Behind the scenes

Acts 7.34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’[g]

With So much pain and hurt around people tend to question the sovereignty of God and even become atheist in their belief. When you and I go through situations, the first thing that we ask ourselves is, Where are you God. ?

When the people of Israel were struggling in Egypt under pharaoh God was in complete control. It did seem that God had just let them to be the way they were. But Behind the scenes, God was preparing Moses the deliverer. HE trained him, taught him, gave him a helper and helped him combat everything.

When you and I see the deliverance, that’s when we believe the work of God. Whereas God is always working. He is always on. It’s just that we did not notice it or we didn’t have the faith to believe the same. Even when you and I struggle, don’t forget that the deliverance is on its way. Be reminded that God is always working even Behind the scenes.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Your today is part of HIS plan.

Acts 7.22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

There are aspects of our life, where we think God is inactive. Somehow we don’t expect God to be involved in every little and small area of our life. But isn’t it wonderful to realize that God is concerned about all our ups and down.

Moses was well versed from the Egyptian school. God gave him an opportunity to develop leadership skills and attain all the knowledge for the mission to come. Now He just had to go to God’s i tensive school to learn to trust him completely. But before that God made sure that Moses has everything in his kitty to get back to Egypt and complete the task.

Every big and small achievement that we go through comes from God. We might feel our education, expertise & experience in a certain field might be of no use for God. But it’s exciting that God has an awesome bit of tasks and he recruits people from all areas to get his big picture look real good. Your today is part of HIS plan.  

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Come what may

Acts 7:9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him.

The true story of Joseph in Bible always astounds me but surely encourages me to believe in the sovereignty of God. Here is a man of God who has gone through so many ups and down from such a young age. Starting from his family to the authorities in Egypt, all have just tried to abuse him and hurt him. But Joseph kept on doing what was right in the eyes of God. He totally believed that God was in complete control.

Joseph went through such turmoils. A young handsome Jewish boy had become a slave in Egypt. To add to it, he was arrested for molesting a women and put behind bars on that false allegation. If he would have agreed with Potiphar’s wife he could have easily become the king of that house. But God’s plan was to make Him the most powerful man in Egypt.

When things go wrong its easy for us to question God. Yup its never good to be in a mess. But the only way out is to believe that God is in control of the situation and will make the big picture look real good. Once you believe that God is with me, then come what may.    

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Let God lead us

Acts 7. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’[a]

         Its so hard to leave your comfort zone and begin something which demands a bit. I get to meet several individuals who have not stood with the mainstream and have gone for out of the box ideas. Some have made it big and some are on the way back to the  box.

               When God called Abraham out of the Ur of the Chaldeans, it was surely not easy to respond. But he knew his God and trusted him for everything. It was an out of box idea and it worked big time.

               Its not easy to do something different in a very fast and a growing world. But when we hear from God we should respond to it. Else it won't be easy for us to be successful in anything else that we do. Let God lead us.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

HE will make HIS face shine upon us.

Acts 6.11, Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

Its a proven fact that information is power and power corrupts. Unless we are careful in using the information, we might end up harming some. The abuse of information takes place only due to evil and selfish intentions.  When things dont work out one adds cooked up stories to stir up the matter.

Stephen was a man of God who was doing God’s work. There were many who did not like Him. Stephen was a talented, humble and an effective person. He was all excited about ministry and did not care about those against him. So, the losers and the insecure, so called custodians of the law tried to frame charges against him to stop him from doing God’s work. But that was not enough to stop a man who was sent by God.

The enemy is insecure When you and I have a desire to serve God and make conscious efforts towards it. Thus the enemy uses people to bring our morale down and put us on the backfoot. But let us not be discouraged by such advances of the evil one. You and I will face opposition and allegations in our walk with the Lord. Let’s receive our motivation from above and not from those around. HE will make HIS face shine upon us.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Opportunity in every situation

Acts 6.1

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Growth is exciting. It gives enough reason to continue the endeavour and stay motivated. But often times we are not prepared for the whole package. Along with growth, comes a lot of challenges and real concerns. It simply depends on how one deals with the situation. You can make it or break it.

When the First Century Church started growing there arose some concerns. It was more to do with material things. The Apostles were quick enough to respond to the situation. They dealt with the problem in the first stage and were able to resolve it. And while dealing with the problems they set up a team. It only gave rise to some good and effective leaders.

We as individuals look for growth in everything that we do. That’s the way to go. But often we are not prepared to deal when we have a situation. Our maturity and ability is tested in times of crisis. Lets be able to keep a cool head on our shoulders and trust God to lead us out of the crisis. And Indeed He makes things beautiful. There is for sure an opportunity in every situation.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

 

We can live forever.

Acts 5.33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

One of my friend has this cool attitude. Come what may and he is least bothered. Whether on the professional front or personal. So I asked him what goes in his mind. He told me, He is prepared for the worst and that gives a cool head on his shoulders.

            The Biggest enemy of life is death. The probability is the highest here. One out of one dies. Every time we try to live for God, we have to  die for several things on this earth. When the apostles were given the task to carry out the gospel to the ends of the earth, they had already died. Thus it was easy for them to live for Jesus. So when the enemies of the gospel would threaten them, they were least bothered.

In our walk with Jesus, if we have not died for the things of the world. Our journey will only be a unending battle. Whereas we are called to struggle against the things of the world and live for Jesus. Once we are dead, we can live forever.  

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Let’s obey God

Acts 5.29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

                    “Be God pleasers and not men pleasers.” This has become more of a cliché for people to do their own thing. People go their own way and say God told them. We are in times where there is so much of fraction inside the Church, the so called people of God.

        When Peter and Apostles decided to disrespect the Jewish authorities they were doing so to honor the command of God. They were not fulfilling their desires. It was not about their group or doctrine. It was about doing God’s work at any cost. Not even once they doubted their call or thought of their lives.

        Today the Church at large has failed to stand up for the real cause. We think we are pleasing God by standing up for own cause and thoughts. Let us please God in the real sense. Let’s obey God for what HE says and not for what we hear. Let’s obey God.      

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Let’s keep it simple

Acts 5.21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

             I get to attend a lot of seminars, classes and meetings. It is indeed a good experience to learn new things and even be reminded of all that we know. It is necessary for the Church to learn and keep growing in the Lord. But sometimes the more we get to know, we make things more complex. They say Theologians are those who make simple things complex, and make a living out of it.

                 Ministry for me basically means to Know God and to make HIM known. Basically it is to keep things simple. The disciples were just rescued from prison. They did not meet a lawyer or politician. They began to do what they were told. Things were kept simple and they continued to speak the Word of God to the people. They kept on going.

     Several times we make things so complex by putting our pre-notions and lack of faith in the process. Ministry will only be done when we do it. Let us be able to keep things simple. God spoke the word and the creation came into existence. We have been given God’s word. Let’s use it with commitment and faith. Let’s keep it simple.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Witness HIM

Acts 5. 19-20

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

We as a family have a lot of close family friends. Whenever there’s a good deal in the market, we somehow get to know it from someone and otherwise. There’s always a joy in helping friends and family by recommending them a good deal or product.

         When the apostles were freed from the prison by the angels, they were told to go and continue preaching. It was indeed a boost for their ministry.  But there is of course a spiritual truth in the miracle. The fact must be witnessed to those around. And the witnessing must not be about the miracle but about the miracle worker. The excitement must not be about the blessing but the one who has blessed.

Several times when we receive a miracle we forget to witness. We miss the fact that God does a miracle to glorify Him and we are encouraged to witness HIM more. Lets take every miracle to witness HIM.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Let's be willing to learn

Acts 5:10-11

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

           One of the finest man of God I have met was the founder of the seminary where I did my Bachelors. He would come to chapel whenever he was in campus. He is the finest of the preachers and a great Bible scholar. But whenever he would sit down in the pews and whoever it was preaching, he would take notes. He is always willing to learn. A sign of a great leader.

                   When Ananias and Sapphira went wrong by being hypocrites they lost their lives. People could have easily become judgmental and curse them. Instead, the Church was seized with great fear. They took this as an opportunity to learn and realize that we can go wrong anytime. So let's be on our guard.

                 When we see people in mess. Its not the time for us to justify the situation or condemn them. We just can't explain it. We are no one to explain it. Probably it can be used as a  learning experience. Let's be willing to learn.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

More like Him

Acts 5.1-2

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

            We live in times of display. All of us want others to know our achievements and accolades. It somehow gives us some kind of confidence and self esteem. There might be nothing in bragging. But it may sometimes lead to an attitude of by hook or by crook.

          Ananias and Sapphira wanted to donate money in Church. But they were doing so because Barnabas had done the same. So they sold the land and claimed that they gave all the money like Barnabas. Whereas they had kept back some and didn't disclose it. There was nothing wrong in holding back. But claiming false credit was not done.

          Sometimes we also fall in the trap of playing spiritual games. We show off by the fact that we are just like others. Whereas God doesn't want us to be like others. He wants us to hear Him and become more like Him.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Glory to God alone.

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

We have very much heard of ministries by the name of the founders. Sometimes ministries are focussed on the person of Founder than the Person of Jesus. Precisely speaking every ministry must have the aim to know God and make Him known.

When Peter and John came back to their people after the release they were not welcomed like heroes but like Men of God. The focus was on what God did. The glory was given to God. Neither the apostles sought any credit nor the people did the cardinal sin of exalting men.

We as Leaders and people of God need to be more focussed on giving glory to God. Praise be to God for all that He does through ordinary men and women. Let us rejoice in the privilege to partner in the work of the Gospel. But let’s give all the glory to God alone.    

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Continue to preach the truth

Acts 4. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

             Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a special meet hosted by RZIM in my town. Dr. Ravi Zacharias spoke about “The cry for character in a culture of scandal”. After his talk the floor was left open for questions and the mic was grabbed by a surgeon. His question was how to be ethical in the present times. To cut short the answer, Dr. Ravi responded with a hope in God to do continue to do the right thing and be vocal about making a difference.

When Peter and John were threatened by the Sanhedrin council to stop speaking about Jesus, they did not give up. Peter and John had their response ready. They just could not stop themselves from saying what they have seen and heard. The right thing has to be done. Else we automatically promote the evil. The truth has to be told even if the majority is not bothered.

   We are living in times when the world is so much influencing the Church. Somehow in our effort to make Church comfortable for the world, We have started behaving like the world. Thus, of all times, this is the time when we have to continue to preach the truth. Maybe just not to change the world, but simply not allowing the world to change us.  

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Be with Jesus

Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

             

              Every time I spend time with some friends of mine, I am motivated to serve the Lord more and work harder. I just love that time. It just he brings best out of me. All of us have such places, person, and things which gets us going.

             Peter and John were literally ordinary fishermen in their society. But their time with Jesus had really transformed them. Their speech was different now. Their articulation of words and thoughts were really powerful. They had gone through a paradigm shift in their personality. It was basically because the majority of their time in the past 3 years or so was with Jesus. Indeed it was worth the spend.

You and I are so much influenced by the company we belong to. We speak like them, think like them and even behave like them. They say show me your friend and I will tell you what kind of a person you are. Let us be careful to be in Company which helps us become more like Christ. Let us be with Jesus.   

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

Mess into message

Acts 4:5-12

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

My parents were once part of a delegation led by their Pastor who met Mrs. Indira Gandhi the then Prime Minister of India. They shared the gospel with her, gave her a Bible and also prayed for her. I saw the pictures and realize how wonderful it was to take the gospel to the authorities who are rarely reachable.

Peter and John were arrested and it was not a good thing for sure. But the flip side of it was that they got to witness to the high authorities in Israel. God brought something real good out of it. The high Priest and the Sanhedrin would rarely make it to any of the House Church meeting or personal witnessing. But God brings out something great out of this arrest. The big shots get to hear the true and real gospel.

Several times when we end up in some kind of mess we feel that’s the end of the world for us. Honestly speaking God doesn’t like us to be there. But He makes use of the situation to do something great. Let’s give our hardships in the hands of God and let Him turn the mess into message.

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

It is God who works

Acts 4. 3-4 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

              Going to prison is always considered as the end of one’s life and character. Unless it is for a larger cause. Generally it is accepted that the person can never get back to the same status  after being behind the bars.

Peter and John were arrested and put in prison for a whole night. It seemed that once again the Sanhedrin had been successful in curbing the movement. But in spite of being in prison the message of the cross was spreading real good. People were turning away from sin and turning to God. The number of believers grew to 5000 in such hostile conditions.  Because it is God who works and make things happen.

Several times we are so much worried about our future and present based on our status and work. Yes, we should be concerned but let us not worry. God holds our tomorrow and know how to deal with things. The results and success that we see comes from God and nothing else. Because it is God who works and make things happen.  

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com

   

Let us bless

Acts 4. 1-2 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

We have witnessed emergency services in hospital and even some other places. They work with real passion. They rush to the place and get into action for the benefit of those affected. Most of the time it is selfless and and a help for others.

One witnesses an emergency service as Peter and John were heard preaching the good news to a dying and a struggling society. The so called religious council rushed to the spot to make sure that nobody is blessed. They just did not want anybody to be healed or delivered. The so called religious leaders were selfish and concentrated power with them for their self interest.

Many are passionate unfortunately for the wrong reasons. It is not to bless but to curse. We as ambassadors of Christ are expected to deliver the goods in all circumstances and bless others. Let us be passionate for all the right reason. Let us bless.    

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Stanleytisac@gmail.com