Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Ephesians 5:19 :-

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”

How burdened we can become from the cares of the day. Even in our beds, the pressures, loose ends and complications of the world seem to drum on our minds and ring in our ears.

That is why Paul tells us to constantly make melody to the Lord in our hearts in Ephesians 5:19. It is a song of praise, but it is also a song of war; pulling down strongholds of frustration from our day and bringing into captivity every worrisome thought. Psalmist also says, let them sing aloud upon their beds (Psalm 149:5). The heavenly song in our hearts removes the sickness of this sinful world and brings us peace.

We exchange Christ's pure melody of joy. The world entices us to march to its beat, losing sight of God, and tossing and turning on our beds, but Christ gives His beloved sound sleep.

Jesus would have us leaning on His breast, in heavenly places, beside still waters. His call to His bride is ever, "Rise up. My love, my fair one, and come away" (Song of Solomon 2:10), away from the suspicious stares of the world to the loving gaze of Christ. As we hearken to His call, and seek His gentle presence by night, He will rejoice with singing too. Listen to His lorry and soon we shall be asleep on our pillows, even amidst a storm of cares.

God loves you and wants to answer your prayer. Say this prayer with me:

Father, I discard the cares of the day right now and sing a song of praise to Jesus in my heart. Thank you for glorious rest and glorious melody. I am happy to be Your child, in the world but not of it, with my heart and mind kept by Your peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.     

WHATEVER IS NOT IN THE POWER OF SATAN, DO NOT GIVE HIM

 WHATEVER IS NOT IN THE POWER OF SATAN, DO NOT GIVE HIM

 1.Colossians 2:13-16 (NIV)

 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

 Friends let us understand the above verses together. Let us see the I Colossians 2:13-16 which says:

 1.Before being saved by His grace, we were dead in the sins. Christ's death, and through communion with Christ at baptism, experienced that death, which stripping off, of the flesh, and in that sense become circumcised.

 2. Being our savior He forgave us all our sins (Because we accepted Him by His grace as our savior who died for our sins and paid them all)

 3. Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness (long record and balance of sins), which stood against us and condemns us, Paul describes Colossians 2:14 we were not only spiritually impervious to God's touch, but we were legally condemned by the long record of sins that stood against us.

 4. He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Paul was describing here that the record of our sins, the indictment that required the penalty of death. Only two things were nailed to the stake at Golgotha: 1) the physical body of Jesus Christ and 2) the “note of guilt”—the record of our sins which Christ paid for Himself by sacrificing His life.

 5. And having disarmed the powers and authorities of darkness, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Being in sin full world we were under the power of the wicked one, satan who is called the god of this world but Christ made a public spectacle of means to cause someone to suffer public disgrace or shame– “to disgrace in public.” Jesus exposed demonic principalities and powers in a way a general displays his captives or trophies of victory in a triumphal procession.

 6. Triumphing over them by the cross means the cross then is a symbol of victory, victory over death, victory over evil, victory over sin”. Furthermore “the crucifixion was not the end but only the portal to the resurrection which is the beginning of new and victorious life in Christ.

 2.Hebrews 2:14 (NIV)

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devi.

 Let us see what the Hebrew 2:14 says: -

 1. What Hebrew 2:14 means - Christ became like us in every way, except in sin, in order to break the power of sin over us, and by breaking the power of sin, he destroyed the power of death and delivered us.

 3.1 Corinthians 6:17 (NIV)

But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

 Let us see 1 Corinthians 6:17 explains: -

1 Corinthians 6:17 explains that the resurrected Lord is the life-giving Spirit; therefore, His union with the believers is His union with the believers' spirit. So, we are one with the resurrected Christ who has conquered death, hell, devil and demons.

 So let us not believe that devil/demons are doing this and that. Please keep in mind that Satan has no legitimate power over anyone who is genially in Christ and His life and words are reflecting in their life.

Trust Him and walk in victory. The devil has only one power that is the power of lies. He whispers in the heart of the believers; through his whisper he will try to have the consent of believers to enter into the life of them and create troubles so do not give room to the whispers of the devil. Just trust on the word of God and speak through the word of God to him and not from your own wisdom. Speak the relevant verses Bible to your circumstances, trouble and problems facing in your life. 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) say, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   

God bless you all

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Ramesh C Koundal

Why does God test us?

                                         Why does God test us?

 When we ask why God tests us or allows us to be tested, we are admitting that testing does indeed come from Him. When God tests His children, He does a valuable thing. David sought God’s testing, asking Him to examine his heart and mind and see that they were true to Him (Psalm 26:2; 139:23). When Abram was tested by God in the matter of sacrificing Isaac, Abram obeyed (Hebrews 11:17–19) and showed to all the world that he is the father of faith (Romans 4:16).

In both the Old and New Testaments, the words translated “test” mean “to prove by trial.” Therefore, when God tests His children, His purpose is to prove that our faith is real. Not that God needs to prove it to Himself since He knows all things, but He is proving to us that our faith is real, that we are truly His children, and that no trial will overcome our faith.

 In His Parable of the Sower, Jesus identifies the ones who fall away as those who receive the seed of God’s Word with joy, but, as soon as a time of testing comes along, they fall away. James says that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, which leads to maturity in our walk with God (James 1:3–4). James goes on to say that testing is a blessing, because, when the testing is over and we have “stood the test,” we will “receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). Testing comes from our heavenly Father who works all things together for good for those who love Him and who are called to be the children of God (Romans 8:28).

 The testing or trials we undergo come in various ways. Becoming a Christian will often require us to move out of our comfort zones and into the unknown. Perseverance in testing results in spiritual maturity and completeness. This is why James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). The testing of faith can come in small ways and daily irritations; they may also be severe afflictions (Isaiah 48:10) and attacks from Satan (Job 2:7). Whatever the source of the testing, it is to our benefit to undergo the trials that God allows.

 The account of Job is a perfect example of God’s allowing one of His saints to be tested by the devil. Job bore all his trials patiently and “did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:22). However, the account of Job’s testing is proof that Satan’s ability to try us is limited by God’s sovereign control. No demon can test or afflict us with beyond what God has ordained. All our trials work toward God’s perfect purpose and our benefit.

 There are many examples of the positive results of being tested. The psalmist likens our testing to being refined like silver (Psalm 66:10). Peter speaks of our faith as “of greater worth than gold,” and that’s why we “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6–7). In testing our faith, God causes us to grow into strong disciples who truly live by faith and not by what we see (2 Corinthians 5:7).

 When we experience the storms of life, we should be like the tree that digs its roots ever more deeply for a greater grip in the earth. We must “dig our roots” more deeply into God’s Word and cling to His promises so we can weather whatever storms come against us.

 Most comforting of all, we know that God will never allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to handle by His power. His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). “That is why,” Paul said, “for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

Hevaven or Hell , Which way people will go?

 Which will more people go to, heaven or hell?

ANSWER

 

The question of whether there are more people, heaven or hell, is given a concise context by Jesus himself: “Enter in at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and easy is the way that leads to destruction; and "There are many who enter in. For narrow is the gate and hard is the way that leads to life; and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

Only those who have received Jesus Christ and believe in Him have been given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). This is because the gift of eternal life comes through Jesus Christ only to those who believe in Him. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). This is not possible through Muhammad, Buddha or other man-made false gods. It is not for those who want an easy way to heaven, while also continuing to live an earthly life on earth. Jesus only saves those who trust in Him as Savior (Acts 4:12).

 

Therefore, now what are the two doors given in Matthew 7:13-14. These are gateways to two different "passages". The wide gate leads to a wide passage. The narrow gate leads to a path that is narrow. The narrow gate is the path of the righteous, and the wide path is the path of the unrighteous. The broad path is the easy path. It promotes charm and self-indulgence. This is a permitted route. This is the inclusive path to a world built with few rules, few restrictions and fewer conditions. Sin is encouraged to be tolerated and God's Word is not studied and its standards are not followed. Such a path requires no spiritual maturity, no moral character, no commitment, and no sacrifice. It is easy to walk on this path because “For once you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, that is, the Spirit who now works in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:2). This is the broad path that “seems right to a man, but it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

 

Those who preach this inclusive gospel, in which “all roads lead away from heaven,” are preaching a completely different gospel than the gospel preached by Jesus Christ. The wide gate of the world of self-centeredness, self-absorption and pride, a holier-than-thou mentality, is the road that leads to hell, not the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Most people largely follow the crowd, walking down the same path, the broad path, and doing what everyone else is doing and believing what everyone else is. We do.

 

The narrow path is a difficult path, it is a path based on conditions. This is the path of recognizing that you cannot save yourself and that you must rely solely on Jesus Christ to save you. This is the path of self-denial and the way of the cross. The fact that some people know God's way means that it must be sought with great diligence. “You will seek me and find me, for you will come to me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). The point is that no one will stumble into heaven or fall through the narrow gate. Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, are there few who will be saved?" He said to them, “Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for I say unto you that many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:23-24).

 

Many would like to try to enter in through the narrow gate, which is the door of salvation, but “will not be able.” Because they are unwilling to believe in Jesus alone. They are reluctant to pay the price. To leave the world is to suffer a great loss for them. The way of Christ is the way of the cross, and the way of Christ is self-denial. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for Me He will save him” (Luke 9:23-24).

 

Jesus knew that many would choose the wide gate and the wide path, which leads to destruction and hell. That's why, in comparison, he said that there are only a few who will choose Saket Fatak. According to Matthew 7:13-14, there is no doubt that more will go to hell than to heaven. Then the question for you is, which path are you on?

 

Let us challenge our spiritual growth

                                        Hindi translation is below)

 We all need to understand that satan is defeated by our Lord through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. We are saved by His grace and that is our position in Christ Jesus but it will take time have experience of that position in Christ.

Remember Jesus Christ is coming back to take His bride without spot and wrinkle. But when we came to Him, we are not without spot and wrinkle. Our mind and souls were in mess (we are spirit, soul and body 1 Thessalonians.5:23). Here you require to fight and to reclaim the territory of our mind by overcoming the enemy who is already defeated. God has given us all that we need to lay hold of Christ Victory and be more than conquerors (see Romans 8:37).

However, Satan does not want us to know that victory God has already given us. Satan wants us to keep in bondage through fear so that you never become an acceptable bride. Remember God has no intention to letting you give in or go down to defeat. God want you to be strong and triumphant.

In Habakkuk 2:3-4 the word Of God says “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

 Satan will try every effort to bring every fear you have ever had in the past in an effort to press in and strangle the new spiritual life in you. Satan goal is that you never reach spiritual maturity.

 Paul wrote in Galatians 4:19 “My little children, for whom I labor in birth pain until Christ is formed in you”. Paul found that getting people saved is easy part but getting them to grow up them spiritually mature and victorious is different matter. Apostle John reinforces this when he tells on in John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power tom become the children of God”.

 Remember half of the virgins shut out of the wedding feast (Mathew 25:1-10). Can you imagine 50% fatality rate in the Churches today?

 Let us remember the following two things and act according. Remember that fear ------

 1.FEAR IS A CRETIVE FORCE: The first step to overcome is to understand it that fear is a spirit (see 1 Tim.1:7) and is a powerful force which can create and call into being things that is feared. Job experienced that in Job 3:25 “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me”. This being so, how does the evil power work.

 Note: This way works the power of darkness and influence minds and if we imagine and act then it happens in our life. The fallen world and its inhabitants are controlled by the power of darkness like this only.

 Remember what ever spirit we chose to accept into our mind, will determine what will be manifested in our physical realm. For example, we allow the spirit of fear in your life, we will think fearful thoughts, speak fearful words and what you fear will eventually come to pass. You have the spirit above all spirit (spirit of God) allow to work in your life, you will think peaceful thoughts, speak peace and create serenity all around you.

 Let us make no mistake, there are two kinds of spiritual forces in the world those that are of God (for good) and those that are form satan (for evil). You have the spirit above all the spirits (Spirit of God) dwelling deep in your inner being. The crucial question you will face daily which spirit, Spirt of Good or the spirit of evil-----will I choose to accept in my mind today.

 Be warned that which side you permit to control your thought that side will control your whole being.

 See Romans 6:6- “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

 2.FEAR IS A FACT BUT FEAR IS AN ACT: - Remember that faith is a fact but faith is also an act. It means that faith is a created spiritual force is not manifested in the physical realm until you chose with your mind and your will to bring into being by acting on it.

 Fear works in the same way; Satan can roar at you in your mind by pushing various thoughts and if you refuse to let his fearful thoughts dwell in your mind and refuse to act on them then nothing more satan can do and he will flee from your resistance.

 However, if you chose to act on suggestion planted by the spirit of fear (or the word of you moth to reinforce them), you will release powerful evil force to start working your life (see proverb 6:2 and proverb 15:21). The fear will become a dangerous habit which is hard to break.

 Likewise work the other evil forces of darkness and create havoc in the life of the believers. This way works the evil spirits like sickness, bitterness, hated, unforgiveness, depression, heaviness of the heart and others……

 Remember what happened in Garden of Eden, satan wasted no time in going after eve’s mind. He knows that if she accepted his suggestions in her mind, this thought then would feed her will. Once she chose (with her will) to act on it what all happened after that you all now.

 Let is challenge our faith today what we believing A famous scholar has said: -

 “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson.

God bless you

Brotherly yours in Christ

 Ramesh C koundal

 

 

Your circumstances are hinderance to see the ability of Almighty God

 

Your circumstances are hinderance to see the ability of  Almighty God

(Hindi Translation is below)

Romans 8:35-39: -

 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

 

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

 

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

 

What ever trials, troubles , problems ,circumstances you are facing, today speak over them as per above Romans 8:35-39. Do not look to the bigness of your need. Look to the bigness of your God! Your circumstances are hindrances to seeing My abilities God says. If you keep your eyes on your circumstances, the devil will use your circumstances to defeat you and accuse the Word of God—the written and the living Word. Your victory is in keeping your eyes on the bigness of your God and His ability to keep you victorious in all circumstances. He has promised to take you step by step—not all at once, but step by step, and each step will be a miracle!

 

God bless you all, please

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In Christ your brother – Ramesh C koundal

 

                                                     उपरोक्त संदेश का हिंदी अनुवाद

आपकी परिस्थितियाँ सर्वशक्तिमान ईश्वर की क्षमता को देखने में बाधक हैं

 

“आप जिन भी परीक्षणों, परेशानियों, समस्याओं, परिस्थितियों का सामना कर रहे हैं, आज उन पर बोलें!

कौन हम को मसीह के प्रेम से अलग करेगा? क्या क्लेश, या संकट, या उपद्रव, या अकाल, या नंगाई, या जोखिम, या तलवार? जैसा लिखा है,

 

“कि तेरे लिये हम दिन भर घात किए जाते हैं; हम वध होने वाली भेंडों की नाईं गिने गए हैं”

 

परन्तु इन सब बातों में हम उसके द्वारा जिस ने हम से प्रेम किया है, जयवन्त से भी बढ़कर हैं। क्योंकि मैं निश्चय जानता हूं, कि न मृत्यु, न जीवन, न स्वर्गदूत, न प्रधानताएं, न वर्तमान, न भविष्य, न सामर्थ, न ऊंचाई, न गहिराई और न कोई और सृष्टि, हमें परमेश्वर के प्रेम से, जो हमारे प्रभु मसीह यीशु में है, अलग कर सकेगी॥

 

आप जिन भी परीक्षणों, परेशानियों, समस्याओं, परिस्थितियों का सामना कर रहे हैं, आज रोमियों 8:35-39 के अनुसार उन पर बोलें। अपनी जरूरत को बड़ा मत देखो. अपने परमेश्वर की विशालता को देखो! बाइबल में परमेश्वर कहते हैं, आपकी परिस्थितियाँ मेरी क्षमताओं को देखने में बाधक हैं। यदि आप अपनी परिस्थितियों पर नजर रखेंगे, तो शैतान आपको हराने के लिए आपकी परिस्थितियों का उपयोग करेगा और परमेश्वर के वचन - लिखित और जीवित वचन - पर आरोप लगाएगा। आपकी जीत आपके ईश्वर की महानता और आपको सभी परिस्थितियों में विजयी बनाए रखने की उसकी क्षमता पर नजर बनाए रखने में है। उसने आपसे कदम दर कदम आगे बढ़ने का वादा किया है - एक बार में नहीं, बल्कि कदम दर कदम, और हर कदम एक चमत्कार होगा!

आज से आप विश्वास करना शुरू करें और परिणाम देखें।

 

परमेश्वर आप सब का भला करे. कृपया पढ़ें और दूसरों के साथ साझा करें।

प्रभु मैं आपका भाई रमेश सी कौंडल.

life after death?

                                                     

The book of Job asks a question about life after death: "If a man dies, will he live again?" (Job 14:14). This question is as easy as asking; Equally difficult is finding someone to answer the question with authority and experience.

 

Jesus Christ is the only one who can speak with real authority (and experience) about things related to the afterlife. The only authority He has to speak of heaven is that He came from there: "No one has ascended into heaven except He who came down from heaven—the Son of Man who is in heaven" (John 3:13). The Lord Jesus, with His first experience in heaven, presents to us three fundamental truths about life after death:

1. There exists a life after death.

2. When a person dies, he can only go to one of two possible destinations.

3. There is a way to ensure a positive experience after death.

 

First, Christ confirms several times that there is life after death. For example, in a meeting with the Sadducees, who refused to accept the doctrine of the resurrection, Jesus said, “Concerning the resurrection of the dead—have you read the story of the bush in the book of Moses? Have you not read that God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead but of the living; therefore you are greatly mistaken! "(Mark 12 :26-27). According to Jesus, people who had died centuries ago were now very well alive with God.

 

In another passage, Jesus consoles his disciples (and us) by telling them about life after death. They can look forward to being with him in heaven: “Do not let your hearts be troubled; have faith in God and have faith in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would tell you For I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you may also be." (John 14:1-3).

 

Jesus also spoke authoritatively about two different destinations awaiting those in the afterlife. In the account of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus says, "And it came to pass that the poor man died, and the angels carried him into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, and in hell he saw his tormentors." Lifted up their eyes, and saw Lazarus afar off in Abraham's bosom." (Luke 16:22-23). Note, there is no intermediate state for those who die; They go straight to their eternal destination. Jesus taught further about the different destinations of the righteous and the wicked in Matthew 25:46 and John 5:25-29.

 

Jesus also emphasized that what determines a person's eternal destiny is whether or not a person believes in God's only-begotten Son. The necessity of faith is made clear: "Whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Have life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world through him might be saved. There is no condemnation to anyone who believes in him, but whoever believes in him He is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:15-18).

 

Those who repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior will have eternity in the afterlife to enjoy God. For those who reject Christ, life after death will be very different. Jesus described their destination as "being thrown into darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12). As the heaven-sent authority on the afterlife, Jesus warns us to choose our destination wisely: “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and straight is the way that leads to destruction. and there are many who enter in by it. For narrow is the gate and hard is the way that leads to life; and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

Today “I have only two questions to ask. One, has anyone ever defeated death? Two, has he paved the way for me to do so?" Answer to both questions is "yes." One man has defeated both and provided a way for everyone who, like him, puts their faith in him to overcome it. Anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ need not fear death, and we can rejoice in God's salvation: "When this perishable has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then the word that What is written will be fulfilled:

'Jai swallowed death.'

'O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?'" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).

 

 

 

 

 

Brotherly yours

Ramesh C Koundal

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