Abide in Love

- Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran

The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
(1 John 2:17)

Beloved! In this transient world, he who does the will of God abides forever. The Bible says, “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). But there are certain things that we need to follow to live eternally.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” When we hold on to these three firmly, these will enable us to be deep rooted in Christ amidst our trials, tribulations and sickness.

There are two reasons for love to be the greatest among the three. We come across the first reason in Galatians 5:6, "Faith working through love." If we do not have love, faith cannot work. What about hope? "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).

God's love, which is poured out in our hearts, gives us hope. Hence, without love, we do not get faith and hope. That is why, Apostle Paul said, "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, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-2).

Many years ago we had been to Canada and there we went to amusement place called “Sea World”. There we saw two huge dolphins of great weight in a large pool of water. They would perform many tricks to amuse the spectators. When asked to jump, they would jump immediately. If commanded to touch a ball, which is hung at ten feet high, they judge the distance carefully and leap out of the water and touch the ball. Do you know how they train them? The trainers keep a bucket of small fish with them and give some of them as food. Then they teach them tricks and command them to do them. When they finish performing the tricks, the trainers will give them some more fish. After eating the fish, they go back happily. These small fish make the dolphins obey the commands. Likewise, only the small fish 'love' makes 'faith and hope' work. Hence, 'love' is considered to be the greatest among the three.

We come across the second reason in Proverbs 10:12, "Love covers all sins." 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Love will cover a multitude of sins." Faith cannot do this. It is only by the love of Jesus Christ can a person be forgiven of his sins.

Once, Jesus Christ was invited by a Pharisee to eat with him. A sinful woman who knew Jesus was at the Pharisee’s house brought in an alabaster of fragrant oil. She sat at the feet of Jesus and wept. She then wiped His feet with her hair and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Jesus looked at the host and said, "Simon, the love shown by this woman, ever since she came to your house, melts my heart. Even I too want to show My love to her. Hence, I forgive all her sins." Since she loved Jesus very much, He looked at her and said, "Your sins are forgiven" (Luke 7:37,38). Yes, her love for the Lord made Him forgive all her sins in a moment.

Beloved! The Bible says, “Let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God”(1 John 4:7). So, let us love one another with the love of God for this is the will of God for us on earth. Then blessings and peace shall abound in our lives.

Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your great love and for the way it has touched my life. Thank You for empowering me, enabling me to do things I never thought I could do. You have allowed me to serve You, equipping me with Your Spirit, and filling me with Your love. Help me to act in love, speak in love, walk in love, and pray in love. Keep my emotions under the power of love, and make my thoughts loving ones. In Jesus' mighty name, I make this humble prayer.
Amen.


My thoughts here:
This *Love* is the love of God, not the human love, and not a love which could be understood by a human being. Its from the heaven. Heaven is the source for this love(Agape).
When we are saved, God pours into our hearts this love through His Holy Spirit.
When people turn from this love, they find it difficult to come back. They lose their faith level and hope relatively.
As precious and gentle the Anointing is, so is this Love. Therefore it should be guarded likewise.

Isaiah 49:15 (King James Version)
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

My Favorite Songs

Hallelujah praise the Lamb

From the moment man first disobeyed the Father
We were then held captive by our sins
The law of God demanded a sacrifice
Returning to Himself His own again

So the Lamb, God's only Son was freely offered
Atonement for our sins forever made
He innocent and holy, yet God and God only
Could ransom and redeem us back again

Chorus
Hallelujah praise the Lamb
Hallelujah praise the Lamb
My heart sings His praise again
Hallelujah praise the Lamb

So the cross they carried Him
With all our guilt and all our sin
The Lamb of God was slain for our transgressions
So to the cross those nail pierced hands
Reached up to God and down to man
And just as if I'd never sinned
He took me in His arms

So graciously and willingly forgave
For mercy, grace, and love that knows no boundaries
Though guilty and condemned I now am free
Forever I'm forgiven for Christ the Lord is risen
And risen with Him we shall one day be

---

Made me Glad

I will bless the Lord forever
I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all fear
He has set my feet upon a rock
I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord

Chorus
You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Verse 2
Whom have I in heaven but You
There's none I desire beside You
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord

---

All the Heavens

Holy holy are You Lord
The whole earth is filled with Your glory
Let the nations rise to give
Honour and praise to Your name

Let Your face shine on us
And the world will know You live
All the heavens shout Your praise
Beautiful is our God
The Universe will sing
Hallelujah to You our King

---

All for love

All for love a father gave
For only love could make a way
All for love the heavens cried
For Love was crucified…

Oh how many times have I broken your heart
But still you forgive if only I ask?
And how many times have you heard me pray?
Draw near to me…

Everything I need is You
My beginning, my forever
Everything I need is you…

Let me sing all for love
I will join the angels song
Ever Holy is the Lord
King of Glory, King of all…

All for love the Saviour prayed:
“Abba father have your way
Though they know not what they do
Let the cross draw man to you…”

---

This is my Desire

This is my desire, to honour You,
Lord with all my heart,
I worship You,
All I have within me, I give You praise,
All that I adore, is in You,

Lord I give You my heart,
I give You my soul,
I live for You alone,
Every breath that I take,
Every moment I'm awake,
Lord have Your way in me.

---

Music, Songs and Movies

I would like to share here about Music & Songs - how it blesses us, and how it can affect us.

Which music do you listen to?
As Christians, people do ask me 'Do you listen to secular songs? Do you go to movies?'

Well I was listening to them, and may listen to them, But do not wish to.

To me, there is no such thing as secular songs. I hate the word 'secular' with all my heart. There is either Spiritual Songs that gives life to you, or the Fleshy Songs that results in death.

Let me explain it. When you watch a This is your day telecast, you should have observed this: The presence of God fills your room. Your faith level arises as you hear those testimonies. Finally as you pray, healings take place in your life. Above all your life gets transformed.
Now imagine you are watching a movie (fleshy in my terms), it demotes the presence of God. It takes you into the world. Those love stories and songs becomes a poison for your life in Christ. The devil who is behind that literally gains access to your soul.

David, The Psalmist:
David in the Bible, wrote the book of Psalms, which is an all-time favorite among the God's people. David himself is a person, who strengthens himself in the Lord. Throughout the psalms you can find his dependence on God, and the result of that dependence as joyful psalms.
David is a singer. (often Fr.Berchmans is referred to David). He is a musician. He had that interests while he was still tending the flock as a poor Shepherd. When he became King later, no doubt he would have had the best ever music team with him.When David played the music, the demon left Saul.

Philipians 3

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Tamil Java

Well its a fun forward. (Usually i don't post such stuff here.)

Still this one is of *java* interest...

I think you can read the tamil version first here-


Well if you have problems understanding, place your mouse on the first dot below, hold the leftmost mouse button and drag to the second dot. (OR) simply click on the first dot.

• 
  

  
         public class Project 
         { 
                 public static void main(String args[]) 
                 { 
                      int a; 
                      string b; 
                      if(a==0) 
                            { 
                              b = "Zero"; 
                            } 
                            else 
                            { 
                              b = "Non-Zero"; 
                            } 
                            return; 
                 } 
         }

Well thats what people think an IT Guy's work is... so sad!

Living The Josephian Life

When it comes to self-control and sexual purity, people do talk about two persons from the Bible. (i.e) David and Joseph. Thirdly, Samson.

Last Sunday Ps.Prakash(FGAG) shared God's word based on this Biblical character: Joseph. Its a simple, yet very deep and profound truth.

We are well aware of how Joseph's life. He went through the following:

• PROMISE


• PROBLEMS


• PERSEVERANCE


• PROMOTION

1. We have a calling:

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One He loves. Eph 1:4-6

Do not ever forget your calling in Christ!

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. Eph 4:17-19

2. World will hate us:

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more... Gen 37:5
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19

3. Trials and tests:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Eph 6:10-18

The only way you can pass through the tests is by staying under the Cross. You can't live your life as you please and expect yourself to be a Joseph. You are bought with a price. Be faithful to the One who has called you.

"Joseph lost his coat, but not his character". Joseph faced the tests day after day. Here he exercised self-control. Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Prov 25:28. Samson lacked self-control. David was not in full armor when he encountered his test. Beware.For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Prov 7:26 I remember the song,"Have courage my boy, say no..."

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit!Gal 5:19-25

4. Walking with Christ

You and God always make a majority. Here the Lord was with Joseph, what else does he want in life?
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Gen 39:20b-23

So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." Gen 41:38-40

5. Promotion comes from the Lord

Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another Psa 75:5-7

Even your bosses are under Christ."The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases." Prov 21:1

Samjosh

P.S. A final word: Its of no use unless you practice what you hear!

The Patience of the Lord

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
(Matt 18:26-27)

I can quote numerous verses from the Bible regarding the Patience of the Lord.

Never give up anytime in your life. Ask God for His patience, and you will find His forgiveness, grace and mercy rushing towards you.

Here the servant did not ask for forgiveness. He just asked his master to be patient with him. In turn, his master took compassion on him and forgave him all his debts.

He is not slack. He is patient towards all men, that they might be saved. The Lord on the Cross was patient towards those who nailed Him. He is patient with you.

Sometimes you may feel very tough to forgive someone for something they did to you. During those times, Ask God to fill you with His patience. Then God will be pleased with your request. He will fill you with His own patience, kindness and love. Also you will be filled with His mercy, grace and forgiveness. Then you can forgive your enemies. You can forgive others debts. God's living presence and peace will rule your heart and life.

Hallelujah!

Don't be deceived by the liar. Rejoice in the Lord!!

samuel

The Message Of The Cross

• The cross is the place of safety.
  
  
• The cross is the place of life.
  
  
• The cross is the place of protection.
  
  
• The cross is the place of glory that is unperishable.
  


• The cross is the place of victory.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1Corin 1:18-25)

Please, please never run away from the Cross...

Applying Thought

"But thanks be unto God who always gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phil 4:13

If not for my Lord Jesus, surely I will be nobody.

Samjosh