In His Time.......... with P.Ramachandran

An encounter with God often leaves us with a burning desire to serve Him.    Jeremiah echoes this in  Jeremiah 20:9b   “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”   I can imagine the disciples felt this way when they were appointed by Jesus and released to preach (Matthew 10). Having seen the miracles that Jesus had performed, they must have been excited to see the same happen through their ministry. After all, Jesus had given them authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, to drive out demons, to preach the Good News to those who would listen.    However, the disciples’ ministry come to an impasse when they are unable to deliver a young boy possessed by demons.    The father of the boy emphasises this when he tells Jesus, “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”   (Matthew 17:16)   Jesus with a command, drives out the demons and restores the boy to full health. His disciples, later in private

In Acts 22, Saul—later known as the Apostle Paul—asked two pivotal questions during his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. This life-changing moment forever altered the course of his life and mission. Saul had been deeply committed to Judaism, believing that the early Christian movement posed a grave threat to the core of the Jewish faith and the authority of the Law. To him, the teachings of Jesus and His followers were a dangerous heresy. As a result, Saul became a fierce opponent of the Christians, actively working to suppress them. He was present at the execution of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58, Acts 8:1) , and he sought to imprison and even kill followers of Jesus (Acts 9:1-2) . Driven by zeal, Saul asked the high priest for permission to arrest Christians in Damascus—a mission that would soon change his life forever. On his journey to Damascus, Saul had a transformative vision of Jesus (Acts 9:3-6) . A brilliant light from heaven suddenly surrounded

Psalms 67:1-2     -   May God be gracious to us and bless us   and make his face shine on   u s   so that your ways may be known on earth,   your salvation among all nations.   The Great Commission, recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 , is frequently viewed as a New Testament directive to spread the gospel to all nations. However, its impact can be observed throughout the Old Testament, where God’s overarching plan was for His people to serve as a light to the nations. Usually its portrayed in the spirit of being blessed to be a blessing.   When God called Abraham in Genesis chapter 12 , God said in verse 3: ·        ……and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.   In other words, God told Abraham that God will bless him, make his name great so that through him, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Blessed to be a blessing.   So was it with the other patriarchs. God promised to bless them so that through them the nations of the earth will be blessed.   We now understand th

One of the last recorded commands of Jesus is found in   Matthew 28:10-20 : “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We call it the   Great Commission or His Last Command.   It is this command that has compelled and motivated many missionaries to take the gospel to the ends of the world. Many missionaries are driven by a profound love for people and a desire to see others experience the same salvation and transformation they have found in Christ. This compassion often compels them to sacrifice their own comfort and security to reach those who have not heard the gospel. Many gave their lives for this course.    They lived and died for this command. Nothing else mattered.    “The Great Commission is not an option to be consi

God’s Concern  Jonah 4:11 -  And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” The Book of Jonah revealed three important hearts. The heart of the people.  Here was a city that repented at the words of the prophet Jonah.  Johan 3:8  -   But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.  9  Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” In spite of their wicked ways, the humbled themselves and sought the Lord. The heart of the prophet . He knew his calling. As a prophet, he must have known the role of the nation of Israel is to be the “light to the gentile”. He also knew the heart of God. Jonah 4:2  - He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is wha