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Friday, September 20, 2019

What each book of the Bible tells us about God

The Bible is a special revelation given to man by God about Him. God has revealed Himself in the creation (known as general revelation), but that is insufficient for anyone who wants to know God, not only as the Creator but also as the Father. The Bible is primarily about God, and we can understand ourselves only in the light of who God is and what God has done for us. The Bible is bigger than most books we know of. It has 66 books in it, co-authored by around 40 human authors (commissioned by God) over 1500 years. Each book of the Bible has a unique revelation of God. After spending considerable time of reading and evaluation, this is what I’ve discovered what each book of the Bible says about God. While I have attempted to give a one-word summary and its representative scriptural reference for each book, and while I try to describe God as an action-doer, there are some books that I ran out of vocabulary. So, readers can suggest a better word or even a better representative scripture reference for any book they find hard to agree!

So, here it goes, God is . . . 

1.                     Creator
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2.                     Deliverer
Exodus 18:10 “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

3.                     Sanctifier
Leviticus 20:7-8 Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

4.                     Provider
Numbers 11:23 “Has the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”

5.                     Chooser
Deuteronomy 7:6-7 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;

6.                     Fighter
Joshua 10:14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.

7.                     Tester
Judges 3:4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

8.                     Redeemer
Ruth 4:14 Then the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!’”

9.                     Seeker
1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

10.                Establisher
2 Samuel 5:12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel

11.                Enthroner
1 Kings 2:24 Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

12.                Remover
2 Kings 23:27 And the LORD said, I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’’”

13.                Incomparable
1 Chronicles 17:20 O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

14.                Available
2 Chronicles 15:2-4 “The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; but when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them.

15.                Reviver
Ezra 9:9 For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

16.                Strength
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

17.                Preserver
Esther 4:14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

18.                Vindicator
Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;

19.                Loving-kindness
Psalm 63:3 “Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

20.                Wiser
Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

21.                Purposeful
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

22.                Matchmaker
Song of Songs 6:3 “I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies.

23.                Salvation
Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’”

24.                Destroyer
Jeremiah 15:3 “And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction, says the LORD: the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.’”

25.                Faithful
Lamentation 3:23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

26.                Restorer
Ezekiel 39:25 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name—’”

27.                Administrator
Daniel 2:21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

28.                Lover
Hos 3:1  Then the LORD said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.’”

29.                Hearer
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

30.                Watcher
Amos 9:8 “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, Says the LORD.

31.                Judge
Obadiah 1:15 “For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.

32.                Merciful
Jonah 4:2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.’”

33.                Righteous
Micah 6:5 O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the LORD.”

34.                Avenger
Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;

35.                In-control
Habakkuk 2:20 “But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

36.                Serious
Zephaniah 1:12 “And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.’

37.                First
Haggai 1:9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.’”

38.                Defender
Zechariah 12:8 In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them.

39.                Immutable
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

40.                King
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’”

41.                Ransomer
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

42.                Fulfiller
Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.

43.                Father
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

44.                Multiplier
Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

45.                Justifier
Romans 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

46.                Owner
1 Corinthians 10:26 for the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.

47.                Comforter
2 Corinthians 7:6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

48.                Timekeeper
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

49.                Benefactor
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

50.                Producer
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

51.                Peaceful
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

52.                Approver
1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

53.                Retributor
2 Thessalonians 1:6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,

54.                Immortal
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

55.                Caller
2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

56.                Saviour
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

57.                Providential
Philemon 1:15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

58.                Chastiser
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.


59.                Impeccable
James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

60.                Begetter
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

61.                Longsuffering
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

62.                Light
1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

63.                Consistent
2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

64.                Good
3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

65.                Protector
Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

66.                Revealer
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

HOW SERIOUS IS ANY SIN TO GOD?

Whenever I buy fruits, it never occurs to me that eating fruit is bad or immoral or illegal or sinful.
Years ago, in the beginning, a couple in the Garden of Eden ate that fruit and God granted all types of sufferings we see in this world. That's how serious sin is to God.
First was the Separation from God that brings shame and guilt and fear.
The second was the Curses of God that brings all types of sufferings and pains!
The third was the Reality of Bloodshed and Death!
All these just because of eating that fruit!

Thursday, September 12, 2019

10 Reasons Why Suicide is NOT the Solution:

Last night I read news about JarridWilson, a US megachurch pastor committing suicide. As my usual habit would have me, I quickly jotted down a few thoughts regarding Suicide and whatsApped to my circle of friends. I realized it was a bit lengthy for a typical WhatsApp post. Moreover, because of my quick typing, I had committed a few mistakes in it. So, I decided to have a minor edit and publish it on this blog.
So, here are the ten reasons (or as a friend of mine would have it) ’10 soothing truths to know for those contemplating committing suicide:’
1. Only God gives life and has the right to take life. (1 Samuel 2:6-7). The context of this passage is Hannah rejoicing in the Lord for an answered prayer after many, many years of bitterness, weeping and anguish of her soul!
2. Your life is not your life, especially if you are in Christ. Your past and even future accusations are already crucified. You are made blameless before God (Gal. 2:20).
3. The Loving-kindness of God is better than the PLEASURES or the PROBLEMS of life (Ps. 63:3). He has demonstrated that at the cross. The context is King David was made to flee away from his own son. He was betrayed and was desperately longing for God’s loving-kindness.
4. Everyone struggles with sins. He that is holiest feels the most wretchedness (Rom. 7). Battling sins and temptations (and even failings) with grief and convictions are actually the signs of growing in sanctification and are pleasing unto God.
5. Nothing can separate us from Jesus— neither sins nor mental retardation, Alzheimer, sickness, persecution, devils or anything. Trust Jesus for who He said to be, not because of what your circumstances made you feel (Rom. 8).
6. If there's any area in our life to consider, it's waiting on God for deliverance (Ps. 130). He often looked slow from our perspective, but He always delivered in a way that we normally don’t understand at the moment of crisis. The family of Moses waited 80 years to see the deliverance of God. Abraham waited 25 years for a promised child.
7. Suicide doesn't cure the struggle, rather the struggle is passed on and is often multiplied upon the survivors. It's one thing to be tagged as a selfish act, and another thing to make the loved ones miserable.
8. Btw, Suicide is sin like any other sins, but a sin that you could not repent of because life is over. However, even it cannot take you away from the fold of God. God’s provision is greater than the deception of Suicide. (cf. Psalm 139)
9. Our true happiness and purpose are found in pleasing the Lord— through knowing God more. And the more we live the more we experience God truer. In the end, nothing we do or don't do changes the election of God. He is able to keep his child from falling away forever (Jude 24).
10. You are not alone struggling it. Talk about it. Seek out for help! Biblical figures like Moses, Elijah, and Jonah anticipated death.
On the flip side, the world has lots of fun to explore such as Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, marital love, etc., but yes, they fade away in comparison to the New Earth with Christ. Even then, we can live and are commanded to live anticipating for the imminent return of Christ, the Author of perfect and complete deliverance. We long for His return, and not we going our own way to Him.


NOTE: I do not know Pastor Jarrid Wilson. I am not writing about him nor about his struggles. I mention his name just because the news triggered me to write about Suicide especially when the world is observing World Suicide Prevention Day recently. As far as that news is concerned, I would encourage the readers to just pray for his wife and his children!

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

To a Friend Concerning a Friend


Why do we cry when someone has died?
Is it the company we miss by our side?
Is it for things we have not done?
Is it for the promise he has not begun?
Is it for things we will soon be denied?
Why do we cry when someone has died?

Yes, there's a lot we can do for someone,
Yes, this world offers a lot of fun—
The breathtaking grandeur of God's creation,
And also the beauty of human emotion.
But isn't he in a better place when he died?
Why this truth to the heart is not satisfied?

Death, we have no complaint against you,
It is the wage of sin each of us is due.
Lord, we know You are taking to the better place,
That, in deep solace we can embrace Your grace.
But we still cry when someone has died,
Because there's a pain deep inside.

The Lord on account of Lazarus cried,
He even for our eternal death died.
The Lord knows the grief and the pain of death,
He was, is, and always will be God, yet
He cried identifying our grief, 
Long or brief we cry, and shall find in Him a relief!

Lo! We shall meet again with no more tears,
We shall be together again for countless years,
Heaven and earth shall be ours; the road no more narrow!
No more sin, no more death, no more sorrow.
Unto that imminent reality, let us fix our hope
Especially when in such a situation we try to cope.

Sarimaya and Tuingamla (SSEU friends)

Monday, September 09, 2019

Sunday Night (1st September)

Staying awake this hour of midnight,
Lonely sitting without anyone,
For any kind of conversation,
In this big empty hall situation,
I feel despondent and abandoned,
As if there’s no more morrow’s daylight!

The dimly lit hall looks like my heart,
The bright day is gone, the night is long,
Sleep stays not and the mind is not calm,
Yes of the day’s work, there is a qualm,
What possibly could I have done wrong?
I long for the dawn for a new start!

The slow whirling fan seems to not care,
The presence of many or any,
Doing what it knows and is called for,
Cooling the summer heatwave indoor,
It makes me think, though ordinary,
To stay put without any despair.


Monday, September 02, 2019

Be Faithful! ­­– (Proverbs 5:18)

The Wisest King Solomon had 1000 wives, but he also said to ‘rejoice in the wife of your youth’ (Proverbs 5:18)
It means one wife, one husband till death separates (and no divorce). Faithful and committed.
He didn't find pleasure nor satisfaction nor meaning in multiple partners or in a polygamous relationship or in extra-affairs!
Don't be a fool to boast even in having lots of exes!
Be serious, be committed, and be patient!

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Thinking Through Tough Questions


When should one be found guilty:
when it sees no fruit?
when it sees no success?
when it gets no applause?
when it gets no response?
or when it gets boring?

When is the soul more distressing:
when you get angry and react?
when you presume the worst of others?
when all you hum is, "Does He care?"
when you claim the right to self-pity?
or when your action is inconsistent with your principle?

What is more loathsome:
when sin is preferred to stupidity?
when sin becomes appropriate?
when ‘to sin’ becomes a right?
when ‘to sin’ becomes a must?
or when one has a seared conscience?

What is more deceitful:
when you think you are busy to make it?
when you think it's difficult to make it?
when you see no relevance in it?
when you see no benefit in it?
or when you find it boring?

Monday, August 26, 2019

Preachers and Churchgoers

Preachers are not shopkeepers,
Churchgoers are not customers;
Church is not a market where you justify
Your right of anything to not buy.

Preachers are beggars
Telling other beggars
Where the bread is found!
Isn't that a charming sound?

You are a filthy beggar,
(So am I) dying of hunger.
We have no bragging right,
We must only receive with delight!