“All through his life he was trying to do the best that he could. It was not perfect. But there are some kinds of failure that are better than success.” So wrote Henry van Dyke in the Preface to his classic short story The Other Wise Man.
It is the story of Artaban who tried … Read the rest
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?”1 The ones who raised this question three times in rapid succession themselves give the answer too: “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.”
Seasons of discouragement come to the best of people. … Read the rest
When everything fails and you have no one to hold on to, seek God’s mercy.
If you have wondered whether God can stretch his mercy a little bit more; yes he can and he will; for you!
He is holy; and God is a God of justice. Yet he listens to the cry of a … Read the rest
All of us face troubles big and small each day. Some of them irritate us. Others make us feel helpless. Often we feel like giving up.
Most problems are people problems. We find others unlovable and get angry at the slightest provocation. Not to mention difficulties in forgiving past wrongs. Often some fear or … Read the rest
There are two kinds of people in this world.
The first kind love to go window shopping. There is no cost involved in the process. It is aimless wandering. The time spent is utilized just to enjoy the feel of things.
There is no serious effort to pay the price and get something in return.… Read the rest
Believe in Your God-given Dreams
Joseph’s story in the Bible has always inspired young people. He was just seventeen years when God gave him dreams of greatness. But it took several years before those dreams were fulfilled. From his life we can learn several lessons about achieving success.
Dreams Are about Possibilities
The first thing … Read the rest
It is only when you get lost somewhere that you realize, “I simply wanna go home!”
The moment you realize you are lost is a starting point.
You can choose to give up everything as lost. Or, you can start redirecting your steps towards home. In your mind’s eye you can think of your tearful … Read the rest
586 B. C. A nation was being led into exile and captivity. Only few were left. All that they had pinned their hopes on were now gone–their city, the well fortified city of Jerusalem; it was destroyed, and their temple, the magnificent temple of great splendour that Solomon built; it was burnt to the ground.… Read the rest
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”1
There is an invitation. God is calling out to you to come and speak with him. Therefore prayer first of all is about listening to God
Then there is a promise of a response. I … Read the rest
The Risen Christ is speaking:
“See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
You might have prayed long about closed doors in your life.
You kept knocking at many of them but they did not open. And you are disheartened. Yet the promise is true because the One who … Read the rest
God is speaking to a people whose land was devastated by an army of locusts. Their sin and rebellion against God invited this disaster.
Yet God is promising them a restoration. He was asking them to return to him so that he could make good the promise to repay the years the locusts have eaten.… Read the rest
There is only one person in all human history who said I have authority to lay down my life and to take it up again.*
There is only one person in all human history who said I am the good shepherd and the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.*
And there is … Read the rest
It was a journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a village 7 miles away. Two men walked and talked. Their hearts were sad.
A stranger joined them. They did not recognize him. He asked them, “What are you talking about?”
They stood still; unable to assess how this person missed the momentous event that all had … Read the rest
THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
The power of God-given dreams!
Beloved by their fathers
Genesis 37:3 | Matt. 3:17
Sent by their fathers to their brothers
Genesis 37:13, 14 | Luke 20:13; Heb. 2:12
Hated by their brothers without a reason
Genesis 37:4, 5, 8 | John 1:11; 7:5; … Read the rest
The Story
It amazes us to discover that God is a master storyteller. Instead of giving us only rules to follow, He has taken pains to paint for us real stories from which we can learn. This learning is not only about heroes of faith but also about ourselves. … Read the rest
Genesis means, “beginnings.” Without this book we cannot know how God made us.
● God created. Genesis 1:1 tells us that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” He did not create the earth to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18) [That … Read the rest
This series gives you a quick look at each book of the Old Testament. It is written with youngsters in mind. Content is made as simple as possible. At the end of each set of notes, related links to Manna are also given which will inspire you.
… Read the rest
All the four gospels show us that the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove and rested on Jesus at the time of his baptism. If the Son of God needed the Spirit of God in his life and ministry, can we do ministry without the enabling of the Holy Spirit? Think … Read the rest
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life (Leviticus 17:11).”
The infinite power of Jesus’ blood to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7) lies in his … Read the rest
This Lesson is part of John’s Gospel Easy Notes Series.
It was Zechariah who looked forward to a day when a fountain will be opened for cleansing people from sin and impurity (see Zechariah 13:1). The blood of Jesus is that fountain.
This has given rise to these famous lines in the hymn:
There is … Read the rest
[The following paraphrase is taken from Bob Lamb’s Book The Overcoming Blood]
The phrase “pleading the blood” is not in the Bible. But to understand the concept let us use the phrase “appeal earnestly.” Let us take a look at that Passover night when 2.5 million Israelites walked out of 430 years of slavery in … Read the rest
The cry of Jesus, “It is finished” should encourage us to seek to understand and experience the benefits through his shed blood on the cross. Here are a few helpful and encouraging starting points for moving into a deeper fellowship and intimacy with God through the blood of Jesus.
“Now, once again, the Lord is … Read the rest
The Passover was a moment in history of the birth of the Israelite Nation. Yet what happened during one night has significance for you and me today.
At the time of the first Passover God said, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see … Read the rest
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
“In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).
Let us look at what Jesus said during the Last Supper: He took the cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for … Read the rest
The story is told about a man who called the Rolls Royce Company when he had a breakdown of his car in his European Tour. The Company flew a mechanic in a helicopter and repaired his car. When the man asked what the bill amount was; the mechanic told him that he will be informed … Read the rest
Revelation 12:11 speaks about our means of victory over Satan. He is called the accuser because he accuses you and me before God all the time.
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
Now several believers live in discouragement because of certain habitual sins that overtake … Read the rest
Imagine that when you walk into an office to meet the CEO of a MNC, to your surprise you find that his Secretary is someone who knows you and speaks on your behalf to him.
How much more confidence you can have when Jesus himself is interceding for you and speaks on your behalf to … Read the rest
The words Atonement or Propitiation means “to cover.” It literally means to appease God’s wrath. God is angry against sin and the sinner. But since God’s love is also in operation he made a provision through which animal sacrifices would cover the sin from his eyes. Ultimately, Jesus through his blood sacrifice turned away God’s … Read the rest
One of the first things that happened after Adam and Eve sinned was that the fellowship with God was immediately broken. It became impossible for holy God to be friends with man anymore. Sin had to be punished by death. That was God’s holy law.
But then God’s love began to seek man and make … Read the rest
Many believers are satisfied with the initial experience of forgiveness which is called “born again” (John 3:3) experience. It is like laying the foundation of a building and then forgetting all about constructing the house.
Sanctification refers to the moment by moment cleansing we all need through the blood of Jesus. Imagine you taking a … Read the rest
