and persecution as some men of God regularly preach. The word says, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” Psalm 35:27. So please do not get me wrong.

Moses had a great responsibility of leading about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children (Exodus 12:37).  In order to equip Moses to lead the six hundred thousand men and children God took him to Midian.  We read in Exodus 3:1, “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian.”

Quite often we might think we are at the wrong place doing the wrong job.  Do not worry.  He is training you for the great one. So, get ready for the BIG one. It is coming.

Be blessed!

   

Showers of Blessing!

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21

This verse has been misinterpreted throughout the Christian world which blames Jesus Christ for any disaster that happens in any part of the world. I have heard priests quote this verse during funerals and very recently, I happened to see Job 1:21 written on a house damaged due to the tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma. I firmly believe the person who wrote it has the same mindset of Job. In Job 38:1, “the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” Don’t you think this is happening even today?

Job did not fully understand the Lord which he himself admits in Job 42:3 “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” He goes on to say in Job 42:5, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear.” Most Christians are likewise.

In my own life, I would say that my Jesus carried me in His hands. What would I do without Jesus in my life?

As we read Job 42:10 we find “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” God does not take away anything from us. In fact, He is a giver. In this context we should know who takes away things from us. John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

In order to have a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus we need to read our Bible. Do not be led astray by wrong teachings. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate it day and night …For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.”

Showers of Blessing!

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” 1 Samuel 15:22.

Prophet Samuel made this statement to King Saul after he disobeyed the Prophet’s instruction. In my life, Jesus Christ has always instructed me to do certain things and I was obedient to His Word. Until this day, my obedience has reaped supernatural results.  I am sure Jesus Christ has spoken to you too through His Word or through His (true) prophets.

Last week, very early in the morning, the Lord spoke to me in my sleep. He said that I should remain in this land like Isaac did when there was a second famine in the land. We see this in Genesis 26:2 – 5,”Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you…I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”

And again He spoke to me and said, “If you do not obey Me your fate will be like Lot.” I woke up from my sleep and prayed and I decided to obey His voice. In Genesis 13:10 we see that “Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD… As you read on we find that Lot lost everything in life.

I know it is a little difficult to be in this situation. For me, this has always been my experience with the Lord. He does the planning for us. 1 Peter5:6 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

We see in Genesis 40:36 – 38,”Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.”

Dear reader, if He asks you to stand still and remain in the place where He wants you to be, go ahead and obey His voice. There is always a blessing attached to it.

Be Blessed!

Showers of Blessing!

Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Matthew 9:29

Jesus Christ, during His entire ministry had compassion on the people and healed everyone who was sick. He was willing to heal anyone who needed healing. We see in Matthew 8:16 that “He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.”

It is rather sad to hear when men of God preach that sickness was given to them to teach people a lesson.  I have heard them preach that you should have brokenness and suffering from God. I don’t understand why people listen to such teaching and I came to the conclusion that it is because people do not read the Word. Was there anyone in the Holy Bible during Jesus’ Christ ministry that He did not heal?

I know people who believe that sickness is given by God. Jesus Christ does not want to teach you a lesson by giving you sickness. It is the devil who brings sickness in you. John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

We read in Matthew 10:1,”And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.”

In Matthew 8 we see how Jesus Christ healed a leper, the Centurion’s servant and Peter’s mother-in-law and in verse 16 we see that “He healed all who were sick.” He told the leper, “I am willing, be cleansed” and to the Centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed so let it be done for you.” That is the mind of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

In Matthew 8:17 we see that “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness.”

Believe that Jesus Christ is still willing to heal you. He loves you. Read the Word and you will understand the depth of His love for you. He has been good to me all of my life. He is such a loving God. Walk closely with Jesus as Enoch walked with God (See Genesis 5:22 & 24).  

Showers of Blessing!

“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Hallelujah! Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ! Where would I be without the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? His praise is always in my mouth. He has done wonderful and mighty and awesome things in our lives. Those were miracles which are beyond my imagination. He is still in the process of mighty miracles. I believe “His eyes are always on us” (See 1 Peter 3:12).

“He has hedged me behind and before, and laid His hand upon me” Psalm 139:5. I know for sure that He will not forget me. See I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” (See Isaiah 49:15-16).  My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a wonderful God.  I cannot stop praising Him at any time. “He has put His words in my mouth and has covered me with the shadow of His hand.” (See Isaiah 51:16).

I cannot “go from His Spirit or flee from His presence. If I ascend into heaven, You are there…….Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (See Psalm 139:7 – 10)

What a wonderful God we serve. “The LORD has called me from the womb; from the matrix of my mother He has made mention of my name. And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He has hidden me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden me.” (See Isaiah 49:1 – 2)

Hallelujah! It is a privilege to serve the LORD Jesus Christ “Who formed me from the womb to be His servant.” (See Isaiah 49:5)

Thank you Jesus!