Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey

Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey

G. Paul Raj

1. Christianity is Unique and Christians are different why?

What makes Christians different and what makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace — treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated — with loving-kindness and mercy. God is good to the unjust as well as the just. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God seeks our highest good and teaches us to seek the greatest good of others, even those who hate and abuse us. Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and selfish towards us, must be marked by the same kindness and mercy which God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we can expect to benefit from doing so, but it is harder and painful when we can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to do good in the face of evil. How can we possibly love those who cause us harm and ill-will? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who believe and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. His love conquers all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. Do you know the power of Christ's redeeming love and mercy?

2. The Secret to be Successful Christian

Bible is an honest Book it not only speaks of the success of God's people but also their failure and defeat, it not only speaks of their strength but also their weakness. For instance i Genesis 8:20 we read that Noah build and altar to the Lord whereas in Genesis 9:20 we read that Noah proceeded to plant a vineyard. In first instance Bible says that he was in the presence of God whereas in the later instance it says that he was under the control of intoxication. Thus victory and defeat are at either extreme, but never far apart. The hour victory can easily become an hour of defeat and failure within the fracture of seconds. We will never out of the reach of temptation. Therefore to protect ourselves from the temptations of temptor, defeat and failure we God's children should always have the shield of faith in our hands. To have a successful Christian life it requires a daily exercise of entering into His presence, listening to His instructions and to follow them without reservation. If we do so then surely we will keep defeat far apart and retain the victory with us till the day we meet the Lord in mid-sky.

 How to find God’s will?

When people tell me they are having difficulty discerning God’s will for their life, I want to ask one question: How much quiet, still time are you spending in God’s presence, listening to Him through prayer and His Word? I do not believe God wants us to be confused about His will and calling for our life. But I also believe that God is not interested in competing with the roar of our culture in order to get our attention and be heard. If we spend more time listening to the voices all around us—musicians, celebrities, commentators, friends, and yes, preachers—than we spend listening to Him, it’s no surprise that we are often confused.” –David Jeremiah

What does the Gospel content: Prosperity, health and success or the message of salvation?

The careful study of the Scripture will clarify the truth that the core elements in the prosperity gospel are not part of the Gospel of Salvation. The core message of the Gospel of Salvation is eternal life through forgiveness of sin by faith in Jesus Christ (cf. Rom.1). Nowhere in the Bible Jesus had never promised us "prosperity, health and success". Instead He said: "In this world, you will have tribulation" (Jn.16:33). The word peace in this verse does not mean material wealth as it contradicts the context in which Jesus said this verse. Further Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me", so if we want to follow Jesus then we also must deny self. The Bible tells us of many great men and women of faith who, like Jesus, denied themselves all things to serve God. These saints humbled themselves and turned their backs on worldly power, position and wealth to serve the living God whom they loved more than life.

 Jesus Himself left heaven and humbly denied all things to become God's greatest servant. Denying self is one of the greatest challenges in our Christian walk. We can't be a disciple of Jesus and love the things of this world at the same time; we must be willing to deny ourselves worldly power, position, wealth and reputation; anything we put ahead of God is an idol. However this doesn’t mean that Christians should suffer and starve God blesses us to glorify His name through all that we have. Jesus Himself saw wealth as a gift from God to be used in His service (Matthew 25:14-30).

Where Are the Voices of Repentance Today?

Where Are the Voices of Repentance Today?

John the Baptist was perhaps one of or in other words the most unusual preacher GOD ever called into the ministry. Unlike today’s preachers he never sought sophisticated and comfort zone to preach the word that he had received from heaven as today’s preachers seek.  Instead Day after day JOHN THE BAPTIST went out to the hot dusty JUDEAN DESERT to preach the one sermon that BURNED in his soul like a blazing fire “Repent......for the kingdom of heaven is near.” His preaching was not decked adorned with any homiltical structure and with POINTS and SUBPOINTS either. He had never used illustrations or tear jerking stories or jokes to charm and capture the minds of his audience. His message was just a simple straightforward, powerful and cut right to the very soul of his audience.......... “Repent.....for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

He had never preached THE HEALTH AND WEALTH GOSPEL. He didn’t PROMISE PEOPLE boats and cars and abundant earnings beyond what we need.  HE didn’t sell people “Prayer Cloths” or “Angel Lapel Pins” or “Blessed Fish Symbol Necklaces.” HE JUST PREACHED THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE! JOHN THE BAPTIST   never preached the sweet quoted sermon to please PEOPLE. HE was preaching to PLEASE GOD!

In a day and time when all the religious leaders were preaching their VAIN HUMAN TRADITIONS, John the Baptist stood as GOD’S LONE VOICE OF TRUTH to SINFUL MAN! Whereas the PREACHING of the PHARISEES and SADDUCEES drove people farther and farther away from GOD JOHN’S preaching DROVE PEOPLE BACK TO GOD! That was the message of REPENTENCE. Throughout history, GOD has always raised up men to preach REPENTANCE! Repentance has never been a POPULAR MESSAGE and those who have preached it have never been POPULAR PREACHERS.

THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS preached repentance!

·         JOHN THE BAPTIST preached repentance!

·         JESUS CHRIST preached repentance!

·         THE APOSTLES preached repentance!

·         OUR GREAT RESTORATION FOREFATHERS preached repentance!

·         The great revivalists and missionaries of yester centuries preached repentance!

Where Are the Voices of Repentance Today? We hear the VOICES of love and mercy and grace. We hear the VOICES of health and wealth and prosperity. We hear the VOICES of positive thinking and the “I’m OK, you’re OK” theology. But where are the VOICES crying out for THE REPENTANCE OF SINFUL MAN?

·         Is the MESSAGE of REPENTANCE outdated?

·         Is it TOO OLD-FASHIONED?

·         Is it IRRELEVANT to our lives today?

To this era of technology and to this contemporary context the message of REPENTANCE needs to be preached from every pulpit across the universe. God’s plan for the families marred and deformed, today’s youths have become wild and wayward, our society is filled with sexual immorality, inhuman acts and violence can be seen everywhere and the churches have become dead and inactive it miserably failed shine the light of salvation because the PREACHERS have stopped preaching REPENTANCE!

Many who call themselves CHRISTIANS lived for the DEVIL before they became a CHRISTIAN and they are STILL LIVING FOR THE DEVIL. Our church pews today are filled with CHURCH MEMBERS who want to ......DRINK UP! SHOOT UP! SHACK UP! STIR UP! ACT UP! and PARTY UP! But don’t want to: STRAIGHTEN UP! CLEAN UP! FESS UP! GIVE UP! or LOOK UP!

Dear friends God did not send his One and Only Son here to die on a cross just so you and I could go on living the same old sinful lives we’ve always lived. He sent His Son here to die on the Cross to save our wretched souls in order that we might become a brand new creation! II CORINTHIANS 5: 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Do you know what that means? That means if you have truly surrendered your life to Jesus Christ......

Ø  YOUR TALK will be new!

Ø  YOUR THOUGHTS will be new!

Ø  YOUR HABITS will be new!

Ø  YOUR ATTITUDE will be new!

Ø  YOUR PRIORITIES will be new!

Ø  YOUR DESIRES will be new!

Ø  YOUR LIFESTYLE will be new!

Ø  YOUR FRIENDS will be new!

My friend, if you still TALK THE WAY YOU USED TO TALK

THINK THE WAY YOU USED TO THINK

ACT LIKE YOU USED TO ACT

LIVE LIKE YOU USED TO LIVE

CRAVE WHAT YOU USED TO CRAVE

CHEAT LIKE YOU USED TO CHEAT

GOSSIP LIKE YOU USED TO GOSSIP

LIE LIKE YOU USED TO LIE

LUST LIKE YOU USED TO LUST

SWEAR LIKE YOU USED TO SWEAR

DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO DRINK

Then the TRUTH is you haven’t truly REPENTED…….And I John 3:9,10 says, No one who is born of GOD will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of GOD. This is how we know who the children of GOD are and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is NOT A CHILD OF GOD; nor is anyone who does NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER.

Brothers and sisters do you understand what GOD is telling us? He is telling us “NO CHILD OF MINE WILL CONTINUE IN A LIFE OF SIN.” A TRUE CHILD OF GOD WILL REPENT OF HIS OR HER SINFUL WAYS.  WHEN YOU GENUINELY REPENT..............You don’t feel sorry for the PAIN your SIN has caused you..........You feel SORRY FOR THE PAIN YOUR SIN HAS CAUSED GOD! GENUINE REPENTANCE is when we can look inside the VERY HEART OF GOD and feel the PAIN, the SHAME and the DISHONOR our sin has brought upon His Holy Name. GENUINE REPENTANCE is when you can look at the CROSS and say, “Oh dear JESUS, MY SINS did this to you........MY SINS put you there! And when you experience that kind of GODLY SORROW.......you FORSAKE YOUR SINS.........YOU WALK AWAY FROM YOUR SINS..........THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT YOU AMPUTATE THAT SIN FROM YOUR LIFE AND THROW IT AWAY ONCE AND FOR ALL!

CONCLUSION: ACTS 17: 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. Today......more than ever before, WE NEED A VOICE TO CRY OUT IN THIS WILDERNESS. We need a VOICE that loves GOD and hates SIN! We need a VOICE that LIFTS UP RIGHT and TEARS DOWN WRONG! We need a voice that LEADS PEOPLE AWAY FROM SIN and TOWARD JESUS CHRIST. We need a voice that will NOT change GOD’S MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE........NO matter how much the times change. John the Baptist was the Preacher with One Sermon. It was a sermon that made him UNPOPULAR and eventually COST him his life, when he called for the REPENTANCE of HEROD and HERODIAS. If you know in your heart your life is not right with GOD then it is time to get right. The road to healing the road to wholeness and sweet fellowship with God starts the moment you come out with your hands up and say, “God, I SURRENDER ALL! 

Extra Biblical Revelation

Extra Biblical Revelation

Introduction

Today’s Christianity is badly plagued with cultic teachings one of the Christian research says that the Body of Christ is competing with more than 1000’s of  new belief systems which are very sophisticated in its nature and extremely evangelistic in delivering their message. These cultic teachings or the roving wolves are nothing new to the Church. From its inception Satan raised up tares among the pure wheat of God to deceive and mislead the sheep; to lead them to hell and not to heaven. If we carefully study the teachings of the cults we could draw a conclusion, that the denial of the doctrine of the trinity and the claim to have an extra biblical revelation are the most common unifying factors between the cults and their teachings. In this note I would like concentrate on the topic “Extra Biblical Revelation”.  

I. What is Extra Biblical Revelation?

Any supernatural knowledge that cannot be directly attributed to Scripture may be called extra biblical revelation. Joseph Smith, 1805-1844, the prophet of the Mormon Church insisted that the Bible was not GOD'S holy Word and therefore needed his visions and input. The book of Mormon is the result and supplanted the Holy Scriptures. And in the same way Seventh-day Adventists believe there is enough biblical evidence for a modern non-canonical manifestation of the gift of prophecy. When modern criticism began to undermine the trustworthiness of Scripture, God chose Ellen G. White as a special prophetic voice to uplift the normative authority of His Word. The Seventh-day Adventists have published their own bible called “The Clear Word Bible”. It is purely a cultic Bible that which failed to separate the Bible text from the author’s personal commentary, opinions, which slant the text to agree with the writings of Ellen G. White and whatever else to make the text say what he wants it to say. Prophet William Marion Branham died in 1963 and was a Baptist Christian before turning to as Oneness Pentecostal prophet. He claimed to be Elijah even still today his followers are propagating his views all over the world.  Jehovah’s Witness too published their own Anti – Trinitarian Bible called “New World Translation”. (Note: The following contents are directly copied from www.blueletterbible.org/faq/canon.cfm‎)

II. Has God Revealed Anything Further to Mankind Since the First Century? There is evidence that the canon of Scripture was complete in the first century. Has God, since that time, revealed anything that is to be added to Holy Scripture?

Claims Do Not Make It True: The mere claim that God spoke to an individual does not make it true. There has to be evidence to back up the claim. The question Is, "Does the evidence support the claim that God spoke through them?" The Bible instructs us to test the spirits: Beloved, “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1)”. When we test the claims of those who have brought forth a "new Scripture" we find them to be untrue. The downfall of all the books that have had inspiration claimed for them is that they present a different revelation from what has previously been recorded. They contradict the Bible.

No Book Qualifies: Every book written since the completion of the Bible that claims to be further revelation from God fails on the same ground. They all deny that Jesus Christ is God Himself, second Person of the Trinity. These works also deny salvation by grace through faith. They preached a different gospel. The Apostle Paul warned the church at Galatia about such people. “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel ... But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6,8)”.

No Evidence: Furthermore, there is no substantiating evidence such as fulfilled prophecy to demonstrate the books are of divine inspiration. Thus, as we examine the various books that have been written since the completion of the New Testament that have claimed to be further revelation from God, we find them coming short of the mark. The Bible warns: Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you and you be found a liar (Proverbs 30:5, 6).

III. Can Anything Be Added to the Bible Today? We have seen that the canon was closed in the first century, and that since then God has not revealed anything on the level with Holy Scripture.

Westminster Confession "The Westminster Confession," a seventeenth-century statement of faith, says concerning the Bible, The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men ("Westminster Confession," 1:6). According to this statement, which sums up the Protestant view of Scripture, nothing is to be added or subtracted from the Bible. The revelation from God to man has been completed.

No Direct Word: however, there is any direct word in the Bible that says God has stopped revealing Himself. Some have appealed to the following verses in the Book of Revelation. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life (Revelation 22:18, 19). This is only speaking of the Book of Revelation. It is not a commandment against adding any other book to Scripture. If taken literally, then you could not have any other book in Scripture but the Book of Revelation! Yet there is a principle here that is clearly taught. No one is to add or to take away from the revealed Word of God.

Jude makes a statement that Is pertinent to' our discussion. “I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)”. This verse teaches that a body of truth from God has been delivered to man and that this faith has been wholly delivered. This seems to indicate that no further revelation from God is necessary. God has told us in Scripture everything that we need to know about who He is, who we are, and what will happen to the earth in the future.

We know the nature of God does not change: For I am the Lord, I do not change (Malachi 3:6). The Bible says clearly that the faith has been completely revealed. Therefore, If any new revelation were to come from God, it would be consistent with past revelations. Even if a work met all of the above criteria, it would not necessarily be the Word of God. While theoretically it is possible that God could add something to what He has previously revealed, it is highly unlikely that this would be the case. The faith has already been delivered to mankind. Any further word from God to man is not necessary. The canon of Scripture is complete.

When did Jesus become real to you?

There are thousands of arguments to prove the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ historically, and theologically. However all those arguments are vague and futile unless a person encounters the Lord personally. Even the disciples found hard to believe the word “Jesus is risen” uttered by the women who met the resurrected Lord. But it was their personal encounter with the Risen Lord that brought them to believe in the Resurrection. Today what made us to believe in the resurrected Lord? Is it the words of the people whom we respect? Do we believe because the Church has taught that doctrine for 2,000 years? Do we believe because such a belief gives us hope that we have a future beyond the grave? Do we believe because even nature itself seems to proclaim resurrection and new life as spring follows winter? Perhaps those may be the reasons to believe but the basic reason we believe is because in some way we have experienced the presence of the Risen Lord. We have encountered him in our lives. But the crucial question here is when have you encountered the resurrected Lord in your life? Or in other words when did Jesus become real for you? For every Christian, there is a moment when we encounter the risen Lord, when Jesus becomes real. For some, Jesus becomes real in a dramatic Damascus-road experience like that of Paul. For others, Jesus becomes real in a much more subtle way.

Maybe your experience is like that of John Wesley, who did not truly encounter the risen Lord until he had been a preacher for several years. In his journals, Wesley tells of the time when he encountered the risen Lord in a new way. On May 25, 1738, Wesley John 20:19-31 2 accidentally walked in on the meeting of an Anglican gathering on Aldersgate Street in London, and he heard Luther's preface to the Commentary on Romans being read. “About a quarter before nine,” Wesley wrote, “while Luther was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me, that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” One can hardly dispute the impact that that moment had, when John Wesley, who became one of the greatest preachers to the masses, encountered Christ. The impact of the moment when Jesus became real to John Wesley is still being felt today, for John Wesley is considered the founder of the Methodist Church.

Have you encountered the risen Lord? When was your heart strangely warmed? When did Jesus become more than a word for you? Do you remember that moment? Sometimes Jesus becomes real to those who are most opposed to him. Several years ago there was a young Marxist student who, on a dare, went into a church and told the priest that religion was just the opiate of the people, and that there was no need for religion in a communist society. The priest countered with a dare of his own, that the young man go into the sanctuary and look at crucifix and say, “Jesus died for my sins, and I couldn’t care less.” The student took the priest up on the dare, and he went in and said, “Jesus died for my sins, and I couldn’t care less.” But before he could leave, the priest said, “Do it again, and this time look into the eyes of Christ on the cross.” The young man went back in, looked at Jesus on the cross, and something happened in his heart that made it impossible for him to get the words out of his mouth. That young Marxist encountered the risen Lord that day, and twenty years later as he retold the story, he was telling the story as a priest.

When did Jesus become real to you? Do you remember? Something happens when people encounter the risen Lord. You see it in the disciples and in Thomas in the upper room. When people encounter the risen Lord, something happens within a person, and suddenly things are different. It’s a before-Christ, after-Christ dynamic, a formerly-but-now change in perspective. Paul reminds us of this change when he says, “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation – behold, the old is gone and the new has come.” We look at the world differently once Jesus becomes real in our lives.

Before Jesus becomes real, Good Friday represents the real world where death, tragedy, hopelessness, despair, bitterness, anxiety, restlessness abound. Before Jesus becomes real, you look at the world and you assume that the forces of evil have the upper hand, that there is no hope of overcoming.  But the resurrection represents for us a new reality. When Jesus becomes real, then the hopelessness, despair, bitterness, anxiety, restlessness of our Good Friday existence are transformed. Healing and life are possible in ways that only God can grant. Hatred and animosity are conquered by the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Hope conquers despair. Divisions are broken down, and unity is made possible. Death is conquered by eternal life. When Jesus becomes real, truly it is a gift from God. And, like all gifts from God, it’s not our gift to keep, but to share. To the disciples in the upper room, Jesus said, “As my Father has sent me, I am sending you.” We have the opportunity – actually, we have the calling – to make Jesus real to others. How can you make Jesus real?

SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECK

SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECK

1 Timothy 1:18-20

Introduction: On April 10, 1912 the R.M.S. Titanic left her berth at the harbor in Southampton, England. This was the maiden voyage for the 882 foot long ocean liner that had been billed as unsinkable. She carried with her 2,228 passengers and crew. Most of the passengers had paid thousands of dollars to sail on that great luxury liner. Four days into the voyage, on April 14, 1912 severe ice warnings were received for the area through which the Titanic was sailing. These warnings were ignored and the Titanic maintained her course for New York harbor. At 11:40 PM the Titanic struck an iceberg on the starboard side of her bow. She began to take on water at an alarming rate and within three hours the Titanic and 1,523 of her passengers were at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Only 705 of the original 2,228 persons survived that great shipwreck. Since 1912, people have tried to figure out what happened to bring about the demise of a ship call unsinkable. Most people would agree that the tragedy was a mixture of many things including negligence, apathy, greed, pride and incompetence. In other words, the tragedy could have been avoided if only had all the proper steps been taken by the captain and crew of the Titanic. But, since those steps were not taken, a tragic loss of life occurred on the cold night in the North Atlantic.

The facts behind the great shipwrecks of history makes for a fascinating study, but did you know that not all shipwrecks happen at sea? It's true! Most shipwrecks occur on dry ground. In 1 Timothy 1:18-20 Paul compares the catastrophe of a wasted Christian life to a shipwreck.  The word translated in the King James Bible comes from two Greek words naus, meaning a large vessel or ship, and ago, meaning to take, to bring to a point, to impel, to depart.  The combined word is nauageo, to suffer shipwreck.  A shipwreck indicates huge devastation, much despair, anguish, and misery.  Likewise a loss of faith and an honorable testimony leads to the same. Let us few minutes to factors that cause spiritual shipwreck in our walk with the Lord.   

I. Rejection of Faith: In verse nineteen Paul speaks of believers who have suffered spiritual shipwreck due to rejection of the faith they learned. The word translated “rejected” (apotheo) means “to push something or someone away” and implies a violent or deliberate rejection. The reason that these two men named in this passage suffered ship-wreck was because they “rejected” or “put away” the faith. Moving away from faith will not happen instantly rather it’s a slow process as allowing the ship to drift from the right direction knowingly or in other words it’s like losing momentum and start to flounder or the loss of the rudder which can contribute to the shipwreck. Hymenaeus and Alexander in this text had a right faith in the beginning but later they thrust it away they had good conscience through believing, but made shipwreck of it.  

In verse 15 Paul talks about one of the basic faiths of Christianity and he sums the message of the whole Gospel. One of the basic faiths of Christianity is that Jesus Christ came into the world the Son of God took upon Him our nature, was made flesh, and dwelt among us, John 1:14. He came into the world, not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance, Matt 9:13. His errand into the world was to seek and find, and so save, those that were lost, Luke 19:10. Today’s theologians suffer spiritual shipwreck because they elevated uncritical contextualization and ecumenism (religious pluralism) and cornered the basic faiths of Christianity. The so called preachers and the evangelists of contemporary Christianity suffer spiritual shipwreck because they compromised their faith for sake of name and fame and many have compromised their faith for the sake of money. We reject the faith that had leaded us to salvation for self-indulgence and for the worldly pleasures and comforts.

II. Rejection of truth: Hymenaeus and Alexander made shipwreck because they deliberately rejected their good consciences in order to defend their ungodly lives. What was their sin we do not know but their ungodly lives involved "blaspheming". Hymenaeus involved blasphemy by rejecting the truth of resurrection. Alexander the coppersmith performed his blasphemous act first, by doing harm to the Apostles second he resisted the Words of the Apostles and third he developed a kind of critical spirit to work against the things of the Lord 2 Tim 4:14-15. Blasphemy is defined as, the defiant, willful, purposeful breaking of God's commands. Thus Paul is stating that their false teaching isn't due to being deceived but a willful choice to defy the truth they believed and accepted wholeheartedly.

Today in contemporary Christianity the liberal theologians, ecumenicals, religious pluralists and various cultists knew that Jesus is the only way but they deliberately reject the truth and say Jesus is one of the ways and willfully defy the truth what they knew from their heart. They knew Bible is the Word of God but in order to defy the truth they vainly argue Bible contains the Word of God. The cultists knew there is eternal hell but they willfully deny it in order defy the truth. Jehovah’s witnesses knew Jesus is divine and eternal Son of God but they deny it in order to blaspheme the truth. The cultists and the so called liberal and ecumenical theologian deny the truth just to blaspheme it but the undeniable fact is “Truth shall overcome and it will stand forever” no one can destroy it. 

III. Rejection of right Path: Verse nineteen actually gives another reason for the shipwreck in the life of the called out people. Hymenaeus and his companion Philetus faced shipwreck because they have left the path of truth 2Timothy 2:18 (NLT). They rejected the right path by teaching that the resurrection had already taken place. Perhaps they equated salvation with resurrection and taught believers must not expect a physical resurrection. Their denial of physical resurrection is a serious thing (1 Cor 15:12), for it involves the resurrection of Christ and the completion of God's plan of salvation for His people. The Resurrection is the foundational truth of the Gospel. They even took every possible effort to persuade Timothy the young Christian to believe in their false doctrine. Therefore Paul admonished Timothy to cling to his faith in Christ (1 Timothy 1:19) he further admonished him to avoid worthless, foolish talk which would lead to more godless behavior 2 Timothy 2:16 (NLT).

The false teachers not only reject the right path they make others to follow them or in other words they will take every possible to over throw the faith of other believers. The word “overthrown” in 2 Timothy 2:18 translated as “anatrepo” means to subvert or to undercut.  Today in Christendom the cultists and false teachers are subverting the faith of innocent believers in the name of heavenly visions and in the name of extra Biblical revelations calming that is specially revealed to them. Second, they also subvert the faith of unlearned believers by their false prophecies which are completely irrelevant to the Inspired Word of God.  

We  all must beware of these cultists and errorists who can trip up the unsuspecting or unlearned Christian.  Paul encouraged Timothy to "Study the Word of God and to show himself approved unto God. The only Biblical way to avoid spiritual shipwreck, to holdfast the right path and to escape from the teachings of the cultists and false teachers is to study and to apply the Word of God in all the areas of our day to day life 2 Timothy 2:15.

Conclusion: In the history of Christianity many prominent leaders who lead thousands and millions to Christ and preachers who especially claim to either have met with Jesus personally or seen Him in an open vision or been often visited by angels had spiritual shipwreck. Because they rejected their faith, truth they learned and left the right path designed by God in which they ought to walk. Innumerable records of shipwreck can be found in the History of Christianity down through the centuries. And in this contemporary Christianity, we too, find believers and great leaders, preachers and pastors suffering spiritual shipwreck due to above mentioned reasons.  May the Lord enable one all the readers of this message to avoid spiritual shipwreck by avoiding the mistakes of the one who suffered spiritual shipwreck in their journey with the Lord on this planet.

Divine Protection

Introduction

Matthew 16: 17-17 is one of the much misused and most misinterpreted passages of the Bible that lead many crazy snake-handling pastors to dead. There have been a number of fringe Christians who have died because of its misuse and abuse. Very recently pastor Jamie Coots, who appeared on the National Geographic television reality show "Snake Salvation," in Knoxville, Tennessee died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, after being bitten by a snake. Contemporary Pentecostal (at any cause the contemporary Pentecostals cannot be compared with the Pentecostals recorded in the book of Acts) Christians and the Bible commentators suggest three possible interpretations to this passage those interpretations are as follows:

I. Indiscriminate Application

Contemporary Pentecostal Christians argue if we are able to exercise exorcisms, speaking in new tongues, and laying hands on the sick then why not taking up serpents? Thus the Biblical illiterate Pentecostals go to another extent and take poisonous rattlesnakes with bare hands to prove their faith. What they do is unbiblical and overstepping the Word of God. The Word of God prohibits us to tempt God by deliberately placing ourselves in potential danger (Matthew 4:5, 7). Based on this scripture reference, we can conclude that God does not want us to handle poisonous snakes today to prove we are Christians. We can also be assured that God continues to perform miracles in healing and protecting those who trust and believe in Him.

III. Divine Protection with the Purpose

 Some Bible commentators say that sometimes Christians are expected to handle deadly snakes to prove to unbelievers that they are Christians. Another way to understand this passage is to be reassured that when Christians accidentally come in contact with poisonous snakes, God will miraculously protect them. When we look at the history of the New Testament Church, the Bible records that if a true Christian accidentally picks up a poisonous snake and is even bitten by that snake, God can intervene to miraculously spare that person’s life. Such an experience happened to the apostle Paul. After being shipwrecked and escaping to the island of Malta, Paul was bitten by a deadly snake. The natives thought he would die, but God miraculously intervened and Paul was not harmed (Acts 28:1-6). However what had happened in the life of Paul is not normative, divine protection was given to Paul because it was not God’s will for Paul to die there at Malta. God had a different purpose in Paul’s life that he had to glorify God through his chains in Rome therefore he was given divine protection.

History testifies divine protection in the life of His faithful servant against the dangers from wild animals, venomous snakes and from hands of cannibals but on the other hand history also testifies divine submission to be killed at the hands of cannibals and to jaws of wild animals. God who saved David Livingston from the dangers against wild animals and venomous snakes allowed Jim Elliot and his friends to die at the hands of Auca Indians. God has purpose behind everything human mind can’t comprehend the divine purpose He also fulfills His will and purpose in the life of His faithful servants. We need to read Hebrews 11 to understand the above mentioned instances. Sometimes God closes the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:22; Hebrews 11:33) and sometimes God allows the mouths of lions to remain open (Hebrews 11:35-40).

III. Divine protection against Powers of this World

Some other commentators say that “Jesus is using these as metaphors for God’s divine protection (Deut 8:15) and the crushing of evil; ‘the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet’ (Rom 16:20). Jesus is not giving clearance to handle snakes (Mark 16:18) to prove one’s invulnerability. The point is that ‘a powerful and resourceful enemy,’ including the forces of nature, will not be able to stop the success of the Christian mission.” This metaphorical emphasize may not be the best way to proceed, surely the emphasis is on having victory over Satan in general, and not in spending time holding snake handling meetings. This is not only presumption and foolishness, but it is losing track of biblical priorities.

Conclusion

Church services are meant to be about worship, ministry of the word, and the sacraments. They are not about foolish displays of human bravado and unnecessarily tempting the Lord in this way. How some Christians can get their priorities so bent out of shape is quite remarkable. We don’t need more gullible church leaders dying from snake bites to prove their faith. Simply dealing with a congregation with the problems and difficulties which that entails needs faith enough as is. That is where we prove our faith, in faithful service to the body of Christ, not in spectacular stunts and gimmicks. To say all this of course is not to deny that God can and does heal. In any time of crisis, we pray and seek God’s healing power. But we are not to major in minors, nor spend our time playing with snakes when much more pressing needs, challenges and callings exist.

Emmanuel

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. Isaiah 7:14; Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23

There is no one in history that has been given more names or titles than Jesus Christ. Throughout the pages of Holy Bible over 100 names and titles are given to Jesus. And whether He is called "Bright morning star, Wonderful Counselor, the Root of Jesse, the Alpha and the Omega, or the Lamb of God", each of these names and titles is rich with meaning. They all say something significant about who Jesus is. However, the name "Emmanuel" is more significant than the other names of our Lord. This name, which Matthew refers to in his Gospel (Matthew 1:23), was first given to Jesus by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before His birth (Isaiah 7:14).

To know the purpose why Matthew used this name of our Lord in his Gospel we need to go back to the Old Testament book of Isaiah. The word “Emmanuel” which Matthew interprets to mean “God with us” appears three times in two Old Testament passages; both in Isaiah. Both are set in the context of God’s promised deliverance of the Kingdom of Judah at time of great national peril. Isaiah was sent by God and gave assurance that God would deliver the people, not for Ahaz’s sake the king of Judah, but for the sake of the Lord’s own faithfulness to his people.

So, when Isaiah was sent to Ahaz, God offered the king a “sign” that the message was authentic. Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel. Isa 7:13-14 (NIV). So, the enemies of God were told, “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us (Emmanuel!) (8:10)

My dear friends this morning, are you going through the storms of life? Are you going through the storms of sickness or bereavement or pain? Are you going through the storms of loneliness or desertion? Whatever storms you're going through, listen today: God is with us! He has come to dwell, He has come to reside with us! God is with you! For the parentless: He is the everlasting Father. For the lonely one: He is the omnipotent Companion that is with us wherever we go, whatever we do. For the sick, for the lonely, for the deserted, for those going through the valley of death “Emmanuel” is with us.

London’s Bunshill cemetery is one of the famous cemeteries in the world. It's a place where many famous people are buried - Charles Wesley is buried there, Isaac Watts the great hymn writer, Daniel Defoe the author of Robinson Crusoe - but opposite that great graveyard is the chapel of John Wesley and a monument erected to him. Also across that road is John Wesley's house, where on March 2nd 1791 Wesley opened his eyes and exclaimed for the very last time, upon his deathbed, these words: 'The best of all is this: God is with us'. He could have said various things, but he said that the best of all is this: God is with us. Yes He is with us to save us and to protect us.