Yeshua the "ALEPH TAV" - Displaying the richness of the BIBLE

The Richness of the Bible:

Hebrew is read from right to left. Below is Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew.

The 4th word is "Aleph Tav" representing JESUS and the 6th word has the "Aleph Tav" along with the hebrew letter "Vav" (which looks like a nail). It speaks of Jesus the "Aleph Tav" being nailed.

Jesus came 4000 years from Adam. Now He is returning back 6000 years from Adam as a man with the mark of nails on His hands.

What an awesome God we serve.

The Ten Commandments

1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of

any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or

that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself

to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third

and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto

thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the

LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour,

and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD

thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy

daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor

thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made

heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the

seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon

the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

6. Thou shalt not kill.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy

neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox,

nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Exodus Chapter 20. THE HOLY BIBLE.

LET US BUILD

The story of Nehemiah starts with Nehemiah being in the palace in Shushan in the Persian Empire asking about the state of the affairs of Jerusalem from his brethren. He hears the report that the people are in great affliction and reproach and that the walls of Jerusalem are broken down and in ruins. And we read that as soon as he heard this report he wept and mourned certain days and he fasted and prayed to God concerning the situation. 

Whoa what a man. He was in the palace in the most comfortable environment, having made it in life according to the world’s perspective; yet he was moved in his heart, choosing to put his hands to the plough, getting uncomfortable and risking all that he had for a higher cause.

One of the first things Nehemiah did when he was moved in his heart concerning the state of Jerusalem was he cried out to God in fasting and prayer.  He repented himself and also on behalf of his people and asked God for His mercy in the situation and then got down to do something about it.

God gave him favour with the king to provide for all that he needed for the journey and for the project. As he landed in Jerusalem, he saw that not just the walls needed repair, even the lives of the people were broken and needed spiritual repairs.

As he got down to it, he casted the vision to the people to join in this great work and the Lord made the hearts of the people willing and they came together shoulder to shoulder to build the wall against all odds. There was mocking and intimidation from the enemy, but they refused to believe the report of the enemy, but chose to believe the report of the Lord and overcame every obstacle to build the wall in 52 days flat. What an astounding feat. It looks like Nehemiah put together a dream team. But it was not so when it began, there was no team, there was no vision, till one man was moved in his heart to do something about it. All it takes is one man in partnership with God to impact the world around us.

In the gospels we see the man on a journey from Jerusalem to Jericho, helped by a stranger a Samaritan man. Many so called “righteous” went by on their “righteous walk”, but a foreigner did the will of God the Father, spending his time, energy and money to nurse this Jewish man back to health. What a story, Jesus truly explaining that Faith without works is dead.

Beloved we have a high calling in God (Phil 3:14); beyond the routine affairs of our lives. We are called to build each other and to be the salt and light in the world we are in, in the very circumstances which we sometimes choose to ignore, so that it doesn’t rock our comfortable world.

Let us put our hands to the plough and never look back to the comforts of our known surroundings. Just as Nehemiah never longed to go back to his comforts in the palace in Shushan, but was fully committed to accomplish all that God had called him to do. Let us also beloved, be mindful of what God has called us to do and do it with all our heart, moving in His Holy Spirit power.

Thomas Mathew

Be Fruitful and Multiply

In Galatians 5:22-23 it documents the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The fruit is one but has 9 various expressions to it namely: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We also see in 1 Cor 12:8-10 that there are 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit namely: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy, discernment of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues.

The fruit of the Spirit is meant for personal character formation of a believer in Christ, whereas the gifts of the Spirit are for empowerment of a believer for effective execution of the great commission given by Christ.

Beloved, there is only one other fruit that God our Father comes to look for other than the 9 Fruit of the Spirit; and that fruit is the fruit of reproduction (ref. Luke 13:6-9; John 15:16). The very same command given to Adam & Eve in the garden in Gen 1:28. Re-iterated by Jesus to His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Read Mark 16:15-18) and thereby reproduce spiritually.

To be an effective witness for Christ we need to demonstrate the fruit as well as the gifts of the Spirit as we keep in step with Him. While our near and dear ones get influenced by the effectual demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. So also outsiders unknown to us get influenced as we exercise in Holy Spirit power the gifts of the Spirit.

‘Power of the Holy Spirit’ and ‘effective soul winning’ go together. That is why Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they be clothed with power from on high; that they may be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the end of the earth (ref. Luke 24:47-49 & Acts 1:8).

When the great evangelist Charles G. Finney got saved on 10^th October 1821, and after which he was gripped with the power of God so much that even few words spoken mildly from the bible would cut through people’s heart and render them almost helpless as dead men. The words would break the heart of the listeners like a hammer.

He used to agonise in prayer long before meeting people he wished to witness to about Jesus. He knew to be fruitful he needs to be connected to the Vine constantly. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength”. This sharpened axe (anointing) was his key to success and has been the success key to every effective soul winner across the centuries.

Beloved there is nothing more important in our lives than to share the good news of Jesus to the people in our sphere of influence. If you have never done it, this is the time to take that bold step. There is nothing more satisfying than to see our near and dear ones being delivered from darkness and coming into the marvellous light of Jesus our Saviour and Lord. Begin by seeking Him that you be endued with power from on high that you might be an effective witness and as you do so the Lord Himself will direct the unsaved towards you with openness to listen with hearts eager to receive.  

May the Lord engulf you with the fire of the Holy Spirit and may He birth a deep hunger to see the salvation of lost souls so much, that everyone to whom you speak about the kingdom would be arrested by His presence and cut to the heart (ref. Acts 2:37).  That they may receive the engrafted word of Jesus into their lives (ref. James 1:21) and that they may be transformed and never be the same again. Church, the Lord wants to move through each one of us as we make ourselves available for His service in humble obedience to His Word.

Blessings,

Thomas Mathew

LOOK AT US

We are mostly accustomed or at least encountered at some point in time in our lives where well-meaning people give us advice or offer some sort of solution to our problems/predicaments when we are stuck in one of them. But it is very rare and hard to find someone coming up and declaring himself/herself as the solution to the predicaments we face in this fast paced complex life of ours.

In Acts 3:1-8 we see such a story of a lame man sitting daily at the gate of the temple which is called “Beautiful”, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.

He was carried there daily and sitting there at the gate of the temple he would ask money from people who came to worship there. But that day he asked alms from Peter and John as they were entering the temple to pray in the afternoon.

Peter knew he carried nothing of what the man was begging for; but knew that he was the carrier of the solution to this man’s lameness which was his main problem. Fastening his eyes upon the man; Peter sternly ordered “Look at us”.

Oh what a confidence that Peter and John possessed. They had a revelation that the King of Kings was in residence on the inside of them. They knew that He that is in them is greater than he that is in the world (ref. 1 John 4:4).

What is interesting to note is that Peter never said to the man that there is a God out there who could heal him and that Peter could pray to Him for his recovery.  No, no, no, Peter displayed what Jesus taught in Luke 17:20-21 “…The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” KJV

Beloved, we carry the Kingdom of God within us; but at times we tend to have a “Short Term Memory Loss” and go around as if we are aliens to this Kingdom of the King of Kings.  The solution is not out there, instead according to scripture we are the very carriers of the solution which the world so desperately needs, but is completely oblivious of such a presence of ambassadors of the most High amongst their midst. Paul is exhorting and reminding the Corinthian church in 1 Cor 3:16 saying “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” NKJV

Beloved Peter could have tried to express the Kingdom in words, but the scripture in 1 Cor 4:20 declares “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power.” NLT
Peter that day displayed and demonstrated the Kingdom through power and impacted not just this lame man who got well, but in Acts 4:4 it goes on to say that five thousand received Jesus and His Kingdom into their hearts as they believed in what Peter demonstrated and preached in their midst that day in the temple.

Yes brothers and sisters there will be opposition and adversities we might face as we preach this gospel of the kingdom of God, but let us remind ourselves that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NASB

Let us therefore beloved lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also has laid hold of us (ref Phil 3:12) as we minister with the presence of the King of kings within us. Let us therefore go forth impacting our neighbourhood and community by boldly declaring “LOOK AT US” we’ve got it.

Blessings,

Thomas Mathew

In Response to debates on various forums regarding Gun control.

I don't see anywhere in the Bible that Jesus proposed that each individual must carry weapons to protect himself.

In fact he said "those who live by the sword shall die by the sword".

America has got it all mixed up between Capitalism with the majority chasing the so called "American dream" and true Bible based Christianity. 

Yes there are many things good about the nation of America, but somehow there is enough foolishness in the sole pursuit of money, luxury, power and self-gratification coupled with the blind individualistic pursuit of material success and happiness. 

The biggest sins of America is Arrogance, Being Over-fed and largely unconcerned for their neighbours; this apart from the collective societal sins of Divorce, Abortion and Sexual Promiscuity.

Instead of shedding a tear in such a tragedy, there are only endless debates between lobbyists.
Guns are promoted by money hungry corporations who scheme wars around the world to fill their pockets.

Guns for self-protection is one thing and young teenagers carrying automatic weapons quite another. It is height of absurdity that American law makers are not learning the lessons even after so many school, theatre and public place shoot-outs across the US.

If you have to use weapons to protect your freedom individually, then America as a nation has lost the plot already. 

Hope better sense prevails and not just corporate greed for super normal profits.

All the above is a heartfelt idealism; but alas! we are not in the Millennial Kingdom yet!!!

Here is the Real Deal... 

The Obama Administration is getting behind Gun Control for all the wrong reasons & wrong intentions. Policies are getting framed which not only adversely affect USA but also the whole democratic world.

1. You cannot have a Police State and say it is Democracy and land of the Free at the same time. 
2. Legitimizing illegal immigrants en-mass only destabilizes a nation. 
3. Freedom & Truthfulness of the Press is quashed with power or worst-still is bought at a price.
4. Citizen's Privacy is considered a cuss word. Every aspect of every american citizens life is snooped onto.
5. Changing laws within the US military and FBI to accept Islamic clerics as chaplains and that the Quran as the Word of God while parallely stereo-typing Christians as Extremists bigots; doesn't auger well for the USA.
6. Supporting a Foreign Policy of Attacking Taliban & Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan while pouring Billions of Dollars of Aid & Arms to the same group fighting in Syria.
7. Stock piling bullets for the federal police and building & enhancing prison camps across America smells of something rotten coming on the horizon.     

I need to also add here that the American Govt. by letting the goons and the law-breakers loose from prisons and not controlling the real gun mafia and favoring a martial law system throughout the country with federal policing is going to polarize the people. The American citizens have a right to defend themselves when faced with a threat. This cannot be negated. The clear way forward is for the US Govt. to act within its constitutional limits and carry out its responsibility with the fear of God.

God bless America and praying at this time of grief and shock that the Lord Jesus give’s grace and strength to all the families who lost their precious loved ones in this horrific act.

Thomas Mathew

UN thinking of "GREEN" Religion worldwide

IPCC Professor Calls For “Elite Warrior Leadership” To Rule
Over Eco-Dictatorship
Professor David Shearman

Prominent United Nations scientists says new green religion
should replace traditional faiths as part of shift towards
authoritarian tyranny
Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com January 7, 2011
An influential professor who worked as an assessor for the
United Nations IPCC has called for democracy to be replaced
with an eco-dictatorship where enslaved masses are ruled over
by an “elite warrior leadership” and forced to adhere to a new
green religion, in yet another shocking example of how

prominent global warming alarmists are revealing themselves
as dangerous eco-fascists.
Professor David Shearman, MD, is Emeritus Professor of
Medicine, University of Adelaide, and a Visiting Research
Fellow at the University’s Department of Geography and
Environmental Sciences and Law School. Shearman was an
Assessor for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Third Assessment Report and the Fourth Assessment Report.
In his writings, Shearman, who labels humanity a “malignant
eco-tumour” and an “ecological cancer,” says that
“authoritarianism is the natural state of humanity” and that in
order to save the planet from man-made climate change, an
“elite warrior leadership” needs to be formed that will “battle
for the future of the earth”.
Part of this battle involves replacing traditional religions like
Christianity and Islam with a new green religion that would fit
better with an authoritarian government.
“It is not impossible that from the green movement and aspects
of the new age movement a religious alternative to Christianity
and Islam will emerge,” writes Spearman. “And it is not too
difficult to imagine what shape this new religion could take.
One would require a transcendent God who could punish and
reward – because humans seem to need a carrot and a stick.”

Spearman’s “transcendent God” is the God of the state,
punishing the enslaved citizen for every eco-infraction under
this new green totalitarianism. He openly advocates the
contrived manufacturing of a new God and a new religion so
that the masses of enslaved citizens under his envisaged ecoautocracy
would be to coerced to comply as part of some
hideous global brainwashing program. This obviously has its
roots in ancient pagan beliefs of barbaric sacrifices being
necessary to appease mother earth, which at one stage in
history involved mothers killing their own babies for the
greater good.
Even more chillingly, Shearman advocates the set up of
specialized re-education centers where eco-zombies are trained
to become part of a green army of enforcers.
“Chapter 9 will describe in more detail how we might begin the
process of constructing such real universities to train the
ecowarriors to do battle against the enemies of life. We must
accomplish this education with the same dedication used to
train its warriors. As in Sparta, these natural elites will be
especially trained from childhood to meet the challenging
problems of our times,” writes Spearman.
Spearman outlines his vision of a dictatorial global government
comprised of the elite ruling over the planet on page 134 of his

book, The Climate Change Challenge and the Failure of
Democracy.
“Government in the future will be based upon . . . a supreme
office of the biosphere. The office will comprise specially
trained philosopher/ecologists. These guardians will either rule
themselves or advise an authoritarian government of policies
based on their ecological training and philosophical
sensitivities. These guardians will be specially trained for the
task.”
“Posted on a blog somewhere, such a plan would probably
elicit a visit from the anti-terrorist division of the police,”
writes Haunting The Library blog. “But the fact that it comes
from a professor at a major university, who works for the
IPCC and was written at the behest of a serious academic
institute, founded by Act of Congress, means that the author
need not be afraid. But we should be.”
“I could go on quoting from the book, but I’m sure you’ve
already got the gist of what’s being proposed here: Global
warming presents such a massive and immediate danger that
democracy no longer cuts it, and an authoritarian ecological
government of ‘natural elites’ will have to be found to replace

it, as well as a new green religion to help provide ‘social glue
for the masses’.”
As we have documented, Shearman is not alone in his brazen
call for freedom to be abolished and replaced by an
authoritarian green tyranny. Indeed, this is a common cause
embraced by a multitude of influential climate change activists
and scientists.
- Finnish environmentalist guru and global warming alarmist
Pentti Linkola has publicly called for climate change deniers to
be “re-educated” in eco-gulags and that the vast majority of
humans be killed with the rest enslaved and controlled by a
green police state, with people forcibly sterilized, cars
confiscated and travel restricted to members of the elite.
Linkola wants the last 100 years of human progress to be
“destroyed”.
- James Lovelock, the creator of the Gaia hypothesis, told the
Guardian last year that “democracy must be put on hold” to
combat global warming and that “a few people with authority”
should be allowed to run the planet.
- This sentiment was echoed by author and environmentalist
Keith Farnish, who in a recent book called for acts of sabotage
and environmental terrorism in blowing up dams and
demolishing cities in order to return the planet to the agrarian

age. Prominent NASA global warming alarmist and Al Gore
ally Dr. James Hansen endorsed Farnish’s book.
- The current White House science czar John P. Holdren also
advocates the most obscenely dictatorial, eco-fascist, and
inhumane practices in the name of environmentalism. In his
1977 Ecoscience textbook, Holdren calls for a “planetary
regime” to carry out forced abortions and mandatory
sterilization procedures, as well as drugging the water supply,
in an effort to cull the human surplus.
- Another prominent figure in the climate change debate who
exemplifies the violent and death-obsessed belief system of the
movement is Dr. Eric R. Pianka, an American biologist based
at the University of Texas in Austin. During a speech to the
Texas Academy of Science in March 2006, Pianka advocated
the need to exterminate 90% of the world’s population through
the airborne ebola virus.
If you want to get a taste of what it would be like to live under
Shearman’s eco-dictatorship, just take a look at the following
video which, as we explored at length yesterday, promotes the
imposition of literal hi-tech prison cities where populations
have their food and travel rationed by an all-powerful state
that regulates every aspect their existence and incarcerates
refusniks inside squalid ghettos.

Every man perfect in Christ Jesus

When you look at families in India, mostly in cities and even in rural places there is a gradual break down of family bonds happening more than ever before. In the last two decades divorces have become more and more common in our city and across the nation and looks like we are playing catch-up with the west in this regard to our own detriment. In the US, according to a study done by Dr. Patrick Fagan of Family Research Council, only 45 percent of U.S. teenagers aged between 15-17 years of age in 2008 were living in homes with both biological parents present.

Marriage is an institution created by God and is an earthly representation of the union between Christ and His bride the Church, and is also the very foundation of civil society. The devil is bent on destroying this foundation and he is out to bind the strong man (Matt 12:29), in this case it is the husband, the head of the household (Eph 5:23).    

The way the husband goes determines the direction of the household; hence the challenge for us men in these times is four-fold:

1.   To be a Christ-like Husband to your spouse and leading your family according to biblical guidelines (Read Eph 5:23-25, 6:4). It also means treating your wife with unconditional love and viewing her as your best friend and help-meet.  It is vital to pray regularly for your wife and children, apart from having your own family devotion time.

2.    Another critical area is to provide for the household financially.

Paul in his epistle to Timothy (1 Tim 5:8) puts it very sternly “But if a man makes no provision for those dependent on him, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is behaving worse than an unbeliever”. It is crucial for your family’s well being that you involve your spouse in all financial matters and that the decisions are taken together in agreement (Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”) along with teaching your children the biblical principles concerning finance and its handling.

3.    To walk in Integrity: to be a man of God. A man of God is one who exemplifies God’s values, who lives by God’s truth and one who resembles the character of Christ Jesus.

Ps 24:3-4 says “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully”.

Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees in Matt 23:25-26 saying “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”

It’s so vital to focus on the inside stuff as David wrote in Ps 51:6 “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” It’s time we men rise up and walk the talk and make our inner most parts pleasing to the Lord.

 4.   To be a Father in the community

As Paul puts it “For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers” (1 Cor 4:15a). An instructor does not carry personal responsibility of the growth and well being of his students, but a Father does. He carries a unique burden for his children before God.

·      A Father finds time for his children and relishes the experience with them.

·      Encourages, corrects, challenges and builds them up.

·      Offers to be a mentor; and prays for them.

·      Celebrates their success with them.

Beloved, the church is the place where you get built-up and equipped to fully function in the call which God has laid on your lives. As Paul puts it in Col 1:28 “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”

It’s time to rise up and take your true place in Christ, and thereby strengthening your marriage, your home, your community and your nation.

Blessings,

Thomas Mathew

Israel Palestinian Conflict: The Truth About the Peace Process

Prospering Financially

By Thomas Mathew

Financial Prosperity is the buzz word most of us are exposed to on a regular basis in Christendom. The one thing which comes to mind often when we hear the word ‘prosperity’ is the word ‘giving’. While ‘giving’ is an essential and important element in biblical prosperity, it certainly is not the only one, and ‘giving to God’ is certainly not a divine lottery system, as some extreme prosperity preachers would have us believe, but ‘giving’ is the very heart of God.

True biblical prosperity cannot be de-linked from our walk with the Lord. First comes our relationship with Him and every blessing flows out of our intimacy with Him. Beloved, the Lord delights in our prosperity as Ps 35:27 says “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yes, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Beloved, God wants us to prosper. 3 John 1:2 says “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” Biblical prosperity includes every area of our life, be it our relationships, family, health, business, jobs, future, and yes our bank accounts as well.

While listening to messages on financial prosperity, we are often encouraged to believe for the supernatural wealth transfer as mentioned in Prov 13:22b “and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” but have a look at what the whole verse in Prov 13:22 says “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”. It tells that a good man leaves an inheritance, notice the good man leaves an inheritance, not waits for one and certainly not waiting for the wealth transfer....yes the sinners wealth is laid up for the just, but that cannot be an excuse for not being diligent with the resources the Lord has entrusted in our care.

Remember the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30) where the three servants receive talents according to their ability and the servant with the 5 talents trades and gets 5 more and the master rewards him with one more by taking from the wicked servant who did nothing with it. See God added the super on the natural here...the sinners wealth got transferred, but to the one who was faithful and in accordance with His divine choice (Ref Rom 9:15). Jesus emphasised further in Matt 25:29 “For to everyone that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.”

The bottom line is that God wants us to exercise every one of our faculties while we are engaged in extending the Kingdom of God on this earth. The fact is: the more we invest our God given wisdom, talents and abilities in the market place the more we prosper. Have you noticed people who are better educated and qualified usually have higher incomes than others, with few exceptions to the rule. Wise decisions produce prosperity, while foolishness results in pain, misery and poverty.
Prov 21:20 “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.”

What im trying to highlight here is that planning, diligence and structured working pays in the long run. Prov 6:6 is very forthright in saying “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” Beloved, along with our regular Tithing and Offerings, it is important to have your own family financial plan, to know exactly where you are and where you intend to go (Prov 27:23). Reena and I have experienced the benefits of this, since monthly or yearly financial planning would many times highlight potential set-back areas on the horizon and has helped us in taking appropriate and timely measures to offset the same before it could cause serious damage. (Read Gen 41:34-36). Once you have a plan (Luke 14:28-30) and budget in place, stick to it, stay on course, the fruits of it are immense.

You can wait for the financial downpour from the Lord, but collect the trickles around you while waiting. The bible is clear that true financial prosperity comes in stages, and it accumulates over time.
Prov 13:11 “Substance got in haste shall be diminished: but that which by little and little is gathered with the hand shall increase.”

Above all it pays to listen to the Holy Spirit and to keep in step with Him. He will cause you to increase beyond your understanding by giving you ideas, insights and divine connections which could potentially change your life altogether. Beloved, He is our comforter and also our guide, let us lean upon Him and rest in the assurance that He has plans only for our good and not for our destruction. (Ref: Jer 29:11).

A Master Key to walking in the Overflow

By THOMAS MATHEW

As believers, we are in a constant war, a war in which our enemy does not fight by the rules or come announced in an identifiable uniform. Our adversary the devil has declared war against each one of us and it’s not a conventional war waged with armies we can see and easily identify. It’s a war similar to terrorism we see around the world these days.

In this type of a war, a small, relatively weak enemy attacks a much larger and stronger foe by strategically inflaming and irritating it. The primary purpose of the attacks isn’t to overwhelm and defeat the foe (Terrorists know that they can’t defeat the military forces of an entire nation, for example, by killing small groups of civilians) but to get them so smitten with fear that they begin to self-destruct.

Fleas can’t kill a dog. But if they keep biting, they might eventually convince him to scratch himself to death.

How can we keep this from happening to us? How can we, as believers, win this war of fear and torment which the devil keeps constantly waging against us with?

Beloved, it is by dousing ourselves inside and out with the one substance the devil can’t stand—the Love of God. If we will keep ourselves in the love of God, the Bible says the wicked one won’t be able to touch us (I John 5:18). Love will cause the fleas to flee!

This is not surprising at all because love is the most powerful potent weapon and the greatest priority of a believer’s life. It’s only by walking in love that we truly come to know Him and have an intimate relationship with Him. (I John 4:7-8).

The master key to walking in the “Blessing” and to have our prayers answered is to operate in love at all times... “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another...” “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3: 23, 22)

It’s a 24x7 command to operate in love and we need to be on track to ensure that we experience the abundant life which Jesus promises us in John 10:10.

There are many occasions where we can feel offended and even feel enraged, it may be when you are watching the news on TV or with someone in the family or at work place or even at church. The minute we start resenting or hating someone, we give the devil access to our hearts—our innermost sanctuary. Once he’s in there, he messes up everything. He disrupts our communication and fellowship with the Lord. He brings in all kinds of turmoil and fear, and worst still it makes us enter into an atmosphere where we dwell on the offence more and scratch here a little and there a little, eventually making us more miserable and mad, thereby anything and anybody potentially becomes a target for the release of our anger and frustration, which eventually adds to the vicious cycle of further mess and problem to contend with later.

As James 3:16 says, where strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

The question then is of justice, how can I operate in love towards the one who has wronged me, or for example murdered hundreds of people and hurt a whole nation (like Ajmal Kasab), while he shows no remorse for his actions. The Lord reminds us in Rom 12:19 “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

It is precisely the enemy’s plan to get us to discuss about somebody else’s life with someone close to us and get all worked up on it, while actually the Lord would want us to focus on our own lives and walk in love and extend grace to our fellow brethren. “And why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?” Matt 7:3

“But concerning brotherly love, you have no need to have anyone write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another... we beseech and earnestly exhort you, brethren, that you excel [in this matter] more and more, to make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you, so that you may... be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody and having need of nothing.” refer 1 Thess 4:9-12 Amp

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Pt 3:8-9
Beloved, it is vital to protect the anointing over our lives. Let us not scratch ourselves to misery and defeat by dwelling on the offence, but overcome every offence by operating in Love and walk in Abundance, Blessing and Victory all the days of our lives!

Are You Saying What You’re Praying

By THOMAS MATHEW

Throughout the scriptures the tongue is given a lot of importance and it is rightly so. So many times in our lives we have observed that as we speak the words that come out from our mouth changes the very atmosphere around us. A simple example may be if the Father of the house comes home in a bad mood and starts abusing everyone, immediately the entire house is in turmoil and the peace in that house vanishes. This common example may have been observed or witnessed by us at least once at some point in our life. In short we can create different atmospheres around us with the power of the tongue.

James in his Epistle throws light on this and compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship (James 3:4-5), which even though small has the power to control the direction in which it takes the ship. So likewise we are creating a unique directional signature in the spiritual realm by our very conversation and discussions.

The most common mistake we make is that we think God hears us only when we pray, as if He switches on the receiver in heaven when we say “come let’s pray”. No beloved, we are releasing words constantly into the atmosphere. Whether it is trivial or important, it intrinsically carries within itself the power of death and life. We are constantly setting in motion spiritual forces with our words either for our good or for our detriment.

The scripture tells us that whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven (Matt 18:18). Even so as our mouth speaks it is our confession to the spiritual realms by which we are constantly binding or loosing, building or hurting ourselves. If we are cursing we are inviting death and if we are blessing we are inviting life. Deut 30:14,19 says, “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”.

Jesus warns us about careless use of words in Mat 12:36, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” We are being constantly heard and our words are recorded in heaven even if we like it or not. The bible tell us about the Israelites who murmured in their tents and were killed by the destroying angel (1 Cor 10:10). Paul goes on to further describe in verse 11 that these examples were written down as warnings for us on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come.

The bible says that even as we discuss on the things of the Lord in conversation with each other a book of remembrance is written in heaven concerning us even as we fear the Lord and honour His name. Mal 3:16 “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.” Our very conversations have the power to attract heaven and impact earth.

Each of us carries a unique atmosphere around us created by our own words. The more we meditate on the LORD and His Word and are in communion with the Holy Spirit the brighter our countenance will be and the brighter the atmosphere we will carry. We can see this with Peter that the very atmosphere around him was so heavenly that the sick used to get healed at the touch of his very shadow.

It is not always necessary to use the words, but at times the very atmosphere around you can destroy the yoke of bondage because of the anointing and authority you carry. It is time to court His presence and consciously build an atmosphere around us which will uplift people, destroy the yokes of bondage over their lives and release them into their God given purpose.

It’s time to live in the “more than a conqueror” life; by aligning our daily speech with our prayers.

Decisions Shape Your Destiny

By THOMAS MATHEW

Throughout our lives we take many decisions some trivial some ordinary and some very serious and life changing.

In my teenage years I had very little understanding of the kingdom of God, life used to happen to me. I did not decide what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go, but just went with the flow. I was basically clueless in regards to the purpose of my life; I drifted along wherever life took me, with no purpose and surely no aim. I hardly can remember any major decision being taken by me in those days.

Then at the age of 17 I had an encounter with God. I was filled with the Holy Spirit spoke in other tongues. Life started to change and it dawned on me (ever so slowly) that God had a purpose for my life even if I didn’t have one myself.

This is what the Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11 “"I know the plans I have for you," announces the Lord. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.” –NIRV. As I dwelled more on the Word of God it became evident to me that God is exponentially more interested in my welfare than I am about myself.

Jesus put this in right perspective in Matt 6:33 by saying “But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition.” BBE

What He meant according to my version is to keep the main thing the main thing. The first and basic decision is to seek His Kingdom and then go on to discover the unique plan that the Lord has for you. This plan will define your life vision and all your daily decisions need to be aligned to this vision. Every life decision that is not in alignment with your God given vision will only distract you and lead you away from your God given destiny.

Most daily decisions are trivial, but make a pile of such trivial decisions in the wrong direction and it will surely lead you into frustration and may eventually lead to the death of your vision itself. That is why focus is so very important and many a times the reason why most men fail is due to lack of focus.

Beloved, it is vitally important that our daily decisions Protect, Provide and Nurture the God given vision for our lives. Jesus demonstrated this when He was confronted with the need to pay the Roman tax, He simply told Peter to go fishing and that he would find a coin in the mouth of the first fish (Matt. 17:27). Peter did as he was asked and he found the coin in the fish's mouth and used it to pay the tax. Jesus by doing this ensured that not only His but also Peter’s call was protected and provided for. This ensured that they stayed on course of their God given calling.

Finally beloved, there is no other standard than the standard of the Word of God for measuring what is right and what is wrong. As children of the kingdom we have the Spirit of God who leads us in this daily walk called life. Therefore it is so important to wait upon Him daily and listen to His promptings for taking each of the crucial decisions in our lives. I want to emphasise that we all need to keep in step with the Spirit because the quality of our relationship with the Holy Spirit will determine the quality of our lives.

Just as one decision to receive Christ carries in itself the power to determine your eternal destiny; so also many small decisions to consistently follow the Kingdom of God and not the system of the world will determine whether you experience enslavement or true freedom on a day to day basis.

Campaign Launched to Protect Christians from U.N. Resolution

By Ethan Cole

Christian Post Reporter

A ministry working with persecuted Christians launched a campaign Tuesday against a U.N. resolution that many human rights groups say can be manipulated to oppress religious minorities living in Muslim-majority countries.

The Defamation of Religions Resolution, backed by the 57 Muslim-majority countries that make up the Organization of Islamic Conference, is expected to be proposed next month or later this year. It seeks to criminalize words or actions that are deemed defamatory towards a particular religion.
Rights groups, however, warn the resolution could be used to legitimize anti-blasphemy laws and intimidate human rights activists and religious dissenters. Critics say instead of protecting adherents of religions, including religious minorities, the resolution protects religions themselves.

Open Doors, the group that launched the new campaign, pointed to the recent anti-Christian rampage in Gojra, Pakistan, where Muslim mobs killed and burned Christian homes based on a blasphemy rumor. At least seven Christians were killed and more than 100 homes were looted and burned in the Gojra attack.

“Many Christians living in these countries (OIC) are already severely impacted by restrictive laws – especially those living under strict Shariah law,” said Open Doors USA President/CEO Carl Moeller. “From the right to worship freely to the ability to share the Gospel, the Defamation of Religions Resolution threatens to justify local laws that already marginalize Christians."

“The Defamation of Religions Resolution is a blow against religious freedom,” he added.

The Christian ministry has launched an advocacy campaign aimed at preventing the non-binding resolution from passing at the United Nations. It plans to lobby key countries, which will vote on the resolution, and organize a petition drive against the proposal.

Groups that have protested against the Defamation of Religions resolution in the past include The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Freedom House, U.N. Watch, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

“It is crucial that this resolution is defeated. Join our advocacy team now,” Moeller urged. “We need to stand in the gap for our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

The Season is Changing

We are all accustomed to changes in the seasons around the year. Changes in seasons may either bring joy or in some cases build up frustrations, depending upon the state of your health, the source of your livelihood, where you are, and the circumstances around you.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 it says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:”

Beloved, God has set seasons in the natural as we all know and similarly in the supernatural also (refer Ecclesiastes 3:11a). So it is important as a community of believers to understand the ways of the Lord and be in right alignment with Him, so as to experience joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).

In Jeremiah 8:7 the Lord says “Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.”

Every season brings in either plenty or famine; promotion or demotion, it comes in and shakes the status-quo, and breaks the monotony, ushering in a new season, which does not operate on the old patterns; does not tread through the old worn out paths, but brings us into an unknown, unaccustomed place where we cannot sleep-walk through the motions, but forces us to depend on the Lord for His directions to lead us each step of the way.

In my childhood I used to love playing ‘snake and the ladder’, and in this game with every roll of the dice you move forward and when you reach the stage where the ladder is then you get promoted, or else if you land up in the snakes mouth it demotes you, which is a very frustrating experience. In the scriptures whenever God has intervened (i.e. Kairos moment: a divine intervention slipped into time to create a divine result) in the normal progression of time (called chronological time) it has always produced a supernatural decisive result.

Let me explain this a little bit, when the rich young man met Jesus (Luke 18:18-23), it was his Kairos moment with his Creator, instead of him walking away with joy unspeakable and full of glory, the scripture says he walked away sad, because he had many possessions. In contrast Zaccheus, who was also rich (Luke 19:2-10) had a similar encounter but he walked into eternal life with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Beloved, each of our decisions create our position of joy or sadness, victory or defeat. The scripture says “Repent (change your mind) then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times (a new season) of refreshing may come from the Lord”. If the season you are in is not refreshing you, then it’s time to evaluate, its time to bring about a change in your mind and re-align yourself with God’s perfect will and plan. Your change of mind and turning to God will in turn authorise God to intervene in the present season of subtraction and bring in a season of refreshing from His throne. It is the enemy who comes to steal kill and to destroy, but Jesus has come to give us life and life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

To highlight further we have just passed Rosh Hashanah last Friday (18 September '09) and are in a ten day period called the ‘days of awe’. This is the last 10 days of the 40 day period of Teshuvah (a word alluding to Repentance). Now Teshuvah is a time linked to Moses interceding the second 40 days when Israel sinned with the golden calf (read Exodus 32). Teshuvah's 40 days include 29 Days of Elul which began on August 21, 2009 and ended on September 18, 2009 with the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah).

Now we are in this 'ten days of awe' when it is said according to the Jewish custom that the gates of heaven are uniquely open for petitions and intercessions. This season climaxes on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) on September 28, 2009.

I truly believe that as the Body of Christ worldwide we have entered into a new and unique season, were the Lord is wooing His bride into the inner chambers; into the very ark of His presence. So be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in the coming days; especially in the areas where you need to renew your mind in order that you may enter into a season of refreshing like you have never experienced before.

Blessings,

Thomas Mathew

Signs in the heavens

As Im writing this, today is the 22nd of July ’09, and there is a solar eclipse running over India and parts of Asia. I’m mentioning the date specifically because it is the 1st of Av, on the Jewish calendar. It is interesting to note that there are three total solar eclipses in a row from 2008 to 2010 all falling around 1st of Av.

The First: August 1, 2008 – total solar eclipse – 29 Tammuz / Av 1

The Second: July 22, 2009 – total solar eclipse – Av 1

The Third: July 11, 2010 – total solar eclipse – 29 Tammuz/ Av 1

In the Jewish calendar, the first of Av, is the day when Jews lament the destruction of their temples. As the story goes, Moses caught the people worshiping the Golden Calf on Tammuz 17. Therefore, the three weeks from Tammuz 17 to Av 9 are called “the dark time”. It is the most sorrowful time of the year for the Jews. From Av 1-9, no bathing is allowed; no comforts; no clean clothes; the Jew takes his shoes off; sits on an overturned chair and reads the book of Lamentations.

We are currently in a sabbatical seven year cycle which started on the September 29, 2008, it will conclude on September 13, 2015. It is further more interesting to note that there are four lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses towards the end of this sabbatical cycle and all the four lunar eclipses are falling on Jewish feast days. The four lunar eclipses will occur on:

Passover, April 15, 2014

The Feast of Tabernacles, October 8, 2014

Passover, April 4, 2015 and

The Feast of Tabernacles, September 28, 2015

This is a very rare occurrence for four lunar eclipses to happen on successive Passovers and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) observances. It is not expected to happen again in the next few centuries. However a series of four lunar eclipses on these particular holy days did occur in the twentieth century, that too not once, but twice. The first set occurred in 1949-1950, the year after Israel became a state. The second set happened in 1967-1968, the year Israel liberated Jerusalem. Such a phenomenon cannot be just co-incidental, but had to be divinely orchestrated.

Further, the two solar eclipses in this sabbatical cycle will occur on: Adar 29/Nisan 1, March 20, 2015

The Feast of Trumpets, September 13, 2015

These two dates are quite significant because they are special days in the Jewish calendar. For example, it was on Nisan 1, the first anniversary of the Exodus, that Moses raised up the tabernacle for the first time and the glory of God descended. Nisan 1 marks the beginning of the religious festival cycle. Six months later, on Tishri 1, the Jews observe Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets.

When you look at these details, one cannot ignore the preciseness of these occurrences, but can only stand and marvel at the amazing handiwork of our omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God.

I’m not getting into further interpretation nor getting into speculation of what is in store. But let us be like Daniel who, when he came to know that the captivity of his people was about to end (Daniel 9:1-2) when he read the prophecy given in Jeremiah 29:10. He straightaway repented for himself and on behalf his people, so that they may be in right alignment with God’s perfect plan.

As I reflect on the various signs in our times in the light of the scriptures, I’m made more aware that all of these portend to the soon coming of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

It’s for all of us to recognise the times we are in (Prov 25:2) and stand up and lift up our heads, for our redemption is truly drawing near (Luke: 21:25-28).

Blessings,

Thomas Mathew

Its time to Plough

By THOMAS MATHEW

From some time now the Holy Spirit has been laying a sense of urgency in my heart about prayer, and also making me aware how important prayer is in this season. In Matt 13:1-9 we see Jesus narrating the parable of the sower.

In this parable, we see that a sower goes out to sow and he scatters his seed on the path ways, on rocky places, still some on thorny ground, and eventually some on good soil. Interestingly if you ask an Indian farmer to do that, he will tell you how precious the seed is to him and that before he sows them to the ground, he will make sure that the field, in which he is to sow, is nicely ploughed and prepared to receive the seed. He knows how vital this is for the harvest, as he cannot waste any of the seed he has; which is either purchased or has been kept aside from the last harvest.

But it is interesting to note that the sower in the parable is not mindful of the condition of the soil nor is he afraid of losing his seed, since the NIV uses the word “scattering” in Matt 13:4. How true, our “God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons” Acts 10:34 (Amp).

The seed is the Word of God and He is the one who sows, and sows willingly on all soil without prejudice or discrimination. We are also called to do likewise and share the good news of the gospel of the kingdom freely (Matt 10:8) and without prejudice. The field is our heart and to be fruitful the seed has to fall on good ground, which can only become good after it is properly ploughed.

Ploughing is symbolic of prayer in scripture in Hosea 10:12 it says ”...break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.”

Again in 1 Kings 19:19 we see Elisha ploughing when he get his call “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.”

Ploughing is done to break the hardened soil. Similarly as we spend more and more time in God’s presence, he breaks the fallow ground of our hearts and prepares us to be used for the purpose for which he has originally chosen us. Psalms 51 tells us how important it is to walk in brokenness before God. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” Walking in brokenness does not mean walking in self pity or in poor self-image. However, as we learn to move into the Holy Spirit’s presence in prayer, the natural result will be a broken attitude that will allow God, to complete the divine work in our lives. Prov 20:4 gives a warning “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.” God has left the responsibility of ploughing on man as he stresses each time in the gospel to pray. We are living in exciting times and spending quality time in prayer is the need of the hour; for prayer changes and impacts situations as we see in James 5:17 “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

It is time to get the grounds of our hearts prepared for the greatest move of God in our lives.

Is your walk drenched in cream?

A crucial part of a child’s growth, after the crawling stage, is learning how to take the first steps in life. I am personally witnessing that with my nine month old son Isaac with his efforts to stand erect with some support nowadays. Some small in-house slips and falls I’m told are part of the learning process. But, this stage will soon pass after he perfects the art of walking with a whole lot of excitement from me as his father.

Later on in life, the child develops and maintains a unique way of taking ‘steps’ and almost can be identified from afar from the mere appearance of his or her walk. Though these ‘steps’ may seem ordinary at times, but the world uses it as one of the factors to form an impression about that person, at first sight.

On the other hand, for a child of God, ‘taking steps’ refer to his or her “walk with God”. It also determines how God sees him or her. It determines the level of closeness the person has with God. But, compared to man, God does not focus on the outside, but he is intuitively interested in what goes on in the inside of the person.

Ps 37:23 says “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way”. The word ‘steps’ here refers to our walk with God.

Again in Job 29:6 it says”when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil”. Let me break this up a little bit:

• ’Butter’ is the wealth [rich, creamy, thick and fatty part] of milk. (Read Prov. 30:33a)

• Milk is God’s word. (1 Pt. 2:2)

• The ’rock’ refers to Christ our Lord. (Ps. 18:2)

• The ’rivers of oil’ refer to unlimited anointing God gives.

In other words, from Job 29:6; when we allow the wealth of God’s word to begin to influence our walk with God, the Rock [Jesus Christ], begins to release His abundant anointing through us to influence others, for the promotion of His Kingdom.

Our Feet are the lowest part of the body, but this is the part which comes in close contact with the earth the most. In bible times the feet used to get soiled more often than in today’s modern world, since in those days they only had sandals and not the type of closed shoes which we have now. Jesus was keenly interested in washing this part of our body, which came in contact with the world. The ‘Word made flesh’ washed our feet, cleansing our walk with Him.

Washing our feet is what we do on a daily basis and that’s exactly how God intends us to treat our relation with Him; cleansed from the filth of the world and renewed on a daily basis, and so that we in turn impact our world with the fresh fragrance of Heaven. Isaiah 52:7 ascribes beauty to our feet which are shod with the gospel of peace “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”.

It is vitally important for every one of us to stand up and genuinely display what God has done in our lives and spread the fresh fragrance of our walk with Him. Let our walk be adorned with the gospel of peace and drip in the abundance of His precious anointing. For God’s promise is that “every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it...” (Joshua 1:3).

Blessings, Thomas Mathew

Watch Therefore

From the turn of this century, there has been a sharp rise in interest around the world towards things of the apocalyptic nature or “the end of the world”. Seemingly more and more people are increasingly concerned about the future; not just about theirs but the whole world’s future. There are interesting theories in this regard doing the rounds these days; one of them even puts a date to the end of the world as 21st Dec 2012.

Proponents of these theories, especially in our secular media emphasise on the world coming to an end in the very near future, but let’s pay a closer look at what the bible says on the subject.

In Matt 24:3 the disciples came to Jesus on the Mount of Olives and posed him a question in private “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”. The word “world” used in the King James is translated from the Greek word “aion” which more precisely refers to an “age” as translated in the NIV and other translations. In other words it is literally not the world (earth) coming to an end, but a shift, a change of guard - from human governance to the governance of the King of kings. The bible further declares that there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1), but this will take place only after the coming of the Lord in glory and setting up of His kingdom on earth for 1000 years.

In the next verse (Matt 24:4) Jesus answers the disciples query on the signs of the end of the age: “Take heed....”(KJV) or “Watch out...” (NIV) for ‘deception, wars, famines, earthquakes, ethnic conflicts, persecution of believers, rise of false prophets, hatred for one another and increase in iniquity which causes the love of many to grow cold.’ Doesn’t this look like today’s news headlines?? How can we fathom the coldness of the heart of a mother who kills her baby in the bathroom as soon as it is born or of a student taking a gun to school and killing many innocent people, when adultery, pornography and abortion is rampant in society or for one ethnic group to seek annihilation of another which does not share their cultural or religious beliefs. In verse 14 Jesus continues “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Beloved, we are that generation which is witnessing both the greatest evil and also the most widespread preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. I truly believe that we are in the last hour of the last days. So as believers, we are to be excited about our coming Messiah rather than be worried about the world coming to an end.

Going ahead in Matt 24:42 and in Matt 25:13 Jesus commands his disciples to “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Many say based on this verse that we are not to deduce the season of his return, but Jesus clearly states to “watch”, which is the Greek word “gregoreuo” meaning “to keep awake, to be ready or vigilant”. Here Jesus is encouraging rather even commanding in the parables that we be watchful and ready for His return. In 1 Thess 5:1 Paul states that he does not find the need to explain the times and seasons of the Lord’s return as the Thessalonian church was aware of it already.

The word “gregoreuo” has two dimensions one inward (to be ready personally) and one outward (to be vigilant or understanding of the times). We are to live a life worthy of the calling with which we are called (Eph 4:1), walking in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the Lord (2Pt 3:11,12).

While on the one hand we ought to see that our walk with God grows in intimacy and consistency while on the other hand gain a firm understanding of the times we live-in, in light of the scriptures.

Be Ready. Watch Out. Jesus is coming soon.

- Thomas Mathew

The Present Day Church Malady

By THOMAS MATHEW

There is a malady; the people who are to experience the presence of the Lord mostly have had no personal encounter with His Spirit, even though they may be born-again. This causes the church service to be the source to provide them the atmosphere to experience Him. So churches increasingly are having more people having no personal walk with Christ makeup the majority of “believers” within it, rendering the church as only a place for coming to experience a touch here and a dab there of God and to be accounted in a social circle of church goers.

In the major cities across India, the churches are getting filled with “church goers” than with “church livers”. With “church livers” I mean those people who are living the Word. This may be little different in the small towns and villages because of the level of persecution that they are undergoing, roots out the “in-genuine” from the genuine.

The Lord is interested in the heart of every believer and at this time the Holy Spirit seems to me to be wooing those who are willing and obedient to His promptings to draw closer and hear the Father’s heart-beat.... Its time ! its time !! its time !!! Its time for the revelation of the Son of man in the clouds and all those who are ready and are accounted worthy, will escape the wrath that’s about to beset the world we live in.

Israel now India's top defense supplier

By YAAKOV KATZ

Israel has overtaken Russia as the main defense supplier to India after breaking the $1 billion mark in new contracts signed annually over the past two years. According to news reports, Russia had averaged sales of $875 million annually to India for the past 40 years.

The Spyder air defense system at an exhibition.

Photo: Ministry of Defense

In August, India's defense ministry approved a $2.5b. joint IAI-Rafael deal to develop a new and advanced version of the Spyder surface-to-air missile system. In March, India is scheduled to receive the first of three new Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) developed for the Indian Air Force by Israel Aerospace Industries. The sides are in talks for the possible purchase of another three AWACS.

The Phalcon (phased array L-band conformal radar) was designed and manufactured by Elta. It includes radar, electronic intelligence systems, and communication equipment. It has already sold a similar system to the Chilean air force. IAI last week displayed at the Aero India defense expo its new third-generation AWACS based inside a small G550 Gulfstream business jet.

"We have a very special defense relationship with India. It's now moving toward joint development of equipment. There are several new projects in the pipeline," Maj.-Gen. (res.) Udi Shani, head of the Defense Ministry's SIBAT Defense Export and Cooperation Agency said in an interview with the Indian press last week.

Israeli defense officials said that in the past decade, the countries have signed deals reaching a whopping $9b. "There is close cooperation and the Indians respect Israeli systems and our experience in fighting terror," one official said.

Another system India recently purchased from Israel is the aerostat radar to help defend the country against attacks like the ones in Mumbai in November in which the attackers infiltrated the city by sea. The radars will be deployed in strategic points to provide advance warning against incoming enemy aircraft and missiles. The deal is valued at $600m.

The EL/M-2083 Aerostat radars are a simpler version of the Green Pine radar, made by Israel Aerospace Industries, and used by the Arrow missile defense system. The phased-array radars are mounted on blimp-like balloons tethered to the ground and capable of detecting intrusions earlier than ground-based radar systems.

Following the Mumbai attacks, Israel and India also agreed upon the joint development of medium-range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM) for the air force.

Fasting: Unleashing the Power of God

By THOMAS MATHEW

Of all the powerful spiritual weapons God has given His Church, the most neglected, underestimated and mostly set aside as inconvenient in our busy round the clock lifestyle is the weapon of Fasting. Very few Christians realise the tremendous impact fasting has in the spiritual realm.

Jesus, before He began His ministry was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He ate nothing for forty days. He used this time of fasting as a means of consecrating and setting Himself apart to do the work God had given Him. It was a means of humbling Himself and acknowledging His total dependence upon God as the source of His strength. It was a means of preparing for battle to defeat the enemy.

Let us look at Joel Chapter 2; the famous chapter where God promises to pour out His Spirit, which He later did as we all know on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 who were gathered in the upper room. Here there is a pattern revealed – first there is the command to seek Him with fasting “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting...” (Joel 2:12a) and if the same is obeyed, then there is a promise given of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29). The two are linked; the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon you requires an obedient and prepared heart.

Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days (Dan 10:2) which broke through the spiritual hindrance. As he persisted and fainted not, he received his answer. When we fast, the hidden hindrances to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives start to get exposed. It unmasks the enemy before you. If you have been longing for God to use you and want to move in the power of His Spirit, then fasting & seeking the Lord in prayer is vital. It will position you to be endued with power from on high (Lk 24:49). You will become a carrier of His power to impact your surroundings and the angelic will be released to minister and aid you in the work of His Kingdom.

Personally I remember one time fasting for 3 days, the first 2 days were without food or water, and the third day was only water and no food. This was for a specific purpose, the Lord had drawn me to my knees regarding a time bound prophetic word I had given and nothing seemed to happen in that direction and I knew I had to contend for it just like Elijah contended for the rain (I Kings 18:41-42), and sure enough as I humbled myself in fasting and prayer, the answer came, perfectly on time and the outcome was miraculous.

There are 10 promises God gives in the book of Joel when we fast & seek Him:

1. Abundance of Provision (Joel 2:19)

2. He will drive away your enemies from your midst (Joel 2:20)

3. Rejoicing & Gladness will be your portion (Joel 2:23a)

4. He will give you the former & the latter rain. Nourishment to your seed (Joel 2:23b)

5. A Great Harvest (Joel 2:24)

6. Restoration (Joel 2: 25)

7. You will be satisfied (Joel 2:26)

8. You will never be put to shame (Joel 2:27)

9. He will pour out His Spirit upon you & your household (Joel 2:28-29)

10. Salvation & Deliverance in the land (Joel 2:32)

There is a level of operation in the anointing which can only be broken into by true biblical fasting coupled with prayer; Jesus teaches his disciples about this aspect in Mark 9:29 “So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

Many believers choose to minister in their own strength rather than relying upon the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Fasting humbles our hearts and touches the heart of the Father. He will not pour out the new wine of His Spirit on un-repentant and unploughed grounds of our hearts.

He pours new wine in new wine skins (Lk 5:38).

The MTP Act: License to Kill ??

By THOMAS MATHEW

The Indian MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy)Act: The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act was enacted by the Indian Parliament in 1971 and came into force from 01 April, 1972. The MTP act was again revised in 1975. The MTP Act lays down the condition under which a pregnancy can be terminated, the persons and the place to perform it.

The reasons for which MTP is done, as interpreted from the Indian MTP Act, are:

(i) Where a pregnant woman has a serious medical disease and continuation of pregnancy could endanger her life like: a. Heart diseases. b. Severe rise in blood pressure. c. Uncontrolled vomiting during pregnancy d. Cervical/ breast cancer. e. Diabetes mellitus with eye complication (retinopathy). f. Epilepsy. g. Psychiatric illness.

(ii) Where the continuation of pregnancy could lead to substantial risk to the newborn leading to serious physical / mental handicaps examples like Chromosomal abnormalities. Rubella (German measles) viral infection to mother in first three months. If previous children have congenital abnormalities. Exposure of the foetus to irradiation.

(iii) Pregnancy resulting of rape.

(iv) Conditions where the socio-economic status of the mother (family) hampers the progress of a healthy pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child. Failure of Contraceptive Device irrespective of the method used (natural methods/ barrier methods/ hormonal methods).

This 4th condition is the most widely used to justify large percentage of legal abortions. All the pregnancies can be terminated using this criterion. As Christians we must seek the removal of the above clause from the MTP Act. In India annually well over 67 lakh* babies are aborted . The blood of these innocent souls are crying out, and we as Christians are to be the "salt & light of the earth" and we must not keep silent. Time has come to raise our voices to God for mercy and to the rulers of the land to review the MTP act for repealment.

* Source: Chhabra, R. and S.C. Nuna. 1994. Abortion in India: An overview. New Delhi, India, Veeremdra Printers. Data Collected: 1994