In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk

Who healed the Crippled Beggar?

Here in the story, this person is without hope. He is very desperate in his life. He is leading a dejected and miserable life. The routine in his life has no charm and is very dull. His future seems to be very dark. Every time he looks very sad, there is no happiness in his life. There is no change in his daily life.

Today also he is in the same condition. Mentally prepared, that today also he has to beg. Request people to give him something with so many questions at the back of his mind, whether he will get sufficient for his livelihood, by what time he will have to sit here, who will take him back, home and so on.

Today, again he is putting his best efforts to beg and earn more and more for his livelihood. He is busy in his business. He is begging loudly to draw attention of the people towards him, going into the temple. In the meantime he saw two people going into the temple. He shouts loudly, so that these two men may hear his voice and give him something before entering into the temple.

He is trying to draw attention of these two men in order to get something from them. These two men hear his voice and also see to him and quickly understand that what does this lame beggar wants from them. Though these two men are going to the temple but still they spare sometime for this lame beggar.

Understanding the situation, one of the two men clarifies to him that they don’t have silver and gold with them to give him. Hearing this beggar is again disappointed and leaves all his hope of getting anything from these two men. But the first man assures him that he will give him what he has.

The beggar is again hopeful. He might be thinking that at least he may receive some coins from these two men. No problem something is better than nothing. He is going to get something but again there are so many questions arising in his mind. What will they give? How much they will give? Will it be sufficient for him? Etc.

He is unaware of the fact that what is going to happen with him after a few moments. He doesn’t know about Gods planning. Today, God has a special plan for him. Today God wants to use this lame beggar as an instrument for His Glory. God not only wants to use the lame beggar but He wants to use these two men also for His glory by using them for doing something for this lame beggar in His name.

All of a sudden one of the two men with authority and in a loud voice says In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. He holds the lame beggar by the right hand and lifted him up.

For some time the lame beggar is confused. He is unable to understand what this man is doing with him. Why he started shouting? Why this man is pulling my hand? What does he wants from him?

But immediately the lame beggar understands that what is happening, when he realizes that he is not sitting but standing on his own feet. When he feels strength is his feet and ankle bones. When leaping up he stood up. For a moment he must have thought that he is dreaming.

Since his birth he must have never thought that someday he will stand on his own feet and walk. O, today he will go back to his home running. Ah! Tomorrow he doesn’t have to come here. Now he doesn’t need any ones help? Now he can go anywhere, at any time.

He is thinking that these men told him that they don’t have silver and gold. If they would have given me silver and gold, that would have helped me for few days only. Now what he has received from them is for the entire life.

Having all this in his mind, Instead of going here and there, he preferred to follow these two men’s to the temple walking, leaping and praising God. Because he knew that these two men were not ordinary men. They had something very special, which others going to the temple, do not have.

Today he is very happy. All his hopelessness, desperateness, sadness and darkness in life have gone away. Today his lameness and poverty have ended. He is experiencing so many new and good things all together.     

Please read the complete incidence from the Bible in Acts 3:1-10 which says “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes on him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.”

Today the life of this lame beggar was changed just because of these two men, because they spare few moments with the lame beggar. Today all of us want things to be changed. Many people in this world are having worse condition than this lame beggar (not in terms of physical disability, but mental thinking).

Do we spare our time for them?

I think 70% - 80% of us will say NO. There are so many people in our surroundings that need little bit of our time and attention. If we guide them, show them the right path, I don’t say that all of them will change but few of them will definitely change. And any change in this world is possible in the name of Jesus Christ. All of us have to think over it.

This is very true that silver and gold can change things for some time, but the name of Jesus Christ change life forever. If we consider the life of a lame beggar, before he was healed was lame and very weak, he was dependent on others, he was desperate because he was physically challenged as well as financially weak and a requester because every time he required help from others whether physically or financially.

The same situation is among so many people around us. They are weak, dependent, desperate and requester. We can change their lives as Peter and John changed the life of a lame beggar. Though they were going to the temple to worship but still they spared some of their time with the lame beggar and healed them in the name of Jesus.

They felt that healing that lame beggar was more important as compared to praise and worship because Mathew 25:34-46 says “Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink? When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you? Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came to you? And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

Forgiveness

All of us have read this story from the Bible several times. Mentioned in Mathew 18:21-35, where Peter questioned Jesus that how many times should he forgive his brother, until seven times? And Jesus answered not seven but seventy times seven. Means there is no limit of forgiveness, and we have to forgive every time.  

• Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?
• Jesus said to him, I say not to you, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.
• Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
• And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
• But for as much as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
• The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.
• Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
•  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe.
•  And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and sought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.
•  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
• So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.
• Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me:
• Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?
•  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him.
• So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

Forgiveness is also one of the keys to salvation, because in Lord’s Prayer, we daily pray to God that, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. In Mark and Mathew it is clearly said that if we do not forgive others who trespasses against us, our Father will also not forgive our trespasses. See Mark 11:25 says that “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” If we do not forgive, its answer lies here in Matthew 6:14-15 where it says “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Why it is necessary for us to forgive each other. Ephesians 4:32 says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

James 5:16 also says that “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

See what God says in Isaiah 43:25, “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” It further says in Isaiah 44:22-23, “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.”

Bible says that if anyone sins against us seven times a days and turns back to us and ask for forgiveness, we have to forgive. Read Luke 17:3-4 where it is written “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

All of us know that Jesus prayed for our forgiveness from the cross. As, it is said in Luke 23:34, “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments.” Jesus himself showed us the way that we have to forgive everyone, every time. There is no counting, no calculation that how many times we have forgiven.

In the same way fasting and praying does not make any sense. If we have any grievances with anyone, first we should settle it and then come to Lord. See Matthew 5:24 what does it says “Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Bible in Romans 12:17 say that we should not repay evil for evil, but guide to do honorable decision. See “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”

Now the question arises that how can we do this? Have we ever noticed that how many blunders and mistakes we commit during a day? How many times we lie, how many times we curse others, how many times we cheat and so on. But our Father in heaven, who is full of mercy and forgiveness, forgives us every time, when we repent and ask for His forgiveness. As written in Daniel 9:9, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.”

In the same manner we should also forgive others. This is possible only through love. To love one another we should possess fruit of Holy Spirit and this Holy Spirit will not only provide us with love but also blesses us with so many other gifts as joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness etc. which will provide us the strength of forgiveness. See Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

Love your Neighbour as yourself. Do you know your Neighbour?

The dictionary meaning of neighbour is “a person living next door to or very near to the speaker or person referred to” but what does the Bible says about the neighbour. Who is our neighbour? Does the Bible also tell us the same definition as the dictionary defines?

Come on let us see according to the Bible that who is our neighbour? This is a story Jesus told to the lawyer who asked Jesus to tempt him by asking Jesus Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus told him the beautiful story mentioned in Luke 10:30-37.

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you. Which now of these three, think you, was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus to him, Go, and do you likewise.

This story was told around 2000 years before by Jesus to a knowledgeable person as the Bible says that the person who questioned was a lawyer and he asked this question to tempt Jesus. How beautifully Jesus told him the story and asked him the answer to his question and the lawyer replied He that showed mercy on him and Jesus said to him Go, and do likewise.  The same law is for all of us also.

So the moral of the story and definition of neighbour according to Bible is the people who are in our surrounding are our neighbours. There is an old proverb; a friend in need is a friend indeed also gives the same message.

I would like to take another example from Mathew 22:35-40, Where again a lawyer asked a question to tempt Jesus that which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus did not tell him one commandment, but He told him two commandments and He also said that the second one is equivalent to the first one. Jesus also said that all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.

Read from the New Testament, Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like to it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

These two commandments told by Jesus were not made by Him. He quoted these two commandments from the Old Testament. As I have mentioned in one of my previous article Faith alone in Christ is not only the key for salvation (Quick reference for those who missed to read) where Jesus said  that He has not come to destroy the law, or the prophets, but to fulfill. 

The first commandment Jesus quoted is from Deuteronomy 6:5 where it says, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” And the second commandment is from Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”

In the Bible there are many references that quote to love your neighbour and it also says that if anyone follows this one word, fulfills all the law. Read what Galatians 5:14 says “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Leviticus 19:13, “You shall not defraud your neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with you all night until the morning.”

In Romans it says loving one another fulfills the law. See Romans 13:8-9, “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. These two verses of Romans tell very clearly that if we love our neighbours, we will not commit any such act which hurts another person.

Loving one another is the only solution to keep us away from all evils. See James 2:8-13, “If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well: But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, do not commit adultery, said also, do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law. So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment”. Because if we follow and abide by all the laws of the scripture and fail to follow one, we will also be measured accordingly at the time of final judgement.  

Bible also says that whoever follows the rule of love is born of God because love is of God. 1 John 4: 7-8, says “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.”

Friends according to Bible neighbour means the people who are around us, wherever we are at home, office, business, marketing, travelling, flying etc. The people around us at that moment of time are our neighbours. Whether, we know them or not, we have to love them and help them in whatever ways we can. Love does not means that we have to say it by our tongue or express it in words, but it should be by heart because love is from God and that’s why it is said GOD is LOVE. 

तेरे लहू की शहादत है ये, नया जन्म दिलाया हमें – एन्जेलीना

तेरे लहू की शहादत है ये, नया जन्म दिलाया हमें - पाकिस्तान के मशहूर गॉस्पेल गायक पास्टर अर्नेस्ट मॉल  के द्वारा गाया हुआ एक खूबसूरत गीत है जिसे मैंने गाने की कोशिश की है l 

Originally this song was sung by Rev. Ernest Mall, a famous Gospel Singer of Pakistan. I have tried to sing this song. I have also mentioned the lyrics of the song in Hindi.

इस गाने के बोल भी आपकी सेवा में प्रस्तुत हैं। 

तेरे लहू की इनायत है ये, अम्बर पे बिठाया हमें,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

लहू ने बचाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की  शहादत है ये, नया जन्म दिलाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की इनायत है ये, अम्बर पे बिठाया हमें,

इस लहू में खुदा की वफ़ा, माफ़ी का शिफ़ा का मसाह,

इस  लहू में खुदा की वफ़ा, माफ़ी का शिफ़ा का मसाह,

माफ़ी का शिफ़ा का मसाह,

तेरे लहू की सखावत है ये, यहोवा मिलाया हमे,

तेरे लहू की सखावत है ये, यहोवा मिलाया हमे,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

लहू ने बचाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की  शहादत है ये, नया जन्म दिलाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की इनायत है ये, अम्बर पे बिठाया हमें,

लहू तेरा यीशु जब बहा, नया अहदे वफ़ा बन्ध गया,

लहू तेरा यीशु जब बहा, नया अहदे वफ़ा बन्ध गया,

नया अहदे वफ़ा बन्ध गया,

तेरे लहू की कयादत है ये, जीना मरना सिखाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की कयादत है ये, जीना मरना सिखाया हमें,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

लहू ने बचाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की  शहादत है ये, नया जन्म दिलाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की इनायत है ये, अम्बर  पे बिठाया हमें,

इस लहू में धुले जो बशर, वो ही जाने है इसकी कदर,

इस लहू में धुले जो बशर, वो ही जाने है इसकी कदर,

वो ही जाने है इसकी कदर,

तेरे लहू की वकालत है ये, पवित्र बनाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की वकालत  है ये, पवित्र बनाया हमें,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

लहू ने बचाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की  शहादत है ये, नया जन्म दिलाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की इनायत है ये, अम्बर पे बिठाया हमें,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

पापों से, बोझों से, लानत से, रोगों से,

लहू ने बचाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की  शहादत है ये, नया जन्म दिलाया हमें,

तेरे लहू की इनायत है ये, अम्बर पे बिठाया हमें,

अम्बर पे बिठाया हमें, अम्बर पे बिठाया हमें,

Faith alone in Christ is not only the key for salvation

Dear friend’s faith alone in Christ is not only the key for salvation. We all know and read the Bible since our childhood. All of us are taught about the basics and principles of Christianity. Not only the Christians but 90% of the people of the world knows about Jesus Christ, His teachings and His sacrifice.

Though, every one of us knows about Jesus Christ but only a handful people are eligible to qualify to enter into the Kingdom of Lord. I hope most of you will disagree, but this is the truth.

Know WHY?

John 14:6 says “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Yes, it is true. Jesus has shown us the way, He has told us the truth and He has told us about the eternal life.

The matter is that Jesus told us everything but how much do we adhere or follow. The Ten Commandments (The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are a set of commandments which the Bible describes as being given to the Israelites by God at biblical Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Hebrew Bible, first at Exodus 20:1–17 and then at Deuteronomy 5:4–21) were given at the time of Moses.

In New Testament, if you read Mathew 5, Mathew 6 and Mathew 7 you will find the complete detail of do’s and don’ts in the Sermon on the Mount given by Jesus to his disciples. Here Jesus has covered almost all aspects of life, that how one should lead the life in this world. He also gave examples to explain. Some of the topics that Jesus guided in the Sermon on the Mount are:

• ·         About Fulfillment of the Law

• ·         About Murder

• ·         About Adultery

• ·         About Oaths

• ·         About punishment

• ·         About Love for Enemies

• ·         About Giving to the Needy

• ·         About Prayer

• ·         About Fasting

• ·         About Treasures in Heaven

• ·         About Heaven

• ·         About entrance in Heaven

• ·         About worries

• ·         About Judging others

• ·         About True and False Prophets

• ·         About True and False Disciples

The Ten Commandments which were given at the time of Moses were revised and repeated by different people at different interval of time as a reminder and in the same sequence Jesus came and reminded of the same laws. He told in very clear words that one has to follow and fulfill all the laws, if they want to enter in to the Kingdom of Lord.

Jesus mentioned clearly that He has come to fulfill the law, not to destroy it. See Mathew 5:17-20, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

A person is bound to follow the rules given by God either through Moses or through Jesus or through other Prophets as I have already mentioned above. Along with it a last and the most important condition to receive salvation is that a person has to believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord. Read Romans 10:9, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus came into this world for us, He died for us, He was raise from the dead, and He is our Lord and Saviour. This is the belief of all the Christians and His followers. But unless and until we don’t follow to the laws, we cannot receive salvation.

Dear friends the laws given in Ten Commandments or in the Sermon on the Mount are not at all tough to follow it. If we follow it along with the faith and belief in Jesus, We will definitely enter into the Kingdom of God. So always be righteous and have faith in Jesus our Saviour.