Introspection

(GB Message)

Last time I pointed out:
• Satan taking over most of the visible churches
• Need for introspection to see whither we are going
• Meaning of phrases I use: emotional understanding Vs intellectual understandings, and the difference between them.

Genuine believers who are caught up in Satan-controlled visible churches are rushing out of them in despair. I am myself a typical example. People respected, loved, and admired me in whichever church I was; but unmindful of such respectful treatment, I came out of them after realizing that they were inadequate for my spiritual growth. I rushed out of them. In one of the churches, they admired me so much that I was the first Indian from that Church to be admitted in a Theological College in USA. But I came out of all these churches. Even before that, in two churches, I was given the rank of a church council secretary but I fled from there also. I was searching for God’s church but found none. There may have been some, but they were invisible to me. God gives people a few chances to escape from a wrong church but not too many. This should be a warning to you all.

Colossian Heresy and Its Implications

(GB Message)

Click for Tamil translation

This devotion is about Paul’s struggle to wean the Colossian Church from a subtle satanic deception, theologically known as heresy. This heresy came about because of a combination of Jewish legalism and pagan mysticism. Some of the members of the Colossian church were easy prey to this snare because of their association with heathen neighbours.

The church at Colossae began during Paul’s three-year ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19). We should not assume that this church was planted by Apostle Paul. It is believed that it was planted by Epaphras. This person was perhaps saved during a visit to Ephesus and then likely planted the church in Colossae when he returned from Ephesus from this trip. Some years after this church was founded, a dangerous heresy started spreading. This is known as the Colossian heresy in church history.

Parable of Somu and Chelliah

(GB Message)

Somu and Chelliah were two poor men who could not afford more than two meals a day. However, they were the best of friends and met once a week for a wonderful time of fellowship. They would bring small gifts for each other that they would mutually enjoy. For instance, one time, Somu brought a piece of pickle that he had saved for his friend while Chelliah gave him five pieces of sunda vaththal.

One day Chelliah told his friend, “I have an offer for a good job in the Railway Department. Except that I will miss you, I would like to accept the job.” Somu encouraged him to accept it and so Chelliah accepted the job. He was posted in Udumalaipettai that was quite a distance from Somu’s place. With a heavy heart Chelliah left for his place of work.