I WILL COME | PROMISE | GOD'S SHADOW MINISTRIES | MARCH 2025

 

I WILL COME AND HEAL HIM

PROMISE | MARCH 2025

Mathew 8:7  And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him

 

Dearly beloved in Christ,

 

Loving greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

 

In the Gospel account of Mathew, in the narrative of Centurion who pleads to Lord Jesus for the deliverance of his servant suffering from palsy, we find an insightful attribute of our Lord. Yes. Although this incident teaches to us a lesson in faith, according to me, there is another very prophetic side to this whole story and that is the cue for this month’s promise of God’s Shadow Ministries.  In this story Jesus, without hesitating or even delaying, responds to the Centurion’s request by saying, “I will come” and then goes on to appreciate  his faith before the crowd,  when he said it is enough if He sends his word. Notably, this man was not a Jew. Lord Jesus, who once declared that he came only for Jews and once even discouraged the Canaanite woman from approaching him seems to be responding in a different way here?

 

Well, I do not know what made him to say “yes” to Centurion’s request, but I do prophetically believe that if he could be so quickly answer the prayer of a non-Jew or perhaps a non-christian, how much more swiftly and readily will he help his own children, his own flock, his own disciples!  The Bible says you and I have become sons and daughters of God through our faith in Lord Jesus Christ!

 

For the month of March 25, just as he told that Centurion, I believe that our Lord would truly command his presence in the homes of his children who would call out to Him in their misery, in their suffering and in their difficulties!  He did not just hear and give some reply, he told the Centurion,      I WILL COME! Hallelujah!  Beloved people of God, the prophetic-promise that I would like to share is that the Lord who has already heard our petition promises to come and provide the solution!   Amen!   

 

Even as you are reading this, your mind is occupied with cares, worries, pressures and problems that you are presently facing as an individual, as a family.  It could be a sickness, a conflict, a debt or even the wayward life of your children.  Your heart is overwhelmed with the pain of someone in your family and in your neighborhood.  I would like to prophetically declare that the Lord has heard your petition and promises to ‘COME AND DEAL” with the same! Amen!

 

The words, “I will come” speak of his intent to act immediately and affirmatively with regard to your prayer request.  Even today, the Lord is desirous to extend the same to all those who have been praying and waiting upon him. Hallelujah!

  

The centurion coming to meet Lord Jesus Christ speaks of SEEKING LORD’S PRESENCE in our hour of distress.

 

The centurion’s proposition to just send a word than coming in person, speaks of his faith in the WORD OF GOD.

 

The centurion’s faith brought about a great release of GOD’s HEALING POWER in his house, the place where his servant was. Amen

 

The moment the Centurion shared his problem, the Lord’s response was to come and solve the same.   The Bible says, “All things are possible with God”. Yes!  It is not just about physical healing, whatever be the issue that you are facing right now, as a child of God, our Lord is able to come and provide a relief.  Our Lord performed ever so many miracles in the life of multitudes that come to him for deliverance and healing. However, for our meditation, we shall take a closer look at three events that took place in the ministry of Jesus.   These events paint to us a prophetic picture of what the Lord want to do in our lives. They also convey that our Lord is not far, but very close to our prayers, to cause his deliverance and healing in our lives.   Amen! 

Let us look at them, one by one.

 

1. Deficit in the Wedding (John 2)

Joh 2:2 and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 

 A familiar incident, to begin with. It is about Lord Jesus turning the water into wine. Without going too much into the details, I would only like to highlight the significance of a miracle such as this in a family, especially in a wedding.   The shortage of wine would have caused a great chaos and perplexity in the minds of the wedding party, because wine is the key item of the banquet and not providing it would cause a heavy backlash to the wedding party before the invitees and the society.  When the family was clueless, Mother Mary took the matter to Jesus. And Jesus performed the miracle of turning the ‘water into wine’.  Jesus entered into that wedding scene and silenced the confusion.    Prophetically, even in your life, if you are going through a phase of utter confusion and chaos on how to handle few things, be it in office or at home, or how to handle the finances required for your children’s education or even a wedding which has already been planned.  Your resources have run dry and it appears as if nothing or none can help you in this crisis.   You cry out in desperation to God, just as Mary that day informed Jesus.  Lord Jesus who already knows what you need, will come into your life to remove every lack and deficit. The one who responded to the call of a Centurion will surely hear the cry of his own child! Amen!  The Lord will come and put an end to your confusion. Hallelujah!

 

2. Danger in the Journey (Mathew 14)

 Mat 14:32 and when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 

 Once Jesus put his disciples on a boat and constrained them to sail to the other shore before him.  On his part, Jesus went up into a mountain apart to pray.   The disciples who were sent by Jesus faced troubled waters (in real sense) when the boat in which they going began to be tossed with waves as the wind had turned contrary.  Perplexed and troubled, the disciples did not know what to do.  It was during that hour of crisis that Jesus appeared before them as one walking on the water!  The disciples, who could not believe this sight, were terrified over his appearance and even felt that it could be some spirit.  Jesus said, “Be of good cheer. It is I, be not afraid”.  And in time, he joined them in the said boat and made the sea calm.   Here, in this incident, it was Jesus who set them on sail and in the middle of the journey when the disciples were caught in a worst storm, they could not but cry and wail in terror and uncertainty.  I am sure, for a while they all would have thought that their story is going to end under the depths of the sea.   Knowing that Jesus had no other boat to come up to them, they would have thought that even he cannot rescue them now.  But in an unexpected way Jesus came on the water, came into their boat and made things calm.  Even in your life, in your marriage journey, career or even a ministry, having begun well with the assurance of God’s will, you are now stuck in a great crisis!  When in the middle of the sea, you can neither go backward nor move forward. Perhaps, a storm of misunderstanding, conflict or some work of the evil has gotten you stuck in the middle!  You may either feel like dying or may even contemplate suicide.  Having lost all hopes, you may have even stopped praying.  But, just as Jesus came walking on the water to rescue the disciples from the storm and lead them safely to the shore, even in your situation, in your family, in your business, in your ministry, he would step into provide peace, purpose and will commute you till the end! Amen! The Lord will come and calm the storm to end your cry of desperation. Hallelujah!

 

3. Death in the Family (John 11)

 Joh 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 

 In the town of Bethany, near Jerusalem, there lived a family which was very close to Jesus.  Two sisters viz., Martha and Mary and their only brother Lazarus often hosted Jesus.  Jesus loved this family very much. Once, when Jesus was away from Bethany on ministerial visits, he receives a word from the messengers that Lazarus is sick unto death.  The family’s expected that Jesus would immediately come and heal him.  But against all expectations, Jesus did not turn up and Lazarus succumbed to his sickness.  Four days after the death and burial of Lazarus, Jesus came to meet to the house of this bereaved family.  Obviously, the scene was full of sorrow and grief and the sisters of Lazarus expressed that if only Jesus had come early, their brother would not have died. But Jesus was repeatedly telling them that he shall make him come to life again.  The sisters, were of the belief that their brother would rise up in the last day, but not now.  But Jesus was to perform an extraordinary miracle of bringing a dead man back to life on the very same day. 

 

The Bible mentions that when Jesus came near the sepulcher not only the sisters, but even the people standing around were weeping and groaning. Jesus himself was troubled in spirit over the loss and grief surrounding that family.   But the grief did not last long as Jesus called Lazarus out from the sepulcher alive!  It was truly an outstanding miracle which turned the environment from one of sorrow to celebration!

 

Perhaps, even in your life, you may be going through a period of extreme sorrow or grief over a loss of life, loss of a job, and loss of money or even lost opportunities.  You are weeping endlessly and no amount of consolation would comfort your soul.   Just as the sisters grieved for four days, you may be grieving for 4 months or even 4 years.   But on that fourth day, Lord Jesus came and wiped away all their tears. Hallelujah!  Sepulcher or tombstone speaks of end of life, end of hope and perhaps end of everything.  Maybe you are standing and weeping at the point where you feel there is no longer any hope in your life. But Jesus, since he loved them much, came and brought life into a lifeless situation! Even in your life the Lord would come and put an end to all your tears. Amen!

 

Keys to your Miracle:

Even though the Lord has promised to come into your situation and command his healing and deliverance, when we carefully look at the above visitations, we come across three salient causes which made Jesus come into their situation to command his blessing. Let us look at them briefly.

1.Inviting Jesus

Jesus and the disciples were invited to the wedding. Have you invited or accepted Jesus as your personal savior in your life?  Make Jesus a part of your life.

2.Including Jesus

Jesus stepped into the boat of the disciples.  Yes, they included Jesus in their journey.  Jesus did not perform his miracle standing on the sea, but he stepped into the boat and he even accompanied them in their journey.  How often do you involve or include Jesus in your life journey?  In the decisions that you take, in the agreements that you enter, in the travels that you plan, have you asked Jesus to come along with you?. Let the presence come with you wherever you go and whatever you do.

 3. Informing Jesus

The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus.  Mary informed Jesus about the shortage of wine.  This speaks about our prayer life.  Paul writes that we ought not to worry about anything but with thanks –giving make our requests known to God.  Yes, a constant communication with the Lord is the hallmark of a successful Christian life. More than sharing with men keep talking; keep communicating to Jesus about everything that takes place in your place. 

 

The promise of God for you is sure and certain.  He says, “I will come and heal him”.  Received this word in faith and you shall see the glory of God!  He will surely make his presence felt during this month in the midst of your challenges, conflicts and confusions and cause you to praise and glorify his holy name! Amen.

 

May the Lord God bless you and the members of your family and make this March month a miraculous month!

 

In Christ, with love and prayers

Vinod and Nanthini

God’s Shadow Ministries

9840011374, 9840995057

HE LEADS ME IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS | PROMISE WORD | OCTOBER 24 (ENGLISH)

 PROMISE – OCT 2024

IN THE PATH OF RIGTEOUSNESS

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Beloved Children of God, Our good God has graciously helped us to cross through nine months of this year and step into a new month – October 24.   The Lord who has led us thus far as Ebenezer will also lead us henceforth.  Even for this new month, the blessed word of promise which the Lord has given to us is “God leads me in the path of righteousness for his name sake” Amen! Well, as a sheep we all would expect our shepherd to lead us into “green pastures” and “still waters”.  These two experiences speak about a “life of prosperity” and “life of peace”.  Many a time, we think this is all what we need in our life and we are content with the same.  But the Psalmist says that the shepherd would also lead its flock or his sheep “in the path of righteousness”.  If God is leading us, it should be a right and a royal path only, right? 

Pathway of Life

Exo 12:41  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 

Life is a journey, in many ways.  The children of Israel after they were delivered from the Egyptian bondage were led by Moses on a journey towards the Promised Land. It was truly a long and tedious journey.  The Bible says, it took them nearly 40 years to traverse the distance which they should have otherwise crossed in about 11 day time.   Although the murmuring had caused delay, the Lord God, according to his own divine purpose, chartered to them a wilderness route map which included several difficulties and dangers. He did not take them on an easy way or a short cut.  By being their guide in the form of ‘pillar of cloud’ and ‘pillar of fire’, he made sure that they do not miss the way.

Right path or Ridiculous Path?

Num 21:4  And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 

The joy and the celebration of the people of Israel who exited Egypt with dreams of entering into their new land were jettisoned when they encountered the great ‘Red Sea’ before them.  The question was not just about crossing a sea; it was about the enemies who were behind them.  I suppose the phrase, “between the devil and the deep blue sea’ might have originated only here.    But we know that the Lord led them in a miraculous way by parting the sea and making them walk as though on a dry land. Even though God was making a way for them in wilderness, the Bible says that people got distressed because of the way in which they were being led.   Why he took them by that way?  Was it the right way?

For his name’s sake

Psa 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works. 

All the ways of the Lord may not be graspable or even palatable to us. But the Bible says that the Lord can never go wrong in his ways.  Here, it is not just about his thoughts, plans or purposes, even the ways in which he leads his people will be right.  

When the Psalmist speaks about his Lord, who he refers as is shepherd, he says that he will lead me ‘in the path of righteousness for his name sake’.  What is meant by his name sake?  In simple words, he leads me in the path of righteousness because of his name.  Here, the name of God speaks about his nature.  E.g., because he is a just God, he will lead me in the just way; because he is a holy God, he will lead me in the holy way; because is a loving God, he will lead me in the way of love. He cannot lead us in a way which is contrary to his nature. 

Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and the way to eternal life told his followers to take up their cross and follow him (Luk 9:23).  Yes. If you have indeed accepted Jesus as your personal savior, you have to go by the way of cross. In other words, way of   sorrow and suffering for his namesake. But the way of cross also leads us to a blessed destination – eternal life. Just as Paul says, “I have fought a good fight. (meaning I have come by a way of intense struggle).  But I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith. Now, there is kept for me a “Crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:7)

Three Dimensions

Pro 12:28  In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death. 

The Bible says that there is a way which seems right to man but the end thereof are ways of death (Pro 14:12, 16:25)   In other words, when we walk in the ways of God, however complex or confusing it may seem to our mind, we shall not suffer defeat or see death.  But if we discount the same to walk in ways which appear right to us, then we may have to pay the price for it.  In the Garden of Eden, it seemed right for Eve to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  But that was against the pronounced way of the Lord.  We know what happened to her and Adam? They fell into sin and were eternally separated from God.

Therefore, in life, we must learn to not only distinguish between the ways of man and ways of God; we also should choose to walk in the ways of God.  Even for our meditation for this month, we are going to look at three ways or three paths of the Lord in which we should walk.  We should pray for God’s grace and guidance to not only know these ways but also walk in the same.

I would like to call it as below

1. Excellent way (Truth way)

2. Exclusive way (Even way)

3. Everlasting way (Eternal way)

1. Excellent way (Truth way) – A prayer of submission

Psa_25:5  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

What is truth?  In Psalms 119:142, the Psalmist says, “Thy righteousness is everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth”.  Every commandment, precept, statute, counsel and law of the Lord is the truth.  A Child of God should learn to walk not in the ways, which is pleasing to him/her, but in the way of truth. 

About Abraham the Lord said to his son Isaac, “because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws (Gen 26:5)” I will bless you and multiply your seed.   Walking in the way of truth is nothing but hearing his voice and obeying him.  Abraham became a friend of God only because of his obedience to God.  Moses became a deliverer for God only because he obeyed God in everything. Unlike the personal encounters which Abraham and others had with God, we may not receive ‘voice notes’ from the Lord.  The Word of God is his recorded voice.   The more we read, the more we should apply our mind to it to walk in the truth. Just as there was a reward for Abraham and his son Isaac for walking in the way of truth, we shall also receive our rewards. Therefore, let us decide to not only know the way of truth but also to walk in the same. 

2. Exclusive way (Even way) – A prayer of consultation

Psalm 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 

A plain path or a level path is what the Psalmist is praying about in this verse. What does it mean?  Barnes Notes on the Bible comments, ‘a way of plainness”. That is, a straight or smooth path.  In other words, the Psalmist prays that he might be enabled to act wisely and right.  Yes, many a time, we need wisdom and discretion, especially while dealing with our enemies.  Being level headed, cool and composed while dealing with our adversaries.  Paul specifically warns that we should be careful and vigilant to stand against the ‘craftiness’ of the evil one.  He emphasizes that our warfare is not against ‘flesh and blood’ but against unseen spiritual forces.  And the weapons of warfare are also powerful enough to pull down the strongholds of satan (2 Cor 10:4). King David, the one who wrote this Psalm, demonstrated this many times in his life.  As a boy when he volunteered to go for a one-on-one with the Giant Goliath, he did not go in the usual way. He took the battle from the terrestrial to celestial level.  He did not use spear or a sword but only a sling. But the path he took was the even path which the enemies cannot decipher.  Many a time, when he wanted to go against a particular enemy or go after a particular nation, he would not go by the strength of his army, but would always enquire of the Lord. In life, many times we get entrapped in ever so many debts, commitments and even wrong relationships all because of our failure to seek God’s counsel before time. The devil would entice by showing things which are unreal in getting into some business decisions or even looking for an alliance.    At every stage, in every critical juncture of our life, we must learn the habit of seeking God’s counsel, God’s mind, and God’s will on the matter.  If we proceed basis the same, then our path will really be smooth. Even if a storm may come or a wind may blow, the Lord will still and make it calm for us. Hallelujah!

3. Everlasting Way – A prayer of introspection

Psa 139:24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! 

 

What is an everlasting way?  A way that lasts forever or a way which has no end.   If you look at human life, we do not live on this earth for ever and ever. Our life span is limited and in the present era, at the most one may touch 90 and that too only rarely.  In the natural sense, every think has an expiry date and nothing lasts forever. However, with regard to our life, Lord Jesus promised that “if we believe in him, we shall eternal life  - a life without end”. This we will not enjoy here but in heaven after we leave this earth, either through our death or be caught up in rapture.  

Once a rich young ruler came and asked Jesus, “What should I do to attain eternal life?”  Jesus said, you should keep all the commandments of the law.  The young man submitted that he has been doing the same without fail.  While commending him for the same, Jesus said, there is just one more thing that you must do. He said, “Sell all your wealth and distribute to the poor”.  Being a rich man, he did not expect such an answer from the Lord.  He went back disappointed. 

Jesus was not introducing a new commandment or teaching a new doctrine about selling all our wealth to give the poor.  He was essentially pointing out that it is not about how religious he was, it was all about how responsive he is to the voice of God.  The young man was not only disappointed but he was totally disagreeable to such proposition.  But the Psalmist is praying and pleading with God to search his heart and remove anything that stands between him and eternal life.

We may be pious, passionate and even people of tireless pursuit in serving the Lord. But is there something missing? The Church at Ephesus had many accolades.  Yet, God pointed out that she had lost her first love.  Through John the Apostle, , the Lord brought to attention the short-comings of those end time churches.  If they set things right, they will not miss their crown.

Just as God was gracious enough in revealing to that young man through Jesus or writing it down through John the beloved, even today he will reveal to you the things that which you should set right, surrender and shape up in your journey with the Lord.  Today, if you pray sincerely and seek the face of the Lord, the Lord would surely reveal that “one” thing that you should deal and rectify.

Lord who leads

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not someone who just gives hands over a command, shows direction and remains indifferent and disconnected at his end. He is not someone who doesn’t bother when we are tottering in the middle of the sea.  He wants to make you, mold you, guide you and lead you in every walk of life.

Even as we get into a new month, let us submit our plans, dreams and desires into his hands and ask him to just lead us (and our children) in the path of his truth, in the path of his counsel and in the path of his correction for his name’s sake.

Surely, he shall lead and guide you continually

Thanking you,

Yours,

Vinod Kumar

God’s Shadow Ministries 

 

 

 

#DDD

Destination Derailed by Destiny!

On that fateful evening, when the derailment and deadly collision of trains took place in Odisha, many families, many breadwinners, many mothers, many youth, many children with many hopes, dreams, plans perished abruptly.   Some may have lost their breath instantly and many may have suffered, screamed and wailed for help before departing the earth. The end came all of a sudden, unannounced. The had boarded this train to alight at a place, perhaps their home town or probably their job town. But nearly 300+ people were walloped into eternity without reaching their destination! Very sad, very distressing and very cruel end to so many invaluable lives!

 Lessons we learn (we better learn!)

 # Life is precious, life is good, life is a gift. Let us learn to value it.

 # Life has an expiry date.  Many a time, the date comes unannounced

 # Life gives us lot of chances, but we will not know which one is the last?

Survivors tales..

 This mishap has not only caused mutilation of body parts, but many a children, family members have become destitutes.

 There are some who managed to escape this tragedy with little or minor injury.

 And there are many who are alive, because they could not their tickets confirmed in this train!  Uff…what a sigh of relief and what an eerie feeling it would be for them!

 You and me following this news, reading this article, were actually far from the incident, far from the business of travelling in this train.

 A few pertinent questions that I would like ask us…

 1)     Why we are alive and they are not?

2)     Why we are saved and they are not?

3)     Why we are preserved  and they not?

4)     Are we very special, valuable and much important than all those victims?

 You may share your answers for our learning!

 As for me, it has again caused a deep realization and conviction the following:

a)     I am a survivor, because of the Grace of God

b)     I am a survivor, because God has some unfinished work in me/through me.

c)     I am a survivor only to accomplish God’s will on earth

d)     I am a survivor only to spread the word there is an  eternal life, after our earthly journey

e)     I am a survivor, to tell people that is there is a price, there is a life, there a destiny that should not be missed in  our life!  Life eternal with our Lord!

You and I are still travelling in the train and the train is running safe.  Let us do what best we can before…......we reach our destination!

 

God bless!

When the fulness of time comes | Promise Word 2023 | God's Shadow Ministries

 

WHEN THE FULNESS OF TIME COMES

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.

The World has just landed on an unexplored landscape: Year 2023. 

The Sun arose, as it did on 31 Dec.  The things of world are just the same. c. Yet, for many reasons, there is a sense of euphoria, ecstasy and exuberance in having stepped into a New Year! 

Many partied hard with high spirits to swim into this day and many others prayed fervently and faithfully for God to bless the new-year. Many of us have received a wonderful Word of Promise from our respective churches and are elated and hopeful of a turnaround to take place.  May the Lord be with us and make our ways prosper!

A Set time and a season!

Ecc_3:11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Our God is a good God who always works according to a timeline.  Many a time, we may not be able to find or even fix the times and seasons in which He acts.    He has his own timetable and it cannot be advanced or postponed.   Just as the time of a sunrise or a sunset cannot be changed by humans, none can disturb the plans and purposes of the Lord concerning us. When the fullness of His time arrives, it will surely give birth!

Time of fulfilment

Joh 7:8  Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.

In all the Gospels, Jesus kept mentioning to his disciples and to those around him about HIS time.  Yes, He waited for His time to come to not only perform a miracle but also to participate in the feasts.  His life on earth was directed and  navigated by the plans of His heavenly father and the clock set in by the heavenly calendar!  And now, after having ascended to heaven 2022 years ago, He is waiting for the right time, the time appointed by His father, to return, to take his Bride, the church.  That is going to be a time of great fulfilment.  We are waiting!

Time of favour

Psa 102:13  Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 

I do trust and believe that in the lives of His own people, his own flock, his chosen generation, the appointed time to show his favour has come.  Hallelujah! That is the Word of Promise that we have received from our Lord for our ministry and in Christ, we pronounce, proclaim and prophesy the same in your lives too.   According to 2 Chronicles 20:20 if you, ‘Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.  Surely, if you receive this promise and claim it for you and your family you shall be established.

Fulness in Family

Joh 2:1,2  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:   And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

The very first Miracle that Lord Jesus Christ performed was in a wedding.  Marriage speaks of family.  Marriage  speaks of families coming together.  Marriage also speaks of joy and celebration (Jer 33:11). 

However, on that day, in Cana, the reason for joy and celebration was deprived. The wine, the centerpiece of a Jewish wedding banquet, fell short! An uncommon situation which could not be addressed by any alternative means. Jesus performed an incredible miracle by turning water into a tasty wine and restoring the fullness in that marriage party!

Just as it happened in Canaa, Lord Jesus is going to restore the fullness in your family, in your career, in your business, in your ministry! Believe, so that you shall prosper.

 

 

Five-dimensional View

2Ch 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Even though we pray, we petition and make endless requests to God for many things in our life, we need to understand the truth that whether we pray or not, the eyes of the Lord are always seeking to bless, exalt, prosper those whose heart is perfect towards him.  In other words, those whose heart is blameless toward him.

From the miracle of water turning into wine in Cana, the Spirit of the Lord revealed to me five facets of a family whose heart is perfect towards him.  Truly so, the Lord performed an incredible miracle by restoring fullness in their life. Let us explore.

(a)Family Facing a Shortfall

Joh 2:1-3  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:  And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine. 

 

Since Jesus, his mother, and even disciples were invited to this marriage, this must have been an event of a close relative of Jesus. Yet, the presence of Jesus did not prevent the shortfall. We all must come to an understanding that shortages, sicknesses, sufferings and   can enter into the families of well-meaning believers too. The boat in which Jesus travelled tossed up and down in storms, Jesus could not come in time to save Lazarus, his close friend. from dying.  Winds and waves may come, problems and perils may arise.  At the beginning of this new year, you don’t wish  anything untoward to take place and neither do I!  But life presents to us both ‘hills and valleys’.  One cannot bypass the same.  Just as the Psalmist  is able to say, “Yes, eventhough I walk through the valley of shadow of death…” We should not be surprised when shortfalls come in our life.  Rather than lamenting “Why Lord?” we must be able to say, “Fine Lord”.

 

(b)Family Coming to Jesus

Joh 2:1-3  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:  And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 

 

A family which prays together stays together.  In times of crisis, what do we do?  Do we blame each other? Do we run to the moneylender? Do we run to medicos? Do we try to work out our own schemes?  That day Mary, in the very first  instance, approached Jesus.   Its speaks of seeking God early. Psalmist says, ‘early will I seek thee’. The first step towards fulfilment is calling out to Jesus. More often not, we will be tempted to work out our own crisis management.   In one accord, we should

get down on our knees and seek God’s face.  

 

(c)Family Waiting for Jesus

Joh 2:4,5  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it

 

The moment Mary expressed the situation to Jesus, He did not act on it immediately.  He just said, my time is yet to come.  Mother Mary, did not beg, plead or even pressurize Jesus to answer her request immediately. She returned silently but told the servants to do as Jesus says.  What a faithfilled woman  Mary was?   How is our prayer life? How is our attitude towards prayer?  Do we pray and pray and if we do not get the answer immediately or inside a specific time span we get so dejected and wonder whatever is happening to God?  Do we backslide in our prayer life?  The Psalmist asserts, “My expectation is from him (Ps 62:5).   It is said that  none of our prayers go unanswered.  The answer is either Yes, No or Wait! This is a sign of the family waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promise.  His time is coming!

 

 

 

(d)Family Trusting His Time

Joh 2:5,6,7 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim

 

Mary, when she approached Jesus, did not get see him acting immediately over the situation.  There was a crisis in the wedding and when there is no wine in the wedding banquet, the visitors will not take it lightly.   They may even consider it as an insult.  In our own wedding ceremonies, just imagine, if we have run short of a key item in the menu with few hundreds still left to dine, what would we do?  We will not rest quietly.  We will get down to the brass tack and try to do something about it so as to save our face before our guests.  Whatever needs to be done, it should be done swiftly. But here Jesus’ reply sounds offensive.  But Mary did not argue because she knows well about her son and had incredible faith on him.  She trusted that Jesus would not let her down but would do something in the right time.   She went back passing on the instructions to the servants.   No stress. No fuss.  In Mary we see a person who knew well what Jesus do, even without receiving any affirmative answer or reaction.  If we know our Lord well, if our relationship with him as intimate as Mary with Jesus was, we will also not bother but trust reassuringly.  Put your whole confidence in Him, he will not let you down!

 

(e)Family Obeying His Word

Joh 2:6,7  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.v

 

The Bible says, “Obedience is better than sacrifice”.  However much we worship,  give our offering or even do ministry for the Lord, when we do not have the heart to obey God, when we do not have the attitude to obey his commandments then our life continue to be empty, barren and unfruitful.   Saul even lost his kingship due to disobedience.   Obedience, at times, may even sound irrational, illogical, and impractical to us.  But we need to trust and obey, there is no other way.   Peter who tried all night in the same would have wondered at the advice of Jesus to lay the net again. But he did obey and saw a great miracle which brought forth an unprecedented catch which needed more than two boats to hold.  That is the fruit of obedience.  As a family, when you make up your mind to obey  God, obey to each other, obey parents, obey elders, obey spiritual leaders, obey scriptures and thus develop an attitude of implicit obedience, you will do whatever the Lord instructs and in the end your water jars will turn into wine jars, your empty boats will become overflowing boats.  Is there any area where you have not obeyed to God? 

 

Dear in Christ, as a family when you walk through these steps, you will not only witness a miracle,  but your life will draw other to Jesus.

 

Fulness of Blessings

Prophetically let me declare and decree that as a family, in this year 2023, when we inherit the fullness of God’s blessings the following shall come to pass.  Not only in your family, in your career, in your business, in your ministry and in everything that you do.

 

(a)Shortage addressed:

By turning water into wine, Jesus made sure that there is no shortfall in the marriage party.   This would have brought great relief and joy to the family.  Similarly, our Lord will redress all the issues of shortfall in your life.  Financial, health, emotional, relational and educational shortfalls will be supernaturally addressed.  Whatever is lacking in your life, will be made good!

 

(b)Superiority asserted:

The water which turned into wine was not an ordinary one.  The guests not only applauded the best taste of the wine,  they wondered as to how such a best quality wine was kept till the last.  Jesus when he blesses you will not only make  your vessel overflow, but will also give you the best of the best!  Best of the jobs, promotions, clientele, orders, harvest are in store for you!  Whatever he gives, it will be supreme, superlative and supernatural!. Trust.

 

 

(c)Splendor awakened:

We know that this was the first of his many miracles. Even though it was performed for the benefit of a wedding party, the Bible says that his glory was manifested forth and that his disciples reposed their faith in him.  When Jesus does something in your family, it will draw the attention of even unbelievers to believe in him.  Your family will become a source of blessing to many.   Your children shall go forth and be a blessing to the world.  Arise and Shine for the Glory of God has risen upon thee (Isa 60:1)

 

Even in this year 2023, our precious Saviour Lord Jesus Christ would make your life fulfilling by setting right all shortfalls and making your life delightful and glorious, unto men and unto God!

 

The fullness of time has come….

 

Wishing a blessed new year 2023 to you and your family.

 

God bless you

 

Vinod Kumar and Nanthini Maria

God’s Shadow Ministries