Saturday, June 29, 2019

Six Principles for a Successful Life


Six Principles for a Successful Life
(from a speech at the Centre Yuvajanasakhyam in Thiruvankulam on June 30th 2019)

All of us desire to be successful in life. Of course, each of us defines success in our own preferred way. Some may desire fame; some riches; some a peaceful life; some a loving family. Regardless of what our definition for success is, the ONLY path to be found ‘successful’ in the eyes of our creator is detailed in the Word of God. Here are six principles for a successful life that I had adopted way back as a young man. I can testify that each one of these principles, although difficult to practice initially, will become a way of life and will bring you righteousness, peace and joy in the Lord.

1. First and foremost, SEEK to KNOW Jesus
Matthew 6: 33 –
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
മുന്‍പേ അവന്റെ രാജ്യവും നീതിയും അന്വേഷിപ്പിന്‍; അതോടു കൂടെ ഇതൊക്കെയും നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്കിട്ടും.

2. Practice a life of SERVING others

Matthew 23: 11 –
The greatest among you will be your servant.
നിങ്ങളില്‍ ഏറ്റവും വലിയവന്‍ നിങ്ങളുടെ ശ്രുശുഷക്കാരന്‍ ആകേണം.

3. Be TRUSTWORTHY with very little

Luke 16:10 –
Whoever can be trusted with the very little can also be trusted with much.
അത്യല്‍പ്പത്തില്‍ വിശ്വസ്തനായവാന്‍, അധികത്തിലും വിശ്വസ്തന്‍.

4. GIVE what you would want to GET

Luke 6: 31 –
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
മനുഷ്യര്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്ചെയ്യേണം എന്ന് നിങ്ങള്‍ ഇച്ചിക്കുന്നത് പോലെ തന്നെ അവര്‍ക്കും ചെയ്‍വിന്‍.

5. HUMBLE yourself before Jesus

James 4: 10 –
Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
കര്‍ത്താവിന്‍റെ സന്നിധിയില്‍ താഴുവിന്‍; എന്നാല്‍ അവന്‍ നിങ്ങളെ ഉയര്‍ത്തും.

6. Give all GLORY and HONOR to God

1 Corinthians 10: 31 –
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
ആകയാല്‍, നിങ്ങള്‍ എന്ത് ചെയ്താലും, എല്ലാം ദൈവത്തിന്‍റെ മഹത്വത്തിനായി ചെയ്വിന്‍.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Know the word - week 13 - Spirit of Elijah


Spirit of Elijah 
1 Kings 17-19

Elijah is a mighty prophet of the Lord who spoke up with boldness against the rulers of his days. In fact, prophet Malachi talks about the coming of Elijah before the coming of the Messiah. Four hundred years later, gospel writer Luke writes about the ‘spirit of Elijah‘ bringing people to a state of readiness to meet the coming of the  Lord. 

God wants all of us to be like prophet Elijah and have his character in us. What is the ‘spirit of Elijah’?

Spirit of Elijah symbolizes a spirit of repentance in us. What does it mean?

If we have the spirit of Elijah, we 
  • shun seeking personal greatness 
  • Never rely on human ability 
  • Obey precisely what the spirit of the Lord says 
  • Refuse to depend on the facts but relies on what God says
  • Fear the lord more than we fear the rulers of the land. 
  • Strike down the Gods of the land. 
  • Triumph over false prophets and principalities of the world 

There’s another important point about Christian faith that we can learn from prophet Elijah’s life. Despite performing massive miracles in Israel in front of the King and Baal’s prophets, the next day, he flees in fear. In fact, he speaks the words that a person with clinical symptoms of depression usually says - ‘God, please take my life.’ Elijah’s life shows us that Christians are not immune to depression. But the response of the Christian should be to stay in touch with God. Elijah did just that. And, he heard back from God who healed his depression and provided him courage to anoint a successor. 

Isn’t Elijah an amazing example of the power of the living God at play in an individual’s life? We should not forget that the success of Elijah lies in his unflinching faith in God.