What's Up... "Brethren"

I know that this blog spot is being idle for long time.... and I am wondering why it happened to us.... Are we all busy?


I was reading thru Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and verse 9 and 10 made me to pause a while and think.... Ecc 3:9, 10 reads like this, "What gain have the workers from their toil? ¹⁰I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with."

What are we profiting from the work which we are doing? God has given this business to us....so that we should be very busy? Is that what this verse saying... or anything more to it? I am inviting your thoughts and I appreciate a participation...

Well, now you guys might be wondering why I started this now... its been almost 2 years I left Mumbai... Many things happened in that 2 years, right? Now... we been going to an assembly called Parkside Gospel Chapel, San Francisco for one year, and recently started going to Grace Bible Chapel, San Jose. Met many new believers who are first generation Hindu converts... and one thing caught my attention is, they have an online bible study... can you believe? Every Saturday from 7-9AM, people from different parts of US and Europe log in to Skype, most of them Hindu converts and have a study... Most of us are born into so called brethrenism... and being busy :)

This made me think, why cant we at least try to share our thoughts once in a week from the "business" God has given us! Can we do that?

So again...

Ecc 3:9, 10 reads like this, "What gain have the workers from their toil? ¹⁰I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with."

What are we profiting from the work which we are doing? God has given this business to us....so that we should be very busy? Is that what this verse saying... or anything more to it?

Continuation of Being Faithful

Some examples of Unfaithful 1. Jerusalem ( Eze 16) Talking about Jerusalem, picturing her as a woman. In ver 3 -4 the LORD is talking about the birth of Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been unfaithful, yet the LORD in his mercy had been faithtul to keep his covenant. (Eze 16 : 60). Before the LORD saw us, we were naked. Our LORD cleansed us and put garments of salvation on us. We spoil ourslves, but he keeps HIS covenant. The LORD is merciful. (Lam 3 : 22 - 23) 2. King Manasseh King Manasseh was Hezekiah's son. He did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did everything to provoke GOD to anger. He was unfaithful to GOD. There is a change in his attitude. He attempted to change his life. He reigned for 25 yrs. The few years he had, he tried to come back. 3. JONAH Jonah was a prophet. He was supposed to be faithful. He was not faithful to the LORD's calling. If we are not in constant fellowship with the LORD we are ebing unfaithful. David became unfaithful at the battle time when he did not ask GOD for his will. When we are not faithful, GOD intervenes and deals with the person. It is GOD's goodness in chastening us to bring us back to his fold. He gives us the opportunity to come back. If we are left on our own we will fall deeper and deeper into SIN, since we have no strength against the forces of evil. Rom 1 : The heathen defiled themselves. GOD gave them up. Gen 38 : 7 : ER was wicked in the sight of the LORD. LORD slew him.

Continuation of Being Faithful

How can we start being faithful?
Deu 13 : 4
1. Willingness to listen to the LORD's word and hear his voice.
2. Being Obedient to the HIM in truth and in spirit.
3. Walk in HIS ways
We should be faithful in every aspect of our life.

Rewards for being faithful
As believers, we should not compare our faithfulness with the people of this earth, but according to our LORD's standards. Our LORD is a faithful and that should be our benchmark for measuring our faithfulness. Just because we are faithful, it does not mean that everything will be rosy. Jeremiah was a faithful prophet, but he was despised, had a difficult time and a bad death. It is GOD's will whether he wants to reward us on this earth or in heaven for being faithful.
1. Being faithful leads us to Godliness.
2. Being faithful gives us happiness.
3. Our hearts will be in unity with GOD.
4. We will have undeviating heart.
5. GOD will honour all those who are faithful
6. GOD will bless the faithful abundantly. (Prov 28:20)
7. Stewardship
8. The faithful will dwell with the LORD.

Topics for discussion next friday.......
1. Character study of faithful and unfaithful people from the bible.
2. Consequences of being unfaithful.

Being Faithful

Dictionary Meaning Of Faithful
1. Adhering firmly and devotedly
2. Worthy Of trust or belief, reliable.
The word Faithful is used in different context....
a) Being Faithful to (commitment to someone, loyalty) : This speaks about relation (to wife, others and the LORD) Rev 2:10,13 , Prov 5:18
b) Faithful in : This speaks about the stewardship Mt 25:21, Lk 16:10
c) Is Faithful : This speaks of someone, something we can rely on 1 Tim 1:15, 2 Tim 2:11
d) Full of faith : faithfulness is judged by somebody else.
Being faithful is a character which GOD has put in every human being.
GOD is faithful 2 Thes 3:3
There is no criteria for GOD to command somebody as faithful person. None of the people mentioned as faithful in the Bible were perfect. GOD does not look at our past deeds.
A person cannot be a steward unless he is faithful. - 1Cor 4:2
We have to be faithful in all areas of our life. Unless we are faithful, no responsibility will be given to us.

Some of the people mentioned as faithful in the Bible:
1. Silvanus (faithful brother) - 1 Pet 5 : 12
2. Onesimus (faithful brother) - Col 4: 9
3. Tychicus (faithful minister) - Col 4: 7
4. Epaphras (faithful minister) - Col 1 : 7
1 Sam 2: 35 : Being faithful means doing things that are in the LORD's heart and mind.
There is a definite reward for being faithful - Deu 7 : 9. There is also peer recognition.

Discussion points for next friday......
What is our benchmark for being faithful..... is it the LORD or our fellow bretheren?
Practical application of "Being Faithful"
Studying faithful and unfaithful people in the Bible.
Rewards for being faithful..... and consequences of being unfaithful....

Continuation Of WORSHIP

Modes Of Worship(HOW) :
1. Humble yourself (Jm 4:6-10)
2. In Spirit and truth (Jn 4:23-24)
3. With Fear and Trembling (Ps 5:7)
4. With Reverence
5. By Faith (Heb 11:4)
6. In Beauty of Holiness (Ps 29:2)
7. Together (ps 34:3)
8. With Thanksgiving (Ps 69:30, Ps 104:33, Ps 47:1-6)

Why should we worship?
The word Worship comes from Worthship.
Has GOD commanded or demanded worship from us?
-GOD has never commanded us to worship. Till Gen3 we can never see GOD giving instructions for worship. In Ex 3:18 we see GOD telling to offer sacrifices.
So, does it mean that Worship started only afte SIN entered?
- No, worship existed even before sin entered! (Rev 4: 10 -11).
Adam and Eve also worshipped GOD. There is no difference between their being in GOD's presence and our being in GOD's presence. (Rom 12: 1-2).
Worship is a continuous process and our entire life should be a worship! Our entire life should centered around pleasing GOD! We do not need any special stimulants to bring about WORSHIP.

The topic for next Friday as discussed is "STRESS"

Worship

What is the general thinking about worship ?
Generally people are of a view that going to church is worship!
Dictionary Meaning Of Worship :
It is first a noun and then a verb.
1. reverent honour and homeage paid to GOD or a sacred personage or to any object regarded as sacred.(N).
2. To render reverence and homage to(V)
Worship was used as a noun till 1200AD. Now it is used as a verb such as givinf reverence to someone.
For believers worship is fellowship, giving honour, glory and reverence to our Saviour.
The first mention of the word worship in the bible is in Gen 22:5, where Abraham told the men to wait with the donkey, and he will go with Isaac to worship and return.
The scenario shows total giving. Acknowledging to the LORD that I am not holding anything back, but giving completely to GOD. Cain and Abel gave offerings to GOD which is also worship.

The most important part of worship is the object of worship and not the worshipper. Not how we are pleased but how we please GOD. God wants the best from us. We cannot hold back anything.
Worship is adoring GOD for who he is. There is no border for worship. Bible has no reference to what amounts to worship or specific days for worship.
Earlier times the disciples worshipped on the first day of the week Act 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2
Worship in itself does not have a time frame. It should encompass all aspects of our life.

Why do we worship ?
In everyday life, not in reference to GOD, unknowingly we worship something or somebody we are in awe of . Like a role model. Something/someone who brings joy or is extraordinary. The nature of worship is inbuilt in man. But the Bible says don't worship in vain. Mat 23:9

Why do we worship GOD ?
We worship GOD .......
1. To please him.
2. Because it is a commandment. Exo 20:3, Mat 4:10
3. Because we fear him.
4. Because we are his possession. He has bought us.
5. For who HE is
6. For his grace, mercy compassion and faithfulness.
7. In faith Mat 9:18, Mat 8:2
8. Because only HE can, He is, and He will.
9. We cannot worship anyone other than HIM. Ex 20: 3-4

Is Prayer and Worship the same?
Prayer is not the same as worship. Prayer is self centered and worship is GOD centered.
in prayer we ask from GOD, in worship we give praises and glory unto GOD.
Prayer is a subset of Worship.

Modes Of Worship (HOW) :
1. Humble Jam 4:6-10
2. In Spirit and truth Jn 4:24
....................................to be continued next week

Can we say we worhsipped without worshipping in truth and spirit?
case : we are sitting in a group prayer and we say "Amen" after each prayer. But we are actually not worshipping that moment in truth and spirit.

Topic for Friday - WORSHIP

Well, few questions to ponder

• Mode of Worship?
• Can we just be an audience during worship??
• Worship takes place only in assembly???

Please channel through your questions, concerns, and points so that we can effectively discuss this topic for our mutual edification!