God fulfills Himself in many ways

(GB Message)

This is an anthology of some of God’s ways found recorded in the Bible to help us understand how the Lord God uses circumstances to fulfill His own purposes. Of varieties of circumstances there is no end. Some of them affect people adversely like a devastating cyclone and some others result in much awaited showers of blessing. But in God’s economy things are altogether different. What we have to note is, that side by side with terrestrial happenings, is a spiritual world in which the natural circumstances appear to act or work in an altogether different way. The why and how of this are considered to be a subject of mysticism.

Counterfeit churches Bending Circumstances

(GB Message)

Glad to note that you have two visitors in your congregation today. I am quite aware of the fact that my sermons are often hard and cutting as against encouraging sermons based on texts like, “If God be with us, who can be against us?” Honestly I feel that only a hireling or an agent of the devil can keep preaching comforting sermons like that.

I enjoy fairly good health. This is because medical specialists constantly take particular care of the areas of my body that are sick, giving me timely medicines; I too have to meet them periodically for routine medical checkups. I prefer to have a physician care for my physical well being than people who may want to encourage me by commenting on how well I look, how strong my limbs are, and how well I digest my food.

True and counterfeit churches

(GB Message)

We learned how Satan has already devoured many churches. He is like a man-eater having tasted the blood of members of dead churches and so he is keen to capture many more. With the experience that he has gained, he runs pseudo churches parallel to genuine churches. One thing is certain, Satan has no power whatsoever over living churches.

We may wonder what is a live church and how they may be identified.

Born of Water and Spirit Part 2

(GB Message)

A compendium for the guidance of those who have the anointing for the preaching of the Gospel of Lord Jesus

Post-baptism teaching

As far as this church is concerned, the word “Baptism” should convey the following meanings.

• The ritual in which the person is immersed in water in the name of Lord Jesus.
• The theological or doctrinal meaning of the word
• The word when used as a code for the entire doctrinal teaching concerning salvation or until the “born-again” stage (recently we had several sessions on this subject that totalled 12 hours of teaching)

By ‘post-baptism’ teaching, I refer to teaching that the believer requires after he is born again.

Born of Water and Spirit Part 1

(GB Message)

A compendium for the guidance of those who have the anointing for the preaching of the Gospel of Lord Jesus

Who is a truth seeker?

The sole purpose for being in the church is to be trained by the guidance of the Bible to be in heaven. The Bible can be understood only with the help of the Holy Spirit or with the help of one who has the anointing of the Holy Spirit for preaching the gospel of Lord Jesus.

Looking outside EBA for fellowship

(Discussion between GB and Nahomi)

Over the last few weeks, Selvi and I have been having some lively interaction through email. Here are some excerpts. For differentiation, Selvi’s are in orange font.

My conversation with you this afternoon was very meaningful, educative, and extremely helpful for my introspection. What is important is learning, retracing from wrong steps, and progressing. If through correcting my position on a certain issue, I can avoid a serious tumble, I do not mind even if a child corrects me, praise the Lord. The temple priest Eli learnt a valuable lesson from Samuel, a young child, and did not think of it as something belittling. I shall carefully ponder over whatever you may tell me any time. Thank God I am not a great and well-known theologian who would find it difficult to listen, learn, and take corrective measures publicly. One of the secrets of progress in my spiritual life is my being ever ready to learn even though I may argue.

Lively discussion on Sunday 3 June 2007

We had a lively discussion in church on Sunday 3 June 2007 in Madurai.

The questions discussed were:

• Can we advise our members who have gone to distant places, to attend other churches rather than managing without such a facility?
• Is it good to advise those living in far away cites to attend other churches? By ‘other churches’ we mean churches that are carefully chosen by knowledgeable EBA members.
• Is it safe to leave such a decision to younger members?
• Is this not like a ‘child being tied to the mother’s apron strings? After all, what will the church do if the pastor is not there?