VOLUME 03 I ISSUE 04
JULY - AUGUST 2021
PERSPECTIVES
COMFORTING I INSPIRING I WORD OF LIFE AND SPIRIT
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Kingdom Principles for Kingdom' Lifestyle
LIVING IN THE WILL OF GOD
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CONTENTS EDITORIAL
ETYMOLOGY- WILL OF GOD
Sherin Johnson
Rev. Shyam Raj
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FEAR NOT...BUT FEAR GOD!!
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO DO GOD’S WILL?
Dyse Ann Jeemon
Raghupathi M
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ABOUT OUR WRITERS
Raghupathi M Raghupathi M is from Bangalore, Karnataka. He completed his B.E in Electrical and Electronics from B.M.S College of Engineering, Bangalore and is currently working in Karnataka State Electricity board. He is passionated for the lost and forgotten lives and serves them in all possible means.
Dyse Ann Jeemon Dyse Ann Jeemon hails from Kerala, India, a member of Sharon Fellowship Church, India. At present she work as a Registered Nurse in the United Kingdom and is a member of Bethel IPC, Belfast. God's love has truly made her life so beautiful and His word inspires her everyday. Hence, she love to share her testimony and the word of God to everyone.
Rev. Shyam Raj Rev. Shyam Raj has completed his M.Th in mission. He also holds a Master's degree in history. He lives in Bangalore and is a renowned Bible teacher and preacher in India and abroad. He is married to Riji.and blessed with twins Jordan and Joshah.
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Editorial Sherin Johnson Chief Editor
Do you desire God's will in your life? You may say yes or at some point no; However living in God’s will is the best lifestyle we can ever have as God’s children. For instance, we as a family experienced much meaning , reason and purpose in life while living in the determination of God. The psalmist cherished living in the choice of God. “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart (Psalm 40. 8).” How do you know what is the will God? The holy Bible says “We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better” (Colossians 1:910, NLT). Therefore, If you are really interested in knowing the will of God; you must seek God’s word to learn and walk with God. Moreover, you need to develop a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and get connected to the Father and His kingdom rather than just religion. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6). So Let us cultivate that relationship best by spending time in His word. May the good Lord bless you and guide you as you lead your life in His paths.
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"GOD RIGHTLY WISHES EVERYTHING GOOD FOR EVERY ONE, YET IT IS ACCOMPLISHED WHEN WE FULLY UNDERSTAND IT" BLASSON N MATHEW
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FEAR NOT...BUT FEAR GOD!!
We may have different kinds of fear; for some it could be insects or reptiles, for some death, disaster or trouble and for some it could even be human beings. Every sort of fear we have is often described as phobia. Well, How would you describe ‘Fear of God’ to be as. Fear of God is not something to be phobic of, this fear does not make anyone uncomfortable, distressed, to hide from or to be rid of. In fact, having this fear brings into our life prosperity and happiness, above all fear of God helps us overcome every unwanted fear that is in us. How would I describe Fear of God to be? Well, I would like to connect fear of God with-‘Family’. When God comes into our life we become His dearest sons and daughters and He becomes our compassionate father and loving mother.
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We create a bond with Him like we have with our worldly parents but remember there is always a difference between heavenly father and worldly parent. Obey Every Commands Fear God and obey His commands, for this is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Born to parents where one worked in military and the other as teacher, they were very strict when it would come into the matter of obedience and no act of disobedience would they leave unpunished. They would expect me to listen carefully to every advices that they give me as well as follow their advices in everything that I do. Similarly ,God’s commandments are certain types of advices that God wants us to keep within us and to follow at all times of our life.
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Remember every act of obedience will be A Stronger Relationship rewarded greatly from heaven and also The Lord confides in those who fear him; he never forget the consequences of makes his covenant known to them.(Psalms disobeying God’s commands. 25 : 14) Hate what God hates In other versions of the Bible we could see To fear the Lord is to hate evil.(Proverbs this verse paraphrased as, ‘The Lord is a 8:13) friend to those who fear Him. He teaches Parents would never like to see their them his commands’. To live our life with children doing something they would not fear of God is like living with God all the like them to have done. Similarly, God time, the more we cling to him, the closer expects us to hate certain things in our He will be with us. In the Bible we could see life. Hating what God hates proves how Abraham often being referred as the friend respectful and fearful we are to Him. of God (James 2:23, Isaiah 41:8). When we go through the scripture we can see a lot of things that God hates. For instance, The book of Proverb 6:16-19 Understanding Agape The fear of the Lord is the beginning of reads: “16.There are six things the Lord hates, wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is seven that are detestable to him: understanding.(Proverbs 9:10) 17. haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands This is a verse that I loved as a kid but that shed innocent blood, barely understood the deep meaning it 18.a heart that device wicked schemes, really had. Well, sometimes it is often hard feet that are quick to rush into evil, for us to understand when our parents try 19.a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among to correct us or explain some things to us. Similarly, certain matters in our spiritual brothers. Departing from evil and sinful acts, to life too seem to look beyond our level of lead a blameless and holy life that is understanding thus leaving us confused, more closer to God and His everlasting desperate and often discouraged. love.
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Well, it is the fear of the Lord that helps to understand God’s great plans and purposes for us . A shepherd boy becoming a king and to see the land flowing with milk and honey in the midst of brutal slavery is not at all an easy thing unless you try to understand the love of God for you.
Fulfills Your Desires He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; He also hears their cry and saves them (Psalms 145:19) When a parent understands that their child loves them, understands them and follows their instructions well, they would be always pleased with their child and would fulfill their needs and wants. Similarly, God our heavenly father would be pleased if we love him, trust him and follow His commands. Thus fulfilling all the desires of our heart.
But we would often feel like things haven’t happened the way they should have been and start to worry about it, just remember that our father in heaven always knows what is best for you and me. “Fear of God” is a positive feeling. It involves love, trust, hope and understanding of God’s will. Thus, keeping the relationship with God always alive. Above all, fear of God is the true emotion of pride and respect for how great our God is and could be. It is from my family and church wherein I got to learn and experience this beautiful thing that I have been explaining about. I wish as well as I pray that each one you would get to enjoy the same bond with our Almighty God. “Only Fear The Lord Always, Serve Him In Truth With All Your Heart and Consider What Great Things He Has Done For You” 1 Samuel 12:24.
We would often feel like things haven’t happened the way they should have been and start to worry about it, just remember that OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN ALWAYS KNOWS what is best for you and me.
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ETYMOLOGY WILL OF GOD
Rev. Shyam Raj The will of God or divine will is the concept of a God having a will (i.e. particular desire) for humanity. There are two clear and very different meanings for the term “will of God” in the Bible. We need to know them and decide which one is being used here in Romans 12:2 In fact, knowing the difference between these two meanings of “the will of God” is crucial to understanding one of the biggest and most perplexing things in all the Bible, namely, that God is sovereign over all things and yet disapproves of many things. Which means that God disapproves of some of what he ordains to happen. That is, he forbids some of the things he brings about. And he commands some of the things he hinders. Or to put it most paradoxically: God wills some events in one sense that he does not will in another sense. The Scripture reveals that God created us, in the first place, to be in relationship with him and with each other. Jesus said the greatest commandment of all is to love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. This clearly talks about God’s Will. Again scripture reveals that we will need wisdom as we seek to discern God’s Will. When we read the New Testament, it reveals two basic categories. First one God’s Revealed will and the second category is that God’s Mysterious will. God is the controller over the universe, the way in which God is working through the ages. Of Course we are unable to understand who God fully is. Our heavenly father desires everything that is in His will. Let us pray and plead that to show us your will O God. Amen
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for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16
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HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO DO GOD’S WILL?
RAGHUPATHI M A well-known German theologian - Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said "Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will." So, as children of the living God. the deepest desire of each of our hearts is to know and do the will of God. I am deeply convinced that at some point in our lives we would have definitely longed to do the will of God as David says in Psalms 43:10. However, we fall short in understanding His will and then do it. The Bible is actually pretty clear about God’s will, but we often fail to comprehend it. God on His part wants to equip us with all we need to do His will. So, a careful search in the Bible with a calm mind and an open heart will definitely shine light in our hearts. How important is it to do God’s will? 1. It serves as a prerequisite to enter the kingdom of Heaven as Jesus reminded us “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew:7:21). Even though the scriptures say that we are saved by God's grace and by our faith in Him, it doesn't rule out the fact that as believers we need to set doing His will as our prime goal of life. 2 Our Lord Jesus, even at the crucial hours just before His crucifixion knowing that He has to go through terrible suffering, He put God’s will above His priorities and said - “Lord not my will, but thy will be done” (Luke 22:42). Apostle Paul says we have been given the privilege of serving Christ not only by believing in Him but also by suffering for Him. Christ set us an example to show us how predominant it is to do the father's will even if it means our life, no matter what the price we have to pay.
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3. Peter stresses the importance of doing God’s will by asking us to be eager to do the will of God (1 Peter: 4:12). Peter asks his readers not to spend their lives chasing their own desires, but to be keen to do the will of God. If at all there was someone that 4. Jesus desired and delighted in lived on this earth who understood doing God’s will to be so important what the will of God was, it was our that He called it to be His food (John Lord Jesus Christ. He was always 4:34). determined to fulfill the father's As food is required for our body to will. He never did anything outside survive and nourish, so does our His will. He often moved to isolated inner being gain its nourishment and places to speak to His father and find its fulfillment in doing His will. know what He wanted of him and before He took any decisions, be it 5.It is so important that our Lord choosing the twelve disciples, or the Jesus Christ taught his disciples to places that He must visit in his pray that God’s will be done on earth ministry, even in the garden of as it is in heaven (Matthew: 6:10). gethsemane knowing what He must go through just few hours later. 6. Jesus calls us his mothers, sisters and brothers if we do the will of God (Mark 3:35). What a great privilege to him who is determined to do God’s will as He becomes a part of God’s family. God’s will 1. He wants everyone to be saved and spend eternity with Him (John 6:40). God’s will is that everyone must embrace the salvation that He offers. Kingdom Perspectives I July - August 2021
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He, through the Son, decided to bring the whole universe back to himself through the sacrificial death on the cross and to bring back to himself all things in heaven and on earth. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but wants everyone to know and believe in Jesus who is the visible likeness of the Invisible God. So, God’s will for us is to bear testimony as the disciples did and fulfill His desire. 2. His will for us is that we be Joyful, pray at all times and be thankful to Him in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians: 5:18). Be joyful: God’s will is that His children must be joyful irrespective of their circumstances and situations which will show that they trust their father God and that He will care for them. Pray all times: He desires that we make prayer a part of our lives, having our hearts and minds filled with the consciousness of God’s presence and making it a practice to refer everything to him for guidance. There must be a consciousness of being in touch with the father that He is always with us and converse with him and take right decisions.
B e thankful in a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s : G o d is pleased w h e n H i s c h i l d r e n s h o w a heart o f g r a t i t u d e f o r h i m e v e n when thin g s a r e n o t g o i n g t h e w a y they expec t e d , b u t b e l i e ve t h a t a l l things are w o r k i n g t o g e t he r f o r th e i r own good. 3 . His w ill for u s i s t o b e h o l y a n d live honorably ( 1 T h e s s a l o n i a ns : 4 : 3 & 1 P eter:2:15). T h r o ughout the s c r i p t u r e s G o d lo n g ed for H i s p e o p l e to b e d i f f erent from o t h e r N a t i o n s i n t h e w a y they live, t h e i r f a i t h a n d t h e i r o b e d ience to H i m . H e r e p e a t e d l y re m inded them t o b e h o l y a s H e i s h o l y and to be s e t a p a r t f o r H i m . H o l i ness reflect s G o d ’ s G l o ry a n d o u r b eing holy w i l l b r i n g h o n o r t o God. 4 . H i s will for us i s t o b e p a t i e n t a n d e n d u re if we ar e b e i n g p e r s e c u t e d fo r His sake (1 P e t e r : 4 : 1 2 ) . H i s will for tho s e i n C h r i s t i n cl u d e s s u b m itting to every human a u t h ority for Go d ’ s s a k e , e n du r i n g u n j u st suffering a s J e s u s di d f o r o u r sake on the c r o s s .
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We are called to imitate Christ by following in His footsteps, even if it means suffering for doing good. 5. His will for us is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans: 12:2 God’s will for us is good, pleasing and perfect which is seen in letting God transform us inwardly by a complete change of our mind and not giving into the behavior and customs of this world. How Do We Fulfill God’s Will By submitting to His plans for our life and faithfully carrying out whatever ministry He has entrusted us with, prioritizing His plan and ways above ours. By always being joyful, praying and thanking Him in all circumstances and there by spreading the light in us to the outside world. By yearning to be Holy, spotless without blemish to be given to the groom, guarding ourselves from anything that defiles us. By faithfully following in His footsteps even if it means suffering and walking the way He guides. Allowing our minds to be transformed by God.
We are called to imitate Christ by following in His footsteps, even if it means
suffering
for
doing good.
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PSALM 118.1-10
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” 5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
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Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
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Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “PLANS TO PROSPER you and not to harm you, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE.
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Proverbs 19:21 The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the PURPOSE OF THE LORD that will be established.
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