Category Archives: Resources

The Bible Speaks Today – Torchbearers for Christ

let-your-light-shine“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)

In the year 2012 we recently witnessed a global sports event that takes place every four years – The Olympic Games! The Olympic flame is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. As per the custom, the Olympic torch is lit in Greece and then relayed by “Torchbearers” to the various designated sites of the games. These torchbearers are usually famous people or celebrities whom the country is proud to show off. In this 2012 olympics, Amitabh Bachchan was the first Indian film celebrity to be one of the Olympic Torchbearers. Torchbearers are people that others would want to emulate, they are role models. It is a great honour to be chosen to carry the Olympic Torch. Continue reading →

The Bible Speaks Today – Fix Your Gaze Above

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:1-2).

Many years ago, while flying over India, Handley Page, a famous British aviator, was alarmed by the sound of some animal, presumably a rat, active somewhere near him, but out of his sight and reach, having evidently come aboard his plane sometime before takeoff. There was no convenient place to land to rid himself of the unwelcome passenger. There were wires, hoses and cables which a rat could soon damage, and their damage could mean loss of control or power. It could mean disaster! What could he do? Continue reading →

Love of the World is Enmity with God

Youth Recollection – 16th March, 2014, Mumbai CCR. “Talk on Love of the World is Enmity with God”. Attended by around 300 youth from all over Mumbai City at the Apostolic Carmel Convent Hall, Bandra. Based on the biblical narrative of Abraham and Lot – (Gen 12 – Gen 20).

The sad story of Lot (Carnal Christian) who desires to profess a relationship with God on one hand and yet keep his one foot in the world. Having the best of both worlds does not work in the Christian Life. We cannot serve God and Mammon together.

The Bible Speaks Today – No Longer Slaves To Sin

If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation

If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17)

We need to realize that we have two natures within. First is the Old Man (also referred to as sin nature or flesh nature or old self) which has its source in the fallen first Adam and causes us to do the very thing we do not want to do – Sin! (Rom 7:15).  All temptations to sin make their appeal to this corrupted flesh nature called the old man.  Unfortunately, for a long time we have believed the lie that it was Satan who was the cause of our sin.  While he may be an instrument, he is not the source.  Thus we have been overly occupied with him, rather than the true source of the problem, our sin / flesh nature.  Continue reading →

The Effects of Porn on the Male Brain

By: William M. Struthers, Ph.D

Reproduced by permission from Christian Research Institute (CRI)

porn male brainSYNOPSIS

Pornography is a powerful force that has become increasingly widespread in Western culture since the advent of the Internet. As the culture has been “pornified,” the ways in which men, women, and sexual attitudes and expectations have been affected are of considerable concern. While pornography is influencing and shaping assumptions about identity, sexuality, the value of women, and the nature of relationships, little discussion has focused on the neurobiological aspects of its allure, addictive properties, and long-lasting effects. Perhaps the appeal of pornography to so many is because it activates a part of our brain that is specifically organized to look for sexual cues. What if pornography merely hijacks a part of our nature that is intended for something better? Continue reading →

The Bible Speaks Today – Strong Men Needed

christian-husband-click-submit-submission-marriage“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ” (1 Cor 11:3 NASB).

Headship does not imply superiority and Submission does not demand inferiority. “There is one unmistakable lesson in American history: a community that allows a large number of young men to grow up in broken families, dominated by women, never acquiring any stable relationship to male authority, never acquiring any set of rational expectations about the future – that community asks for and gets chaos. Crime, violence, unrest, disorder – most particularly the furious, unrestrained lashing out at the whole social structure – that is not only to be expected: it is very near to inevitable.” (Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan in Family and Nation, 1965, Wikiquote). Continue reading →

The Bible Speaks Today – Bending Low

baby-mountain-goat-kid-with-parent“And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow….”(Philippians 2:8-10)

Even servants of God can be stubborn at times. The story is told of two servants of God mightily used of God who were at odds with each other at one time.  One of them sought God in prayer on the mountain side praying and asking God how he was to tackle his friend who stood in opposition to him.  Continue reading →

SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

suffering1“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Heb 12:5-7)

Ever since the days of Job saints in all ages, have been asking the question – Why has the Lord dealt with me in such a way? Our Heavenly Father uses chastening (suffering) in our lives for various reasons.  His purpose is always “child training” for our spiritual development. Let us look at several reasons why God takes His children through suffering. Continue reading →

The Bible Speaks Today – Strength in Weakness

“When I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Strength in weaknessThe above exclamation was made by Paul when he was feeling beaten and hindered due to a thorn in the flesh which was given him by God to keep him humble. Though some Bible scholars believe that this thorn was a physical disability of some kind, we are wisely not told what exactly that thorn was, as it would be different for different people. To compound the problem, Paul had no external help; he was poor, despised, homeless, persecuted. He was conscious of inner frailties and personal weaknesses that distressed him. But all this turned out to be a blessing, for it was this very infirmity and poverty that drove him to count earthly treasures and support systems as nothing and to lean all the more heavily upon the Lord alone. Continue reading →

The Bible Speaks Today – Resurrection Life

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24)

wheat grain germinateIn the initial stage, the Christian enjoys that honeymoon time with the Lord, basking in the sunshine of God’s love, high up on that stalk, like a kernel of wheat, enjoying the myriad of conferences and prayer meetings.  But after a while he begins to realize that all is not well as his old-self keeps getting in the way pulling him down many a time and ruining his testimony.  Try as he might to live a self-less and holy life, he is beset with failure after failure.  Soon he begins to long for the Christ Life within, to be able to walk more in the Spirit and less in the flesh. Continue reading →