Prayer reflects our dependency in God.

Prayer is a sign of our dependency in God. When we are prayer-less, we are disconnected to the thoughts in the Father’s heart. God pleasing prayers originates from conceiving the Father’s desires for us to celebrate our life with Christ.

When we are content in ourselves, we fail to desire God and seek the deeper things in His heart. Here we totally fail to enjoy our communion with His Spirit.

We should always remember, without Christ we are nothing. Hence Prayer reflects the pulse of our existence in Christ. Prayer is a divine channel to draw strength from God Almighty. And joy of the Lord is our strength. Pray, because this is the day that the Lord has made to rejoice in His Kingdom and His righteousness. Amen!

Be Still and Stand Firm

Most of the time we get upset by over-reacting to unacceptable facts or unfavorable circumstances. But if we don’t train ourselves to remain calm in trouble, we loose our share of joy and peace. Spirit of fear is a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Giving him a foothold can lead us to develop inner conflicts which shipwrecks our faith in God.

God uses our rough seasons to build us and strengthen us to triumph over every works of darkness. And the perfect love casts out the spirit of fear. Hence, be still and stand firm on the foundations of Christ, because the battle belongs to the Lord Who is greater than the one who is in the world.

Christ like endurance brings everlasting peace that surpasses all understanding. While facing the stormy winds and raging seas, remember in Christ we posses the authority and power to clam them all down. But before that, be still and know He is God. Remain calm to release our inner peace into the terrifying atmospheres we face every day. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet. Amen!!!

The purpose of the Message.

Our grounding in the scriptural understanding should unite us with the Spirit and the Person of Christ. Conflicts of teachings due to strong likes and dislikes originating from spiritual pride in today’s five fold ministers demotivates the listeners. Mere knowledge with no depth and power to change lives is garbage. The Kingdom of God is not in word but in power. Those who follow Christ will be transformed into His likeness by His Spirit and Truth. More than hearing God’s Word from a messenger once in a while, we should be constantly led by the voice of the Spirit of life dwelling in us.

If we seek Him with all our heart, He reveals Himself to us individually. His Bride craves to hear the direct voice of the Holy Spirit the Teacher from within because she is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Bride of Christ adore Him and follow Him where ever He goes.

The knowledge of His will inspire us to deny ourselves and renew our minds to please the heart of the Father. If we are not spiritually blind and deaf, the Spirit of God stimulates our spirit, soul and body to rejoice in the immortal pleasures in the Kingdom of Light. The power of the Spirit enables us to eternally part with the sinful pleasures of the perishing world through crucifying our flesh with its passions and desires. Word of life has the power to transfer the life of Christ in those who sincerely surrender to live the desires of the Father.

When we come close to the Throne of Grace with a heart of worship, we will kiss the Son and love others as ourselves. But if our knowledge gives us puffed up heads, we fall from the grace in Christ Who made Himself nothing to unfold the mystery of His Father’s will. Building a platform in selfish gain by over estimating ourselves and underestimating others, quenches the Spirit and disconnects us from people.

When we know Him more, we will be humbled by what we know. Then considering others greater than us, we will share our limelight with those who know something more about our King and His Kingdom. ‘Cause we will understand, we only know by part and what we know is not yet complete before we see Him face to face.

Nevertheless after seeing many faces and hearing many voices, admiring the Bridegroom, the Bride sang adoringly, “He is the fairest of ten thousand to my soul”. For her there is no substitute for Christ her King and the voice of His Spirit. The ultimate purpose of any message from above is to transform us and prepare us for the day of transfiguration.

Paul said: Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Till then we will feed our souls with the Bread of life and quench our thirst with the Spirit of life. Jesus is coming, Amen!

Be a real father not a mere leader.

The Apostle governs, Prophet leads, Pastor guards, Teacher grounds and Evangelist gathers to establish the Kingdom of God and make His praise glorious on earth. The Ambassadors of Christ foreordained before the foundation of the world are co-builders of the Kingdom of Light. Our lives are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare against the principalities and powers of darkness working non-stop to distract us and deceive us. Integrity, transperency and unity in following the protocall of God is mandatory for a triumphant victory against the enemy.

In any war zone, the army, navy, airforce, and all other military divisions function under the same military intelligence as one single unit led by the head of their nation. The truth is that, the eye cannot hear with out the ear. We know the nose can breathe but cannot eat and stomach remains empty without the help of the mouth. As parts of His body, we are fearfully and wonderfully made to serve one another in the fear of the Lion of Judah the Great Conqueror. To become more than conquerors in Christ, we should compliment each other without contradicting and ridiculing each other.

But spiritual pride divides us and blinds us from seeing the meticulous details of the Divine purpose of our minsitry. Our collective humility keeps the unity in the bond of peace. But corrupt leadership belief systems make us think we don’t need to be accountable to others and it make us feel we dont need to be interdependent ’cause we are capable of wining the war all by ourselves, so that we can take the credit for victory.

Selfish motives that control and manipulate the ministry quench the Spirit of God. If the terminology “submission to authority” is abused, the quality and quantity of the Church growth diminish shamefully. Where there is no vision from the Father, His people perish as a result of inner conflicts. Lack of direct revelation, is a favorable condition for spiritual disaster.

If the mind of Christ is not our code of conduct, we build our personal ministry kingdoms for selfish gain and grieve the Holy Spirit. The self centic leaders, represent Christ in vain. Because they try to own the Church which Christ earned with His blood on the cross.

Seek the deeper passions in the Father’s heart. Never be self centric leaders who belittle the immeasurable possibilities of the united Body of Christ. God says, be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth. Hear the deep calling the deep, constantly know the heart of the Abba. May the Spirit of Christ Who dwells in us enable us to give birth to a holy generation united in perpertual adoration. To remain fruitful enough to subdue the earth be a real father not a mere leader. Amen! – http://www.vjtraven.com

Devil the preacher and interpreter!!!

In the wilderness devil quoted the word of God with evil intentions to Christ the Living Word who manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Discern every word and always discover the ultimate motive of the doctrine. Our God has doctrines, but He is not a doctrine, He is a Person who has the most Holy and Mighty intentions behind every word He sends to build us and sustain us. His will is our sanctification.

A doctrine originates from God is eternally Holy in motive. So Paul said: For our preaching of the glad tidings (the Gospel) came to you not only in word, but also in [its own inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction and absolute certainty [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved [ourselves] to be among you for your good.-[1Thess 1.5] Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.- [1Tim 1.5] Don’t be deceived, don’t believe half truths, for freedom Christ has set us free. – http://www.vjtraven.com

Selfish Ambition and enmity to God!!!

Our selfish Ambition is enmity to God. It causes constant friction and rebellion against God’s awesome predestined plans for us which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no heart has thought . Thoughts of the flesh continuously contradicts the thoughts of the Spirit of God. Resisting the spiritual process that makes us grow mature in tough circumstances may end up in senselessly aborting the Divine purpose of God that make us glorious and Christlike eternally.

So Apostle Jude said in Jude1:16-21, “These are inveterate murmurers (grumblers) who complain [of their lot in life], going after their own desires [controlled by their passions]; their talk is boastful and arrogant, [and they claim to] admire men’s persons and pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions which were made by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They told you beforehand, In the last days there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions. It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions–merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the Holy Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life eternal”. – http://www.vjtraven.com

In the name of Jesus people pray, teach, preach, praise, sing, clap and dance in corporate worship. But even after participating in all these acts of faith, a true worshiper’s inner man endlessly craves for a fresh encounter with God face to face. He discovers immeasurable favor of God through constantly hungering more of Christ. We can do all things for Christ without intimately uniting with HIM in the Spirit and truth. In the act of worship, if we present our minds and bodies without a sacrifice to please God by doing the perfect will of God, then we worship God in vain.

In person get united with Christ intimately and get filled with the fullness of the knowledge of Christ. A trillion Thesis’s of Christology means nothing without a saint eternally becoming a true companion of Christ in real life. Check out what A W Tozer said,“The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still.”  – http://www.vjtraven.com

Ultimately, what are you looking for ?!!!

Few years back I travelled to the Middle East in order to visit my friends in trouble. They were trapped in several court cases due to an in-house business dispute. They were not allowed to go out of the country. The Government put them on a travel ban. Even after six months, they still had no idea, when will they be free to fly again. No one could help them at that time and they desperately needed a miracle from God Almighty. At this time, I was there and I started interceding for them in fasting and prayer for 21 days.

In a guest house with no telephone, TV, News Papers, servants, friends, music and meetings I was enjoying my time alone with God. My deepest desire was to meet up with God face to face and lip to lip. Day and night there my heart and my flesh deeply craved to see HIM. No extra ordinary encounter with God happened for two weeks. Now God in His mercy did a miracle for my friends, the Travel ban got lifted; they were ready to fly again to the nations. But suddenly I was down with Chicken pox, oh what a suffering it was for me. I learned to do thanks giving and worship even in sickness and silence. No microphones, orchestra backup, sound system, pulpit and audience, nevertheless the presence of God was awesome.

I had high fever and body pain and there was no one to take care of me. My friends were very busy. Chicken pox came in the most unexpected moment and I was alone in the room with no strength to even turn and drink a glass of water. Then God send few brave born again brothers who never got infected by chicken pox. They came to know about my condition and they turned up and said we won’t allow a servant of God like you to suffer here like this. They took me to the hospital for contagious diseases. There one day a beloved brother visited me and said my brother, “life is a test”. Somehow I learned more to trust in God in my test and found rest in Him.

I had severe Chest infection; things were getting complicated. My family in India was in deep distress. The Egyptian Doctors in that hospital was rude and they behaved like harsh military generals. They were simply unapproachable and unkind. But the born again staff nurses in the hospital were very kind to me. Even then everyone seemed to me like miserable comforters. In the midst of all the trouble, seeking God I wrote a song of praise. I was hungry and thirsty for the Lord, my inner man cried to see the glory of God like John in the island of Patmos.

Then one night as I was sleeping, a nurse came to check my fever; she put the thermometer in my mouth and went to the next room. During that time I coughed so badly, I lost my breath and became lifeless for a little while. It was an extra ordinary experience as if in a takeoff of a jet plane. My spirit left my body for few seconds. And I saw the Angels of God standing near me. They looked like huge white pillars covered in glorious white clothing. Beyond in the distance I saw the sheen of God’s glory. I was inexplicably glad to see the glimpse of glory shining from the Throne of Grace. Nevertheless back in my room the nurse returned and saw the mess and she shouted my name repeatedly. But then I heard her desperate call in very low volume and my spirit returned to my body. I could feel an emergency landing taking place; I heard the sounds of a destroyed computer game. I started breathing normally and I smiled as if nothing happened and then opened my eyes to see the nurse exhausted and shivering.

I asked the nurse what happened sister? Softly she said, you simply packed your bags for few moments. One Pakistani and a Bangladeshi who shared the same room, their face looked so pale. When I asked them what happened? They said, they thought they were witnessing my death. In fact that was my healing point. I remembered what Jesus said, “The one who believes in Me will live even if he die”.

After few days I recovered completely and got discharged from the hospital and then later came back Home to India. Few days in the Middle east, I was rejected; broken, lonely, terribly sick and totally tired, nearly abandoned in a desert. By God’s compassion, those difficult times of suffering is deleted from my memory. But I joyfully remember our God’s companionship, the sweetness of His grace that empowered me to pass the test in a real life plot. I have found what I was looking for, my God in His mercy and in His glory.

My dear friend, if you are going through any trial today may I ask you a question, “Ultimately, what are you looking for?” Apostle James said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”.

There is hope that doesn’t disappoint us, because our hope is in HIM. There is light at the end of the tunnel, because He is the Light of life. Fear not, because He lives. Fret not, because He is the Hope of Glory. Never give up, because He said, I will never leave you nor forsake you, till the end of time. He is the Alpha and Omega. At all times the abundance of the fullness of His grace that is in Christ is sufficient for all of us who rest in Him. Amen!!! – http://www.vjtraven.com

Father’s Rebuke -The language of Restoration

In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a Throne, high and exalted. Isaiah and Seraphs saw the same glorious vision. But the vision of the Throne of God’s made Isaiah say “woe to me”, but it made the Seraphs adore God. They said “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty”. The vision of true worship in Heaven made Isaiah guilty about what he saw with his eyes and what he said with his lips in the past.

Our lips will be unclean before God, if the judgments with our eyes and the confessions with our lips are not faithful and true. If we look at a man and say, he is perfectly worthy to receive worship, then we are lying, our confessions become fake. When we say an unholy man is holy, we become a false witness for not speaking the truth about what we saw with our eyes. Jesus once said, ‘If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable for every fault and failure.’ ” (John 9:35-41). “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2)”

Psalm15 reveals, true worship is all about dwelling with God, “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts.” When truth is spoken in love to those who do wrong, it may hurt the one who speaks, but it can heal and restore the listener. True love is vulnerable.

Perhaps in the exposure of glory, Isaiah remembered he has made Uzziah an object of worship, perhaps he worshiped King Uzziah and said he is worthy or holy. Isaiah knew the consequences of sin before God the Righteous Judge. He said, “Woe to me”, then he quickly repented and confessed his sin and a Seraphim brought a live coal from the Alter and cleansed the prophet’s mouth. Isa 6.7-9 says: “With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go and tell this people: “`Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.”

Now God made Isaiah righteous before Him, God sanctified Him and empowered him to speak to His people on behalf of God. In Rom 8.30-31, it is written, those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? The Prophet is molded as God’s mouth piece, they need to fearlessly declare the testimony of Jesus in the Spirit of Prophecy.

To Jeremiah Lord said: “If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them” [Jer 15.19]. After the preparation of the Prophet, God sends His word through the prophet to His people and there they will listen what the Spirit of God is saying to the Churches.

2 Samuel 12th Chapter describes the story of the Prophet Nathan and King David. According to the New Testament standards of holiness, David committed adultery in his heart as he looked at a bathing lady from the top of his palace. Without overcoming his battle with the desires of the flesh, David brought her to his chambers and committed sin with her. Now to cover up that sin he made a plot to kill her husband who was fighting a fierce battle for David. David wanted her as His wife. Now through a manipulated move David orchestrated the death of her husband in the battle through deception. In response to this God send Prophet Nathan to rebuke David with a clear vision on what happened and reminded David about the consequences of these gruesome sins. David is the man after the heart of God. But closeness God is no license to sin. For freedom Christ has set us free. God expects us to be accountable for our thoughts, words and actions. We cannot abuse the Liberty which is bought for us with the blood of Christ the Ultimate Liberator. God is the God of the dead and alive, He is for ever Holy and Worthy to be worshiped.

Lord did not tell Nathan to fast and pray for David’s restoration. Father’s open rebuke can do mighty things than a trillion days of prayer and fasting.Why should Nathan fast when Lord directly told him to go and deal with David face to face. Nathan used no gimmicks, said no gossips or took no shot cuts to convey the message. Direct Rebuke was the God designed methodology used for David’s correction and restoration. The God appointed Nathan will not worship a King. A true worshiper is committed to the core to fulfill God’s predestined purposes. He loves God more than his own life. When someone like David slip out of grace, every Tom, Dick and Harry cannot go and restore him. If we are not the appointed one to confront a King like David, then with humility and passion we should intercede for the fallen one. May God restore him in the right time in God’s own Sovereign way. Till then we will patiently wait without gossip and pray.

When some one is openly or secretly rebuked by God, never blame the Prophet who is appointed by God. He is doing the ministry of reconciliation by standing on the walls of Jerusalem. Let the mouthpieces of God preach the word in love openly and fearlessly at all times. If you simply rebel against that Divine communication which leads to restoration for the diplomacy sake, then you are a crook operating in the spirit of pride. This wickedness can suppress the truth. The reverential fear of God makes us flee from evil and the love of God make us obey HIM completely.

Nathan is a Man of God with a special message of God. And it was not a message of earthly blessings. But it was a message of judgment of God over an anointed King and it is a direct rebuke to repent. Nathan did not water down the message. He was fearless to talk the heart of God to the greatest King ever ruled Israel. Lord told David, you despised Me as you committed this sin. In (2 Sam 12.10) Lord declared the judgment of David through His mouthpiece Nathan. Soverign Lord let David live, but His kid born in sin died after a week. God is very serious about His commandments and our commitments. He expects us to willfully obey it completely. He takes our response very seriously, because He is extremely zealous about us. He has now bought us with a price, we belong to Him, we are no more our own. He is a jealous God, He is the Consuming Holy Fire.

If we are bond slaves of Christ, we cannot commit a sin without despising God. That’s why it is written “Those who are born of God cannot commit sin”. You are born again by the imperishable word which carries the life and spirit of Christ. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God with the mind of Christ. They cannot disagree with God’s word and despise God. How dare can we greave His Holy Spirit our Greatest Companion and Guide on earth. God is the Father who gave His only beloved Son to save us. He has a restoration plan for our soul even when we go through the consequences of sin on earth. Our soul may get saved in eternity if we repent to please God through obedience of faith.

Father’s rebuke is the language of restoration. You will submit to God and resist the devil if you are a beloved son. God’s plan is not to harm you but to prosper you after correcting you.

(Heb 10.15-27) The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Therefore, brothers, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Holy Spirit convicts us about our sin, righteousness through Christ and judgment of God. Don’t grieve the Spirit of God our Teacher and Comforter, never rebel against God’s perfect will. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Jude says “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home–these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority”.

David understood the value of God’s reproof and wrote many Psalms. “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be anexcellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” (Psalm 141:5). Jesus gave instructions for us regarding rebuke: “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother shall trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he shall repent forgive him!” (Luke 17:3).

Paul also reminds us to “consider ourselves” when restoring others! The purpose of God’s rebuke leads to restoration, or reconciliation! “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual, restore such one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted!” (Gal 6:1)

“Open rebuke is better than secret love!” (Pro 27:5). God rebukes those He loves; Men of God need to do the same, speak the fullness of the truth in the depth of the love of Christ. Loveless rebuke is a spiritual tragedy. It is written, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev 3:19).

The time is near,what ever Theology you follow or not, the Lord Jesus is coming soon, if you like it or not this is what He says. “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.” “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done”

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”-(Rev 22.11-12,14-15). Lord Jesus come soon. Amen!!!