Pastor M A Varughese
Pastor M A Varughese is the Senior Pastor of Bethel AG Church and has been the apostolic leader in the Revival Movement of this nation especially among the Malayalam community.
His church is presently the largest Malayalam church globally and his ministry of over 50 years has been a ministry of integrity and great attribute. His ministry of church growth has earned him the reputation as the Father of mega church movement.
Rev. Dr. M A Varughese is blessed with two sons. Rev. Abraham Varghese and Rev. Johnson V who also minister along side with him. Both of them are ordained ministers of the Assemblies of God. Rev. Varghese & Mrs. Aleyamma have four grandchildren.
God's Word on It
By Greg Laurie
And we know
that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Without a doubt, Romans 8:28 is one of the greatest verses in the Bible. It is one
that is claimed quite often by believers, especially during times of hardship.
And so it should be.
But let's make sure we meet the criteria of the text: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (emphasis added). Do you love God? Are you the called according to His purpose? Romans 8:28 does not apply to you if this isn't true of you.
There are times in our lives when things seem to be falling apart, when they don't make any sense. Some people will say, "It is the fickle finger of fate." Or, "Que sera, sera. Whatever will be will be. The future's not ours to see."
True, the future is not ours to see. But the Christian can be confident that God is in control and has a master plan for his or her life. We can know that we serve a sovereign God who is good. As I have often said, we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
The word used here for good does not necessarily mean that the event in and of itself is good, but that its long-term effect will be useful and helpful. It is hard for us to imagine certain things working for good. The Bible isn't saying tragedy is good. Rather, it is saying that God can take a horrible thing and make good come as a result of it.
But let's make sure we meet the criteria of the text: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (emphasis added). Do you love God? Are you the called according to His purpose? Romans 8:28 does not apply to you if this isn't true of you.
There are times in our lives when things seem to be falling apart, when they don't make any sense. Some people will say, "It is the fickle finger of fate." Or, "Que sera, sera. Whatever will be will be. The future's not ours to see."
True, the future is not ours to see. But the Christian can be confident that God is in control and has a master plan for his or her life. We can know that we serve a sovereign God who is good. As I have often said, we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
The word used here for good does not necessarily mean that the event in and of itself is good, but that its long-term effect will be useful and helpful. It is hard for us to imagine certain things working for good. The Bible isn't saying tragedy is good. Rather, it is saying that God can take a horrible thing and make good come as a result of it.
BUILDING A FAMILY GOD`S WAY
By Stella
Dhinakaran
Dearly
beloved,
The Lord loves to build families. Saying that "It is not good for the man to be alone,” He gave Eve as a companion to Adam, the early man (Genesis 2:18). Accordingly, even today, He Himself unites a husband and wife. Apart from this, He also builds a house – family – for them. Further, He gives them children and increases the family. All these are the biggest blessings from God.
A son or a daughter who is in the marriageable age should hold on to the Lord with the careful thought, “I too should receive such blessings in my life; the Lord Himself should build my house.” These days, many youth choose their life partner as they like, without discerning whether he/she is pleasing to the Lord? Will my house be built by him/her?”
My dear young children! Please be careful in this matter. The Bible says, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). God looks at our hearts. The only thing you need to do is to surrender yourself completely to Him. Guard your heart and eyes. Do not fall into the devil’s snare. Choose the right way of life so that you can receive the blessings of the Lord and be united with Him and live a pleasant life.
The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Build your family on Christ the Rock. Then your home will remain strong and unshaken in all situations.
The Lord loves to build families. Saying that "It is not good for the man to be alone,” He gave Eve as a companion to Adam, the early man (Genesis 2:18). Accordingly, even today, He Himself unites a husband and wife. Apart from this, He also builds a house – family – for them. Further, He gives them children and increases the family. All these are the biggest blessings from God.
A son or a daughter who is in the marriageable age should hold on to the Lord with the careful thought, “I too should receive such blessings in my life; the Lord Himself should build my house.” These days, many youth choose their life partner as they like, without discerning whether he/she is pleasing to the Lord? Will my house be built by him/her?”
My dear young children! Please be careful in this matter. The Bible says, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). God looks at our hearts. The only thing you need to do is to surrender yourself completely to Him. Guard your heart and eyes. Do not fall into the devil’s snare. Choose the right way of life so that you can receive the blessings of the Lord and be united with Him and live a pleasant life.
The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Build your family on Christ the Rock. Then your home will remain strong and unshaken in all situations.
GOD GIVES COMFORT
By Stella
Dhinakaran
The
Bible says that we are the temple of the Lord (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Hence
give the first place to God in everything and seek His presence always.
The Lord says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go” (Psalm 32:8). He gives us His counsel. He Himself will guide us continually and satisfy us with His goodness. He will wipe away all our tears. He alone has the ability to change our life into spring of water.
Dearly beloved, let us, first of all, place the sacrificial life of our Lord Jesus as our model. Next, let us read how the tears of the people of God in the Bible were removed by His grace and mercy and how they were strengthened, and let us change ourselves as the ones who are united with the Lord. Only then our life will become a spring of water. All our tears will vanish. The Lord’s strength, firm belief and faith will fill us and guide us. This will pave way for us to live a victorious life in Christ even in the midst of tears.
In my life too, many were the times when I had to shed tears. I too have faced wants, losses, sicknesses, shadow of death, despise, ridicule, discarded state, loneliness etc., Yet as the Bible says, in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me (Romans 8:37).
Dearly beloved, will you get filled with the strength of the Lord and honour Him by being testimonies for Him, doing good works? The Psalmist says, “When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul” (Psalm 94:19). Accordingly, when you are burdened with worries concerning your life, God will restore comfort to you and refresh you. You will find delight in the Almighty.
The Lord says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go” (Psalm 32:8). He gives us His counsel. He Himself will guide us continually and satisfy us with His goodness. He will wipe away all our tears. He alone has the ability to change our life into spring of water.
Dearly beloved, let us, first of all, place the sacrificial life of our Lord Jesus as our model. Next, let us read how the tears of the people of God in the Bible were removed by His grace and mercy and how they were strengthened, and let us change ourselves as the ones who are united with the Lord. Only then our life will become a spring of water. All our tears will vanish. The Lord’s strength, firm belief and faith will fill us and guide us. This will pave way for us to live a victorious life in Christ even in the midst of tears.
In my life too, many were the times when I had to shed tears. I too have faced wants, losses, sicknesses, shadow of death, despise, ridicule, discarded state, loneliness etc., Yet as the Bible says, in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me (Romans 8:37).
Dearly beloved, will you get filled with the strength of the Lord and honour Him by being testimonies for Him, doing good works? The Psalmist says, “When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul” (Psalm 94:19). Accordingly, when you are burdened with worries concerning your life, God will restore comfort to you and refresh you. You will find delight in the Almighty.
THE SPIRIT OF INSTRUCTION
By Paul Dhinakaran
The Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth
about God through His Word. The truth will enable us to trust in the power of
God and walk by faith.
Dearly
beloved,
God gives us His Spirit of instruction to protect us. In Nehemiah 9:20 we read, “You gave your good Spirit to instruct them (the Israelites).”
The Lord Jesus said, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
A servant of God, who loved the Lord with all his heart and was faithful in His ministry, was sick unto death. Even skilful doctors could not diagnose his disease; he was at the veritable door of death!
At that time, the Lord spoke to him thus: “My son, do you keep your heart and ears open to the infinite love of Mine, who sacrificed My life for you and millions of people who love you and who called you to do My ministry and has been guiding you so far? Or do you keep your heart and ears open to the hurtful words spoken against you and your ministry by a very few ignorant people? You have turned away your eyes from Me and the millions of people who love and adore you, and focused them (your eyes) on the few who out of their total ignorance and envy criticize you! Consequently, you have become discouraged; visitations of my Holy Spirit are obstructed; because of this, the devil gets access to touch your body with disease!”
The Israelites turned their hearts away from God though they had personally witnessed several miracles of God! That is exactly why He gave them His Spirit of instruction.
The Bible says, “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth about God through His Word. The truth will enable us to trust in the power of God and walk by faith.
God gives us His Spirit of instruction to protect us. In Nehemiah 9:20 we read, “You gave your good Spirit to instruct them (the Israelites).”
The Lord Jesus said, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
A servant of God, who loved the Lord with all his heart and was faithful in His ministry, was sick unto death. Even skilful doctors could not diagnose his disease; he was at the veritable door of death!
At that time, the Lord spoke to him thus: “My son, do you keep your heart and ears open to the infinite love of Mine, who sacrificed My life for you and millions of people who love you and who called you to do My ministry and has been guiding you so far? Or do you keep your heart and ears open to the hurtful words spoken against you and your ministry by a very few ignorant people? You have turned away your eyes from Me and the millions of people who love and adore you, and focused them (your eyes) on the few who out of their total ignorance and envy criticize you! Consequently, you have become discouraged; visitations of my Holy Spirit are obstructed; because of this, the devil gets access to touch your body with disease!”
The Israelites turned their hearts away from God though they had personally witnessed several miracles of God! That is exactly why He gave them His Spirit of instruction.
The Bible says, “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth about God through His Word. The truth will enable us to trust in the power of God and walk by faith.
Set a Prisoner Free
By Greg
Laurie
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what
is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
The
word oops is not in God's vocabulary.
Isn't that great to know? God is in control. We, on the other hand, can't control everything that happens in our lives, even though we try. But there is one thing we can do, and that is forgive. We can forgive those who have wronged us. We can forgive those who have taken advantage of us. We can for-give those who have slandered us and made fun of us. We can forgive those who have betrayed us.
You may think they don't deserve it. But remember, you have been forgiven. Therefore, you should be forgiving. Of course, you aren't going to feel like it at times. You may see him or her and feel your blood begin to boil. That is when you need to say, "As an act of faith, as a step of obedience to Jesus Christ, I forgive this person."
I has been said, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." You should not only forgive to help that person, but you also need to forgive for your own mental and spiritual health. Just let it go. Put it into the hands of God and determine not to be tormented by it one day longer.
Is there someone you need to forgive today? Are you harboring a grudge toward someone? Forgive. Forgive whoever it is that has hurt you. As Ephesians 4:32 tells us, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
Isn't that great to know? God is in control. We, on the other hand, can't control everything that happens in our lives, even though we try. But there is one thing we can do, and that is forgive. We can forgive those who have wronged us. We can forgive those who have taken advantage of us. We can for-give those who have slandered us and made fun of us. We can forgive those who have betrayed us.
You may think they don't deserve it. But remember, you have been forgiven. Therefore, you should be forgiving. Of course, you aren't going to feel like it at times. You may see him or her and feel your blood begin to boil. That is when you need to say, "As an act of faith, as a step of obedience to Jesus Christ, I forgive this person."
I has been said, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." You should not only forgive to help that person, but you also need to forgive for your own mental and spiritual health. Just let it go. Put it into the hands of God and determine not to be tormented by it one day longer.
Is there someone you need to forgive today? Are you harboring a grudge toward someone? Forgive. Forgive whoever it is that has hurt you. As Ephesians 4:32 tells us, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
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