Monday, February 26, 2018
Sacrifices of Joy
UV 2907/10000 Sacrifices of Joy
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Psalm 27 v 6
The Lord exalts us over our foes, opponents and enemies. He gives us victory in their presence. He causes us to rejoice even as He made Mordecai rejoice at his salvation from the evil plot of the powerful aide of the king of the realm. Once we experience such victory and salvation we should continually remember this experience of what the Lord has done in our lives and offer sacrifices of joy or praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord. David in this uni-verse makes such a commitment to continually offer such sacrifices of joy in the temple of the Lord.
Today, our bodies, minds and spirits are the tabernacle of the Lord. The doors of this tabernacle are always open. The lights on the altar of this tabernacle are always burning . The sacrifice of Jesus obviates the need for sacrifices for justification and sanctification but makes it necessary for us to offer daily sacrifices of praise, joy and thanksgiving. It will be a good exercise to recall all the experiences and happenings of our lives in which the Lord rescued us from dire consequences or situations and rejoice in His salvation.
Imagine a person who has been healed of incurable afflictions like leprosy, blindness, paralysis and so on. How great would be his or her joy! Likewise, if not physical ailments, we have been healed and delivered from spiritual leprosy, spiritual blindness and paralysis. Imagine a person surrounded by an armed garrison and the Lord delivers him as He did in the case of Elijah, the prophet. Now, we need to recall how the Lord has rescued us and lifted us up in every way and then praise and thank Him sincerely and continually with joy and gratitude overflowing from our hearts. We owe a debt of lifelong gratitude to the Lord. We thank Him and worship Him not out of a sense of weary obligation but out of joy and exuberance.
Prateep V Philip
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Re-purposing Our Lives
UV 3908/10000 Re-purposing Our Lives
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed
I Peter 2 v 24
Jesus being absolutely without sin was the perfect sacrifice, acceptable to God for all the accumulated sins and unrighteousness of mankind. Now that we have identified ourselves with the death and resurrection of Christ in our baptism, we are to dead to our old sinful nature and alive to righteousness of Christ. “I” becomes a new personality, a new creature, re-created in the full image of Christ- Christ-in-me. We no longer live to satisfy our old cravings and lusts and to satisfy our own egos but to please the Lord. We are to crucify or put an end to all that offends the spirit of the Lord in our lives. We are instead to bear fruits of righteousness, each of us like a tree of eternal life, planted on the banks of the river of heaven, nourished by the streams and river of the Holy Spirit, bearing a different fruit every month of the year. Even our ‘leaves’ or our thoughts and words and feelings are to heal the nations of this world of its sin and curse.
The process of re-purposing our lives makes us whole and healed. The price was paid by the wounds inflicted on the body of Jesus. Since we are now living in Him and for Him, we have access to His grace or His resurrection power to live a victorious or righteous life. A righteous life is a life of excellence. We are to excel and do all things for the glory of the Lord. The spirit of prayer and worship and thanksgiving pervades every aspect of our lives.
We no longer think and plan short term or long term but in eternal terms. Our perspective and our priorities, our beliefs and our values, our habits and practices, our actions and reactions are now to increasingly, degree by degree, to conform not to the image in which this world wants to cast us but in the image of Christ. He gives us the power or anointing from within, the enablement to be more, to do more, to have more, to give more. He heals us of “hamartia” or the shortcomings of sin. We no longer fall short of the glory of God by grace but fulfil the purpose for which we were created and redeemed. The healing the uni-verse speaks of is not just physical healing but healing of the whole human person, in spirit, mind and body. It is also a healing of our relationships and the world around us.
Prateep V Philip
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed
I Peter 2 v 24
Jesus being absolutely without sin was the perfect sacrifice, acceptable to God for all the accumulated sins and unrighteousness of mankind. Now that we have identified ourselves with the death and resurrection of Christ in our baptism, we are to dead to our old sinful nature and alive to righteousness of Christ. “I” becomes a new personality, a new creature, re-created in the full image of Christ- Christ-in-me. We no longer live to satisfy our old cravings and lusts and to satisfy our own egos but to please the Lord. We are to crucify or put an end to all that offends the spirit of the Lord in our lives. We are instead to bear fruits of righteousness, each of us like a tree of eternal life, planted on the banks of the river of heaven, nourished by the streams and river of the Holy Spirit, bearing a different fruit every month of the year. Even our ‘leaves’ or our thoughts and words and feelings are to heal the nations of this world of its sin and curse.
The process of re-purposing our lives makes us whole and healed. The price was paid by the wounds inflicted on the body of Jesus. Since we are now living in Him and for Him, we have access to His grace or His resurrection power to live a victorious or righteous life. A righteous life is a life of excellence. We are to excel and do all things for the glory of the Lord. The spirit of prayer and worship and thanksgiving pervades every aspect of our lives.
We no longer think and plan short term or long term but in eternal terms. Our perspective and our priorities, our beliefs and our values, our habits and practices, our actions and reactions are now to increasingly, degree by degree, to conform not to the image in which this world wants to cast us but in the image of Christ. He gives us the power or anointing from within, the enablement to be more, to do more, to have more, to give more. He heals us of “hamartia” or the shortcomings of sin. We no longer fall short of the glory of God by grace but fulfil the purpose for which we were created and redeemed. The healing the uni-verse speaks of is not just physical healing but healing of the whole human person, in spirit, mind and body. It is also a healing of our relationships and the world around us.
Prateep V Philip
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Secrets of Life Uncovered
UV 2907/10000 Secrets of Life Uncovered
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Psalm 25 v 14
When we reverence or respect the Lord and are devoted to Him, He reveals His secrets to us. He reveals the details of His covenant, covering all the promises related to our deliverance, healing, blessing and salvation. The covenant is what facilitates and governs our relationship with the Lord. He does not hide anything from his friends. The Lord reveals certain secrets relating to different aspects of our lives through His word, through the prayers of others.
Scripture says that the secret things belong to the Lord but if we need to know it, He will reveals aspects of His character to us through various life situations. He will reveal the secrets of His love, His grace, His power, His mercy to us through our personal challenges and problematic situations. He does not prefer to remain an enigma but loves to relate to us as a man with his friend. This is one of the reasons He reveals secrets about even the future through dreams like those of Joseph, visions like those of Ezekiel and prophecies like those of Isaiah.
Another dimension of this uni-verse is that there is a hidden promise in that it means the Lord reveals certain secrets of creation, of invention, of nature to His chosen ones. Individuals through history have been given the secrets of science and technology, of philosophy and psychology as they persisted with faith and reverence for the word of God. The reverence of the Lord, the resultant wisdom, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the intense study and application of the word of God are the keys to reveal these hidden secrets of life, of nature, of knowledge. As we stay in constant and intimate communion with the Lord, He would open our spiritual eyes to see the secrets, unlock the doors of intuition and deeper understanding. There are secret treasures that He opens our eyes to recognize which could be a new idea, an invention or innovation. There are secrets of the past, secrets of the present, of the future and of eternity that He holds and reveals as His sovereign will decides. The Lord revealed to Abraham the fate of Sodom before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah took place. He revealed to Abraham that he would be honoured as the father of faith. There are secrets of heaven and of earth that He reveals. Some aspects of our relationship with the Lord are to be kept secret between the Lord and us even as there are secrets between a husband and a wife that they alone share. He revealed to Paul the teachings that he expounded to the early church. He revealed to John the mysteries of the book of Revelation. Whenever a secret is revealed by the Lord, it is for a specific purpose in alignment with His will or as He is pleased with the faith of an individual or as He wants to warn some person or group of persons.
Prateep V Philip
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Psalm 25 v 14
When we reverence or respect the Lord and are devoted to Him, He reveals His secrets to us. He reveals the details of His covenant, covering all the promises related to our deliverance, healing, blessing and salvation. The covenant is what facilitates and governs our relationship with the Lord. He does not hide anything from his friends. The Lord reveals certain secrets relating to different aspects of our lives through His word, through the prayers of others.
Scripture says that the secret things belong to the Lord but if we need to know it, He will reveals aspects of His character to us through various life situations. He will reveal the secrets of His love, His grace, His power, His mercy to us through our personal challenges and problematic situations. He does not prefer to remain an enigma but loves to relate to us as a man with his friend. This is one of the reasons He reveals secrets about even the future through dreams like those of Joseph, visions like those of Ezekiel and prophecies like those of Isaiah.
Another dimension of this uni-verse is that there is a hidden promise in that it means the Lord reveals certain secrets of creation, of invention, of nature to His chosen ones. Individuals through history have been given the secrets of science and technology, of philosophy and psychology as they persisted with faith and reverence for the word of God. The reverence of the Lord, the resultant wisdom, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the intense study and application of the word of God are the keys to reveal these hidden secrets of life, of nature, of knowledge. As we stay in constant and intimate communion with the Lord, He would open our spiritual eyes to see the secrets, unlock the doors of intuition and deeper understanding. There are secret treasures that He opens our eyes to recognize which could be a new idea, an invention or innovation. There are secrets of the past, secrets of the present, of the future and of eternity that He holds and reveals as His sovereign will decides. The Lord revealed to Abraham the fate of Sodom before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah took place. He revealed to Abraham that he would be honoured as the father of faith. There are secrets of heaven and of earth that He reveals. Some aspects of our relationship with the Lord are to be kept secret between the Lord and us even as there are secrets between a husband and a wife that they alone share. He revealed to Paul the teachings that he expounded to the early church. He revealed to John the mysteries of the book of Revelation. Whenever a secret is revealed by the Lord, it is for a specific purpose in alignment with His will or as He is pleased with the faith of an individual or as He wants to warn some person or group of persons.
Prateep V Philip
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
The Three String Cord
UV 2906/10000 The Three String Cord
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4 v 12
Marriage is not just an union at the lips and the hips but a spiritual union of two by the third person of the Trinity- the Holy Spirit. When we look at married persons, we see only two but we need to sense and be sensitive to the third person. Marriage is a sacred covenant and sacrament of two with no space for a third human but enough space and more for the Lord. He is the invisible One who binds the wounds when either partner is hurt and bonds them with peace and love. Just as the presence of Jesus at the marriage at Canna prevented a catering disaster- of shortage of wine, the presence of Jesus in a marital union ensures they do not run out of love, grace, peace. His grace is sufficient for both partners in all of life’s situations. Jesus is also the guarantor of all the promises of bountiful blessings that the Lord gives the faithful according to Deuteronomy chapter 28. He is the One who makes the barren woman to bear children, more than the one who has children. This implies that in all the challenges of married life, the Lord is with us as a problem-solver, a hope-giver, a promise-fulfiller. He is not just the Messiah of souls but Messiah of marriages and He saves us from the messes our marriages sometimes land us in.
Jesus as a Wonderful Counsellor gives us courage and wisdom to face and resolve our marital issues. He uses the strengths of one partner to complement the weakness of the other, the gifts and abilities of one to complement those of the other. There might be differences of opinion on a variety of issues but the Lord gives the husband and the wife the grace to overcome these conflicts as long as both are in a personal and intimate relationship not just with each other but with the Prince of Peace, the Eternal Bridegroom. When the two pray over whatever troubles them, a sense of peace that passes human comprehension will envelop them and keep them together as one united strand.
The enemy of the human soul is also the enemy of marriage. He brought trouble into the first marriage of Adam and Eve and turned the marital relationship into a blame game and a power struggle. He is intent on destroying marriage as a relationship, as a sacrament and as an institution. But if a couple takes a stand in faith, they will be able to withstand the temptations and pressures he brings their way. In contrast, Jesus perfects the relationship, builds and strengthens it. He is the invisible cord that makes it unbreakable, inviolable and makes it better even as He made the second wine served at the marriage of Canna better. He enables both to remain faithful to each other. He is the protective shield against the slings and arrows of misfortune, calamity, disease and sorrow. The spiritual head of the family is not the husband or the wife but the Lord Himself and the idea of an ego clash or a power struggle ceasea as both submit to His will as revealed by the Spirit or in plain terms in His word of the Covenant.
Prateep V Philip
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4 v 12
Marriage is not just an union at the lips and the hips but a spiritual union of two by the third person of the Trinity- the Holy Spirit. When we look at married persons, we see only two but we need to sense and be sensitive to the third person. Marriage is a sacred covenant and sacrament of two with no space for a third human but enough space and more for the Lord. He is the invisible One who binds the wounds when either partner is hurt and bonds them with peace and love. Just as the presence of Jesus at the marriage at Canna prevented a catering disaster- of shortage of wine, the presence of Jesus in a marital union ensures they do not run out of love, grace, peace. His grace is sufficient for both partners in all of life’s situations. Jesus is also the guarantor of all the promises of bountiful blessings that the Lord gives the faithful according to Deuteronomy chapter 28. He is the One who makes the barren woman to bear children, more than the one who has children. This implies that in all the challenges of married life, the Lord is with us as a problem-solver, a hope-giver, a promise-fulfiller. He is not just the Messiah of souls but Messiah of marriages and He saves us from the messes our marriages sometimes land us in.
Jesus as a Wonderful Counsellor gives us courage and wisdom to face and resolve our marital issues. He uses the strengths of one partner to complement the weakness of the other, the gifts and abilities of one to complement those of the other. There might be differences of opinion on a variety of issues but the Lord gives the husband and the wife the grace to overcome these conflicts as long as both are in a personal and intimate relationship not just with each other but with the Prince of Peace, the Eternal Bridegroom. When the two pray over whatever troubles them, a sense of peace that passes human comprehension will envelop them and keep them together as one united strand.
The enemy of the human soul is also the enemy of marriage. He brought trouble into the first marriage of Adam and Eve and turned the marital relationship into a blame game and a power struggle. He is intent on destroying marriage as a relationship, as a sacrament and as an institution. But if a couple takes a stand in faith, they will be able to withstand the temptations and pressures he brings their way. In contrast, Jesus perfects the relationship, builds and strengthens it. He is the invisible cord that makes it unbreakable, inviolable and makes it better even as He made the second wine served at the marriage of Canna better. He enables both to remain faithful to each other. He is the protective shield against the slings and arrows of misfortune, calamity, disease and sorrow. The spiritual head of the family is not the husband or the wife but the Lord Himself and the idea of an ego clash or a power struggle ceasea as both submit to His will as revealed by the Spirit or in plain terms in His word of the Covenant.
Prateep V Philip
Thursday, February 15, 2018
The Leadership Mantle
UV 2905/10000 The Leadership Mantle
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
Deuteronomy 28 v 13
Headship or leadership is due to what the Lord accomplishes in and through us. It comes as a blessing for our devotion to Him. Devotion to God is synonymous with diligence in reading, remembering, meditating, applying or obeying His word. The obedience is not just something that happened in our past but a daily heeding to the Word. The promise follows such daily application of the principles of the Word in our lives- we shall excel in all that we do. We will exceed expectations.
To observe His commands is to serve Him. He then pours His grace on us so that we can lead others through service. Jesus Himself came to be the head of all humanity by His diligence in knowing, understanding and obeying the Word even the hard parts that related to His allowing Himself to be put to a cruel death for the sake of all. Hence, headship or leadership does not mean a life of privilege or success as the world understands it. Our lives will not be in vain but it will fulfil the purpose for which we are created and sustained by the Lord. We may not be Very Important Persons but we will certainly be Very Significant Persons.
Diligence with the word does not mean only studying it but in doing or carrying it out in practical ways in our lives. It is not a theoretical or theological or head knowledge that we are called by this uni-verse to possess but a ‘heart knowledge’- a love for the Word since it comes from the Lord. The word transforms us from within like nothing else can. The top that the word refers to is not in terms of position or power but that we will be a “Tabernacle of Peace”(ToP), a servant of the Prince of Peace, Jesus. We will experience Shalom or multi-dimensional, comprehensive and holistic peace all the days of our lives. We may have ups and downs, highs and lows in our days and in our lives, we may go through thick and thin but through the various circumstances, such complete, incomprehensible peace will be our concomitant or constant companion.
Prateep V Philip
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
Deuteronomy 28 v 13
Headship or leadership is due to what the Lord accomplishes in and through us. It comes as a blessing for our devotion to Him. Devotion to God is synonymous with diligence in reading, remembering, meditating, applying or obeying His word. The obedience is not just something that happened in our past but a daily heeding to the Word. The promise follows such daily application of the principles of the Word in our lives- we shall excel in all that we do. We will exceed expectations.
To observe His commands is to serve Him. He then pours His grace on us so that we can lead others through service. Jesus Himself came to be the head of all humanity by His diligence in knowing, understanding and obeying the Word even the hard parts that related to His allowing Himself to be put to a cruel death for the sake of all. Hence, headship or leadership does not mean a life of privilege or success as the world understands it. Our lives will not be in vain but it will fulfil the purpose for which we are created and sustained by the Lord. We may not be Very Important Persons but we will certainly be Very Significant Persons.
Diligence with the word does not mean only studying it but in doing or carrying it out in practical ways in our lives. It is not a theoretical or theological or head knowledge that we are called by this uni-verse to possess but a ‘heart knowledge’- a love for the Word since it comes from the Lord. The word transforms us from within like nothing else can. The top that the word refers to is not in terms of position or power but that we will be a “Tabernacle of Peace”(ToP), a servant of the Prince of Peace, Jesus. We will experience Shalom or multi-dimensional, comprehensive and holistic peace all the days of our lives. We may have ups and downs, highs and lows in our days and in our lives, we may go through thick and thin but through the various circumstances, such complete, incomprehensible peace will be our concomitant or constant companion.
Prateep V Philip
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
The Outpouring
UV 2904/10000 The Outpouring
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isaiah 44 v 3
It is only the spiritually thirsty, those who have no confidence in their flesh and total confidence in the Lord and His word who will be quenched. His word both quenches and satisfies the thirst for eternal life, for hope, for mercy, for grace, for love. He pours His anointing as a flood that rises upon dry and parched land, causing a spring of joy, a river of life to course out from there. He pours out His spirit upon those among us who long for His touch, His filling, His enabling.
Our cup is not like that of the optimist- half full or like that of the pessimist- half empty but it is overflowing with joy at His presence, joy at our personal relationship with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We neither fight nor take to flight but remain still like dry land in pouring rain. We absorb every drop of blessing that He pours on us, thankful for everything and anything that He blesses us with, not taking anything for granted or casually. He causes our ‘seed’ or our ideas, efforts, projects, plans, offspring to grow and flourish for His glory by His grace.
In this uni-verse, He promises to send us the showers of blessing, the early spring rain as well as the seasonal rain of blessings. As we see our seed growing, our hearts will rejoice and know that it is the Lord’s doing, not our own merit or wisdom or ability that has caused it to grow, multiply and be fruitful. He turns our tears into laughter, our weeping into rejoicing, our inadequacies into the sufficiency of His grace, our weaknesses and failures into His strength and fulfilment. He replaces the natural law of as you sow, so you reap with the supernatural law of abundance, “as He sows in us, in and through our lives and our children, so we reap”. When dry souls bear hope, when the dry ground of our lives runs with streams of living water which is His words, it is not natural, it is not unnatural but it is spiritual and supernatural. We move from man’s economy of scarcity to God’s economy of abundance, from man’s polity of injustice, cruelty and hardship to the kingdom of God , the reign and rule of love, from man’s society of the superficial and unequal to God’s society of humility, equality, dignity and nobility.
Prateep V Philip
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isaiah 44 v 3
It is only the spiritually thirsty, those who have no confidence in their flesh and total confidence in the Lord and His word who will be quenched. His word both quenches and satisfies the thirst for eternal life, for hope, for mercy, for grace, for love. He pours His anointing as a flood that rises upon dry and parched land, causing a spring of joy, a river of life to course out from there. He pours out His spirit upon those among us who long for His touch, His filling, His enabling.
Our cup is not like that of the optimist- half full or like that of the pessimist- half empty but it is overflowing with joy at His presence, joy at our personal relationship with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We neither fight nor take to flight but remain still like dry land in pouring rain. We absorb every drop of blessing that He pours on us, thankful for everything and anything that He blesses us with, not taking anything for granted or casually. He causes our ‘seed’ or our ideas, efforts, projects, plans, offspring to grow and flourish for His glory by His grace.
In this uni-verse, He promises to send us the showers of blessing, the early spring rain as well as the seasonal rain of blessings. As we see our seed growing, our hearts will rejoice and know that it is the Lord’s doing, not our own merit or wisdom or ability that has caused it to grow, multiply and be fruitful. He turns our tears into laughter, our weeping into rejoicing, our inadequacies into the sufficiency of His grace, our weaknesses and failures into His strength and fulfilment. He replaces the natural law of as you sow, so you reap with the supernatural law of abundance, “as He sows in us, in and through our lives and our children, so we reap”. When dry souls bear hope, when the dry ground of our lives runs with streams of living water which is His words, it is not natural, it is not unnatural but it is spiritual and supernatural. We move from man’s economy of scarcity to God’s economy of abundance, from man’s polity of injustice, cruelty and hardship to the kingdom of God , the reign and rule of love, from man’s society of the superficial and unequal to God’s society of humility, equality, dignity and nobility.
Prateep V Philip
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Four Dimensions of the Fourth Dimension
UV 2903/10000 Four Dimensions of the Fourth Dimension
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Exodus 15 v 11
Jehovah is unique. He is unique even among all conceptions of mankind of god on earth. HE is unique in both His words and His works. His words are wonderful and His works are miraculous. His presence is enough for all to fall down and worship. His shadow or His influence is more powerful than a shield of steel. He is to be feared, revered, respected, held in awe and yet be loved. He is merciful to the humble. He is faithful and consistent in all He says and does. All these qualities are personified and embodied in full measure in the person of Jesus.
The Messianic prophet Isaiah in a revelation explains that the fourth dimension-the supernatural Being, the Great I Am has four dimensions- wonderful counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. These four dimensions are wisdom, power, love and peace. When God is with us in Jesus, these four dimensions of the fourth dimension should intermingle and be manifest in our lives- wisdom, power, love and peace. These four qualities seem paradoxical or contradictory- how can a person be fearful in praise and yet be intimate and loving as a Father? How can He combine the humility of wisdom with the greatness of His infinite power? The uni-verse states that the Lord is alone in His holiness- none of us can even remotely approach His holiness or character. He is fearful or awesome in holiness. But He clothes us by His grace with His wisdom, power, love and peace. The wisdom, power, love and peace of the Lord is unique, distinct from what is understood to be wisdom, power, love and peace in this world.
The word of the Lord is the key to unlocking the wisdom, power, love and peace embedded in the fourth dimension. We learn and appreciate and imitate the wisdom of the Lord when we read, study, meditate and apply His word in this world. We are to apply it in our relationship with Him, relationship with our own family, relationship with all others. We cannot have double standards where we apply one rule in one relationship and quite another elsewhere. Our paradigm of life shifts from the love of power to the power of love. The transformation of human character is of far greater value and significance in His eyes than the turning of water into wine.
Prateep V Philip
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Exodus 15 v 11
Jehovah is unique. He is unique even among all conceptions of mankind of god on earth. HE is unique in both His words and His works. His words are wonderful and His works are miraculous. His presence is enough for all to fall down and worship. His shadow or His influence is more powerful than a shield of steel. He is to be feared, revered, respected, held in awe and yet be loved. He is merciful to the humble. He is faithful and consistent in all He says and does. All these qualities are personified and embodied in full measure in the person of Jesus.
The Messianic prophet Isaiah in a revelation explains that the fourth dimension-the supernatural Being, the Great I Am has four dimensions- wonderful counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. These four dimensions are wisdom, power, love and peace. When God is with us in Jesus, these four dimensions of the fourth dimension should intermingle and be manifest in our lives- wisdom, power, love and peace. These four qualities seem paradoxical or contradictory- how can a person be fearful in praise and yet be intimate and loving as a Father? How can He combine the humility of wisdom with the greatness of His infinite power? The uni-verse states that the Lord is alone in His holiness- none of us can even remotely approach His holiness or character. He is fearful or awesome in holiness. But He clothes us by His grace with His wisdom, power, love and peace. The wisdom, power, love and peace of the Lord is unique, distinct from what is understood to be wisdom, power, love and peace in this world.
The word of the Lord is the key to unlocking the wisdom, power, love and peace embedded in the fourth dimension. We learn and appreciate and imitate the wisdom of the Lord when we read, study, meditate and apply His word in this world. We are to apply it in our relationship with Him, relationship with our own family, relationship with all others. We cannot have double standards where we apply one rule in one relationship and quite another elsewhere. Our paradigm of life shifts from the love of power to the power of love. The transformation of human character is of far greater value and significance in His eyes than the turning of water into wine.
Prateep V Philip
Monday, February 12, 2018
Stable and Able Life and Leadership
UV 2902/10000 Stable and Able
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Isaiah 54 v 10
The covenant we have with the Lord through Jesus is one of peace. It is not a happening-dependent peace. In other words, our sense of peace is not dependent on what happens or does not happens in our lives. It depends on our relationship with the Peace-Giver, the Prince of Peace, the One who rules through the dispensing of peace. His word is a sword that pierces our hearts and circumcises it, removes all unnecessary love of this world and fears of our lives. His word puts His law in our minds and writes it on the tablet of our hearts.
Our covenant with the Lord is not one dependent on what we do or do not. It is not dependent on our righteousness but on what Jesus had accomplished on the cross. It is dependent on His grace, love and mercy. His approval of us is not dependent on what we do or do not but on our faith in the sacrifice made by Him to justify us, the provision made by Him to sanctify us- the Holy Spirit and the word, the promises given by Him to enable us to be victorious in this life.
Since our relationship is based on our mutual commitment- the Lord’s and ours based not on circumstances, events, emotions, deeds but on the Lord’s infinite love and mercy and power, it is unchanging, constant, eternal, unshakable, trustworthy, dependable. It is stronger and more stable than the strongest and most prominent features of the geography of the earth- the mountains and hills, it is stronger and more enduring than our life’s challenges and situations, it is stronger and more enduring than all our relationships. Everything else may change in our personal lives but the covenant of peace, of love, of mercy, of grace will continue to be the sheet anchor and source of strength of our lives. It is our covenant relationship with Jesus that makes us both emotionally stable and intellectually able- the two hallmarks of consistent and effective leadership and management.
Prateep V Philip
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Isaiah 54 v 10
The covenant we have with the Lord through Jesus is one of peace. It is not a happening-dependent peace. In other words, our sense of peace is not dependent on what happens or does not happens in our lives. It depends on our relationship with the Peace-Giver, the Prince of Peace, the One who rules through the dispensing of peace. His word is a sword that pierces our hearts and circumcises it, removes all unnecessary love of this world and fears of our lives. His word puts His law in our minds and writes it on the tablet of our hearts.
Our covenant with the Lord is not one dependent on what we do or do not. It is not dependent on our righteousness but on what Jesus had accomplished on the cross. It is dependent on His grace, love and mercy. His approval of us is not dependent on what we do or do not but on our faith in the sacrifice made by Him to justify us, the provision made by Him to sanctify us- the Holy Spirit and the word, the promises given by Him to enable us to be victorious in this life.
Since our relationship is based on our mutual commitment- the Lord’s and ours based not on circumstances, events, emotions, deeds but on the Lord’s infinite love and mercy and power, it is unchanging, constant, eternal, unshakable, trustworthy, dependable. It is stronger and more stable than the strongest and most prominent features of the geography of the earth- the mountains and hills, it is stronger and more enduring than our life’s challenges and situations, it is stronger and more enduring than all our relationships. Everything else may change in our personal lives but the covenant of peace, of love, of mercy, of grace will continue to be the sheet anchor and source of strength of our lives. It is our covenant relationship with Jesus that makes us both emotionally stable and intellectually able- the two hallmarks of consistent and effective leadership and management.
Prateep V Philip
Friday, February 9, 2018
Spiritual Authority to Build and to Pull Down
UV 2901/10000 Spiritual Authority to Build and to Pull Down
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Jeremiah 1 v 10
Power is double edged. It can be creative or destructive, helpful or harmful, enabling or neutralising. The Lord has given us the power and authority over nations, to be both builders and levellers, to pull down strongholds of evil with spiritual weapons, with His word and prayer and to establish the kingdom of God, to build it, to plant it in human hearts, to nurture it, to cause it to grow to fullness, maturity and fruitfulness. Our weapons are not of the flesh or of this world but are ordained of the Lord, proceeds from His mouth and no force on earth can counter or overcome it. Believers in Christ, then are called to play a dual role – to uproot, to eradicate evil, to cause change and reform, to restructure, to innovate, to improve, to re-build the ruins as well as to build what is new. Our prayers and our wielding of the Word in the spirit causes huge upheavals in the spiritual world, reflected by changes and events in the physical world.
This uni-verse is a key verse to show us the importance and global reach of our spiritual influence and authority as leaders anointed by Christ with the Holy Spirit. We have the awesome authority that allowed Jesus to cause a fig tree to wither from its roots upwards. Our mere command with faith can cause many roots to wither. We can do the reverse too –of planting the spiritual seed in many hearts and minds. Changes for the better in different domains are presaged by much labour in the spirit and in prayer. The kingdoms referred to in the uni-verse are the kingdoms of darkness over which we can exercise spiritual authority. We cannot tear any of these with our bare hands or with physical power but by our faithful exercise of godly authority in Christ, we can bring about effective results.
The spiritual entities responsible for the kingdoms of darkness are subject to our authority and commands. But before we engage in such spiritual warfare, we should take care to wear the full armour of God, take care to see that we are producing all of the fruit of the spirit, take care to see that we are employing all the gifts of the Spirit given to us. The Lord uses His people to bring down or level mountains and to raise up what is lowly or depressed like the valleys. The process of building and pulling down is not a one time event but an ongoing lifelong process. We need to first of all cast down or overthrow all that hinders our own personal spiritual progress. Then we can set sights on different threats and targets in different domains in many nations. In all this we are fulfilling our calling as priests and kings of the Most High; kings wage war to extend their dominion, to preserve their dominion and deal with threats, priests pray, intercede, worship, thank the Lord. This is part of our high calling, it is food meant for the mature and not for the very young or new believers. It requires us to be rooted in the Lord, in His word, fully covered by His presence and spirit-filled.
Prateep V Philip
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Jeremiah 1 v 10
Power is double edged. It can be creative or destructive, helpful or harmful, enabling or neutralising. The Lord has given us the power and authority over nations, to be both builders and levellers, to pull down strongholds of evil with spiritual weapons, with His word and prayer and to establish the kingdom of God, to build it, to plant it in human hearts, to nurture it, to cause it to grow to fullness, maturity and fruitfulness. Our weapons are not of the flesh or of this world but are ordained of the Lord, proceeds from His mouth and no force on earth can counter or overcome it. Believers in Christ, then are called to play a dual role – to uproot, to eradicate evil, to cause change and reform, to restructure, to innovate, to improve, to re-build the ruins as well as to build what is new. Our prayers and our wielding of the Word in the spirit causes huge upheavals in the spiritual world, reflected by changes and events in the physical world.
This uni-verse is a key verse to show us the importance and global reach of our spiritual influence and authority as leaders anointed by Christ with the Holy Spirit. We have the awesome authority that allowed Jesus to cause a fig tree to wither from its roots upwards. Our mere command with faith can cause many roots to wither. We can do the reverse too –of planting the spiritual seed in many hearts and minds. Changes for the better in different domains are presaged by much labour in the spirit and in prayer. The kingdoms referred to in the uni-verse are the kingdoms of darkness over which we can exercise spiritual authority. We cannot tear any of these with our bare hands or with physical power but by our faithful exercise of godly authority in Christ, we can bring about effective results.
The spiritual entities responsible for the kingdoms of darkness are subject to our authority and commands. But before we engage in such spiritual warfare, we should take care to wear the full armour of God, take care to see that we are producing all of the fruit of the spirit, take care to see that we are employing all the gifts of the Spirit given to us. The Lord uses His people to bring down or level mountains and to raise up what is lowly or depressed like the valleys. The process of building and pulling down is not a one time event but an ongoing lifelong process. We need to first of all cast down or overthrow all that hinders our own personal spiritual progress. Then we can set sights on different threats and targets in different domains in many nations. In all this we are fulfilling our calling as priests and kings of the Most High; kings wage war to extend their dominion, to preserve their dominion and deal with threats, priests pray, intercede, worship, thank the Lord. This is part of our high calling, it is food meant for the mature and not for the very young or new believers. It requires us to be rooted in the Lord, in His word, fully covered by His presence and spirit-filled.
Prateep V Philip
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
From Impulse to Pulse
UV 2900/10000 From Impulse to Pulse
And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand
Exodus 2 v 12
The irony is that Moses, the future law giver was about to break the law. He was about to kill an Egyptian who was beating up a Hebrew slave. Moses was provoked. He was moved with anger at the treatment meted out to a brother. He acted on that impulse after taking due precaution to check if anyone was watching. Eventually, Moses was given the tablet that included one of the most vital commandments- “Thou shall not kill.” One cannot kill any human whether Egyptian or Hebrew or any other linguistic or religious group as everyone is made in the image of God. Only the life giver, the Lord has the right to take back life from anyone.
Though Moses thought that no one knew about his impulsive action of killing the Egyptian and burying him in the sand, word got around and he was forced to flee from Pharaoh’s wrath. The time he spent in the wilderness as a fugitive away from his people and the Egyptian court, God used to shape the character of Moses. He was no longer the person who would act on impulse but the one who was in touch with the pulse of God. He learnt that Jehovah shared his anguish at the enslavement and oppression of the Hebrew people, children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses’ anger was being tapped to be used in a constructive and more effective way to secure the destiny and freedom of the Hebrew people from whom would eventually come the Saviour of mankind- the Law fulfiller- Jesus, the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah.
Each of us are also transformed from being persons who act on impulse to persons who are in touch with the pulse of the Lord. We feel His anguish at the sin and pain in this world and He first breaks our impulsive nature before utilising us for the deliverance of many from the ultimate oppression- the spiritual yoke of sin and guilt and fear of death. From being law breakers, He turns us into law fulfillers by grace. The agape love of Jesus transcends the external requirements of law. He works through the Holy Spirit a deep work from within us so that we live and act in accordance with the pulse of the Lord. We are no longer led neither by our varying emotions or our fallible reasoning but by the leading and grace of the Lord. We need not cast furtive glances left and right like Moses before breaking the law but we can look up to the Lord for justice and mercy.
Prateep V Philip
And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand
Exodus 2 v 12
The irony is that Moses, the future law giver was about to break the law. He was about to kill an Egyptian who was beating up a Hebrew slave. Moses was provoked. He was moved with anger at the treatment meted out to a brother. He acted on that impulse after taking due precaution to check if anyone was watching. Eventually, Moses was given the tablet that included one of the most vital commandments- “Thou shall not kill.” One cannot kill any human whether Egyptian or Hebrew or any other linguistic or religious group as everyone is made in the image of God. Only the life giver, the Lord has the right to take back life from anyone.
Though Moses thought that no one knew about his impulsive action of killing the Egyptian and burying him in the sand, word got around and he was forced to flee from Pharaoh’s wrath. The time he spent in the wilderness as a fugitive away from his people and the Egyptian court, God used to shape the character of Moses. He was no longer the person who would act on impulse but the one who was in touch with the pulse of God. He learnt that Jehovah shared his anguish at the enslavement and oppression of the Hebrew people, children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses’ anger was being tapped to be used in a constructive and more effective way to secure the destiny and freedom of the Hebrew people from whom would eventually come the Saviour of mankind- the Law fulfiller- Jesus, the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah.
Each of us are also transformed from being persons who act on impulse to persons who are in touch with the pulse of the Lord. We feel His anguish at the sin and pain in this world and He first breaks our impulsive nature before utilising us for the deliverance of many from the ultimate oppression- the spiritual yoke of sin and guilt and fear of death. From being law breakers, He turns us into law fulfillers by grace. The agape love of Jesus transcends the external requirements of law. He works through the Holy Spirit a deep work from within us so that we live and act in accordance with the pulse of the Lord. We are no longer led neither by our varying emotions or our fallible reasoning but by the leading and grace of the Lord. We need not cast furtive glances left and right like Moses before breaking the law but we can look up to the Lord for justice and mercy.
Prateep V Philip
Monday, February 5, 2018
Unction in Our Function
UV 2899/10000 Unction in Our Function
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps
Matthew 25 v 4
The parable of the ten virgins is to my mind not just an illustration by Jesus of the different responses of people but the readiness to receive and honour Him in the ten or several areas of life of the same individual. We like the ten virgins are handmaids of the Lord, the Bridegroom of Blood. We are waiting in obedience for Him or living our lives in faith but certain areas of our lives and our hearts are not yet surrendered to His lordship, not touched by the Holy Spirit, not ready to receive Him. Like a bread that is half-baked, we are good in parts and not edible or savoury in parts, wise in parts and foolish in parts, mediocre in some areas and excellent in other areas. We are to seek and renew our anointing in and by the Holy Spirit all the time. We are to seek His wisdom, counsel and comfort all the time.
The oil in the vessel that the five obedient handmaids had ready to replenish their lamps’ fuel is a symbol or metaphor of the Holy Spirit. We cannot prepare the unsurrendered, the unyielding parts of our lives on our own steam. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to keep us in a state of readiness to receive the Bridegroom. We need to be watchful in prayer and in meditating on His word and not caught unawares and in slumber in any area of our lives. We need to be like the two olive trees in Zechariah’s vision with our branches always dipped in our faith in the sanctifying blood of the Lamb that fuels the golden lampstand with seven pipes and seven lamps. We are to be shining with all round excellence, bearing all of the fruit of the spirit and not just some of the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. We are to exhibit these qualities at all times and not only when we are feeling spiritually good or when we are in certain company or fellowship or with certain people.
We are to replenish ourselves with the oil of gladness of the Holy Spirit, the anointing of power that gives us the energy and strength to endure, to be consistent, to be always alert and ready to face the enemy, to give an answer to defend our faith, to not let our guard down at any time and or in any situation. The oil is a metaphor for obedience to the word and to the Spirit of God, integrity and love. The lampstand and the seven lamps symbolise our whole lives, every part of it. The pipes symbolise that we are to be good conductors of the agape love of the Lord to this world of darkness, ignorance and evil. Like olive plants that can endure many seasons of heat, cold, wind, rain and dryness, we are to endure ups and downs, good and bad times, abundance and famine, support and opposition with growing faith and consistency in spiritual fruit. Wisdom is not partial obedience to the Lord but complete obedience.
Prateep V Philip
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps
Matthew 25 v 4
The parable of the ten virgins is to my mind not just an illustration by Jesus of the different responses of people but the readiness to receive and honour Him in the ten or several areas of life of the same individual. We like the ten virgins are handmaids of the Lord, the Bridegroom of Blood. We are waiting in obedience for Him or living our lives in faith but certain areas of our lives and our hearts are not yet surrendered to His lordship, not touched by the Holy Spirit, not ready to receive Him. Like a bread that is half-baked, we are good in parts and not edible or savoury in parts, wise in parts and foolish in parts, mediocre in some areas and excellent in other areas. We are to seek and renew our anointing in and by the Holy Spirit all the time. We are to seek His wisdom, counsel and comfort all the time.
The oil in the vessel that the five obedient handmaids had ready to replenish their lamps’ fuel is a symbol or metaphor of the Holy Spirit. We cannot prepare the unsurrendered, the unyielding parts of our lives on our own steam. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to keep us in a state of readiness to receive the Bridegroom. We need to be watchful in prayer and in meditating on His word and not caught unawares and in slumber in any area of our lives. We need to be like the two olive trees in Zechariah’s vision with our branches always dipped in our faith in the sanctifying blood of the Lamb that fuels the golden lampstand with seven pipes and seven lamps. We are to be shining with all round excellence, bearing all of the fruit of the spirit and not just some of the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. We are to exhibit these qualities at all times and not only when we are feeling spiritually good or when we are in certain company or fellowship or with certain people.
We are to replenish ourselves with the oil of gladness of the Holy Spirit, the anointing of power that gives us the energy and strength to endure, to be consistent, to be always alert and ready to face the enemy, to give an answer to defend our faith, to not let our guard down at any time and or in any situation. The oil is a metaphor for obedience to the word and to the Spirit of God, integrity and love. The lampstand and the seven lamps symbolise our whole lives, every part of it. The pipes symbolise that we are to be good conductors of the agape love of the Lord to this world of darkness, ignorance and evil. Like olive plants that can endure many seasons of heat, cold, wind, rain and dryness, we are to endure ups and downs, good and bad times, abundance and famine, support and opposition with growing faith and consistency in spiritual fruit. Wisdom is not partial obedience to the Lord but complete obedience.
Prateep V Philip
Saturday, February 3, 2018
AMC
UV 2898/10000 AMC
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
Psalms 18 v 4
A classmate and friend of mine passed away suddenly and the sorrow of his death surrounded the chatter of my school group on social media for the past couple of days ever since we heard the news. That reminded me through this uni-verse that we all live our physical lives till our warranty period expires either a short one or the biblical lifespan of seven decades or by reason of strength and God’s grace beyond eight decades. But scripture promises in Psalm 91 that “He will satisfy you with long life and after that show you eternal life” in Christ or through the Word.
In the last couple of days, I also attended while being so surrounded by sorrow at a friend’s death, the joyous celebration of the golden jubilee of a man of God, a pastor friend. His family and friends were so grateful to the Lord for his life and prayed for his continued blessing. While felicitating him, I mentioned that in fifty short years, he had actually been a blessing for many in different ways through all of the 600 months, 2609 weeks, 18263 days, 438312 hours, 26298720 minutes and 1,577,923,200 or 1.5 billion plus seconds he had lived that far. I emphasize that all of us while we are living have an opportunity each day and indeed, each minute to get an extension of our warranty period which no man knows when it ends, to either get an AMC or aggregate maintenance covenant with Jesus or an opportunity to renew it. Then neither the sorrows of death nor the sorrows of hell that the next verse speaks of will surround us. We are ready to meet our Maker at any time on His terms- the terms of His covenants-old and new.
Getting into an aggregate maintenance covenant with Jesus is no guarantee of not facing issues, problems, challenges, failures, crises in our lives but it does guarantee us the comfort, the security, the strength, the infinite love, the eternal wisdom of Jesus, the confidence, the hope of emerging from life a winner. The clauses and conditions of this covenant lie all across the scriptures, guaranteed by the Lord and with no deadline or terminal clause, without cost or fee to be paid. Have you got your AMC or have you renewed it today, right now for today, nay now is the day and hour of salvation.
Prateep V Philip
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
Psalms 18 v 4
A classmate and friend of mine passed away suddenly and the sorrow of his death surrounded the chatter of my school group on social media for the past couple of days ever since we heard the news. That reminded me through this uni-verse that we all live our physical lives till our warranty period expires either a short one or the biblical lifespan of seven decades or by reason of strength and God’s grace beyond eight decades. But scripture promises in Psalm 91 that “He will satisfy you with long life and after that show you eternal life” in Christ or through the Word.
In the last couple of days, I also attended while being so surrounded by sorrow at a friend’s death, the joyous celebration of the golden jubilee of a man of God, a pastor friend. His family and friends were so grateful to the Lord for his life and prayed for his continued blessing. While felicitating him, I mentioned that in fifty short years, he had actually been a blessing for many in different ways through all of the 600 months, 2609 weeks, 18263 days, 438312 hours, 26298720 minutes and 1,577,923,200 or 1.5 billion plus seconds he had lived that far. I emphasize that all of us while we are living have an opportunity each day and indeed, each minute to get an extension of our warranty period which no man knows when it ends, to either get an AMC or aggregate maintenance covenant with Jesus or an opportunity to renew it. Then neither the sorrows of death nor the sorrows of hell that the next verse speaks of will surround us. We are ready to meet our Maker at any time on His terms- the terms of His covenants-old and new.
Getting into an aggregate maintenance covenant with Jesus is no guarantee of not facing issues, problems, challenges, failures, crises in our lives but it does guarantee us the comfort, the security, the strength, the infinite love, the eternal wisdom of Jesus, the confidence, the hope of emerging from life a winner. The clauses and conditions of this covenant lie all across the scriptures, guaranteed by the Lord and with no deadline or terminal clause, without cost or fee to be paid. Have you got your AMC or have you renewed it today, right now for today, nay now is the day and hour of salvation.
Prateep V Philip
Friday, February 2, 2018
Passion
UV 2897/10000 Passion
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind
Matthew 22 v 37
Loving anything with all our heart, mind, soul and strength is worship. Loving anyone or anything other than God with this kind of passion is not pleasing to the Lord and not a blessing for our lives. But we can love with just our minds and hearts certain things that attract our attention in this world without giving our hearts to these. For instance, one can love to be creative, love to write or paint or sing. When we are passionate about these chosen areas of activity or interest, we tend to excel in these areas. We are willing to sacrifice comfort, leisure, pleasure, wealth for these interests.
But loving God is an exercise of the heart, mind, spirit and body all acting in unison. Every second of time and every breath of ours as well as every resource and talent belongs to Him. He has only lent it to us. When we understand life in this manner, then every thought, decision, action and reaction of ours will be in alignment with His will and His expressed word that reveals His will for our lives. We are to be physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually engaged with the Lord in all that we do, say and think.
Jesus calls this the first commandment, the most important command as everything else in our personal universe will flow from this. The word “all” repeated with heart, soul, mind and strength implies that no activity or aspiration or relationship of ours is excluded from the gaze or purview of the Lord. We are to be open to His leading and guidance in all areas of our lives. It does not however mean that we are to eclipse out or extinguish every trace of interest in any area of our lives as long as it does not violate or vitiate the will or word of the Lord. Love is like a fire in our hearts lit by the spark of agape love of the Lord. Our passion or love for the Lord is not consuming but a liberating and productive one. Like the burning bush that Moses saw in the wilderness, we are to burn with passion for the Lord without ever being burnt out or extinguished. When Moses saw the burning bush, heard the voice of the Lord calling him out by name, He sensed the love of the Lord, his own self love, his instinct for self preservation began to die at the moment. He was ready to place himself, his safety, his future, his destiny and that of the Hebrew people in the hands of the Lord. Love or passion then is obeying the call of the Lord. Love of the Lord and for the Lord is all encompassing, all enabling, all empowering and not consuming,controlling, intimidating, disempowering or disenfranchising.
Prateep V Philip
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind
Matthew 22 v 37
Loving anything with all our heart, mind, soul and strength is worship. Loving anyone or anything other than God with this kind of passion is not pleasing to the Lord and not a blessing for our lives. But we can love with just our minds and hearts certain things that attract our attention in this world without giving our hearts to these. For instance, one can love to be creative, love to write or paint or sing. When we are passionate about these chosen areas of activity or interest, we tend to excel in these areas. We are willing to sacrifice comfort, leisure, pleasure, wealth for these interests.
But loving God is an exercise of the heart, mind, spirit and body all acting in unison. Every second of time and every breath of ours as well as every resource and talent belongs to Him. He has only lent it to us. When we understand life in this manner, then every thought, decision, action and reaction of ours will be in alignment with His will and His expressed word that reveals His will for our lives. We are to be physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually engaged with the Lord in all that we do, say and think.
Jesus calls this the first commandment, the most important command as everything else in our personal universe will flow from this. The word “all” repeated with heart, soul, mind and strength implies that no activity or aspiration or relationship of ours is excluded from the gaze or purview of the Lord. We are to be open to His leading and guidance in all areas of our lives. It does not however mean that we are to eclipse out or extinguish every trace of interest in any area of our lives as long as it does not violate or vitiate the will or word of the Lord. Love is like a fire in our hearts lit by the spark of agape love of the Lord. Our passion or love for the Lord is not consuming but a liberating and productive one. Like the burning bush that Moses saw in the wilderness, we are to burn with passion for the Lord without ever being burnt out or extinguished. When Moses saw the burning bush, heard the voice of the Lord calling him out by name, He sensed the love of the Lord, his own self love, his instinct for self preservation began to die at the moment. He was ready to place himself, his safety, his future, his destiny and that of the Hebrew people in the hands of the Lord. Love or passion then is obeying the call of the Lord. Love of the Lord and for the Lord is all encompassing, all enabling, all empowering and not consuming,controlling, intimidating, disempowering or disenfranchising.
Prateep V Philip
Thursday, February 1, 2018
The Paradox Principle
UV 2896/10000 The Paradox Principle
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Matthew 21 v 42
People might make pleasure, wealth, fame, power as the cornerstones of their lives as these are visible and tangible. But these factors and forces will pass away as all things of this earth do in due course. Each of these has its own limitations and adverse effects on the human mind, character and lives. When we make these the cornerstones of our lives, the whole edifice of our lives will fall and fail us when the cornerstone gets weakened or damaged. The wisdom of this world is also not a sufficient substitute cornerstone as it is like counterfeit gold. It will look like gold and appear shining but lose its properties under pressure and heat of life. Like anything counterfeit, it is deceitful.
Then who or what shall be the cornerstone of our lives that will support all spheres, aspects, domains of our lives, reinforcing what needs to be strengthened and removing what needs to be removed from our lives? This uni-verse like all of scripture gives us the answer- Jesus. Jesus is the cornerstone that the builders of ancient Israel rejected even though they were given a blueprint that showed that He is the fulfilment of the promise to them, the soon and coming King, the Scion of Zion who holds the sceptre of righteousness in His hand. Though He taught with gentleness of heavenly wisdom and proved His power and sovereignty, He was rejected and still continues to be rejected by even modern Israel but for those Jews who have received Him as their saviour.
Today, the Lord has called people from all nations who acknowledge Jesus as the cornerstone of every corner of their lives- spiritual, relational, intellectual, emotional, physical, material, financial. He is the locus of their lives on which they focus. The entire circle of their lives is drawn around Jesus. Nothing is excluded from the gaze of the cornerstone. He is the capstone or the Lead stone around which they found their lives. He is also the keystone – or the stone that helps them solve challenges, endure difficulties, face all that life, the world, the enemy can throw at them. Why is Jesus who is soft, gentle, humble portrayed by the hard metaphor of stones, a rock and so on? The reason is the paradox principle embodied in the personality of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We need to be both strong and meek in the company of the Triune God, humble and assertive, faithful but hard working and diligent, trustworthy but not gullible, idealistic but pragmatic, supernatural and natural, joyful but not a pleasure –seeker, wise but always learning, mature but child-like. These principles of character, conduct and conversation are to be applied daily to our lives if Christ is truly the cornerstone at every corner of our lives.
Prateep V Philip
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Matthew 21 v 42
People might make pleasure, wealth, fame, power as the cornerstones of their lives as these are visible and tangible. But these factors and forces will pass away as all things of this earth do in due course. Each of these has its own limitations and adverse effects on the human mind, character and lives. When we make these the cornerstones of our lives, the whole edifice of our lives will fall and fail us when the cornerstone gets weakened or damaged. The wisdom of this world is also not a sufficient substitute cornerstone as it is like counterfeit gold. It will look like gold and appear shining but lose its properties under pressure and heat of life. Like anything counterfeit, it is deceitful.
Then who or what shall be the cornerstone of our lives that will support all spheres, aspects, domains of our lives, reinforcing what needs to be strengthened and removing what needs to be removed from our lives? This uni-verse like all of scripture gives us the answer- Jesus. Jesus is the cornerstone that the builders of ancient Israel rejected even though they were given a blueprint that showed that He is the fulfilment of the promise to them, the soon and coming King, the Scion of Zion who holds the sceptre of righteousness in His hand. Though He taught with gentleness of heavenly wisdom and proved His power and sovereignty, He was rejected and still continues to be rejected by even modern Israel but for those Jews who have received Him as their saviour.
Today, the Lord has called people from all nations who acknowledge Jesus as the cornerstone of every corner of their lives- spiritual, relational, intellectual, emotional, physical, material, financial. He is the locus of their lives on which they focus. The entire circle of their lives is drawn around Jesus. Nothing is excluded from the gaze of the cornerstone. He is the capstone or the Lead stone around which they found their lives. He is also the keystone – or the stone that helps them solve challenges, endure difficulties, face all that life, the world, the enemy can throw at them. Why is Jesus who is soft, gentle, humble portrayed by the hard metaphor of stones, a rock and so on? The reason is the paradox principle embodied in the personality of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We need to be both strong and meek in the company of the Triune God, humble and assertive, faithful but hard working and diligent, trustworthy but not gullible, idealistic but pragmatic, supernatural and natural, joyful but not a pleasure –seeker, wise but always learning, mature but child-like. These principles of character, conduct and conversation are to be applied daily to our lives if Christ is truly the cornerstone at every corner of our lives.
Prateep V Philip
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