HIDE AND SEEK
II KINGS 6 : 24 & 25, 7 : 6 – 16
Israel besieged by King Ben Hadad of Aram;
Result: great famine in the city; Even the donkey’s
head and dove’s dung became a luxury!
The pride, power, potential and prudence of the king
of Israel were not of any use against the enemy!
Day of mourning and fasting!
No hope of deliverance!
Doom and despair!
Destruction and Death at the doorstep!
The land was besieged by the enemy, but the hearts
were besieged by the fear about the enemy!
But, GOD had caused the whole army of the enemy
to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the
galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army
approaching! Assumptions and confusions; Chaos!
Consequently, the enemy ran away from there!
Yes, GOD overthrown the enemies in HIS own way!
But, that Victory was not of any use to the Israel,
at least for few hours, just because of one thing!
Yes, they did not know about the Victory!
Fear and famine gripped lives;
Not even thinking about deliverance!
Manipulation and blaming!
They continued to live the ‘ besieged ‘ life, even though
the actual besieging forces were scattered!
Even the information, about the Victory, was received by
them with suspicion and fear!
Slowly, it dawned on them that the enemy was defeated!
Famine to prosperity in no time!
Bondage to blessing in no time!
Trembling to gathering in no time!
Donkey’s head to fine flour in no time!
GOD accomplished what they could not do,
But, gathering the spoil was their responsibility!
Continue in the assumption and die in famine!
Or step out in faith and enjoy the prosperity!
Dear friend,
Do you know most of the times we pray for the
deliverance even when we have that?
Do you know the assumptions and realities of
yesterday besiege our heart today and we live
a sub standard life?
Do you know the VICTORY our LORD accomplished
on the CROSS?
Do you know the new position and possession allotted
to you because of HIS death and resurrection?
In the case of Israel, the besieged life lasted only for
few more hours; But, in our case, how many of us
are living, for years, in bondage even though set free?
If we are in bondage, pray, GOD will give deliverance;
But if you are free and instead living in bondage because
of your assumptions and lack of knowledge, is it not
your blunder?
CHRIST, not just, defeated the enemy on the cross, but
also have given us all the spiritual blessings and position
in heavenly places !
If you know the TRUTH, indeed, the TRUTH will set you free!
Go up and possess!
I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND
THE INCREDIBLE GREATNESS OF POWER FOR US
WHO BELIEVE HIM. THIS IS THE SAME MIGHTY
POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD
AND SEATED HIM IN THE PLACE OF HONOR AT
GOD’S RIGHT HAND AT THE HEAVENLY REALMS.
(EPHESIANS 1 : 19 & 20 )
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SO CLOSE; SO WHAT?
A signboard was fastened to the cross above JESUS head;
As ordered by Pilate; announcing the charge against JESUS.
Content? ‘JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF JEWS’
Pilate ordered it, ok, but who fastened it?
Naturally a soldier, may be more than one!
But, was that not a chance given to those soldiers to
go a little closer to JESUS?
Was that not an unique assignment?
Taking the signboard and taking it near and above the
head of The SUFFERING SERVANT and fastening it!
Many soldiers were there, but this group had a chance
to see the blood, the suffering, the thorn on the head,
the irregular last minute breathing, he blood covered,
blinded eyes and the agony of death on the cross in a
more clear way by going so close to HIM!
How they handled that? one more assignment; one
more signboard and one more death? Like a machine?
No impact or emotional disturbance?
Or some thing happened in their heart?
Whether that close encounter embedded the seed of
faith for their future transformation?
We don’t know, but
At least in this Holy week. are you not getting a chance
to go a little closer to The SUFFERING SERVANT?
Is it not an unique opportunity?
Hearing the verses and meditations about JESUS and
his sufferings, the last seven words of JESUS, little
extra time in the church, the cross and the blood!
How do you handle it?
One more year; one more passion week;
One more devotion? Like a machine?
Just a tradition but no personal transformation?
No impact or conviction?
So close to the cross and the Savior, but
no personal revival?
So close; so what?
Have you allowed that soul cleansing blood to
wash you and transform you?
Have you acknowledged HIM as your KING by
surrendering your life to the authority of HIS WORD?
Whether this close encounter brought you actually
closer to your SAVIOR and MASTER?
Who knows? Only you and Your LORD!
So close; So what?
YOU HAVE COME TO JESUS, THE ONE WHO
MEDIATES THE NEW COVENANT BETWEEN
GOD AND PEOPLE, AND TO THE SPRINKLED
BLOOD, WHICH GRACIOUSLY FORGIVES
INSTEAD OF CRYING OUT FOR VENGEANCE
AS THE BLOOD OF ABEL DID (HEBREWS 12 : 24)
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GOT FATHER
GOD tested Abraham’s faith and obedience!
But, think about Isaac’s attitude!
He was not just a small kid; a young man who had the
strength to take up a three days journey and to carry
the wood for burnt offering on his shoulders!
How was it possible for him to obey his father like that?
How come he didn’t murmur to carry the wood to the
place of sacrifice, even when the servants were available?
And above all, how could have Abraham tied and placed
Isaac, a young man with so much strength, on the altar?
Whether Isaac tried or cried to escape from that position?
Was it possible for Abraham to do all the required things
without Isaac’s active cooperation and perfect submission?
How did Isaac empty himself of his rights and privileges
on the Mount Moriah because of his trust on his father?
Come to another mountain, Calvary!
The Father and The Son!
The Son voluntarily emptied Himself, obediently humbled
Himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on the cross!
On Mount Moriah, upto the last minute, Isaac was not clear
about his father’s plan;
But, JESUS knew the plan of HIS FATHER from ‘the beginning’!
On Mount Moriah, the son was replaced by a lamb on the altar;
But on Calvary, The SON, JESUS became the Lamb on the cross!
On Mount Moriah, the father got his son back because of the lamb;
But on Calvary, The Father opened a new way, through the LAMB,
to us to become HIS children!
Yes, we all GOT FATHER because of the perfection of The LAMB!
If Isaac wished to thank the lamb for its substitutionary death,
it was not possible because that lamb was no more;
JESUS, The LAMB of GOD, was not just allowed to die on
Calvary, but GOD raised Him up to the heights of heaven and
gave Him a name that is above every other name!
But we rarely thank HIM or The FATHER!
Yes, we, those who believed on the all sufficient death and
resurrection of The LAMB, GOT FATHER; but the question
is whether our life is a life of gratitude?
Perfect SON, Perfect submission, Perfect sacrifice, Perfect
atonement, Perfect substitution and Perfect resurrection to
make the imperfect, like me, also perfect by His Grace!
CHRIST DIED ONLY ONCE AS A SACRIFICE
TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF MANY PEOPLE.
HE WILL COME AGAIN BUT NOT TO DEAL
WITH OUR SINS AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME HE
WILL BRING SALVATION TO ALL THOSE WHO
ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR HIM (HEBREWS 9 : 28)
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PAID IN FULL
PHILEMON 17, 18 & 19.
Onesimus, a runaway slave from the house of
Philemon, was sent back to his house by Paul.
A runaway slave deserves death penalty, but
Paul’s letter to Philemon gives new twist to
the story.
Paul’s request and recommendation not just
give life to Onesimus, but also cancel all the
balance to be settled by Onesimus;
Cancelled by merging Onesimus’ account to
Paul’s account and then by reminding the
close relationship of Paul with Philemon.
Is it not our story?
we deserved death because of our sin but
JESUS gave us new life; not just new life,
but also cancelled all our past account first
by accepting our account as HIS account
on the cross by HIS submission to death
and then by reminding THE FATHER about
the mysterious DIVINE relationship between
HIM and HIS FATHER!
How Paul settled Onesimus account?
Difficult to understand but can be accepted!
How JESUS settled my account?
Difficult to understand but can be accepted!
Onesimus’ freedom confirmed by Paul’s word;
But our freedom confirmed by GOD’s WORD!
But Paul’s settlement was of this world;
JESUS’ settlement is not just for this world
alone but extends to the NEW world also!
Life Eternal, Royal Priesthood, Co-heir and
beloved children of GOD!
Who can understand the efficacy of the
sacrifice of JESUS?
We can only thank HIM!
HE HAS RECONCILED IN THE BODY OF HIS
FLESH THROUGH DEATH, TO PRESENT YOU
HOLY, AND BLAMELESS, AND ABOVE REPROACH
IN HIS SIGHT. ( COLOSSIANS 1 : 21 & 22).
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HIDDEN HINTS
LUKE 15 : 11 – 32
A well known parable; Father and the lost son!
We know it, accepted it; enjoyed it; we all were like the lost son;
When we come to the second part of the parable, we usually hate the attitude of the elder son; His actions and attitude are so natural, so common in an ordinary family of this world.
But, in the DIVINE family?.
Compare the parable and the reality.
1. PARABLE: The younger son took the initiative to come back.
( verse 18).
REALITY:THE FATHER took the initiative to bring us all back.
2. PARABLE: The older son was in the field, when the reunion of father and the lost son happened. (verse 25).
REALITY: The only SON was on the cross, when we all got the right to call GOD as our FATHER!.
3. PARABLE: As the father received the younger son safe and sound, he killed the fatted calf.( verse 27).
REALITY: To receive us safe and sound, THE FATHER allowed the killing of THE UNBLEMISHED LAMB!
4. PARABLE: The older son felt unhappy to share the inheritance with his brother.(verse 30)
REALITY:THE SON, by HIS sacrificial death, made us all co-heirs with HIM! Not ashamed to call us HIS brothers!
5. PARABLE: The older son was not able to accept his brother coming near to his father.(verse 28).
REALITY: THE SON opened a new way, by HIS flesh, for all of us to come boldly to THE FATHER’s presence.
6. PARABLE: The older son was not willing to sacrifice even a calf (verse 30)
REALITY:THE SON poured out even HIS soul unto death voluntarily.
7. PARABLE: The older son was not interested to share his father’s house with his brother.(verse 28)
REALITY: THE SON, after HIS death and resurrection, started preparing a place for the adopted sons, us, in HIS FATHER’s mansion.
8. The older son argued with his father by explaining his brother’s failures in detail.( verse 30).
REALITY:THE SON is interceding for us, even now, by covering our transgressions by HIS blood.
Do you really know the meaning of The Cross and The Grace?
…..HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT
SO GREAT SALVATION?( HEBREWS 2 : 3 ).
Note: I didn’t give the Bible references for all the above REALITY points; Can you please spend little extra time in Scriptures to find the suitable references?
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MY CUP RUNS OVER
HAVE YOU NOTICED?
II KINGS 5 : 14 : Syrian commander in River Jordan;
Not to take bath, but to obey the words of Elisha;
He dipped seven times, his flesh was restored;
Restored like the flesh of a little child!
His leprosy gone; he was clean; A clean miracle!.
Wait, restored like the flesh of a little child?
But,what was his age? a commander, might be thirty plus!
After the miracle, he did not get the flesh of a thirty plus,
But, much more than that, like the flesh of a little child!
Total transformation; A brand new start;
Much more than the expectations;
He expected just healing from the leprosy,
But, why so much?
My cup runs over!
What we expected was just a drop, some relief;
Deliverance from the enemy;
But a table in front of our enemies and
Our cups runs over; Just filling the cups will do,
But, why so much?
As a sinner we stood far from His Presence;
Expecting just forgiveness, some relief;
Willing to be servants and slaves, away from the enemy;
But eternal life, the seal, the gifts, the position in Christ;
Abundant life, exceedingly great promises, Royal priesthood;
The authority, The Word, The Spirit;
And above all, the right to call Him ‘ABBA FATHER’!
Just deliverance from sin and darkness will do,
But, why so much?
Because, GOD SO LOVED ….,
From His side, why so much?
But from our side, why so little?
OH, THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES BOTH OF THE WISDOM
AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD! (ROMANS 11 : 33)
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GARMENTS OF SKIN
GENESIS 3 : 21.
In the Garden of Eden,
After the Fall, God gave a call,
” Adam, where are you?”.
After sometime, God saw the fig leaves covering of Adam,
And gave him garments of skin.
Wait a minute,
Garments of skin, in the Garden of Eden?
How it came there?
Whose skin is that? Name of that animal?
Nobody knows; no, but Adam knew!
Yes, few days earlier God brought all the animals one by one,
Yes, one by one to Adam, and Adam named them all.
Adam didn’t just named it, he knew it well, because God gave an
extended time of interaction with all these animals and then only told,
the need for a suitable partner!.
This means, there was a death in the Garden of Eden!
Abel died outside the Garden, but this animal?
The Bible is silent about this death;
If God gave the skin garments, who killed it?; God?
In front of all the animals including the serpent?
In front of Adam and Eve?
An innocent animal became a substitute for Adam?
Blood in the Garden?
First death after the Fall?
Adam understood the seriousness of sin?
The agony of death? The cry of an innocent?
When the serpent approached him outside the Garden,
With subtle temptations,
Adam remembered that animal?
The smell of blood?
The cruel death?
The garments of skin?
I don’ t know the answer, as the Bible is silent.
But we know something else.
Yes, In the Garden of Gethsemane,
The cry of the INNOCENT,
In the cross, the cruel death, the shed blood;
For you and me, Paid in full;
To give the robe of righteousness,
The Garment of salvation;
Serpent trying to seduce you?
Touch your garment;
Smell That Blood;
Feel that death;
Victory yours.
But that is not the end, you know!
Adam got the garments and thrown out of The Presence!
We got the garment and boldly entered The Presence!
Oh, The all sufficiency of JESUS CHRIST!
HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER ( PSALM 136 )
A Sojourner's Diary 