UV 1169/10,000 The Significance of Agreement
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Amos 3 v 3
This simple statement or rhetorical question states a deep truth about relationship. Can God and man walk together except they agree between them? Can a man and a woman live together as husband and wife except they agree on basics? Can a person be someone’s friend unless there be some common points of shared values? Can a business partner pull on with another unless they agree with each other how to transact their business? Adam and Eve agreed with satan and disagreed with God. As a result, they as well as all succeeding generations of mankind suffered the consequences.
Noah was a just man in his generations and he could walk with God as he agreed with the principles that the latter had ingrained on his conscience. Agreement with God meant that he could not agree with the immoral practices and wickedness being practiced in Sodom and Gomorrah. Agreement with God meant that he listened to the voice of God in building a huge Ark when not a drop of rainfall was in sight. Agreement with God implies that we too should be able to live in holiness and to visualise what cannot be seen by others, to carry out the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the written instructions of God.
Abraham was another person who walked in agreement with God. As a result, he was blessed and he was made a blessing to succeeding generations. When we agree with God, He creates rivers of blessing for us in the desert experiences of life and makes a way out of the unchartered and unmapped wilderness of everyday life. The resurrected Jesus walked with the two unnamed disciples at Emmaus and taught them once again why He had to die for all mankind and they agreed with Him and were blessed. A husband and wife are yoked together for life and it is vital that they agree on what they believe in. This is the glue that holds them together through the thick and thin, the ups and downs of life. Scripture says, “What fellowship can righteousness have with unrighteousness, what communion can light have with darkness?” Similarly, a believer needs to be careful of how he or she chooses his or her friends. The Lord delights in concord, harmony, agreement, friendship. The kingdom of God is built of such as these. When a husband and wife agree to live according to godly principles, they are establishing the kingdom of God in their home. When we live in agreement with God, our bodies become the living temple of God and He will walk in us and with us.
Prateep V Philip
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
The Value of Testimonies
UV 1168/10,000 The Value of Testimonies
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psalm 119 v 36
Our hearts are naturally inclined to covetousness or lust. People are obsessed with But when we are spiritually born again and our hearts are circumcised by the Spirit of God, they become inclined toward the Word, the promises of God and the testimonies of God who fulfils the promises in our lives. We rejoice in the things the Lord teaches us from day to day as if it is great wealth and good nourishment. We find our pleasure in the revelations of the Lord. We enjoy the ways in which He manifests His grace, love and power in our lives. We look for wisdom, comfort and assurance in the Word.
We begin to realize that happiness does not consist in the abundance of things or possessions but in being blessed by the presence of the Lord. We need to hasten to do that which the Lord bids us to do. We need to bear witness to the truths and blessings that are ours when we listen and obey. We need to give priority to the things the Lord does in our lives and to give a faithful account of it to others. Simultaneously, we need to eschew the lusts and covetousness that is characteristic of the people of this world.
Our faith is based on experience and evidence. God is a person who believes in giving evidence of His goodness in practical ways in providing for us, in protecting us, in guiding and leading us, in saving us, in blessing us, in multiplying the impact of our contribution and legacy. He attaches great value to the truthful testimonies of people. When we hear the testimonies of believers, we give thanks and worship the Lord. When we ourselves share our stories of how the Lord has intervened and acted in our lives, we cause the Lord Himself to rejoice. When Jesus obeyed the Word and took baptism at the hands of John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan, the Father in heaven rejoiced over Him and testified, “ this is my own beloved Son- listen to Him.” Similarly, He testifies of each of us when we bear His testimonies.
Prateep V Philip
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psalm 119 v 36
Our hearts are naturally inclined to covetousness or lust. People are obsessed with But when we are spiritually born again and our hearts are circumcised by the Spirit of God, they become inclined toward the Word, the promises of God and the testimonies of God who fulfils the promises in our lives. We rejoice in the things the Lord teaches us from day to day as if it is great wealth and good nourishment. We find our pleasure in the revelations of the Lord. We enjoy the ways in which He manifests His grace, love and power in our lives. We look for wisdom, comfort and assurance in the Word.
We begin to realize that happiness does not consist in the abundance of things or possessions but in being blessed by the presence of the Lord. We need to hasten to do that which the Lord bids us to do. We need to bear witness to the truths and blessings that are ours when we listen and obey. We need to give priority to the things the Lord does in our lives and to give a faithful account of it to others. Simultaneously, we need to eschew the lusts and covetousness that is characteristic of the people of this world.
Our faith is based on experience and evidence. God is a person who believes in giving evidence of His goodness in practical ways in providing for us, in protecting us, in guiding and leading us, in saving us, in blessing us, in multiplying the impact of our contribution and legacy. He attaches great value to the truthful testimonies of people. When we hear the testimonies of believers, we give thanks and worship the Lord. When we ourselves share our stories of how the Lord has intervened and acted in our lives, we cause the Lord Himself to rejoice. When Jesus obeyed the Word and took baptism at the hands of John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan, the Father in heaven rejoiced over Him and testified, “ this is my own beloved Son- listen to Him.” Similarly, He testifies of each of us when we bear His testimonies.
Prateep V Philip
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Amazon link to the book : For Better Through Verse
Here s the link to the latest book in the uni-verse series:
http://www.amazon.in/For-Better-Through-Verse-Uncovered-ebook/dp/B00M7YHB86
http://www.amazon.in/For-Better-Through-Verse-Uncovered-ebook/dp/B00M7YHB86
The Origin of Lust and Love
UV 1167/10,000 The Origin of Lust and Love
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
I John 2 v 16
The word “lust” is an excessive uncontrollable desire that can control and drive a person instead of the person being in charge and control of his desires. Our bodies have some legitimate needs like food, drink, clothing, comfort and sexual satisfaction. Our minds too have some legitimate need of a sense of security, recognition and satisfaction. But when we crave more than our need, each desire becomes lust. The Word describes three different types of lust: lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. While legitimate and natural desires and needs are from the Lord God for He has wired us and made us in His image, our desire to possess in excess of what God had intended and willed for us is lust. The world feeds our lusts by feeding our disbelief and our insecurities.
Satan desired to be equal with God. This is the pride of life. He tempted Eve and Adam stating that if they disobeyed God and ate of the fruit of knowledge, they would be like God and live forever. Pride of life causes us to disbelieve God and to believe satan and the world. We are deceived by our own excessive desire. Instead when we submit our lives, our desires, plans and all that we are to God and accept whatever His will is for us, we have the opposite quality- the humility of life. We are deemed to be humble before God and He will lift us up. Lust destroys us from within while love sustains us.
The lust of the flesh prompts us to desire to consume and possess more than we need to. The lust of the eye causes us to covet that which is not ours. The world and its systems condition people to desire more than they need and to desire what they do not need as well as to desire that which is forbidden by God or that which is harmful to us in terms of eternity. While Gautama Buddha described all desire as evil, the Word of God describes desires as natural and necessary but when the desire is excessive, unnatural and not under the control of the person, only then it becomes evil and destructive. When our desires are submitted to the Lord, disciplined by the Word and controlled by the Holy Spirit, these are of the Father and not of the world. We in turn become people who are in the world but not of the world. When we have a relationship with God as our loving, generous as well as capable Father, we will not be affected by the sense of insecurity that afflicts the world. He knows what we need and He will supply it according to His generosity. Trust in Him keeps the inner lust and pride in check and keeps chipping away at such as these. Love replaces lust as love is of the Father and not of the world.
Prateep V Philip
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
I John 2 v 16
The word “lust” is an excessive uncontrollable desire that can control and drive a person instead of the person being in charge and control of his desires. Our bodies have some legitimate needs like food, drink, clothing, comfort and sexual satisfaction. Our minds too have some legitimate need of a sense of security, recognition and satisfaction. But when we crave more than our need, each desire becomes lust. The Word describes three different types of lust: lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. While legitimate and natural desires and needs are from the Lord God for He has wired us and made us in His image, our desire to possess in excess of what God had intended and willed for us is lust. The world feeds our lusts by feeding our disbelief and our insecurities.
Satan desired to be equal with God. This is the pride of life. He tempted Eve and Adam stating that if they disobeyed God and ate of the fruit of knowledge, they would be like God and live forever. Pride of life causes us to disbelieve God and to believe satan and the world. We are deceived by our own excessive desire. Instead when we submit our lives, our desires, plans and all that we are to God and accept whatever His will is for us, we have the opposite quality- the humility of life. We are deemed to be humble before God and He will lift us up. Lust destroys us from within while love sustains us.
The lust of the flesh prompts us to desire to consume and possess more than we need to. The lust of the eye causes us to covet that which is not ours. The world and its systems condition people to desire more than they need and to desire what they do not need as well as to desire that which is forbidden by God or that which is harmful to us in terms of eternity. While Gautama Buddha described all desire as evil, the Word of God describes desires as natural and necessary but when the desire is excessive, unnatural and not under the control of the person, only then it becomes evil and destructive. When our desires are submitted to the Lord, disciplined by the Word and controlled by the Holy Spirit, these are of the Father and not of the world. We in turn become people who are in the world but not of the world. When we have a relationship with God as our loving, generous as well as capable Father, we will not be affected by the sense of insecurity that afflicts the world. He knows what we need and He will supply it according to His generosity. Trust in Him keeps the inner lust and pride in check and keeps chipping away at such as these. Love replaces lust as love is of the Father and not of the world.
Prateep V Philip
Monday, August 25, 2014
World Patterns versus Word Patterns
UV 1166-10,000 World Patterns versus Word Patterns
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God
Romans 12 v 2
The words “paradigm shift” is much bandied about in modern day conversation but its origin can be traced to this uni-verse. A paradigm is a pattern. Scripture asks us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to have transformed patterns of thought, speech, actions and reactions. Our thought pattern, emotion pattern and decision and desire patterns are yielded to God. Our once darkened minds are renewed by hearing the Word of God. Our perspectives are transformed. We no longer see our purpose in life is just to satisfy our own desires. We are not to ask like the rest of the world, “ what is in it for me?” Instead, we are to ask, “ In what way can I contribute? What can I do for the glory of God? What can I do to touch and save more lives, to bring meaning, purpose and power of salvation into the lives of others?” The purpose of our lives is no longer to make ourselves comfortable in this lifetime but to strive for an eternal goal of building the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. It is surrendering or submitting our lives to the will and purpose of God. The purpose of our work is no longer mere profit and wealth but to meet the need of others, to serve the least of our brethren, to share the love of God.
The pattern of speech of this world is boastful, spiteful, scornful, untruthful, vulgar, full of lies and vanity. The transformed pattern the Word indicates is a wholesome pattern of speech that is wholesome, not harmful to others but building the hope and faith of others. The pattern of thought conditioned by the world is self-focussed, problem-oriented, limited and narrow. The transformed pattern is based on meditating on the Word. It is solution-oriented and other-focussed. The pattern of our emotions triggered by the world and its circumstances are largely negative and unhealthy. It is driven by fear, insecurity, greed and selfishness. The transformed pattern of emotions is to be hopeful for the future, joyful in the present and thankful for the past. The process of spiritual transformation is not a one time happening but a lifelong learning that comes from daily renewal and affirming our relationship with the Creator-Redeemer. It does not happen due to a lot of striving and effort on our part but a continual yielding to the Holy Spirit who gently moulds and shapes us again in the image of God without breaking us.
The pattern of actions of this world is highly reactive. It is stimulus-driven. Most of our actions are knee-jerk and based on what is happening around us. The transformed pattern of action is to not to do unto others what they have done to us but to do that which we would have liked them to do to us. It is proactive, progressive and a natural outflow of selfless love or agape that God demonstrated in His Son Jesus. The relationship pattern of this world is based on the need to dominate, to emerge superior and “quid pro quo” or what can I gain from person x or y. The relationship pattern is transformed when we experience the love of Christ to one of the need to serve, to help and to bless the other. While worshipping last Sunday, I had an insight why the angels and elders worship the Lord saying, “ holy, holy,holy”- it implies that God or the Trinity is absolutely perfect or holy in thought, word and action. While we cannot exactly be holy except by attribution by grace, we need to conform to the character of God by being wholesome in our thought pattern, word pattern and action pattern. Transformation is a deep -seated, irreversible change in the way we think, speak and do. Our pattern of goals and objectives are changed. Our priorities are changed. Behavioural change automatically ensues.
Prateep V Philip
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God
Romans 12 v 2
The words “paradigm shift” is much bandied about in modern day conversation but its origin can be traced to this uni-verse. A paradigm is a pattern. Scripture asks us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to have transformed patterns of thought, speech, actions and reactions. Our thought pattern, emotion pattern and decision and desire patterns are yielded to God. Our once darkened minds are renewed by hearing the Word of God. Our perspectives are transformed. We no longer see our purpose in life is just to satisfy our own desires. We are not to ask like the rest of the world, “ what is in it for me?” Instead, we are to ask, “ In what way can I contribute? What can I do for the glory of God? What can I do to touch and save more lives, to bring meaning, purpose and power of salvation into the lives of others?” The purpose of our lives is no longer to make ourselves comfortable in this lifetime but to strive for an eternal goal of building the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. It is surrendering or submitting our lives to the will and purpose of God. The purpose of our work is no longer mere profit and wealth but to meet the need of others, to serve the least of our brethren, to share the love of God.
The pattern of speech of this world is boastful, spiteful, scornful, untruthful, vulgar, full of lies and vanity. The transformed pattern the Word indicates is a wholesome pattern of speech that is wholesome, not harmful to others but building the hope and faith of others. The pattern of thought conditioned by the world is self-focussed, problem-oriented, limited and narrow. The transformed pattern is based on meditating on the Word. It is solution-oriented and other-focussed. The pattern of our emotions triggered by the world and its circumstances are largely negative and unhealthy. It is driven by fear, insecurity, greed and selfishness. The transformed pattern of emotions is to be hopeful for the future, joyful in the present and thankful for the past. The process of spiritual transformation is not a one time happening but a lifelong learning that comes from daily renewal and affirming our relationship with the Creator-Redeemer. It does not happen due to a lot of striving and effort on our part but a continual yielding to the Holy Spirit who gently moulds and shapes us again in the image of God without breaking us.
The pattern of actions of this world is highly reactive. It is stimulus-driven. Most of our actions are knee-jerk and based on what is happening around us. The transformed pattern of action is to not to do unto others what they have done to us but to do that which we would have liked them to do to us. It is proactive, progressive and a natural outflow of selfless love or agape that God demonstrated in His Son Jesus. The relationship pattern of this world is based on the need to dominate, to emerge superior and “quid pro quo” or what can I gain from person x or y. The relationship pattern is transformed when we experience the love of Christ to one of the need to serve, to help and to bless the other. While worshipping last Sunday, I had an insight why the angels and elders worship the Lord saying, “ holy, holy,holy”- it implies that God or the Trinity is absolutely perfect or holy in thought, word and action. While we cannot exactly be holy except by attribution by grace, we need to conform to the character of God by being wholesome in our thought pattern, word pattern and action pattern. Transformation is a deep -seated, irreversible change in the way we think, speak and do. Our pattern of goals and objectives are changed. Our priorities are changed. Behavioural change automatically ensues.
Prateep V Philip
My New Book in the Uni-verse series
Please get a copy online of my latest book "For Better Through Verse" and leave a review on amazon kindle:
http://www.amazon.in/For-Better-Through-Verse-Uncovered-ebook/dp/B00M7YHB86
Pl also send the link to your friends and contacts encouraging them to read it..
blessings prateep
http://www.amazon.in/For-Better-Through-Verse-Uncovered-ebook/dp/B00M7YHB86
Pl also send the link to your friends and contacts encouraging them to read it..
blessings prateep
Sunday, August 24, 2014
The Seed, the Wind and the Clouds
UV 1165/10,000 The Seed, the Winds and the Clouds
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
Ecclesiastes 11 v 4
IF we look at external circumstances and wonder whether we will succeed in fulfilling the purpose of our efforts or of our life, we are like the farmer who before sowing watches the wind, worrying that the wind will carry it off or whether the sun will shine in due season or whether it will rain at the right time for the seed to grow and flourish. If we are fearful and doubtful, the Lord cannot prosper our lives and our efforts. We will be like the wave that is tossed about by the wind, moving now in this direction and now in that direction. The wind is a mystery. Like the Holy Spirit, no one can say where it is coming from, which direction it is blowing and where it is going. We just need to trust the Lord and His Word wholeheartedly. We should not live by what we see or hear but by every word we hear from the mouth of the Lord.
The Word of God is the eternal seed. If we look to see if circumstances are congenial or if the season is ripe, then the Word cannot be sown. It is to be sown in season and out of season. It will bear fruit in season and out of season, when circumstances are favourable and when they are unfavourable. Along with whatever we do we should sow a promise of God, then it shall bear a different fruit every month of the year to meet our need as well as the need of others. The process of sowing a promise of God is to pray and to claim it for ourselves and others.
The clouds are again a symbol of the Lord. It is a canopy that covers us. We are always covered by the cloud by day and a fire by night. We need not be deterred by dark clouds, by threatening thunder storms or lightning that shoots forth from the clouds. The Lord will turn the adverse to our favour and for our good. We only need to enter the cloud of the Lord’s presence for comfort, guidance, leading and blessing. The Lord God will in His wisdom establish the work of our hands, the seed that we have sown. We need to sow both by day and night, in the morning and the evening for we do not know which shall prosper and which shall perish, for either result we should give glory to the Lord.
Prateep V Philip
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
Ecclesiastes 11 v 4
IF we look at external circumstances and wonder whether we will succeed in fulfilling the purpose of our efforts or of our life, we are like the farmer who before sowing watches the wind, worrying that the wind will carry it off or whether the sun will shine in due season or whether it will rain at the right time for the seed to grow and flourish. If we are fearful and doubtful, the Lord cannot prosper our lives and our efforts. We will be like the wave that is tossed about by the wind, moving now in this direction and now in that direction. The wind is a mystery. Like the Holy Spirit, no one can say where it is coming from, which direction it is blowing and where it is going. We just need to trust the Lord and His Word wholeheartedly. We should not live by what we see or hear but by every word we hear from the mouth of the Lord.
The Word of God is the eternal seed. If we look to see if circumstances are congenial or if the season is ripe, then the Word cannot be sown. It is to be sown in season and out of season. It will bear fruit in season and out of season, when circumstances are favourable and when they are unfavourable. Along with whatever we do we should sow a promise of God, then it shall bear a different fruit every month of the year to meet our need as well as the need of others. The process of sowing a promise of God is to pray and to claim it for ourselves and others.
The clouds are again a symbol of the Lord. It is a canopy that covers us. We are always covered by the cloud by day and a fire by night. We need not be deterred by dark clouds, by threatening thunder storms or lightning that shoots forth from the clouds. The Lord will turn the adverse to our favour and for our good. We only need to enter the cloud of the Lord’s presence for comfort, guidance, leading and blessing. The Lord God will in His wisdom establish the work of our hands, the seed that we have sown. We need to sow both by day and night, in the morning and the evening for we do not know which shall prosper and which shall perish, for either result we should give glory to the Lord.
Prateep V Philip
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)