WE ARE BOUGHT AT A PRICE

   Wishing all partners of ‘KARUNYA MALAYALAM SERVICE ‘  a prosperous new year ahead . 2012 is passed , an year of mixed feelings  in our life joy ,achievements ,failure, disappointments ,rejection .But LORD was faithful to us . 2013 will surely  be an year  for new excitements and challenges .BUT we have hope in JESUS ,as scripture says  “JESUS CHRIST IS  SAME YESTERDAY ,TODAY AND FOREVER “  (HEB:13:8) .

                     SIN made us slaves of satan . Humanity  were all under the clutches of satan  .But FATHER  graciously send his only son JESUS CHRIST for us.  JESUS didn’t  came to  establish any religion  or to make any new law but to redeem the lost ones .The price was his own life – his own blood . BY the power of the blood he broke every chain that the devil has bound upon us .  HE bought us with the  price of his blood  from the slavery of satan  ,not as slaves but as his own children .

                  “ YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE “  (1COR : 6 :20)   

                                                                    YES , we are bought at a price which we cannot repay  but we can be faithful to that love to that very act brought us close to the throne of GOD. Share His love to the lost ones, to the needy  .

                     “ We his servants will start rebuilding.” (NEH: 2:20)

                       Lets  build his kingdom by sharing his love .Let 2013 be an year of soul winning . Get ready to get used by the master       

6 EXCUSES WE MAKE TO AVOID BIBLE READING -MITCH MILLER

                     

1. “It's going to take too much effort, and I'm tired.”

Yes. The Bible DOES take some effort to study. For example, if you simply open to the book of Joel, you may get confused. It's going to take some time to get out a study Bible or fire up a helpful Bible application like logos. BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

It's like digging for gold. You have to get some tools together. You have to sweat a little bit. But you get GOLD.

2. “It's going to take too much time, and I'm busy.”

There are times when it's necessary to read God's Word for an extended period of time. There is however, a myth that's floating around in your head that unless you read for an hour it's not beneficial. This is just false.

Take Psalm 103 for example. It takes less than 5 minutes to read but it is PACKED with beneficial reminders. OR, take the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. You can read that in no time at all, and it will be very fulfilling. The truth is, it's ok to read a small portion of God's Word or just spend a few minutes in his presence. There is no time limit either way.

Think about your relationship with your best friend. Sometimes, you will talk for hours and other times you text.

I think in our relationship with God we can have the same balance. Even if it’s only for a moment, listen to his voice.

3. “I read it before, and all I got were lists of people's names.”

If you don't know that there are parts of the Bible that are a little hard to read, you haven't read the entire thing. The truth is, everybody can get discouraged because they start their year-long Bible plan and get bored in Leviticus.

That's not the entire Bible though. (Btw, the book of Leviticus is particularly exciting in light of the cross).

There is so much more to explore. Just because you've started it a thousand times doesn't mean you've seen all there is to see. Wait until you get to the part about David and Goliath or Rahab. Even though you've heard those stories a million times, reading them for yourself is really fun. More fun than hearing them told. Also, check out the richness of the Psalms, the wisdom of Solomon or the History of the Church in the book of Acts. Yes, you have gone to read your Bible and fallen asleep. But, that's just one section out of thousands. Give it another shot.

4. “I don't know where to start.”

Let me ask you this. Where do you start with a newspaper? Front page? Sports section? Business? Probably whatever is most interesting to you. Well, what is interesting to you spiritually speaking? Money? Marriage? Anger? Lust?

If you’re looking for a place to start, why not get on Google, do some searching and find out what the Bible has to say about these topics? Searching any one of the topics I just mentioned will keep you reading for hours.

5. “It's boring”.

See Revelation 19, 20 and 21. That is all.

6. “I already know what it says.”

It's true! You can know exactly what the Bible says. I'm very, very familiar with the content of the Bible. In fact, at one point during college, you could name any book and chapter, and I could tell you what was in it! It's true! Now, since the exams I've forgotten most of that. But the point is, I know what the Bible says.

That doesn't mean I know everything about God. That doesn't mean I know everything about myself. You see, since college a lot about me has changed. I'm in new circumstances and facing new challenges. When I go to read the Bible now, I learn things about me and my life that I simply couldn't learn back in college.

I also find that there are things about the Lord that appear highlighted to me because of how much life has changed. Things I didn't previously know or emphasise about God, are now at the forefront of my mind.

There is no excuse! We need God, and the knowledge of God is found through the Word.

God wrote the best book ever written. Read it!

A Brief History of Philippians

It was during Paul's second missionary journey in AD 49 that the church at Philippi was founded.

Acts 16 tells us that Paul shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with several women of which Lydia was converted. It seems she was the first convert at Philippi.

Paul's second convert was a demon-possessed girl. This young girl heard the gospel, believed and became a Christian.

However, Paul was thrown into jail for preaching the gospel. This led to his third convert - the Philippian jailer. Of course, Acts informs us that his whole family was converted to Christianity.

Malachi 3:3

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." 




This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. 


One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. 


That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. 

Paul And The Sinner’s Prayer

Paul And The Sinner’s Prayer

     In Acts chapter 9, Saul of Tarsus, who later was named Paul, was struck blind when he met the Lord on the road to Damascus .  Then we read in Acts 9:6 about Paul, “So he, trembling and astonished said, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’  Then the Lord said, ‘Arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do’”.  Notice, Paul would be told “what you must do”.  Then we read “But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus .  And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:8-9).  Did Paul have faith in the Lord?  Yes.  Was Paul saved by “faith only” at this point?  No; as we will see, Paul still needed to be baptized to wash away his sins.

God’s Word Of Truth

God’s Word Of Truth

The truth of God’s word is found in the Bible.  Jesus says in John 8:32, "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."  Only the truth that is found in God’s word can make us free from sin so we can be saved.  God wants all people to be saved.  1 Timothy 2:4 says concerning God, "Who desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."  Before one can be saved one must first come to a knowledge of God’s truth.

The Conversion of Paul

The Conversion of Paul

     In the book of Acts we have the account of the conversion of the apostle Paul.  In Acts chapter 9, Paul is traveling on the road up to Damascus to persecute Christians.  The Lord appears to Paul on the road and strikes him blind.  In verse 6 Paul asks, "Lord what do you want me to do?  Then the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."  The Lord did not tell Paul what he must do, but that someone in the city would tell him "what you must do".

     Let's see now what Paul was told what he must do.  In Acts chapter 22, a man named Ananias, came to Paul, taught him, and told him in Acts 22:16, "And now why are you waiting?  Arise, and be baptized and wash away your sins,

Through the Deep Waters

                      Through the Deep Waters
Let us trust our heavenly Father not to spare us from pain and suffering, but trust Him to use all things for good and spare us from actual harm. Good is whatever is needed to help us grow wiser, stronger, and more useful to God. Harm is whatever stunts our growth. Do depend on Him for protection, but that is not the ultimate good and God and we both want the ultimate good.

If you are a true follower of Jesus--I define that as one who endeavors to walk in all the teachings of the Bible--and have rough waters or dry deserts, know that God is in it with you and will use it for good, yours and maybe others also--the witness of how God brings you through with benefits and/or the lessons that pain and suffering teach.

Did Jesus Make Alcoholic Wine?

Did Jesus Make Alcoholic Wine?
The miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine is found in John 2:1-11.  Some people try to justify the drinking of alcohol by saying that Jesus made alcoholic wine.  But was the wine Jesus created alcoholic?  When they ran out of wine at the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus had them fill six water pots to the brim, each of which held about 20 gallons.  This would make a total of about 120 gallons.  When it was taken to the master of the wedding feast to taste, he was surprised and said, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.  You have kept the good wine until now" (John 2:10).  The good wine in those days was grape juice that had not yet fermented.

THE REFINER'S FIRE

                                 THE REFINER'S FIRE
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver." Mala 3:3.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."-- 1Pet 1:7.

Nothing is harder to bear than the apparent aimlessness of suffering.
They say that what breaks a convict's heart in gaol is to set him to say carry stones from one side of the prison to the other, and then back again! But we must never look upon the trials of life as punishments, because all penalty was borne by our Lord Himself. They are intended to destroy the weeds and rubbish of our natures, as the bonfires do in the gardens. Christ regards us in the light of our eternal interests, of which He alone can judge. If you and I knew what sphere we were to fulfil in the other world, we should understand the significance of His dealings with us, as now we cannot do. The Refiner has a purpose in view, of which those who stand beside Him are ignorant, and, therefore, they are unable to judge the process which He is employing.
Dare to believe that Christ is working to a plan in your life. He loves you, so be patient! He would not take so much trouble unless He knew that it was worth while. "We do not prune brambles, or cast common stones into the crucible or plough sea-sands!" You must be capable of some special service, which can only be done by a carefully-prepared instrument, and so Christ sits beside you as the Refiner, year after year, that you may miss nothing.

Should We Make Judgments?

There are those who say, "Oh, you are judging".  But the one who says this is guilty of doing what he has just accused you of doing, judging.  Jesus does says, "Judge not that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1).  Judge here means to condemn with harsh and rash judgment when all the facts are not known.  It is bitter fault finding that Jesus is condemning.  But we all must form opinions based on facts.  Jesus says, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment"  

(John 7:24). 

What does Worship mean to you?

I am not talking about a technical or a theological definition. I mean what does it mean to you. Because what it means to you is going to determine how you worship. What kind of image comes to your mind when you think of Worship. What you think causes an image and then you respond and act based on the image. For ex… when you are hungry you think of a Biriyani or kappayum meenum and an image oreo in your head and next thing you know its a KFC or our home food.
Most of us we limit our understanding of worship … “singing”, “dancing”, “praying” ….. and so the list goes on. Now that is not wrong but the problem is the Limitation that we place on it. The image that we have of worship will determine what kind of worshipper we will be. If we put limits on our understanding of worship then thats what our worship will be. If we put time limits on it then we will worship in schedules and time tables whereas the TRUTH IS WE WERE CREATED TO WORSHIP GOD

Christian Worship or Rock Concert?

As you enter the concert hall, the house lights are off. You stumble to your seat amid the overflowing crowd of young people. There is a hum of conversations all around, and the atmosphere is charged with a palpable excitement. Then suddenly the stage is bathed in a blue light, and smoke fills the front of the auditorium, closely followed by an explosive guitar riff as the band begins to belt out a number at a level of decibels that is guaranteed to cause hearing damage to every person in the building. The auditorium is still in darkness, but all around you young people are on their feet, jumping and waving to the thumping beat.

No, you are not at a rock concert. This is a church service at a large city church whose congregation is predominantly young people. What you are experiencing is what they call worship.
Apart from practical concerns of possible injury from trying to find your way in the dark, almost certain hearing damage from the noise, and the question of how anyone over the age of 30 could possibly relate to this, the whole scenario raises some very serious spiritual questions.

The meaning of the cross

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."-- Phil 2:5.

Faith is not simply an intellectual experience of a statement of fact, but it is our personal trust and confidence in Him of whom the fact is true. We are not saved merely because we believe that Jesus Christ died for us on the Cross, but because we trust in Him who died. It is the personal touch between Christ and ourselves that causes His life to pass into our nature, making us sound and healthy, as well as secure and safe.
What does the Cross mean to you and me? Does it not mean that there our Lord gave Himself absolutely to the Father's will? Never in any way did He make Himself the origin and fountain of His action, but was ever the empty channel through which God poured Himself. "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." It seemed as if He went down lower and lower, on rung after rung of the ladder until He reached Hades, giving up everything only to follow the Will of God; but out of the lowest depths God raised Him to the Eternal Throne.

The Rich Man & Lazarus

Our Lord, in trying to get us to go to Heaven and to warn us to not go to Hell, gives a true account of what happened to two men in Luke 16:19-31.  In verses 19-21 Jesus says there was a "certain rich man who fared sumptuously every day" and "there was a certain beggar named Lazarus full of sores who the dogs came and licked his sores".  These are not fictitious characters but were "certain" people.  Satan would like for us to reason Hell out of existence.  There are those today who falsely teach that there is not going to be a Hell

In verses 22-24 Jesus says, "So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.  The rich man died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hell, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. 

THE WATER OF LIFE TURNED TO WINE!

"Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim."John 2:5-7.

DO NOT forget the necessity of obeying the inner voice of Christ, which may be recognised by these three signs-it never asks questions, but is decisive and imperative; it is not unreasonable nor impossible; it calls for an obedience which costs us some sacrifice of our own way and will. "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it!"
Do as you are told. It was a severe test to obedient faith to fill up those big jars, which stood in the vestibule of the house. Each would contain about twenty gallons, and as they were probably nearly empty, it would be a long and tedious business to fill them, especially at a time when guests required other attention... "They filled them up to the brim!"

Your Super Bowl Ticket is No Comparison to God's Ticket to Heaven

THE GOSPEL LIGHT MINUTE X

with Daniel Whyte III

As you may know, Superbowl tickets can cost over $10,000. One man paid $70,000 for a Superbowl ticket. But may I offer you God's ticket to Heaven? You don't have to pay for it, and that's a good thing, because you could never afford to buy it! It's free, but only because someone has already paid the ultimate price for it.
 

God loves you and not only wants you to have a fulfilling life on earth, He also wants you to live with Him in Heaven forever. He's the one who offers you a paid-in-full ticket. No one wants to go to hell where there will be no joy and no pleasures whatsoever, and God doesn't want anyone to go there either. The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9 that God is "not willing that any should perish".

Worth More Than Rubies

Am I Making the Right Decision?
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14
“How do you know if you are making the right decisions in life?”
Everyone wants to know the answer to this question. The truth is, it’s easy to know if the decision you’remaking is right because as children of God we don’t have to walk blindly. He has given us a roadmap tofollow. That road map is the Word of God.
As children of God we must surrender ourselves to be led of the Holy Spirit. Because the Bible remindsus in Psalm 37:23 and 24, “The steps of a good (righteous, born-again) person are ordered by the Lord,And

ആരോഗ്യം തരുന്ന ചെറുപുഞ്ചിരി :തോമസ് മുല്ലയ്ക്കല്‍

ശരീരത്തിന് ആരോഗ്യം വര്‍ദ്ധിപ്പിക്കുവാന്‍ എല്ലാക്കാലത്തേക്കാളുമധികം മനുഷ്യന്‍ പണവും സമയവും ചിലവഴിക്കുന്നത് ഇക്കാലഘട്ടത്തിലാണെന്നതിന് തര്‍ക്കമില്ല. സമ്പന്ന രാജ്യങ്ങളില്‍ ജീവിക്കുന്നവര്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ സമ്പത്തിന്റെ നല്ലൊരു ഭാഗം ചെലവഴിക്കുന്നത് പോഷകങ്ങള്‍ കുത്തി നിറച്ച ആഹാരങ്ങള്‍ക്കുവേണ്‍ടിയാണ്. സൗന്ദര്യവും ആരോഗ്യവും വര്‍ദ്ധിപ്പിക്കാനായി കഴിക്കുന്ന മരുന്നുകളും വളരെ വ്യാപകമാണ്. ഹോര്‍മോണുകള്‍ ശരീരത്തിന്റെ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങളെ ഏകോപിപ്പിക്കുകയും ത്വരിതപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നതിനാല്‍ കൃത്രിമമായി ഹോര്‍മോണുകള്‍ കുത്തിവെച്ച് ശരീരത്തിന്റെ സ്വാഭാവിക പ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങളെ വേഗതയിലാക്കുന്നത് സര്‍വ്വസാധാരണമായി തീര്‍ന്നുകൊണ്‍ടിരിക്കുന്നു എന്നത് അതിശയോക്തി­യില്ല.