Unleashing the power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”.

Football has been one of my favourite sports while I was growing up. Even now in our school reunion parties, we do recall some of the tournaments that we played for and discuss them in great details. In school during lunch time we would play football each day without fail. Football was my only motivation I had to go to school. But there would be times when our teachers would not give us the football to play. In spite of the other expensive sophisticated gear that we had, without the football we could not play. The ball is the most essential entity in playing this sport.

For some of us Christians (including me) cross has become just a one time event. What Jesus did on the cross is no longer a reality for the present circumstances but stays in our portrait memories. Jesus Christ came on this earth to do the will of the Father and that was to take up the cross. If we miss out on the cross then we miss out on who Christ is. And if we miss out on Christ then what kind of a Christian life are we really living? Knowing what Christ did on the cross is the most essential entity of our daily walk. The message of the cross is indeed the power of God to those who are being saved (1 Corinthians 1:18). Jesus asked His disciples to take up their crosses and follow Him (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23) which becomes a daily reminder that it is no longer about us but Him (Galatians 2:20). Cross should become the centre of our thinking process, our attitude and actions (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

In Numbers 21 we read that when the Israelites were being bitten by the snakes, God asked Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole so that those who looked at it would be saved. Let us constantly look at the cross (John 3:14-15) and be Christ conscious, for in knowing Him we have eternal life (John 17:3). The message of the cross indeed unleashes the power of God. We have all experienced this at some point of our lives and I want to encourage you to make this our daily lifestyle.    

Samuel Thomas (Sam)

Sam is a Christian minister who is serving the Lord in various capacities. He is an integral part of MTU, New Delhi and is also ministering with Crossway Church. He can be reached on samvthom16@gmail.com

God Only Disciplines Those Whom He Loves

Proverbs 3:11—12; “11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

A little boy was playing with his toy boat in a pond. While he was not paying attention, the boat began to slowly drift away, and the boy was unable to recover it. Just then a man passing by, and seeing the boy in distress at his loss, did something very interesting. He picked up a few stones and threw them on the other side of the boat. The boy didn’t understand what the man was trying to do. However, the stones were causing quite a disturbance in the water. Each stone that touched the water caused a ripple motion of waves outward, which in turn, slowly pushed the boat toward the shore, where he and the boy stood.

This is a very good picture of God’s discipline in our lives. Every time we wander away from God into the “Sea of Sin,” or the “Pond of Unrighteousness,” He lovingly introduces disturbing acts of discipline that create disruption at the very core of our being, which pushes us back to him. Ah the grace of God! Words cannot express the unfathomable love that draws us back to Him.

No wonder, after giving due acknowledgement to the Grace of God that worked in redeeming him in the first place, the hymn writer closes by penning these words:

“Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee!

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it!

Prone to leave the God I love!

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it.

Seal it for Thy courts above.”

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Give God the Right to have His Way

John 1:10—11; “10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”

I recently read a true story of the world famous, Felix Mendelssohn, who was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic Period. Romantic music is a term denoting an era of Western classical music that began in the late 18th or early 19th century. It was related to Romanticism, the European artistic and literary movement that arose in the second half of the 18th century, and Romantic music in particular dominated the Romantic Movement in Germany.

One day he walked into a cathedral in Europe, and seeing the organ, said to the caretaker of the cathedral, “Sir, may I please play this organ?” He replied, “Oh no! This is our brand-new organ. We can’t just allow anyone to play it.” Mendelssohn asked again, “Please, sir, let me play the organ.” “I’m sorry. You don’t understand. This is a very expensive organ. We can’t let you play this organ.” The composer tried yet again. “Please, please let me play.” Since Mendelssohn was very persistent, the caretaker finally yielded to his request.

Mendelssohn sat down in front of the new organ and started playing. Music like the man had never heard resounded through the pipes of this organ. Harmonious sounds unlike any that he had heard in his life. The caretaker asked, “Mister, who are you?” Mendelssohn introduced himself. The man stood there and stared at him with his jaw dropped, and mouth wide open, recognizing who stood before him. He felt embarrassed to think that he had been foolish enough to forbid Mendelssohn the opportunity to play the organ. He just didn’t realize who was in his cathedral.

My friends, John says that the God of the universe, the Creator, was in the world, but the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Isn’t our response to God’s presence in our lives the same? How often have we given the same callous reaction? May there never be a moment in our lives where we become oblivious to His presence in our lives. How fitting is King Solomon’s advice to us in Proverbs 3:5—6, “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” My prayer for us is that we may daily recognize the power of the presence of the Almighty God, and give Him the right to have His way.

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

Romans 12:2; “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

We have all learned in science that the moon radiates no light of its own. The brilliance of the moon that we see in the nighttime, is the result of the reflection of the sun’s rays. On some days we see a full moon, while on other days it appears as partial. Now we all know that this is because the earth gets in between the sun and the moon. As the gets in-between the sun and the moon, our visibility of the moon also gets interrupted. To state is simply, the earth keeps getting in the way.

Many of us are not able to move forward in our lives, because the earth keeps getting in the way. We are so focused on time, and so foggy about eternity, that the benefits of eternity are not able to penetrate the realities of time, and we are stuck with what we see. My friends, Let us not be conformed to this world, but let us “Turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Run to Win the Prize with the Right Motivation

Matthew 6:10; “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

I’m sure that we all have watched the Olympic Games at some point in our lifetime. Every nation who wish to participate in the games send contestants to compete. Each competitor works hard, and go all out with the goal of winning a prize. At the end of each game, the top three contestants are publically recognized, and awarded medals on the basis of their standing. Many of us remember Abhinav Singh Bindra, the Indian shooter, who won the gold medal in the 10 m Air Rifle event, in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He was the first Indian ever to win a gold medal for India at the Olympic Games. And it brought great pride to the hearts of every Indian in the world as he received the gold medal. In fact, many viewers even shed tears of joy, along with Mr. Bindra, as the music was played.

However, it was interesting to note that Mr. Bindra, who received the gold medal for this particular event, had absolutely no say in the choice of the song played at “his” award ceremony. The International Olympic Committee had already made the decision on what would be played. The music that echoed in the stadium, and throughout the world, as he stood on the victory stand, was the Indian National Anthem. Even though he competed individually for the event, the victory was not about him. It was part of a bigger picture, and under a bigger banner. Since he was representing India, the national anthem of India was played for the whole world to hear. Moreover, when he returned home, India proudly recognized his accomplishment. I am yet to hear of Mr. Bindra, or for that matter, any Olympian, raising an issue with the International Olympic Committee, and working towards changing this policy.

How humbling it is to know that the God of the universe has chosen us to be in His kingdom. Let us run the race in such a way that we may obtain the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). May the lyrics of the song that motivate us to run be, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” May our eyes capture a glimpse of the moment He awards us our prize, and may our ears hear the anthem of His praise resound throughout eternity. So that, we will sing with all the saints, “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13)”

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

God likes US

God likes US

Matthew 18:14 -  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

One of the Greatest and Biggest truths of the Bible is that we are the Objects of God's love. God didn’t save us because of our Social status, qualifications, looks etc. It is because of his infinite love for us, which is clearly mentioned in the bible in John 3:16 " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He even loves those whose are afield. As Jesus said in a similar parable (luke 15:7) "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

As the word says, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation and once we are new creation in Christ, there is tendency in us to become harsh and rude to others those who are not in Christ. We even make fun of them at their mistakes. However, we forget one thing that we were in the same shoes before, now it is Christ who chose us and separated us and made us new. It is His Love that brought us to repentance. And we become judgemental and speak harsh words or malice against them. We have been chosen to be blessed and to bless others. As in 1 peter 3:9 says "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.". We have to realise one thing that Jesus didn’t have that attitude when he chose us.

It is by HIS Grace alone we are saved and today what we are. Now we are on the journey towards Eternity, wherein its our Duty to add more people with the same love towards them.

Tony John

Tony is one of the founding members of Crossway Church. He is ministering as the media Coordinator for Crossway. He is presently working in Dubai and Serving the Lord with his local Church.

Be Doers

James 1:22 (KJV)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

One of my favourite punchline comes from Nike " JUST DO IT", so I have this as my wallpaper
in all my gadgets, as it encourages me. Early days of my life, I would always regret for things I could have done. However, I never initiated myself to do something, it was just thinking, and no action.

The most common tag line of christians today is that we must help everyone, Strangely we only help those who are either our friends or we are familiar with them. Our help is restricted to some people. Unless we extend ourselves, we will not be able to come to know what one is going through. Helping everyone remains as a lip service. Thus there is no action further

Often we see the advertisement for the Gym, and we of start imagining of having six pack abs. But in reality it is not like that. However, if we start working out regularly, then we might achieve it.
If moses would have not streched forth his hand, the sea would have not been separated. Moses did what God said to him (Word + Action = Result).

As the word says in Isaiah 43:2 - When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Thus, speak to your mountains, it will be moved. Do it.

Tony John

Tony is one of the founding members of Crossway Church. He is ministering as the media Coordinator for Crossway. He is presently working in Dubai and Serving the Lord with his local Church.

Let us not worry

Acts 12:5-6, 

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

A story is told about Uncle Oscar who was apprehensive about his first airplane ride. His friends, eager to hear how it went, asked if he enjoyed the flight. "Well," commented Uncle Oscar, "it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I'll tell you this. I never did put all my weight down!"

While Apostle Peter was kept in prison by Herod, Church kept him in prayer. Peter was in prison after the execution of Apostle James the brother of John. But Peter had no fear. He could simply sleep in prison and did not worry about his future and the ministry. He simply realized the fact that his life and ministry is in the hands of God and HE knows the best.

More often than not we tend to place our trust in almost everything except God. In times of need and despair we forget the promises of God and displace our Christian character. But the finished work on the cross reminds us that HE has done it all. Let us not worry.

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 not take their praise

Acts 12:21-23  

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

They say that the chances are about 10 to 1 that when a man slaps you on the back, he wants you to cough up something. I once had a phone call from a friend who was praising me about some of my abilities. (I doubt though). He just went on talking, and then he asked me for some money. I now realized that I surely don’t have any ability. It was just his need that made him do that.

When King Herod was being praised by the people of Tyre of Sidon, he was really enjoying it. The people did it because they had a need for food. They did not like Herod anyways. But once they praised him without any truth in it, it was Herod who lost it.  

Hope we realize that there is a difference between Appreciation and Praise. Some of us are surely aware of what goes around. But do we know the fact, that most of the praises that we receive from any quarter is intended? Whereas, appreciation is mainly for the work done and out of good wishes. Let’s not take their praise.  

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 working

Acts 12:8 

Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.

Some years ago a former American astronaut took over as head of a major airline, determined to make the airline's service the best in the industry. One day, as the new president walked through a particular department, he saw an employee resting his feet on a desk while the telephone on the desk rang incessantly.

 "Aren't you going to answer that phone?" the boss demanded.

"This isn't my department," answered the employee nonchalantly, apparently not recognizing his new boss. " I work in maintenance."

"Not anymore you don't!" snapped the president

When the angel of the Lord took the chains off and told apostle Peter to wear his shoes, Peter was surely surprised. But for sure he knew it was the work of the Lord and he was quick to respond to the situation. Actually if God could break the chains and open the prison doors, God could easily get peter dressed up as well. But God doesn’t waste any miracles. He lets us do what we should do in our walk with HIM.

Several times in our walk with the Lord we have had moments when we hold ourselves back to let somebody else do the things for which we are empowered by God. Those are times when we distract ourselves from the purpose of God. As HE continues to work, HE helps us work. Let’s be working.     

Stanley Thomas Isac

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

His eyes are upon us

1 Peter 3:12 

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil. (ASV)

By God’s grace I have the privilege to work with people from several walks of life. It is so nice to see the Lord work in their lives in different ways. One of the questions that many have is the same age old question which Philip Yancey talks about - Where is God when it hurts. Indeed its a genuine and an important one.

Many times we have the same question in our hearts when we are struggling with issues in life. But rarely do we put this up when we are engaged in thoughts and activities of Sin. In those moments we just feel and wish that God is really not watching.

How wonderful it would be if we would be more sensitive about HIS presence in all the areas of our lives. Lets be reminded of the fact that He is watching us at all the times. His eyes are 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

Let us give with a Cheerful Heart

2 Corinthians 9:7;

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

One day a man, lost in a desert without water and dying of thirst, saw an old shack. Since he didn’t have much longer, he painfully made his way to the shack. Inside was a little jar of crystal clear water set on the floor next to a pump. Flooded with relief, he walked over to the jar in order to quench his overbearing thirst. As he reached down to pick up the jar of water, he noticed the sign that read, “Use this water to prime the pump outside, in the back. Once you have satisfied your thirst, kindly refill it, and leave it for the next person who will pass this way.”

Extremely thirsty, he found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. He asked to himself, “What if I followed directions on the sign, and there is no water in the well? He had to make the decision of serving himself in the present, or take a chance by investing deep down, where there was so much more.

Giving is a method of priming the pump of God’s blessing. We can either consume the little that God has given, or use it to prime something that has eternal value. Let us pray that God will open our eyes to see beyond the present, and invest in that which is of eternal value. This is why Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Learn from the Oysters!

James 1:2-4; 

“2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Oysters suffer affliction when a grain of sand becomes lodged inside their shell. No matter what they try to do, they cannot get rid of it. The grain of sand begins to irritate them, and even drives them crazy. In other words, it’s like a thorn. In order to get relief from their anguish, they begin to release a substance that coats the grain of sand. Over time, as a result of multiple layers of coating, a sense of comfort is achieved. They do not get rid of the sand, but the sand gets embedded within the multiple layers of coating. Years later, out comes something that costs a mint, a costly pearl. Perfect example of pain that fashions beauty and elegance.

Christians! When God allows us to suffer, He does it to produce something precious. That is why Peter admonishes his audience to “…greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ….” (1 Peter 1:6—7). May God help us to trust completely in Him when we go to various trials, being assured of the fact that God is perfecting His work in us.

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Learn from the Dogs!

Titus 3:3-5; 

“3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit….”

I have a dog at my house, and her name is Ginger. The other day my son and I spent a couple of hours playing with her, which is not normal for us. After seeing some of the things she did, it opened my eyes to see the similarities between dogs, and Christians who live life without purpose. First of all, dogs bark, and this can be quite disturbing, and they bark for just about anything. As humans, we cannot figure out what they are trying to say. All we hear is just noise, their desperate need to be noticed. One typical characteristic of Christians who live purposeless lives is that they create a lot of noise, but do not stand up for anything. Sometimes they even don’t stand up for their own beliefs and convictions, and they prefer to go with the flow.

Another thing that dogs do is to run around in circles. It is not particularly going anywhere, but it is constantly on the move. Haven’t we all, at some point in our life seen, and even laughed, seeing a dog run in circles, chasing its own tail? And when it is finally done, it ends exactly at the point where it began. Ah! The zenith of life without purpose! Christians look for purpose in life in all the wrong places. In order to fill the void, some, Christians included, stay constantly on phones, PDAs, televisions, computers, and emails, stuff that distract us, and keep us busy. Others, find ways of keeping busy with “activities,” sometimes even in “Church Activities,” convincing ourselves of fulfilling the “ultimate” purpose in life. After all, how could being entrenched in church activities lead to purposeless lives? Finally, dogs are consumers. They don’t eat when they are hungry, they eat when they see food. They live just for the fun of life, without any meaning, or hope in life.

We can learn a lot from dogs, because dogs are creatures that ONLY function on a level that is external. They love to be petted and rubbed. Ask any dog owner, how much they love to be rubbed in the belly. In fact, ALL dogs willingly lie on their backs, with their four legs in the air to be rubbed in the belly. They enjoy that good, momentary feeling. It is just a good feeling for the moment on a nice external coat. Lots of people, even Christians, get up out of their beds daily live their lives like dogs, hoping that someone will notice, and some way make them feel valuable and significant. But God’s design and desire is to release our souls from the hollowness and lead us to a life of fulfillment in Christ. God has not accepted us, nor can He accept us looking at our works of righteousness, because ALL our works are like “filthy rags” before Him. But be satisfied of the truth that He saved us, according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. My prayer for us is that, God will enable us to live purposeful lives.

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com