INTERCESSION OF CHRIST

By Paul Dhinakaran

Dearly beloved,

Our God is loving and merciful.

The people of Israel displeased God. Yet He showed them great compassion as He was to them ‘a forgiving God’(Psalm 99:8).

Moses, the servant of the Lord, proceeded to God’s presence and interceded for them, “Now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written" (Exodus 32:32). God’s heart softened!

The Bible says, “Yet in their hearts they turned back to Egypt” (Acts 7:39). Even at that time of defiance, God did not forsake them, but pardoned them (Nehemiah 9:17). When Moses pleaded with God for the persuasively, the Lord acceded to his request: "I have forgiven them, as you asked” (Numbers 14:20).

Let me tell you a humorous story which I read in a magazine. In a certain place, a believer was seen relishing a cup of liquor by another believer who questioned him: “Oh! Why are you drinking this when God is watching you?” The former said, “Yes, I know God is watching me but He will keep it a secret; my only anxiety is that you will be broadcasting this to all and sundry!” Notwithstanding this sense of humour, what he had done was that he had backslidden and ‘turned back to Egypt!’ He had forgotten that he belonged to the Lord!

Even though the Lord God releases His children from all sorts of iniquities, their eyes and their hearts glance, quite often, at the past evil days of their life. But yet our Lord Jesus, in order to redeem us, intercedes for us: “Father, please be patient this once; he has mistakenly allowed this evil thought into his mind because of worry and weakness; kindly forgive My child.”

Dear readers, even as prophet Moses pleaded with God for the Israelites, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Advocate with the Father, ever lives to make intercession us (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). That is why we are shielded from any further iniquities crossing our lives and we are enjoying His presence! How blessed are we!

Darlene Zschech - Shout to the Lord

IMMEASURABLE GOODNESS

By Stella Dhinakaran

Dearly beloved,

In the Bible, we read about a woman called Esther. She received the privilege of becoming the queen of a kingdom through her relative. She who was in an ordinary level was elevated in this manner. Yet she had godly fear in her.

Job who lost everything in life asked his wife who was bitter against him, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?"(Job 2:10). What was his hope? It was his firm conviction that the trust he had on God will never fail him.

In Esther’s life too, she might have been very happy when she became the wife of the king. At this time, suddenly the devil, which took over the wicked Haman as an instrument, planned to destroy her and her people, the tribe of Jews. Nobody else could counter-change this scheme. The responsibility fell on Esther. She did not want to overcome this with her own strength or wisdom. She fully believed, “This is not possible by me but only by my God.” So she sought the face of the Lord reverentially by not eating or drinking for three days and night (Esther 4:16).

Because she held to the Lord firmly, the Lord did a great miracle for her. Yes, He is the One who does unexpected good things and miracles for those who trust Him. God heard Esther's prayer and miraculously protected the Jews. God commanded a situation in which the Jews, who shed tears and were deeply troubled out of fear, rejoiced and praised God.

In the days when the Jesus Calls ministry was multiplying because of God’s blessing, many tried to put an end to the ministry out of jealousy. But my husband Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran went on his knees and prayed day and night because of which the Lord destroyed the works of the devil and commanded more prosperity in the ministry than ever before.

The Psalmist exclaims, “How great is your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You” (Psalm 31:19). When you honour God with all your heart and come to Him for protection, He will shower upon you His immeasurable goodness, which He has prepared for you, before everyone.

He` s the same unchanging God

Woman miraculously healed when the handkerchief touched by Bro.DGS. Dhinakaran was sent to her.  

So that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him(Paul) were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:12)

Through the Fire

By Greg Laurie

But he knows the way that I take;  when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10)

God specializes in putting us in situations where only He can delivers us. That way, we can't "thank our lucky stars" or compliment ourselves on our own cleverness or resourcefulness. Rather, we must say, "Only God could have done this." The Lord wants to receive the glory for what He does. And He clearly says in Scripture that He will not give His glory to another (see Isaiah 42:8).

It reminds us of a man who knew something about suffering, whose very name, in fact, is synonymous with the word. I am speaking, of course, of Job. Here was a man who lost his children, his home, and everything he owned, including his health.

Job had a lot of questions, the same questions that many of us have. He said, "Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me" (Job 23:3-5).

Job honestly admitted what he was struggling with. Then he added what would become a classic statement of faith: "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). Job was saying, "I don't know what's is going on. I don't know why God has allowed these things to happen. But I know this: when I am tested, I will come forth as gold." That was God's objective for Job. And it's His objective for you, too.

Nita Edwards interviewed by Pat Robertson at 700 Club

PEACE FOLLOWS THE JUST

By Paul Dhinakaran

The peace of God surpasses all understanding.

How does this peace come into us? The Bible says, “Righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Psalm 85:10). In Isaiah 48:22 we read, “‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.’" But when we hold on to righteousness and holiness and seek the presence of the living God, He makes His divine peace overflow in us by His glory.

The Lord Jesus has shed His own blood in order to transform your body as His temple. The Scripture says, “The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

This day, the Lord wants to dwell in You and transform you into His temple. Plead with the Lord saying, "Lord, cleanse me with Your precious blood.” He will make divine peace to pursue you. This peace shall follow you all through your life. The Scripture says, “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace” (Psalm 37:37).

In Chennai, there was a person by name Rev. Vedakan of the Church of South India. He was very dear to my father D.G.S. Dhinakaran (late). He was a righteous man. When his moment of death arrived, he said to his son, “Ask the Bishop to come and meet me.” When the son contacted the Bishop over the phone and made this request, he promised to come at 5 O’ clock the next day. On hearing that, this pastor said, “I am going to leave this world at 4 O’ clock tomorrow. In that case, what’s he going to do by coming at 5 O’ clock?” As he said, the next day exactly at 4 O’ clock, he said, “Here, the chariot has come” and closed his eyes. He went up to heaven.

Yes, the Lord will give grace and peace in abundance to a righteous man.

The Bible says, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). When we thirst for the righteousness of Christ, we shall surely receive it. Furthermore, we shall reap a harvest of immeasurable peace and abundant joy.