NO CAKE WALK!
CALEB - PART 1
Give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day!
Joshua 14:10-12 10“Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness.
It was not a cakewalk journey, yet, Caleb looked at the mighty power of God that he had experienced during the journey. Caleb and Joshua had spiritually enlightened eyes,
read, Ephesians 1:18-19
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.'
The rest of them had cataract and were unable to see the goodness of God. Say Amen. Caleb did not want Hebron to build DUPLEX houses or vilas for himself but he wanted it for God. Everybody say God! Caleb wanted the hilly country so that he could build schools for the poor kids, hospitals for the poor, free water plants, he wanted to grow gardens for the poor, start manufacturing industries and give jobs for the youth.Say hallelujah! When we were staying in a rented building that was attached to a garden, suddenly we had abundant growth of sweet, sumptuous mangoes. Heaps of mangoes were distributed to our students at the free school that we run for the poor. People of our community came and collected the mangoes. It was such a joy! Caleb wanted the hilly country to bless the people of God! Anybody listening?
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3). “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14).Amen.
Illus: A woman aged 45 plus was looking for a job after she received voluntary retirement from a bank. People around her mocked her for her foolishness of resigning, day in and day out she regretted her decision. She told me, 'Bala, pray for a job for me, people say it is impossible to get a job at my age, if I get a job,I will bless the ministry of God.' At her age she got a plum position in a multinational organization in London, during COVID. Clap hands for God! As promised to God, she continues to bless building the Kingdom of God with her offerings.
The Lord said:Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:8
Don't duck new challenges, no matter how big or small, do it with excellence and perfection before the King of Kings who will reward you!
Ask God for BIG things - Part 2
Joshua 14:12"Caleb said: "Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.."
We need to have the Caleb spirit to ask God for BIG things because He is a Big God.
Don't look around at all the wrong done, misbehavior and turn a blind eye. Have a burden for the lost people around you. If your friend is in sin, point out and ask him to repent. Ezekiel 3:18 "If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die—and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade the wicked from their evil conduct in order to save their lives—then they shall die for their sin, but I will hold you responsible for their blood."
Mr Reinhard Bonnke, was a German-American Pentecostal evangelist, principally known for his gospel missions throughout Africa. During one of his ministry trips to Africa, there were only old people attending the camp meetings, so he asked the pastor,‘where are the young people?’ The pastor replied,’let me show you where the young people go’ and he took Mr. Bonnke to a building that was reverberating with heavy rock music. The noise was too loud; however, Mr.Bonnke ventured to go near the dance hall and take a peek inside, what he saw shocked him. It looked like a sea of heads, hundreds of youngsters were dancing very wildly to heavy rock music but Mr. Boonnke noticed that there was emptiness in their eyes .
He got a strong burden for the youth so he told the pastor, ‘take me to the owner of this pub’, the pastor was shocked, but Mr. Bonnke insisted that he wanted to meet the owner. When he was taken to the owner, Mr.Bonnke asked him for 5 minutes to speak to the young people. The owner told him to go and preach somewhere else, but Mr.Bonnke begged him for only 5 minutes, the owner agreed that he may do so the next day and only for 5 minutes. The next day, Mr. Bonnke sharp 12 midnight grabbed the microphone from the DJ and told the crowd, ‘sit down’. They did so and looked expectantly at Mr.Bonnke, who immediately spoke about Jesus, His love and sacrifice on the cross, there were tears all around. After 2 minutes Mr. Bonnke gave altar call for which multitude of hands went up with tears streaming down their cheeks.
Mr.Bonnke left the dance hall after 5 minutes with mission accomplished because the Holy Spirit partnered with him on that day. Hallelujah! The story is not over, after one year Mr.Bonnke again visisted that city, the pastor told him, I have a surprise for you and he took Mr.Bonnke to the building where the night dance club operated. Mr. Bonnke was shocked to see a big cross on the building which had now turned to a church!Yes, we need such fire preachers today who would ask God for the demon territory so that they can transform it to God.
Do not look for easy options, comfort zone and stress-free cool life, look around to see the chaos:
Police or the govt alone can’t root out this problem. Saving the future of these youngsters is the responsibility of every citizen. 1 Peter 2:9" But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Anybody listening??~?
I AM STILL STRONG
Caleb- Part 3
Joshua 14:11 "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then", said 85 years old Caleb.
Ephesians 6:10:Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Apostle Paul said, 'be strong in the Lord', did you read that? How does one get strong in the Lord? The answer is : Prayer, Bible reading and fasting. There are no short cuts to this!
Many people ask in an insinuating tone how are you able to wake up in the wee hours of the day, pray, conduct 5am Booster group zoom prayer daily, send devotion to a large group of people on internet, quickly leave home at 7 30 am to open Abide School before 8am and supervise the School run for the poor kids of Hyderabad? How are you able to juggle ask many, the answer is "strength comes from God's presence". Amen.
There are many young people who spend lot of money on physical strength and outside, external beauty and skincare; however, they crumble during times of crisis.
Illus: A particular family whose son was diagnosed with blood cancer were able to worship and sing songs for God because of their faith and hope in God. They did not curse God or murmur against God but prayed with repentance and a pure heart. "God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”Isaiah 40:29
In our weakness, we can find strength in the Lord, as we take our struggles to God in prayer.
Rev Billy Graham despite several inabilities and illness, he was fruitful in his old age. Graham, long suffered from cancer, pneumonia, Parkinson's disease and other ailments. Following are the books he released during the last years of his life.
7 Nov 2012 — Billy Graham has a distinctive clear style of writing and his latest book (published at 93 years old)
In 2015, at the age of 97, Graham published Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity and out Life Beyond. It is described as the “Final Chapter.
Graham died on February 21, 2018, at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, at the age of 99, 259 days before his 100th birthday.
How strong are you and what do you do for God?
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