Praying with Humility

Luk 18:10-14

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

This is a great parable told by Jesus for people who thought themselves righteous. Today, to be true, we Christians resemble the Pharisee. We blow our own trumpets even if we have done something little religious or righteous. There are many church denominations who claim themselves as pure and the only chosen bride of Christ thereby belittling other fellow Christians. We think ourselves righteous by our acts and fail to acknowledge the Grace of God through which we are made righteous. (Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.)

Let us stop boasting of our works and always humble ourselves in the presence of God.

We need a change in our attitude for our prayers to be heard.

Praising God with Humility

2 Sa 13-16, 20-23

And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

The prime duty of man is to praise God. David praised God everywhere in greenly fields, in battle fields and in all stages of his life when he was a shepherd or a King. Though he is a king, he humbled himself before the Ark of God and danced with all his might praising God. Let us humble ourselves and praise God with all our might and heart and let us never be ashamed for praising God anywhere, anytime.

Stop searching for Bethesdas!

Joh 5:2-9 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

This diseased man was disabled for thirty eight years. He had known the fame of Bethesda and strongly believed that he would be healed if he could make it to be the first to step into the water, after the water was stirred by the angel. He who had known well about Bethesda was unaware of the Glory of Christ; he wanted Christ to assist him to the pool. Today we Christians are like this diseased man, we look for prophets, mighty preachers and mighty men of God to pray for us. We ask them to pray, bless and prophesize for us, we are in a pursuit to look for a church/worship place where we can feel God’s presence/healing and we send offerings to many ministries in order to be blessed by God. It is true that these people are gifted with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and such place of worship is full of God’s presence. But in most cases the fame of this men surpasses the Glory of Christ or in other words we strongly believe in someone’s prayer than the Mightiness of Christ or His eagerness to hear our prayers.

Have you ever dedicated a solitary place where you can walk/talk with Christ (other than the Church). Do we keep our bro/sister as a mediator to talk to our worldly dad?! Do you know that the Holy Spirit prays for us? (Rom 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.)

Stop searching for Bethesdas! Seek the Saviour and you will find Him!

Immanuel - God with Us

Exodus 13:21,22
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And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Exodus 14:10-14
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And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

God Almighty led Israel out of their slavery and went with them as Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire. But the children of Israel when they saw Pharaoh with his army following them and the red sea before them, they are scared, they forgot the Presence of God and started murmuring. We do behave in such a way. When we are surrounded by trials we forget the presence of our Saviour with us and start murmuring. If you are in a condition like this today Remember this “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace”

Happy New Year 2010

2Ch 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land"

We have heard so many promises from the Bible for this New Year. Off course the whole Bible is full of promises and they are meant for our inheritance being made the son of God through Christ’s sacrifice at the cross. I strongly feel that there is no point in dedicating a single verse as a promise (though this might have been done as a tradition) for a year.

By this way, I am little bit scared that we are motivated towards selfishness longing only for Blessings in this unstable world for our sake without considering other factors or our eternal relationship with Christ. We are like the early followers of Christ who followed Jesus for the sake of Miracles/Food and failed to focus on His teachings or to see a change in their life (Joh 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe).

Let us try to make some resolutions for this year based on the above verse so that we can grow to be like Christ.

The peace and well being of a nation does not depend on the economy or the nation’s neighbours but rather on us - “We Christians who are called by His name”

We are expected to be Humble as Christ has demonstrated throughout His life. (Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross)

Let us try to pray continually and seek his face throughout the 365 days of this year (and years to come) (Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart).

Let us try to be holy as our father (1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy)

Let us grow in our relationship with Christ throughout this year so that the Shepherd leads us through green pastures and still waters.

Wishing You all a Blessed Year Ahead!