REVELATION 5 – Cherry George Cherian

Revelation 5
Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah has won the victory.. Only He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.

Our feet are in Babylon but our eyes must be fixed on Jerusalem.(The problem now with us, the church, is that both our feet and our eyes are fixed on Babylon.)

Christians have begun to look like Babylon . There is nothing distinct about us. Yes, we go to church on Sundays but the rest of the week we live like the world.

Why are youngsters not coming to church, everyone asks. Have you thought why?
Some say we are not culturally relevant. The truth is actually we are TOO culturally relevant. The issue is that when youngsters come to our fellowships, they see exactly the same things happening in our churches that is happening in Babylon.
The Babylonians quarrel , the church quarrels.
They play politics, the church plays politics.
There’s no trust outside and likewise none in the church.
Then what’s the difference?

The sharpness and effectiveness of the church does not depend on how close we are to the world but on how DISTINCT we are from the world.

A church pure is a church powerful!
We have strategies, plans etc. That’s not wrong but what is most important is that our eyes should be fixed on Jerusalem.
Our lifestyle must be decided not by the policies of the world but BY THE WORD OF GOD!

Revelation 4
Who is the One who sits on the Throne?

The Word is not to be disputed and argued about. It is to be OBEYED.

Does our lifestyle resemble the Kingdom lifestyle?
Does it resemble Babylon or does it resemble Jerusalem?
When we remember who sits on the Throne, our lifestyles must reflect it.

How should we go forward? We must remember who holds the keys.
If God decides to open the doors for the Gospel, WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY WHO COMES TO. POWER!
Jesus holds the Master keys to evangelism. So no man can close that door if He wills to open it.
What is our role / involvement then?
Some keys WE have to open. God does the impossible, but we must do the possible. Remember Paul and Silas in prison.. God did what seemed impossible to man..He sent angels to free them !

We all have different callings.
Daniel and Jeremiah lived at the same time… Did you know that?
Both were used by God but in different places and very different circumstances ,to serve Him! … One lived in a palace.. The other was often in the stocks, in jail or thrown into wells!

If you live according to the standard of Jerusalem, there is a price to pay and only God knows that price.

Just reading the Bible does not make you a disciple.

William Wilburforce fought slavery for twenty years in England until the abolition of slavery.

We are just a small link in God’s big plan
We just need to do our small work with great love!
Who is worthy of praise?

HE ALONE IS WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE!

Cherry George Cherian

A LOVE THAT SHINES – Sarah George

Jesus is compassionate and kind, listening to our prayers and helping us in our struggles. Seeing us through it all! Holding us by the hand leading us along the way, one step at a time! Putting smiles on our faces. Even when times are trying. But we know that our Saviour is with us. Standing by our side, encouraging us to carry on in the power of His love. And we know that He will carry us in His loving arms. As I look out at the sun shining brightly, I rest assured that Jesus loves us with a everlasting love as bright as the sun in all its glory shining across the universe! An unchanging, everlasting love that will wipe away all our tears and fears!

© Sarah George

God’s Light in You

God shines His light on you,

to reflect its rays around you.

Light illuminates darkness.

Light dispels darkness.

When light shines,

darkness flees.

God fills you with light

to shine for Him.

The light of God’s glory

shines radiantly in you.

Darkness is displaced

by God’s dazzling light.

“You are the light

of the world” 

(Matthew 5:14).

Miriam Jacob

SAINTS WITH BURNING HEARTS ROMANCE THE DIVINE – Steve Porter

The prayers of those with burning hearts become a true fragrance to the Lord. Our heartfelt prayers fill the golden bowls in heaven. As we study the Scripture, we see a loving Father who describes passionate prayers as “a sweet-smelling savor” (2 Cor. 2:15). That’s His way of saying how pleased He is when we worship the Lord with ALL our hearts, in no rush to leave.

Sincere, loving prayer and worship is an exquisitely beautiful thing rising from the golden altars where saints with burning hearts romance the divine. They keep the Lord company, speaking to Him as a lover and a friend. It doesn’t matter where they worship, whether down on their knees or in a magnificent cathedral. What gets His attention is a burning heart that cries out with sincerity, refusing to leave until it’s made a real connection with the Most High. When He finds someone that fits that description, a sweet fragrance wafts toward the throne, and He leans over glory to inhale again. He takes it in and smiles in obvious delight. Someone is offering true worship.

Are you aware that it takes about two thousand flowers to produce one gram of fragrant oil or 9,000 crushed rosebuds to produce a single ounce of perfume? In fact, when you enter a rose garden, the scent is far more powerful in the early morning hours when the dew is still on the roses. In the same way, it takes time and patience soaking in the presence of the Lord in true worship to produce the kind of fragrance that He leans down to inhale.

You might ask, “Isn’t loud, enthusiastic praise just as precious to the Lord?” Well, that depends on the spirit with which it’s given. However, we must admit that it’s easy to praise without actually connecting with the Father’s heart in true worship. That’s why it’s so vital that we examine our hearts, to make sure we’re not merely going through the motions, just to get it over with.

I can hear the Lord say:
“I see their hands and hearts lifted in intimate worship—I must draw near to such as these. I must breathe in the fragrance of that kind of worship, for I am well pleased!”

“Those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, for God seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). Why does He seek them? The answer is because they are so hard to find—rare specimens in today’s busy, noisy culture. Noise is cheap, while true worship is as rare and costly as real perfume. But are we willing to pay the price to be true worshipers? Will you be one of those who burns with love before the throne and lets your fragrance warm His heart?

“Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence. Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2).

© Steve Porter

Serenity Prayers for a Woman’s Soul – by Emily Biggers

Pages: 208, Imprint: Barbour Books, Publisher: Barbour Publishing Inc.
ISBN 9781683221456. Price: $14.99

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Serenity Prayers for a Woman’s Soul by Emily Biggers will inspires you to achieve serenity in every aspect of your daily lives through a personal, intimate relationship with God. It will gently guide you into an honest conversation with your heavenly Father. The prayer starters and scripture selections will encourage you to reflect on God’s Word in quietness and confidence. You will enter into His presence in peace. Discover comfort, healing, and calm in Serenity Prayers for a Woman’s Soul, a beautiful collection of inspiring, refreshing prayers for women. This book will truly bless the hearts of all women who seek a closer walk with God, with Scripture to help us through trying times. We must give God His rightful place in our lives. His place should be first. The devotionals speak to our hearts in every area of our lives. This comforting, inspiring gem of a book will impact you most profoundly. It will transform you and your situation. It is like manna from heaven to give you spiritual food. This little devotional book encourages women to find peace and serenity in identity and relationships. This awesome collection of prayers for every need and for all occasions reminds us afresh that God is in always in perfect control of our lives.

Miriam Jacob