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Be Courageous – Christian Cartoon

Our Masters Voice — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:35:02 +0000

Be Courageous

Deuteronomy 31:6 (New International Version)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

One Way

Our Masters Voice — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:20:18 +0000

One Way

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

God’s Prescription

Our Masters Voice — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:55:19 +0000

God's Prescription

My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man’s whole body.
- Proverbs 4:20-22

The Mystery of Godliness is Great

Our Masters Voice — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:34:58 +0000

Mystery of Godliness

Godliness is a mystery for all of us, because it eludes our understanding. Can you imagine the God of Heaven and Earth, the creator of the whole universe walked among us, with same blood and fragile flesh like you and me. Yes it was a surprise entry in the history of the world when Jesus walked on this earth 2000 years before. He was thirsty, he was hungry, he was tired, he was tempted (but never sinned), he suffered, he even cried like you and me when he saw suffering of his beloved friends. Suddenly we have this question WHY he should? That’s what Apostle Paul writes it is a Mystery. It is like a man turning himself to a small ant to save the ants from the coming forest fire which the ants never know.

Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. – 1 Timothy 3:16

Goodness Vs Godliness

Ask anyone around you, everyone wants to be good, Even a worst of sinner, a murderer or an adulterer will say he or she wants to be good. When God created mankind in his own image he gave his glory that is godliness to them. But when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of Good and evil and sinned against God, they gained the knowledge of what is evil and what is good. They actually lost the ability to lead a Godly life, but still they know how to be good. So only they made a fig tree garment for themselves when they understood they were naked. But God the creator wants his creation to live a Godly life.

This word Godliness is only used in the Bible after Jesus came in to this world, meaning only in the New Testament for 15 times. The Old Testament of the bible never used this word Godliness. It is a Greek word called ‘Eusebeia’ meaning “Having reverence towards God”. Godliness is not Goodness! Godliness is being good out of reverence towards God. Goodness is being good out of respect to society or our neighbors. Goodness depends on the Society; if the society itself is bad your goodness is also bad. But godliness is God’s standard, Gold Standard.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 14:12

If you live a sin free life when people are around you it is Goodness, it is good for the society. No offense to anybody. But Godliness is living a Holy life even when no man sees you, but you revere, love and respect God so you do not want to sin. God always honored his champions who lived a Godly life. Take example of Joseph and how he was tempted (Genesis 39:7-12), one day nobody was there in his masters house, his wife asked her to sin with him, for which he said “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?“. If he wants to be just good he could have sinned with her, But Joseph said no matter what God is watching over me. Joseph had revered God so he refused to sin, that is Godliness.

Take any religion it talks about being good. But when Jesus came in to this world he set a Godly standard, he raised the bar above to the Godly standard. He did not ask us to be good but Godly. Following 10 commandments is being good in this world, but Jesus God’s only son lived among us and raised the bar by demonstrating his love by walking in godliness.

Jesus Raised the Bar to Godliness

”You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. – Matthew 5:27-28

Jesus was talking about Godliness, because what is in your heart no man can see but God can see it clearly. As children of God we are called to walk in Godliness in New Testament.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. – 1Timothy 4:8

Surely Goodness, being good will give you rewards here in this earth, But Godliness is valuable for both this life and the eternal life that God has promised for those who revere him and walk in his righteous ways.

What leads to Godliness?

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – Titus 1:1

Yes the knowledge of the truth leads to godliness, if you know that you are going to stand before the creator the ultimate judge you will walk in godliness not just be good. Jesus used this exact phrase “I tell you the truth” 78 times in the Bible, because he knows the knowledge of the truth will gives us Godliness, which will lead us to eternal life. The religious elites in those time where talking more about external purity than purity in heart, Jesus called them you are like whitewashed tombs. If we go and show our goodness before God after our death, He will show all evil inside us. Goodness is an deception which can cost us eternal life.

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you are sick of living a life good only before people and you struggle with sins when you are alone. My beloved look in to Jesus who died for your sins and crushed the power of sin. If you want to walk Godly, Just walk in his words.

Moving from Goodness to Godliness

Before accepting Jesus as my personal Savior, it really offended me when somebody said that good people cannot go to heaven. All my young life, I wanted to be good. But cherished in sinning secretly, though I had the fear for God, I did not have fear of God that is Godliness. When this knowledge of truth came in to my life, he transformed me inside out. Accepting and repenting that we are sinners before the Holy God is the first step we can make to move from Goodness to Godliness. He will make you righteous and make you walk a Godly life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

Mystery of Godliness is great; it leads us to Eternal Life…

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,
I accept that all my goodness is like a filthy rag before your righteousness. I repent from my secret sins. I believe that you died for my sins and rose again on the third day. Please forgive my sins Come inside me and give me a Godly life as you have promised from today.

Amen

Note: Please post your comments and your questions, let us have a Godly discussion

Fruit Tree

Our Masters Voice — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:03:34 +0000

Fruit Tree

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

It’s Hidden for the Wise, But Revealed to Children…

Our Masters Voice — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:14:27 +0000

Enter as Children

The people were all chanting the name Victorinus! Victorinus! Victorinus! That day as this old wise man stood up to confess his new belief in the Lord Jesus Christ after a long struggle. It was one of the extraordinary day in the late fourth Century. Christian belief was considered an outcast in Roman Empire at that time. The Old man was none other than Rome’s most distinguished professor of rhetoric Marius Victorinus. Victorinus attained such fame and popularity that in 353 a statue was erected in his honor. Victorinus was a great philosopher and was well educated man in all liberal arts, lived all his life defending his old pagan life until his conversion to the glorious Gospel of grace through God’s only son Jesus Christ accepting his grace through the cross.

Saint Augustine writes in his book Confessions about Victorinus’s and how it influenced his conversion. Victorinus read the Holy Scriptures many times and finally accepted the Gospel in his heart. Victorinus used to tell his friend Simplicianus that he is a Christian, But Simplicianus used to constantly reply “until you come to the church and make your confession there, I would not believe”. After a long time one day Victorinus said his friend Simplicianus that he wants to go to the Church. In those days anyone who becomes a Christian need to confess their faith before the whole Church. But the Church made an exception to Victorinus because he was a very popular person in all Rome so that he can confess his faith privately to the church leaders. But Victorinus boldly declared that he had openly preached his old pagan faith with great eloquence which cannot save any body so he preferred to confess his new faith in public.

Thus the chanting of the name Victorinus! Victorinus! The whole city knew him very well and waited to hear what he is going to say and Victorinus reached to the podium and humbly declared that he has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior thus confessed his new faith.

My Beloved, May be you are a well learned person, hard to come to terms with the reality of the faith. But you feel the urge and conviction of the Holy Spirit. Please do not reject his love. God made the salvation of mankind so simple that wise man cannot accept. He thinks it can’t be so simple. Think about it if the Salvation is so complicated only scientists and doctors can only go to heaven. But God has made it so simple that everyone can participate in it. Someone said “The pride made angels in to demons, but humility made man kind in to God sons and daughters”. Yes the devil and his angels were kicked out of heaven because of their pride. When we learn more we forget the creator and want to be wise before others and we refuse to accept the simple way to heaven as children.

You can only enter God’s Kingdom as a Child

Jesus said “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” – Luke 18:17

Many people want to search, search, search with all their strength to know the truth, but see the above word. We can only find God’s way, if we humble as little children. That means trusting the father even when we can’t understand. See the little children they will trust their parents if they give a promise. Victorinus was a very brilliant man, but he finally humbled after a long time. For a long time, Victorinus could not let go his pride of life (his high status) to accept the way of the Savior. Faith is not for the weak, but for the strong who can trust him who created the world.

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. Matthew 11:25-26

God did not asked for man’s help to create mankind, in the same way he do not need man’s help for fixing the problem of sin which separated mankind from him(He sent his son to the world). So please don’t try to earn your salvation through good works and following a religion even it is Christianity. No religion will save us but with the relationship with God through his son.

I will give you rest

Yes it is hidden, because you think you are wise than God. If you humble, he will reveal himself to you. Saint Augustine said “I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.”

Yes my beloved you can learn and like many wise authors, please check out whether any one of them said to you “I will give you rest”. Yes believe me he did to me on 1997 November 20th, the day I surrendered before the creator of heaven and earth.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27

If you want to pray and accept this wonderful savior who died for you and me on the cross, Please pray the following prayer with humility.

Prayer:

Dear God, thanks for opening my eyes of understanding for showing me your wonderful path. I accept I am a sinner, Please forgive me. I believe your son Jesus Christ died for me on the cross and arose again on the third day. Please accept me as your child and show me your path.

God Bless You

Note: Please contact me your comments and questions, Will love to help you to walk in his ways.

Famous Quotes of Saint Augustine

Our Masters Voice — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:01:09 +0000

Saint Augustine

After the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus, the dramatic conversion of St. Augustine – as he himself tells it in his Confessions – is the most significant conversion story in Christian history.Augustine is considered the most important early church father in history of the church. He was one of the widely quoted Christian Church Father.

Famous Quote: Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee.

Saint Augustinee: Augustine of Hippo

Born: November 13, 354 in North Africa

Died: August 28, 430

Quotes of Saint Augustine:

Love:

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.

Love is the beauty of the soul.

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.

Humility:

It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.

Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.

Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.

There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart.

Faith:

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.

Giving:

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.

Forgiveness:

Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.

Jealousy:

He that is jealous is not in love.

Bondage of Sin:

Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.

O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet.

To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.

Suffering:

God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.

God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist.

Salvation:

He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.

Wisemen:

I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.

Friends:

If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don’t accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend.

Believing the Bible:

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.

About Miracles:

Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.

About Adultery:

Passion is the evil in adultery. If a man has no opportunity of living with another man’s wife, but if it is obvious for some reason that he would like to do so, and would do so if he could, he is no less guilty than if he was caught in the act.

Patience:

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

Prayer:

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.

The desire is thy prayers; and if thy desire is without ceasing, thy prayer will also be without ceasing. The continuance of your longing is the continuance of your prayer.

Last Week I heard Max McLean’s moving rendition of St. Augustine’s Conversion sends chills down the listener’s spine. Quentin J. Schultze, Ph.D. It was awesome.

Trials and Temptations

Our Masters Voice — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:05:14 +0000

Trials and Temptations

Trials and Temptations: Hammer & Nail Cartoon

James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Do you feel wandering around?

Our Masters Voice — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:54:18 +0000

Wandering Around...

Have you ever felt like wandering? Not sure of what is happening around you, life seems to be purposeless, focus less, and Joy seems to be a distant dream. Wandering interestingly does not mean you are idle but “To move about without a definite destination or purpose”. Wandering means trying to satisfy yourself by your own trial and error methods. People who are wandering sometimes don’t even realize that they are wandering long time. Wandering is tricky and will take out our valuable god given time and energy out of us, even when we think we are doing many things and running here and there. You can be very busy but still be wandering; Keeping busy does not mean we are walking not wandering.

Cain the Wanderer

The Bible talks about a person named Cain wandering around in Genesis 4. Cain was the first son of Adam and Eve who were created by God from the dust of the ground. So Cain was the first baby born in to the world by god’s wonderful gift for mankind the ability to multiply. When Cain was born Adam and Eve exclaimed we have produced something and named him Cain. But terribly he turned out to be the first murderer; he killed his own little brother Abel. God judged him for his sin, but instead of repenting the Bible says Cain went out of God’s presence and lived in the Land of Nod.

“So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden” Genesis 4:16

Effects of Wandering:

The place Nod literally means “WANDERING”. Yes Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and lived his life just by wandering. Living away from God’s plan is wandering, doing our own thing. As God’s Children he has a wonderful plan for you and me, we could never find satisfaction in our life, unless we start living in right standing with God. God will never force his plan in to your life, but he is waiting for you to accept his plan, which gives abundant life in this word and leads to eternal life. From Cain’s life we can understand about the bad fruits of wandering.

Wanderers fear the world around them
Wanderers want to always stay alone
Wanderers will be restless in their life
Wanderers feel they never have hope
Wanderers never want to talk about the creator God
Wanderers make their own law rejecting his perfect laws

God’s Mark of Grace for Wanderers

“Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Genesis 4:14

Cain said to God after he is judged for his sin that the punishment is too heavy for him. Cain feared for his life. But God is a perfect God who has created this world with perfect laws. Any sinner should be punished that is his justice. See nature around you, this world works perfectly under laws. Scientists today are digging deeper to know how this world is working so perfectly, one thing stands out its laws. God rules his creation by perfect laws. He is not just a law giver and Judge but a gracious loving God.

“But the LORD said to him, “Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him” Genesis 4:15

Yes, God put a mark on Cain so that he will be having a grace time to repent and return to him. You might be wandering around; But God has still given you his grace to turn back to him any time. May be you walked one day in God’s ways, but now living discouraged and living away from God. May be you got diverted by the pleasures of this world, lust of the eyes. God still has a mark of Grace on you. Just comeback as you are he will heal all your wounds and change your life of desert in to an oasis again.

My dear beloved how is your life today. Are you feeling lonely, Do you feel like wandering without any purpose. Is sin ruining your life? If you feel like living a hopeless life, I want to share this good news to you that “God loves you”. As I have said God is a gracious loving God he has put a mark of grace for all of us, a way to turn back to him. He sent his only son in to this world for all of us wanderers. Yes Jesus came for you and me and died on the cross to pay the price for your sins and my sins. No more man’s sins will separate him from the loving God. You just need to take this free salvation and take the new life God has for you.

Romans Road back to God:

The Romans book in the bible clearly talks about the salvation of God through his son Jesus Christ.

1. We have all sinned and have fallen short

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Romans 3:10-18 – “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. … There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

2. Wages of Sin is Death, But the Gift of God is Eternal Life

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

3. God demonstrated his Love – He was not just giving rules and regulations

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

4. How to be saved? – Call the Name of Jesus and believe that he died for you

Romans 10:9 – “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 – For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

5. Peace with God – We have peace with God through his Son Jesus Christ

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”

My beloved today, if you want to sincerely end your life of Wandering and start a new life in him. God demonstrated his love by sending his only son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you and me. He rose again on the third day and is in heaven preparing a place for all of us who takes his salvation. He is waiting for you!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Will you take your first step to come out of your life of wandering? Let us pray

Prayer:

Dear God, thanks for demonstrating your love by sending your son Jesus for my sins. I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against your laws. Please forgive me and accept me as your son. I do not want to wander any more. I will walk in your ways. Amen

If you have prayed this prayer with sincere heart, I know God would have given you his peace and Joy right now. Share with everybody around you what Jesus has done for you.

God Bless You in this new Purposeful Life

Jaisam Daniel
Note: Contact me for more information, to continue your Jesus Journey to Heaven

Break Free! – A Musical Concert in New Jersey

Our Masters Voice — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:24:19 +0000

A Time to Celebrate!

A Time to Rock & Rejoice!

A Time to Break Free!

Break Free Concert

Dear Friends

A musical concert with Gem Gabriel is being organized to be held on 25th July 2009 Saturday from 3pm at Kingston Presbyterian Church, 4565 State Route 27, Kingston, NJ 08528. Gem Gabriel is a gifted composer and a phenomenal guitarist. He has toured extensively right from his childhood days and has many hundreds of successful recordings to his credit. His music is undoubtedly a feast to the ears and healing to the soul. Please come, relax and enjoy the incredible music, that would truly help break-free from worry, anxiety, fear, pain, suffering, depression or any trouble. Please pass this flyer on to all your friends and encourage them to attend.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, 25th July 2009. Come and bring along your friends. Please call if you need more information or direction.

God bless

In His Service

Parthiban Joseph
(609) 651-5363
http://www.followjesusministries.org

For More information about Gem Gabriel

http://www.giantkillercommunications.org

God Bless You

Our Master’s Voice