God's Shadow Ministries | Word of Promise | That you may have LIFE | Sep 2021

 

THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE

 

…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10b)

 

What is life, after all? -Philosophically, one would say, life is what we do between life and death.  Is it really so plain and lukewarm?

 

In our daily walk, we come across people who display different attitudes towards life.  To a college guy, life is fun, thrill and joy. To an artist, life is all about stage and fame.  To a politician, life is people and position.  To some life is a boon, to some it’s a bane. Life, seems to favor some and disfavor many. 

 

Life has its ups and downs.  No one is spared.  We live in a world, where even the successful, rich and famous decide to suicide, while the poor, suffering and famished look forward to another day in great optimism.  When death strikes, the very life becomes meaningless and mundane to the bereaved.  Yet, when a child is born, life gives them ample reason to cheer and celebrate.   Thus, in many ways, life is valued, cherished and lived only in terms of what it offers?

 

In what way a Christian life is unique?

 

A New life (In Christ)

 

The Bible says that the first man Adam (which actually means man) became a living soul, when God breathed life onto him.  We the people of the world were born in Adam and his descendants.   The life that we live or our breath came from God or belongs to God.   This life was spoilt when man sinned.  Even though, man continued to exist physically as a living being, his spirit remained dead.  When one receives Christ and has sins forgiven, he is born anew which is what we call as ‘born-again’ experience.  Paul Says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Jesus was talking about this life! A superabundant life. 

 

This month’s promise word is not a new word but a reminder or rather a reassurance of what has already been given to us. I do not know how you are viewing your life today. Happy, sad, frustrating, annoying  or what not.  BUT TODAY JESUS IS REMINDING TO US THAT THE LIFE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IS AN ABUNDANT LIFE!

 

 

 Through this meditation we will not only try to understand what JESUS meant when he said “I have come to give life”, but also, from scriptures, ways and means on how to live or reflect this life in us!

 

Differentiator: Old and New?

 

Somebody, jocularly, said, by dipping a pig into a pool you don’t bring a pup out  !  While it is true that we are born again into a new creation when we accept Jesus and receive him in the waters of baptism, no magic takes place in the act of baptism. In the physical, we are the same, but in the spiritual realm we are new creation who are called to live a new life. A life taught, modelled and revealed by Jesus. 

 

We face all the struggles – physical, mental, emotional – that a non-christian faces.  No bed of roses is laid before us. Rather we are given a cross to carry.

 

Then, what is the life that I am living?

 

Unbanked Cheque!

 

All the promises of God are yea and Amen in Jesus.  Yet, the promises of God does’nt automatically come to pass in our life.  They must be received, believed, prayed for and claimed.   You may have received a cheque from somebody for few thousand dollars.  The issuer while giving the instrument would have written your name and given to you hoping that you will encash and enjoy.  But if you do not bank the cheque, or deposit it in your account, the cheque will remain only a piece of paper adding no wealth.  Similarly, the life promised by JESUS in John 10:10 should be received and banked to enjoy its full benefits!

 

Just like a person would suffer for not having deposited the cheque, you may also be struggling in your life due to your failure to apply the principles of God in your life. 

 

Paul says, it is no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me. If I have to put in one word, one sentence the differentiator between our old and new life, it is that the Identify of old ‘I’ or ‘Me’ should slowly give way to Jesus.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

THREE DIMENSIONAL PROMISE!

 

a) CHRIST LIFE, GIVES LIGHT – NO DARKNESS

 

Joh_1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.(Hate not his brother)

 

Jesus said, “I am the light of the World. He that follows me shall not walk darkness”.  Darkness is basically absence of light.   Darkness speaks of a time when no you can do no work.   When there is no light, you will not know the way, and when you still walk in dark, you will stumble.  Darkness can cause fear, horror, and uncertainty in one’s mind.  When you received Christ, you came into light.   Jesus does not say that there will be no darkness in your life. Rather, he is assuring that we will not stumble or struggle in darkness.  The Light of God that shines upon us will help us to navigate this darkness.   This light is nothing but the Word of God.  If the Word of God does not become a light unto your path, lamp unto your feet or in essence, your guiding force, you will remain in darkness.  Eg., A person who hates his brother, the Bible says, is still in darkness.  The Word of God says we should love even our enemies.  If you are not experiencing this facet of Jesus’ life in you, then you must do a self-evaluation and find out which part of the Word has not become your light yet.

 

(b) CHRIST LIFE, GIVES COMPLETENESS  – NO DEFICIT(Fixed on the needs)

 

Joh 10:10  The thief  cometh  not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: am come  that they might have  life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Not only light, the life of Christ means fullness, completeness.  There is a difference between comfort and contentment.  Jesus’ life does not promise to us untold wealth and luxury. It promises peace that passeth all understanding.   The world finds pleasure and prosperity in wealth.  The word advocates goodness and mercy to all those who take Jesus as their shepherd.   No. You are not called to live a beggarly life. It is living with an assurance that my Father in heaven knows what I need (big or small) even before I ask.  He is able to give to us exceedingly abundantly more than what we could think.  Jesus, when answering a person who had come to him with a request to settle a land dispute between him and his brother, spoke a parable of a man who had amassed immense wealth and was still planning to build big barns to hold his produce.  The passage says,“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”(Luke 12:20)  This is the completeness that Jesus came to teach us, to give us.  It is living with an assurance that Jesus knows our needs and that he is able and willing to meet the same in his own way.

 

(c) CHRIST LIFE, GIVES CONFIDENCE  – NO DESPAIR(Fixed on this life)

 

Joh 11:25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 

                                                                                                              

This is the third greatest and if I may say, the best of all the blessings that we receive or enjoy in the life which Jesus gives.  Time and time again, Jesus spoke of a life after death. A life that conquers death.  A life which blooms after death. One of the biggest fears which troubles mankind, these days, is the fear of death, fear of future.     If we are still living in a state of fear and worry thinking about our next day and next life, then we are yet to fully capitalize on the blessing or life that Jesus promises to us.   A phrase that we must me mindful concerning our life on earth should be this.                                              “Life on earth is preparation for eternity.  Death is inheriting heaven”    Jesus speaks not of a life prior to death.  Jesus speaks of a life after resurrection.  See the word that he using.   While on earth, life can be a battle, a struggle, a great tussle.  But that shouldn’t deter us, nor distract us.  Our focus and attention ought always to be on eternal life.   Our confidence should stem from the fact irrespective of my financial, social, economic and even physical state here on earth, I have an everlasting life to live with my Saviour.  The Words of Jesus brings this assurance. The life of Jesus promises this confidence. Hallelujah!

 

Rule of Life

 

Heb 12:2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

 

In conclusion, I wish to re-establish a Golden rule and refer to an example, of a human who lived life to the fullest.   To live this new life in Christ which will have its own set of challenges and commendations,  we need to do three things.

 

1.Our eyes should see the one who called us, not  those around us

2.Our eyes should see the joy that is set before us, not the pains, sorrow around us

3.Our eyes should see the throne of God, not the domain of darkness

 

 

 

The Life of Apostle Paul teaches to us or gives to us a model that we must cling on to. The following scriptures reveal his approach towards life.

 

1.Paul lost his own identity to show Christ

Gal_2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2.Paul lifted up the Cross to suffer for Christ

2Ti_2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

3.Paul labored unconditionally of satisfy Christ

Php_3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 

The Abundant life of Jesus promises

-          Light that pervades all darkness

-          Fulness that permeates into our soul

-          Confidence that precipitates optimism

 

May the good God grant his abundant grace to each and every one of us  to  not just live some life, a lifeless life but LIVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE IN HIM AND THROUGH HIM!

 

HE CAME SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE!  Hallelujah.

 

God bless you!

 

Do share with us your testimonies/feedback.

 

Yours in Christ

 

Vinod Kumar

9840011374

My Cup Runneth Over | God's Shadow Promise Word | November 2020

 

God's Shadow Promise Word | November 2020

My cup runneth over

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over (Psalms 23:5)

We know this story well. A professor gets into a class-room and shows to his students a glass, half-filled with water.  He asks, what they see?   Some say it is a glass, half full.  Some say, it is half empty.  It is generally understood that optimists see things as half full and pessimists see it as half empty.   There is another story that I would like to present. It is about a cup, not glass.  It is not about how full the cup is?  It is about what fills the cup?   Again, it is not about the cup.  It is about a person. It is about me. It is about you.

In Psalm 23, David asserts that his cup is overflowing.   What was his cup?

My portion

The Hebrew term for Cup is called kos.  The word cup appears five times in the Book of Psalms alone.  Kos is a container which could hold something together.   Here it refers to a cup on which something is being poured.  The pouring continues even after the cup has become full.  The cup is overflowing. 

In the book of Psalms, in two places, 'the cup' gets is with 'a portion'.  A portion speaks of a share, an allotment in a wealth.  The Bible says, to the wicked, God has allotted destruction as the portion of their cup (Psalms 11:6).  In another place, to the righteous (to the man who loves God), it is said that the LORD becomes the portion of their inheritance.  (Psalms 16:5).  What is your inheritance? 

 

Exceeding abundantly

Eph 3:20 and to Him who is able above all things to do exceeding abundantly what we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us,

Our God is a God who loves to bless his children abundantly, in an extraordinary way. An ordinary shepherd boy becomes a King, a jailbird becomes a Governor,  A coward becomes a Judge of the Nation. He is a God who raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory (1 Sam 2:8).   Everything that he does or is capable of doing in your life is extraordinary.  Be it finance, business, employment or any other area of your life, God can turn things around in a way that you could never imagine.  His blessings are not in arithmetic progresson, but in geometric progression.  The Lord God of Israel, who hosted a banquet to David in the presence of his enemies, prepares a grand table with richest of  delicacies.  Psalm 23:5 displays God lavishing his love towards his children. 

 

Seeking HIM Vs Seeking HIS

It is one thing to seek God for all his blessings,  it is quite another thing to seek him for what he is.  Jesus spoke of people who followed him because of miracles, who followed him because he gave food.   They sought him for what he could give or do.  God loves to give, God yearns to bless us with all the good things.  But Jesus seeks a group which follows him for who he is, not for what he would give.  David  is a perfect example   He says his soul,  like a deer that panteth for water, longs for God (Ps. 42.2).  Do we have that experience?  If we are thirsty, our thirst would be quenched when we drink  water. Similarly, our soul is filled, satisfied by God.  Filled and overflowing. 

 

God's fullness

Thirsting for God means a longing to receive, experience and reflect the presence, power, nature of God in all of our life.  Thirsting for God means desiring his nature, his characteristic, his likeness. The cup of our soul or the cup of our life should be filled by God.  It  should overflow.  Jesus said, the right response when you have more than what you need or when your income is overflowing is to share it with those in need.  Just as how God's overflowing goodness must become a blessing to others, God's attribute, seen and overflowing in us, would become a source of blessing to others.  Like an infection, it would catch and transform others. 

 

We are going to pray and claim what David did in Psalm 23.  He said, 'my cup runneth over'. Amen.   God will make your cup, my cup, the cup of each and every person reading this message overflow with blessings.  Not only material blessings, but he will make our cup overflow with the nature of God.

Trinitarian Blessing

2Co_13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The closing words of Apostle Paul in the letter written to the Church at Corinth is generally used as a statement of benediction by the Pastors at the close of every church service. This verse brings out three distinctive traits of God's triune personality - Love of the father, Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Fellowship of the Holy Ghost.  In our own life too, these attributes should be seen.  God should fill our cup with His love, with His grace and with His fellowship.  Let us look at them and inherit the portion of our cup.

(1) Charis - Grace Converts

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

The Bible says that we were saved by Grace through faith.  Not by works or our own efforts. Salvation is indeed God's free gift to us.  Salvation means being delivered from the penalty of sins.   Lord Jesus took the punishment of death which was to come on us, in order to not only relieve us from the penalty of sin, but give us a new life ~ life eternal.   God's grace makes a sinner saint.  Charis, the Greek term for Grace, means the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.  Grace is showing favour to the one who deserves the least.   We were sinners so unworthy, but God still died for us.  God saved us not 'just' because we prayed, repented or regretted for our sins.  Though they are all part of the process, your salvation was not earned by any of this actions.  God gave the most precious gift to the most undeserving person like you and me.  God should fill your cup with grace. Your cup should run over.  Just as an overflowing vessel would wet the surrounding with its outpouring, when grace runs over in my life, I will be an instrument, a source, a channel to wet all those around me with grace.  My cup of grace runs over!  Show grace, mercy, favour to those who deserve the least. If you so do, you will be the saving them not only from hell-fire, but from all calamities in their life.

(2) Agape - Love Covers

1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.         

The Bible speaks of four kinds of Love. Philia, Eros, Storge and Agape.  Philia is a love between brothers, Eros is a romantic and sensual love between husband and wife or a man-woman, while Storge is the love between parent and child.  Agape is different from all the above. It is a divine love. Selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. This Greek word, agápē, and variations of it are frequently found throughout the New Testament. Agape perfectly describes the kind of love Jesus Christ has for his Father and for his followers.  Jesus expects his followers to love others with this Agape love.  Paul devotes a full chapter to speak about this love (1 Corinthians 13).  Only Agape love can forgive, forbear, long suffer, endure and rejoice in truth.   My cup should overflow with this Agape love - the God kind of love. If we say God is our portion, then our lives must be filled with the love of God.

 (3) Koinonia - Fellowship Connects

2Co 1:3,4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Holy Spirit, is also known as The Comforter.   Comforter is not someone who consoles people to not cry.  He strengthens them to get up and walk.  As children of God, we are called to lift, rescue, build each other's lives.  The Holy Spirit also signifies fellowship.  He helps in creating the right relationship with God the father and Lord Jesus Christ.   A Church is a body of believers, related to each other by the blood of Jesus Christ.   As different members, we are called to work in unison for the body to function effectively.   One supporting the other. One complementing the other.  In the same way, our Cup should be so full of Holy Spirit to uphold others through our prayers, our enquiries, through our good deeds. That is the life of Christ.   If we are so filled with our own problems, predicament and pressures than our cup is not filled as it ought to be.  Jesus, who was full of Holy Ghost, went about doing good deeds wherever he went.  A struggling fisherman in the sea, a Samaritan woman at the well, a suffering man at the pool and a short man under tree. When Jesus stepped into their life, they were transformed.   When your cup and my cup is so full of God's Spirit, we will be able to share the same amount of fellowship with others which builds them up!

Dear people of God, When God fill our cup, fills our life with overflowing blessings.  It is not just to contain and enjoy the same, all ourselves, it is to share with others, share with those in need, (E.g., (1) Leave the gleanings to poor, Lev 23:22. (2) If you have two tunics give one to poor Luke 3:11).  Not just those who are poor financially. But those who are poor, weak and timid spirit.   You may have someone around who is temperamental, stubborn and unloving - lacking the Spirit of Christ - but your cup, if it is full and overflowing with God's love, God's grace and fellowship (Romans 5:5), it will touch and transform the lives of all those around you.

The Psalmist says, 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want'.    He takes God first, irrespective of the dangers and deficits. As a sheep, he goes behind his shepherd.  He is not going behind the goods of the world.   Goodness and mercy follows him. Jesus said, seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.  When we seek spiritual things, the material blessings would follow on its own.  

For your cup, your house, your business, your job to overflow with GOD'S goodness allow yourself to be filled by God's character. Let God be your portion - Grace, Love and Communion!

Gracious Lord, we lift the cup of our life before you.  Fill it right now with your Love, with your Grace and with your Communion. Fill it in such a way that it overflows and changes the life all those around us.  In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.

May you be blessed!

Your brother in Christ

Vinod Kumar

God's Shadow Ministries

 

Grace Be Multiplied | God's Shadow Promise Word | September 2020

 

Grace be Multiplied

GSM Promise Message | September 2020

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2)

We are in the ninth month of this calendar year. Days, weeks and months are just passing by. But not the uncertainty remains. Looks like the whole year is going to be a wash out (Courtesy: Covid19).  

There is one phrase in the Old Testament, which our Jewish friends use very often to wish each other.  It is predominantly found in Psalms. It says~God is Good and His Mercy endureth for ever.  I think the idea was for people to remember (and not forget) God's goodness and mercy, regardless of times and seasons in their life.  One translation reads, His love never quits. Our faith, our prayer, our worship, our giving and even our love towards God might diminish.  But His love toward us is unending, unstoppable.

Not only his love or his mercy.  The New Testament introduces us to a new word called Grace. Love, mercy and grace, might appear synonymous, but they all carry distinctive meanings.  The Old Covenant people who were under the law were familiar with God's love and mercy.  They knew their Yahweh God was loving and compassionate showing mercy to generations.  But they had very little clue about this concept called Grace.  

Grace Personified

What is so amazing about this grace?

The Bible says in John 1:17 says that Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.   John 1:14 says that Jesus was "full of grace and truth".  In other words, Jesus was not someone who displayed grace. He was Grace himself.  We know well Apostle John's most famous record of Jesus's "Seven I am" statements, which describe who He was in so many ways.  Jesus did not speak truth, Jesus himself was the Truth.  Similarly, Jesus did not show grace, Jesus himself was Grace.  Besides other credentials, Jesus was nothing but God's grace personified in human form.  This magnificent attribute of God was not revealed until the coming of Lord Jesus Christ.

Law Vs Grace

The people who were so fixated with the Law of Moses, could not grasp the prospective of Jesus' salvation by grace, through faith.  How can somebody grant so great a redemption to them without works?  It made no sense to them.  But God had made the wisdom of men foolish when he offered the same through grace, since the requirement of law was fulfilled "once and for all" by Jesus when he sacrificed his life on the cross.  In one way, this is like a student passing out from school without even sitting for the exams. Imagine a student coming to write a test, but the teacher saying that his paper has already been submitted and even evaluated as promoted.   In simple terms, this is what Jesus did for us.  

Grace bearers!

More often than not, we are verbose and fervent to proclaim Jesus as 'the Truth'.  We go about saying that He is the true God, His way is the right way, He alone could give life.  No doubt.  We even take great pride in saying that we live for the Truth (synonymous to the Word of God) and that ours is not a religion but the 'Way of Truth'.  Perfectly so.  We say God's word is the "Ark of Testimony" which we are supposed to carry in our lives. Very true.  But the question that I would like to ask myself (and to those reading) is that as Christians, are we as passionate to carry Grace as much as we like to bear the Truth (or the Word).  Remember the order, Grace and Truth.  In other words, though of equal important, truth follows grace.  Truth without Grace will not be representative of Jesus Christ.  If Jesus is the personification of Grace and Truth, we, who have received Jesus into our hearts, we who are called to imitate Him in all ways, we who are called to become like him ought to be reflectors of Grace and Truth, not just reporters.

Grace Testing

It is quite interesting that in the year 2020, the word POSITIVE, for obvious reasons, was the most NEGATIVE word.  A person undergoing Covid-19 antigens test would pray for his test results to be negative, positive. Pathologically, if the presence of this novel virus is confirmed in the life cells of a person, he is construed Corona +ve. If not found, negative.  A sigh of relief!   In spiritual barometer, it is the other way round.  One should test positive, not for Corona, but for GRACE.  They say that if the virus, which enters through our mouth or nose, gets into our lungs, it can greatly hinder our breathing and may even prove. The inverse is true, when it comes to GRACE.  The spread of Corona, in the worst case, may lead to death, besides infecting those around us. The spread of Grace, in all the cases, will lead to life!  Life to you, life to others. Life eternal! Because Jesus is the life! Wherever he went, he infused life.  In the same way wherever you go, wherever you are, you MUST INFUSE LIFE, NOT INFECT DEATH!  How to take the Grace test?

Symptomatic?

Even though fever, cough and breathing difficulty are considered to be three major warning signs of the presence of virus, the list of symptoms is continuing to increase, every other day.  It appears as if this virus is capable of triggering multiple symptoms, differing from person to person. So, people with symptoms, decide either to take a test or go for self-medication.  But this virus, they say, can also sit on people without showing any visible symptoms. Startling!

Grace, on the other hand, is not asymptomatic.  Grace is seen the way we speak, we behave, we conduct, we transact and much more.  The opposite is also true. One who says he/she has the grace, cannot behave in a way which is contrary to its character.

The Diagnostics

The Greek word for grace is Charis which, according to Strong's Dictionary, means "divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in life".  In other words, God's very own disposition plainly evident (not hidden) in human life. Grace is also defined as "unmerited favour".  Showering favour upon those who deserve the least. In fact, trying to define Charis, within the pages of this article is like attempting to contain the waters of the ocean in a bucket.  Grace is an enormous topic.  Grace demands experience, rather than explanation. Apostle Paul, in all his epistles, has dealt with the topic in a great measure.  A person who, despite all his exploits, admits that he is what he is but by the grace of God (1 Cor 15:10) 

 

Pronounced more, Practiced less

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Modern day Christianity focusses a lot on celebrating God's grace through its songs and sermons than living it out in a day-to-day setting.  Volumes of talk on God's grace, vehement confession of God's graciousness is of no use, if the same is not backed by good intentions, good works and good acts. It is time to practice grace.  Paul wishes and prays, in almost all his epistles (Eg.,Rom 16:24,1 Cor 16:23,Gal 1:3) for people to not just receive grace, but be established, be multiplied in grace.

Transformational Knowledge

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10)

Knowledge, in biblical terms, is not some volume of information about God.  The bible uses the word knowledge in a much more significant way.  Adam knew Eve and Cain was born (Gen 4:1).  Knowledge means knowing God personally, in a more intimate way.  If I say I know God and have not produced anything out of that knowledge, then the fact is that I have not known him at all!  Therefore, even as Peter writes in his Epistle (2 Pet 1:2) we abound in grace only to the extent to which we have known him.  A true, faithful, abiding and intimate relationship with Lord Jesus Christ!  Religious Christianity does very little to help you grow in grace.  But relationship with Christ will fill you with all grace.  You may know him, when you spend more time with him. You may know him, when you speak more with him.  You may know him, when you hear more from him! And if that takes place in your life, you will live out GRACE in all walks of life. 

I would like to point out, in summary, three areas of our everyday life, where GRACE needs to be manifested.  Let us take a closer look at them and evaluate ourselves.  Am I GRACE positive or NEGATIVE in these area.  In this case NEGATIVE, not POSITIVE, is disastrous for your soul.  

(1) Grace to Live

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11)

Jesus said I have come to give life, life abundant. Jesus did not promise that he will give you wealth, riches, materials and all the prosperity of the world.  Well, His idea was not make us paupers or beggars.  He wanted us to become spiritually rich.  His promise was that if we seek first the Kingdom of God, all the rest will follow.  In another occasion, Jesus spoke of Joy~His Own Joy. He wanted his joy to remain in us.  How is your life today? Is it filled with remorse, resentment, grief, worry, unforgiving nature, bitterness etc.,   Then your test result is NEGATIVE.  Just as a Covid19 +ve is capable of spreading the disease to other, a Grace -ve person is also capable of spreading negative to others. All the negative and hurtful sentiments have no place in the life filled with Grace. May this grace be multiplied in you!

(2) Grace to Love

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35)

Jesus summed up the Old Testament law in two short sentences.   Love God. Love others as you love yourself.  It all boils down to LOVE.  Love is not an emotion; it is an action.  Jesus demonstrated his love towards us not through preaching and teaching.  He gave his own life to us, to prove his love.  Are we expected to kill ourselves to prove our love?  No.  Jesus was not expecting people to commit suicide to prove love.  Jesus expected people to die to their self.  Paul says, we die every-day.  When we die to self, the needs and wants of others (emotional and physical) takes priority than mine own needs.  To a Levite, to a Priest, their ministry, their assignment came first on the day they saw a certain man lying half dead. But to a Samaritan, the man became the priority.  The Bible says he had compassion.  In other words, he had grace to love, not when it was convenient. He loved, inspite of….  How is your love barometer today?  Jesus wants us to do what that Samaritan did that day.  Show mercy (Luke10:37).  If you are saying, I am offended I cannot talk to him than you are testing Grace Negative.  The antibiotic of grace, called Love must be seen in you.  Are you unable to love some people because of what they are or what they have done?  May this grace be multiplied in you!

(2) Grace to Loosen

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? (Mat 18:33)

As Christians, we may all be familiar with Lord's Prayer. It was not his prayer, but a prayer pattern shown to disciples. In our Church services, in our individual prayer time, in public gatherings we all do this prayer.  But how many realize that there is one conditional clause in that prayer. Jesus makes it very clear about the same in Mathew 6:14 and 15.   In the parable of unjust (unforgiving) servant, Jesus makes it even more clear.  A man who received waiver from a creditor to whom he owed a sum, failed to pass on the same gesture to his debtor.  When the original creditor got to know of this act, he not only retracted his waiver, but sentenced him to gruel punishment.  Jesus warns that if one fails to do the same to his own brethren, he will do like-wise.  The Message translation puts it this way And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.  By not forgiving someone, in our hearts, we hold a noose around their neck.  Except devil, we are not supposed to tie anyone in our life.  Having received the precious Grace of God, we should never carry any grudge, animosity, ill-feeling towards anyone.  Grace is given to loosen them.   May this grace be multiplied in you!

Conclusion

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1)

The outpouring of God's grace was not a one-time occurrence to facilitate our salvation.  God showers, fills, charges us with His grace. Why? To pass it on to others. If we do not live the Life of Christ, if we do not Love as Christ loved, if we do not loose (forgive) as Christ forgave then the grace of God becomes vain.  How can we waste such a precious gift in our life? Grace is also called a gift.

My prayer and your prayer should be the prayer of Paul and Peter too.  Praying for GRACE TO BE MULTIPLIED.  When GRACE is multiplied PEACE also gets multiplied.

Not just a prayer, I encourage you to claim this as a Promise for September 2020 and even for the months to come.

Our GOD will surely multiply GRACE in your life to love, live and loosen.

God bless you!

Pray for us!

Your brother in Christ

Vinod Kumar

God's Shadow Ministries

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