August 24, 2014 | We all are vessels in the house of God

Dear all, welcome to The Nathan Report!

Such a beautiful day, we have so many guests at our Church today. Before I start with the service, I like to share this beautiful photo-verse:

We all started off with praise and worship, here is today's playlist.

1) Everything that has breath - Hillsong United

2) Bigger than any mountain - Bill and Gloria Gaither

3) Leaning on the everlasting arms = Bill and Gloria Gaither

4) Majesty - Jack W. Hayford

Pleasant session ended with a beautiful prayer. We have offerings and announcements coming up.

- Yesterday, GLTC graduation service went very well, thanks for all your prayers.

- People who would like to volunteer for Jaipur trip, can speak with Church officials.

Today we have guest Pastors from various parts of Maharashtra and today's message is delivered by Dr. Rev. Rajamani from Madurai. Below is one of the photograph:

Today's topic is "We all are vessels in the house of God".

References:

2 Timothy 2:21-22, "21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."

Luke 15:16, "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him." 

By these words is meant the execution of the matter, and not the cause: for in that we purge ourselves, it is not to be attributed to any free will that is in us, but to God, who freely and wholly works in us, a good and an effectual will.

All of God’s people are a vessel of some kind. We are either a vessel that brings honor to Him, or we are a vessel that dishonors His name. Which kind of vessel are you? Paul teaches us what God expects of each of us in his instructions to Timothy, a young minister of the Lord. We need to apply this teaching to our lives to help us become a VESSEL FOR GOD’S USE.

Notice that Paul tells Timothy that there are in every great house two kinds of vessels--“gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.”

Illustration: Most of us have some special dishes and silverware that we use only for special occasions. These are those china plates, sterling silver, and crystal glasses we use only when we have company. We use our everyday plates, and jelly glasses at other times.

Paul says that God knows those who are His. God has chosen His people to serve Him. We are to depart from iniquity. We would not serve Him out of the ordinary vessels. How can we offer to Him lives filled with iniquity?

In this, and every church there are two kinds of Christians--those who bring honor to the name of Jesus (gold or silver), and those who bring dishonor to the name of Jesus (wood or earth).

God would honor three kinds of vessels:

1. Sanctified & Purified Vessel

Four things that would sanctify us:

   a) Blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7).

   b) Word of God and obedience to His word (John 15:3).

   c) Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonian 2:13)

   d) Prayer and word (1 Peter 4:5)

1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

John 15:3, "Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you."

2 Thessalonian 2:13, "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth."

1 Peter 4:5, "But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."

2. Useful Vessel

- Are we useful to God?

- We buy many things to use, Jesus bought us with His blood so that we could be used for God.

- Are we customer or Partner in the Church?

- What kind of part you have in the church?

We should be a useful Vessel for God.

How can I be a part?

- Pray.

- Giving.

- Bringing new souls.

- Using talents and gifts (Matthew 25)

- Sharing administrative tasks.

3. Prepared for every good work available for God.

- David was available to kill Goliath.

- Samson was available.

- The boy among 5000 people who had fish and bread was available.

We need to love our church and be useful. Not like the pillars that do not move, but very active. At the same time we need to be very active praying for our church, government, families and nations as well.

There are two types of vessels for our Master to use

2 Timothy 2:20 - But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

A. Great house = whole estate or group – in this context it refers to the body of believers

B. Vessel = A container, or a person held to be the recipient of something

1. There are vessels of dishonor – fit only for some tasks

2. There are vessels of honor fit for all tasks

C. In order to be used as a vessel of honor, one must purge himself

2 Timothy 2:21 - If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

1. Must be cleansed

Psalm 119:9-11 - 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

2. Must be sanctified – set apart

3. Must be prepared = useful – for every good work

We must purge our inner man in order to be vessels fit for the Master’s use

2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

A. Flee youthful lusts

1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

1 Peter 2:11 - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

B. Follow good things

1. Righteousness = being right

3 John 11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 

2. Faith = firm persuasion

1 Corinthians 13:11-13 - 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

3. Charity = agape love

1 Corinthians 13:1-4 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity,it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

4. Peace = harmonious relationship

James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

5. Follow others that do right

Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We must purge our external relationships in order to be fit for the Master’s use

A. Avoid foolish questions

2 Timothy 2:23 - But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

1. Foolish = "moros" – morally worthless

2. These questions gender strifes

a. Gender = bring forth

b. Strife = fighting, discord, contention, dissention

1 Timothy 6:3-5 - 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 

3. Seek edification, not pointless rambling

1 Timothy 1:4 - Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 

Titus 3:9 - But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

1 Timothy 4:7 - But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

B. God’s servant must not strive

2 Timothy 2:24 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

1. This is a command, not merely advice

2. We do not need to rely on fleshly means to try and accomplish a spiritual outcome

2 Corinthians 10:14 - For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 

James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

James 1:20 - For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

3. We must be gentle and humble, like Christ

Philippians 2:3-7 - 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

4. We must teach, not argue

5. We must be patient = forbearing and enduring

C. We must instruct with meekness

2 Timothy 2:25-26 - 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 

1. We must be meek = tender and patient

Matthew 11:29-30 - 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

2. We must recognize that those who embrace error actually oppose themselves

Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

Jeremiah 13:15-17 - 15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. 16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. 17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.

3. The goal of this meek instruction is restoration

a. God may grant repentance

Zechariah 4:6 - Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 

b. As they repent, they can recover from the Devil’s snare

Acts 5:13 - And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

And we move to the closure.

If you wish yourself to be used as a vessel for God, we encourage all of you to say this prayer with us:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for today. Thank you for the air in my lungs and the beat in my heart. I lay myself down and ask that you would lead me. Holy Spirit I yield to you. May you use me as a vessel for your glory, so that your will may be done. I lift up my family and all families to you. Please protect our families, friends, church and strengthen them. Help us use our past experiences and the wisdom you have given to teach others on the journey. Inspire us to support each other and to seek you daily in Jesus’ name.. 

AMEN!

We hope you enjoyed this service. We will see you again, next Sunday. God Bless!

August 17, 2014 | Youth Sunday | Faith

Welcome to 'THE NATHAN REPORT'. It was a busy week, hope you all had a blessed one. 

This Sunday we have a special service, as today is International Youth Sunday. Generally we have three services on a normal Sunday, two in the morning and one in the evening. My reports are taken from second service. Being a youth Sunday, we have a guest speaker, a sister from Youth Group of our Church.

As usual, we opened up with powerful Praise and Worship, here is the playlist:

1) When the Spirit of the Lord - Ford Hammond.

2) Undignified - David Crowder.

3) Happy Song - Delirious?

4) Healer - Hillsong United.

5) Our God is an awesome God - Rich Mullins

It was a powerful session. This was followed by announcements and offerings. Here is the list of announcements:

- On 23rd August, 2014, we will be celebrating GLTC student's graduation ceremony at Modi auditorium, Kalina University, Mumbai at 6:00 PM onward.

What is youth?

Youth is the time of life when one is young, but often means the time between childhood and adulthood (maturity). Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. “Youth” is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence and awareness of our interdependence as members of a community. Youth is a more fluid category than a fixed age-group. However, age is the easiest way to define this group, particularly in relation to education and employment. Therefore “youth” is often indicated as a person between the age where he/she may leave compulsory education, and the age at which he/she finds his/her first employment.

If we carefully read through Bible, we can find many examples where young people have been involved in their ministries. To name few of them:

- Samuel.

- Jeremiah.

- Mary (mother of Jesus).

- Jesus Himself. 

Like John Piper said, "Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Today we will be learning about "FAITH" with a study focused on Characteristics of king David.

To understand why David was a man after God’s own heart, we need to see what characteristics he had to qualify for such an exalted description. In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul is speaking before the men of Israel, and he tells them of God’s feelings about King David. Speaking first of King Saul the Apostle Paul states, “After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do'” (Acts 13:22). The obvious question is, how could God call David “a man after His heart” when David was such a terrible a sinner, having committed adultery and murder? Much has been written regarding the meaning of the verse and its applicable value today. Much has also been written about David, especially in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles and 1 and 2 Kings. However, we find much of his character in the book of Psalms as he opened up his life for all to examine. David’s life was a portrait of success and failure, and it highlights the fact that he was far from perfect. But what made David a cut above the rest was that his heart was pointed toward God. So what does it take to be a man after God’s own heart? Let’s look at some key characteristics of David’s life to find out.

Faith

1 Samuel 17:37, And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

Humility

2 Samuel 7:1-3, 1 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

2 Samuel 7:28-29,28 "And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

2 Samuel 6:22, "I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor"

2 Samuel 8:15, "So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people."

Kindness

2 Samuel 9:1, And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”

2 Samuel 9:6-7, And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”

Sympathy

2 Samuel 10:2, And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites.

David had absolute faith in God. Nowhere in Scripture is this point better illustrated than in 1 Samuel 17 where David as a young shepherd boy fearlessly slew the Philistine, Goliath. Shortly before the duel, we see direct evidence of David’s faith in verse 37 where David says, "’The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the LORD be with you!’" David was fully aware that God was in control of his life, and he had faith that God would deliver him from impending danger. How else would one venture into a potentially fatal situation with such calm and confidence? David knew early on in life that God was to be trusted and obeyed. As we see in Scripture, David’s faith pleased God, and he is rewarded for it by the Lord.

David absolutely loved God’s law. Of the 150 psalms in the Bible, David is credited for writing over half of them. Writing at various and often troubling times in his life, David repeatedly mentioned how much he loved God’s perfect Word. We find a beautiful example of this in Psalm 119:47-48: “For I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.” It is not hard to see his complete adoration for God’s Word. But also notice how he mentions that he “meditates” on God’s statutes. God granted David understanding and wisdom through daily meditation. We would do well to not only read God’s Word but also think about it throughout the day for God loves when we think about Him. “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways” (Psalm 119:2-3).

David was truly thankful. “I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 26:6-7). David’s life was marked by seasons of great peace and prosperity as well as times of fear and despair. But through all of the seasons in his life, he never forgot to thank the Lord for everything that he had. It is truly one of his finest characteristics. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" (Psalm 100:4, ESV). As followers of Jesus Christ, we would do well to follow David’s lead of offering praise through thanksgiving to our Lord on a daily basis.

David was truly repentant. “It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, ‘Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, ‘I am pregnant’" (2 Samuel 11:2-5). The mighty fall hard, and David’s fall included adultery, lying and murder. He had sinned against God and he admits it in 2 Samuel 12:13: “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.’” But admitting our sin and asking for forgiveness is only half of the equation. The other half is repentance, and David did what we should all do: repent of our sins. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance to God: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Psalm 51:1-2).

In conclusion, David demonstrated his faith seemingly on a daily basis which pleased the Lord. Throughout his life his faith would be tested on a grand scale and in the final analysis he passed most of the tests. David also loved God’s law and he sought to follow it as best he could. He spent many days meditating on it and trying to apply it to his own life. He knew that God’s law had the power to change lives if it was followed to the letter. Another important character trait that David exhibited was that he had the attitude of gratitude and was very thankful for his life. During his life he had all sorts of trouble, but David thanked God every day no matter the circumstances. And, finally, David was truly repentant. Let us not forget that he was a man just like us who sinned on a regular basis. But, despite his sin, he always loved God and sought to repent of those sins. He is a role model for all of us sinners who need to repent earnestly. David was indeed a man after God’s own heart. 

Absolutely beautiful sermon followed with a powerful prayer lead by pastor, who was sitting in the audience during the service.There was another announcement for Birthdays, entire church prayed for them.  Below is a photograph:

Are you seeking the Joy in your heart? Are you inspired by David's story and his faith in God? Do you think, you lack faith? We encourage you all of you to pray with us:

Heavenly Father! I praise You and honor You! I thank You for being with me always and loving me with Your eternal love! You are in control of all things and I thank You for that.O Lord! Your Scripture clearly tells that without faith I can neither please You nor receive any answer for my prayer. Please forgive me for not believing in Your love, power and goodness. Many times I've been discouraged by my circumstances and many times I have failed to trust in You. Please forgive me Lord! Your are the God of all hope and I acknowledge that nothing is too difficult for You. I am confident that You will meet all my needs as I seek to live according to Your word! Thank You Lord for helping me get over my unbelief removing all my fears and anxieties! Let me not lose heart on seeing the circumstances Lord! Strengthen my faith through which alone I can receive miracles from You Lord. You have said whatever I ask in prayer, believing, I will receive. Thank You for this promise Lord! I love You and trust in Your awesome power! I know You are with me right now to take care of my needs and I thank You for that. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

We hope you enjoyed today's service. See you all next week. God Bless!

August 10, 2014 | Romans' Series | Faith

Good Morning to all of you!
What a beautiful day!

As usual, we started off with powerful praise and worship, here is the playlist:

1) That what we came here for - Hillsong United

2) One way Jesus - Hillsong United

3) Tell the world - Hillsong United

4) You laid aside your Majesty - Noel Richards

5) Majesty (Here I am) - Delirious? 

It was a wonderful session, everyone was involved.
Here is a small clip from today's worship:

Post worship, sister Adeleine Dindorkar made announcements, here are the list of announcements:

- Pastor will be reaching tomorrow evening, please pray for his safety.
- 14th August - Men's Fellowship at 6:30 AM.

- 16th August - Women's Fellowship at 4:30 PM.

- 17th August - Youth Sunday.

- 23rd August - GLTC Graduation Service.

As you all know, pastor is away, we have a guest speaker. Today, we will be learning about "Faith". This month's theme is "Roman's Series". 

Pastor started off with Vincent Thomas Lombardi, who is arguably the greatest American football coach of all time, and is on the short list of history’s greatest coaches, regardless of sport. To train his team, he started with very basics, such as, "This is a Ball", "What is touch down?", "What is quarterback?" His ability to teach, motivate and inspire players helped turn the Green Bay Packers into the most dominating NFL team in the 1960s.

Likewise, if we may have noticed this years football (soccer) world cup, everyone was hopeful and un-doubtful about Brazil's victory, but they lost. The reason was bad defense. So if we notice from above two illustrations, we have two important things to learn, "Learn from Basics" and "Preparation for a good defense".  

The book of Romans is one of the most profound books in existence; it is certainly one of the most valued parts of the Holy Scriptures. It has been appropriately termed the Cathedral of the Christian faith. Its profound theology and impressive style were reason enough for it to be assigned the first place among the Pauline epistles.When we talk about the book of Romans, the theme of the book centers on the Gospel of Christ. Paul is deeply concerned that his readers understand how a sinner may be received as righteous by a righteous God; and how a justified sinner should live daily to the glory of God.  

Acts 2:42 says, "And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." 

In these verses we have the history of the truly primitive church, of the first days of it; its state of infancy indeed, but, like that, the state of its greatest innocence. They kept close to holy ordinances, and abounded in piety and devotion; for Christianity, when admitted in the power of it, will dispose the soul to communion with God in all those ways wherein he has appointed us to meet him, and has promised to meet us. The greatness of the event raised them above the world, and the Holy Spirit filled them with such love, as made every one to be to another as to himself, and so made all things common, not by destroying property, but doing away selfishness, and causing charity. And God who moved them to it, knew that they were quickly to be driven from their possessions in Judea. The Lord, from day to day, inclined the hearts of more to embrace the gospel; not merely professors, but such as were actually brought into a state of acceptance with God, being made partakers of regenerating grace. Those whom God has designed for eternal salvation, shall be effectually brought to Christ, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of his glory.

If we read about Paul's life, we know from Acts and Paul's letters that Paul violent persecuted the Church. Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee in Jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, swore to wipe out the new Christian church, called The Way. He got letters from the high priest, authorizing him to arrest any followers of Jesus in the city of Damascus.On the D amascus Road, Saul and his companions were struck down by a blinding light, brighter than the noonday sun. Saul heard a voice say to him: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" - Acts 9:4

When Saul asked who was speaking to him, the voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." - Acts 9:5-6

The men with Saul heard the sound but did not see the vision of the risen Christ that Saul did. Saul was blinded. They led him by the hand into Damascus to a man named Judas, on Straight Street. For three days Saul was blind and did not eat or drink anything. Meanwhile, Jesus appeared in a vision to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias and told him to go to Saul. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. Ananias laid his hands on Saul, telling him Jesus had sent him to restore his sight and that Saul might be filled with the Holy Spirit. Something like scales fell from Saul's eyes and he could see again. He arose and was baptized into the Christian faith. Saul ate, regained his strength, and stayed with the Damascus disciples three days.

We have few references:

Romans 1:1, "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God."

The doctrine of which the apostle Paul wrote, set forth the fulfilment of the promises by the prophets. It spoke of the Son of God, even Jesus the Saviour, the promised Messiah, who came from David as to his human nature, but was also declared to be the Son of God, by the Divine power which raised him from the dead. The Christian profession does not consist in a notional knowledge or a bare assent, much less in perverse disputings, but in obedience. And all those, and those only, are brought to obedience of the faith, who are effectually called of Jesus Christ.

Romans 2:7-11, "7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality."

The Jews thought themselves a holy people, entitled to their privileges by right, while they were un-thankful, rebellious, and unrighteous. But all who act thus, of every nation, age, and description, must be reminded that the judgment of God will be according to their real character. The case is so plain, that we may appeal to the sinner's own thoughts. In every willful sin, there is contempt of the goodness of God. And though the branches of man's disobedience are very various, all spring from the same root. But in true repentance, there must be hatred of former sinfulness, from a change wrought in the state of the mind, which disposes it to choose the good and to refuse the evil. It shows also a sense of inward wretchedness. Such is the great change wrought in repentance, it is conversion, and is needed by every human being. The ruin of sinners is their walking after a hard and impenitent heart. Their sinful doings are expressed by the strong words, treasuring up wrath. In the description of the just man, notice the full demand of the law. It demands that the motives shall be pure, and rejects all actions from earthly ambition or ends. In the description of the unrighteous, contention is held forth as the principle of all evil. The human will is in a state of enmity against God. Even Gentiles, who had not the written law, had that within, which directed them what to do by the light of nature. Conscience is a witness, and first or last will bear witness. As they nature. Conscience is a witness, and first or last will bear witness. As they kept or broke these natural laws and dictates, their consciences either acquitted or condemned them. Nothing speaks more terror to sinners, and more comfort to saints, than that Christ shall be the Judge. Secret services shall be rewarded, secret sins shall be then punished, and brought to light.

Acts 1:16-17, "16 Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."

The great thing the apostles were to attest to the world, was, Christ's resurrection; for that was the great proof of his being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in him. The apostles were ordained, not to wordly dignity and dominion, but to preach Christ, and the power of his resurrection. An appeal was made to God; Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, which we do not; and better than they know their own. It is fit that God should choose his own servants; and so far as he, by the disposals of his providence, or the gifts of his Spirit, shows whom he was chosen, or what he has chosen for us, we ought to fall in with his will. Let us own his hand in the determining everything which befalls us, especially in those by which any trust may be committed to us.

We have few more references:

Habakkuk 1:2-4, "2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,

    and you will not hear?

Or cry to you “Violence!”

    and you will not save?

3 Why do you make me see iniquity,

    and why do you idly look at wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

    strife and contention arise.

4 So the law is paralyzed,

    and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

    so justice goes forth perverted."

Habakkuk 2:4, "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith."

Genesis 15:1-6, "1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness."

Romans 4:18-19, "18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb."

When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by his word, his Spirit, and providences; what the Lord will say to our case. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what he will say unto them. All are concerned in the truths of God's word. Though the promised favour be deferred long, it will come at last, and abundantly recompense us for waiting. The humble, broken-hearted, repenting sinner, alone seeks to obtain an interest in this salvation. He will rest his soul on the promise, and on Christ, in and through whom it is given. Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory; while those who distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will not walk uprightly with him. The just shall live by faith in these precious promises, while the performance of them is deferred. Only those made just by faith, shall live, shall be happy here and for ever.

Sin is the death of the soul. A man dead in trespasses and sins has no desire for spiritual pleasures. When we look upon a corpse, it gives an awful feeling. A never-dying spirit is now fled, and has left nothing but the ruins of a man. But if we viewed things aright, we should be far more affected by the thought of a dead soul, a lost, fallen spirit. A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world. Wicked men are slaves to Satan. Satan is the author of that proud, carnal disposition which there is in ungodly men; he rules in the hearts of men. From Scripture it is clear, that whether men have been most prone to sensual or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath. What reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for that grace which will make them, of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! God's eternal love or good-will toward his creatures, is the fountain whence all his mercies flow to us; and that love of God is great love, and that mercy is rich mercy. And every converted sinner is a saved sinner; delivered from sin and wrath. The grace that saves is the free, undeserved goodness and favour of God; and he saves, not by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul. A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives a life of holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace. Sinners roll themselves in the dust; sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, are raised above this world, by Christ's grace. The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners heretofore, encourages others in after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy. Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest any man should boast. These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us, therefore all boasting is shut out. All is the free gift of God, and the effect of being quickened by his power. It was his purpose, to which he prepared us, by blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit producing such a change in us, that we should glorify God by our good conversation, and perseverance in holiness. None can from Scripture abuse this doctrine, or accuse it of any tendency to evil. All who do so, are without excuse.

To define FAITH, one of the definition is, "Impossible things, made possible by God".

Story about Faith: Corrie Ten Boom 

She ran a church for mentally-disabled people, raised foster children in her home and did other charitable works. Corrie was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, grew up in the nearby city of Haarlem as the youngest of four children born to Cornelia (mother) and Casper (father). She had two sisters, Betsie ten Boom and Nollie; her brother, Willem ten Boom, was born in 1887 and died in 1946 of spinal tuberculosis. Corrie's three maternal aunts also lived with her family: Bep, Jans and Anna, who took care of the children after their mother's death.

In 1924 Corrie became the first licensed female watchmaker in the Netherlands. Corrie and Betsie never married, and until their arrest they lived their entire lives in their childhood home in Haarlem. In May 1940, the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. Among their restrictions was banning a club which ten Boom had run for young girls. In May 1942 a well-dressed woman came to the ten Booms' with a suitcase in hand and told them that she was a Jew, her husband had been arrested several months before, her son had gone into hiding, and Occupation authorities had recently visited her, so she was afraid to go back. She had heard that the ten Booms had helped their Jewish neighbors, the Weils, and asked if they might help her too. Casper ten Boom readily agreed that she could stay with them. A devoted reader of the Old Testament, he believed that the Jews were the 'chosen people', and he told the woman, "In this household, God's people are always welcome." The family then became very active in the Dutch underground hiding refugees; they provided kosher food for their Jewish-refugee guests and honored the Jewish Sabbath.

Thus the ten Booms began "the hiding place", or "de schuilplaats", as it was known in Dutch. Corrie and Betsie opened their home to refugees — both Jews and others who were members of the resistance movement — being sought by the Gestapo and its Dutch counterpart. They had plenty of room, although wartime shortages meant that food was scarce. Every non-Jewish Dutch person had received a ration card, the requirement for obtaining weekly food coupons. Through her charitable work, ten Boom knew many people in Haarlem and remembered a couple who had a disabled daughter. The father was a civil servant who by then was in charge of the local ration-card office. She went to his house one evening, and when he asked how many ration cards she needed, "I opened my mouth to say, 'Five,'" ten Boom wrote in The Hiding Place. "But the number that unexpectedly and astonishingly came out instead was: 'One hundred.'" He gave them to her and she provided cards to every Jew she met.

With so many people using their house, the family built a secret room in case a raid took place. They built it in Corrie ten Boom's bedroom because it was on the house's top floor, hopefully giving people the most time to hide and avoid detection, as searches usually started on the ground/first floor. A member of the Dutch resistance designed the hidden room behind a false wall. Gradually, family and supporters brought building supplies into the house, hiding them in briefcases and rolled-up newspapers. When finished, the secret room was about 30 inches (76 cm) deep, the size of a medium wardrobe. A ventilation system allowed for breathing. To enter the secret room, a person had to open a sliding panel in the plastered brick wall under a bottom bookshelf and crawl in on hands and knees. In addition, the family installed an electric raid-warning buzzer. When the Nazis raided the ten Boom house in 1944, six people were using the hiding place. Please find the picture abelow, for the hiding place:

On 28 February 1944, a Dutch informant told the Nazis about the ten Booms' work; at around 12:30PM the Nazis arrested the entire ten Boom family. They were sent to Scheveningen prison; Nollie and Willem were released immediately along with Corrie's nephew Peter; Casper died 10 days later. Corrie and Betsie were sent from Scheveningen to Herzogenbusch political concentration camp (also known as Kamp Vught), and finally to the Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany, where Betsie died on December 16, 1944. Before she died, she told Corrie, "There is no pit so deep that He [God] is not deeper still." 

Corrie ten Boom was released on December 28, 1944. In the movie 'The Hiding Place', she narrates the section on her release from camp, saying that she later learned that her release had been a clerical error. She said, "God does not have problems — only plans." The Jews whom the ten Booms had been hiding at the time of their arrests remained undiscovered and all but one, an old woman named Mary, survived.

Four ten Booms gave their lives for this family's commitment, but Corrie came home from the death camp. She realized her life was a gift from God, and she needed to share what she and Betsie had learned in Ravensbruck: "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still," and "God will give us the love to be able to forgive our enemies."  At age 53, Corrie began a worldwide ministry that took her into more than 60 countries in the next 32 years! She testified to God's love and encouraged all she met with the message that "Jesus is Victor."

Corrie received many tributes because of her efforts. Following the war, Corrie was honored by the Queen of Holland as a War Hero. In 1968, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem asked Corrie to plant a tree in the Garden of Righteousness, in honor of the many Jewish lives her family saved. Corrie's tree stands there today. In the early 1970's, Corrie's book The Hiding Place became a best seller, and World Wide Pictures (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) released the major motion picture "The Hiding Place." Corrie went on to write many other inspiring books. 

Corrie was a woman faithful to God. She died on her 91st birthday, April 15, 1983. One of the famous saying of Corrie is as follows, “There are no ‘ifs’ in God’s Kingdom. His timing is perfect. His will is our hiding place. Lord Jesus, keep me in Your will! Don’t let me go mad by poking about outside it.”

In her wonderful book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsy were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbruk, where they lived in barracks that were plagued with lice. Lice were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. 

One day, Betsy said to her, "Corrie, we need to give thanks to God for the lice."

Corrie said, "Betsy, you have gone too far this time. I am not going to thank God for lice."

Betsy said, "Oh, but Corrie, the Bible tells us, 'In everything give thanks.' "

Still, Corrie did not want to thank God for the lice. As it turns out, Corrie and Betsy were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. Corrie found out later that because of the lice, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, they were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they led many of the women to the Lord. So it turns out that God can even use lice.

If the Bible said, "In some things give thanks," I would say, "No problem there!" But it says, "In everything give thanks." That is not an easy thing to do.

This verse doesn't say we should give thanks for everything as much it says in everything. There are some things that happen, and I'm not glad they happened. But I am glad that, in spite of the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life.

Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."

We hope, you all enjoyed this powerful testimony of Faith. Also, as we learned earlier from the book of Habakkuk that "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH".

If you think something troubles you and you have doubts in your minds, we encourage all of you to pray along with us.

Heavenly Father! We praise You and honour You! We thank You for being with us always and loving us with Your eternal love! You are in control of all things and we thank You for that. O Lord! Your Scripture clearly tells that without faith we can neither please You nor receive any answer for our prayer. Please forgive us for not believing in Your love, power and goodness. Many times we've been discouraged by our circumstances and many times we have failed to trust in You. Please forgive us Lord! Your are the God of all hope and we acknowledge that nothing is too difficult for You. We are confident that You will meet all our needs as we seek to live according to Your word! Thank You Lord for helping us get over our unbeliefs removing all our fears and anxieties! Let mus not lose heart on seeing the circumstances Lord! Strengthen our faith through which alone we can receive miracles from You Lord. You have said whatever we ask in prayer, believing, we will receive. Thank You for this promise Lord! We love You and trust in Your awesome power! We know You are with us right now to take care of our needs and we thank You for that. In Jesus' most precious and gracious name we pray. Amen!

We hope you enjoyed today's service, looking forward to see you next week. God be with you and God Bless!