My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you on this Good Friday is from the book of Isaiah 53:5 “ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. And by His stripes we are healed.”
From the above context we learn that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions. The Bible says, For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. When he was hated, he did not hate back in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. Jesus did not die on the cross, for any sins of His own, but for our sins. For our rebellious nature against God. These were the procuring and meritorious causes of His sufferings and death. His sufferings and especially His being wounded to death and by bearing the sins of His people He removed the guilt, from them, and freed them from the punishment due unto them.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Jesus was bruised for our iniquities. To be bruised, is to be broken to pieces, completely. Or to be crushed. Jesus was crushed to the core for the sins of all mankind. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. “’The chastisement for our peace’’ means, the chastisement by which our peace is effected or secured was laid upon Him. He took it upon Himself and bore it in order that we might have peace.
With His stripes –indicates the mark or scars, on the skin or body of Jesus are described through different words such as wounds, stripes, weal, bruises, hurt, blueness etc. These scars, would be caused because of being beaten or scourged and this was applicable to Jesus. Isaiah predicted seven hundred years before, that Jesus would be scourged. This prediction furnishes the fullest demonstration that the prophet was inspired by the Holy Ghost. He has mentioned as if he had seen, what was going to happen to Jesus.
That is why He says, ’By His Stripes we are healed’. We are healed –by this we mean that By His death on the cross, healing has happened to us. The healing referred to is the spiritual healing or healing from sin, pardon from sin and restoration to the favour of God. The Bible therefore says, “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.”The idea is that the Messiah would be scourged and by that scourging health would be imparted to our souls.
We see that the sufferings of Jesus the Redeemer, on behalf of all mankind, is adapted to save the world. And will in fact arrest, reclaim, and redeem, all who shall enter into heaven. Are you prepared for the eternal life? Then receive Jesus as your personal Saviour, a good friend, a shepherd, a comforter, a King and so on. He died for you that You might reign with Him forever. Will you receive Him as you are. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we know that we have healing through your stripes. You took the pain and relieved us from all stress and strain. By your death we have life eternal. While we were yet sinners You died for us. You humbled yourself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Help us to be faithful to the very end, to live a life for Jesus alone.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Luke 8:43, “ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters , from the above verse, we do understand that a woman having an issue of blood for twelve long years and who had spent her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any, came quietly behind Lord Jesus Christ, and touched the border of his garment, and immediately the issue of her blood stopped. What makes the woman’s healing unique is that it was performed without a word being spoken beforehand. According to the laws in those days, a person with an issue of blood is to remain isolated. Also whoever touches those things shall also be unclean. Such a person shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and remain so till evening. Her incurable disease had drained her, not only of her energy, but also of all her money. Her desire to find a cure from the physician, had solved nothing. In fact she had become worse under their care. Her condition then was both painful, and distressing. The nature of her illness and her dependence on the physicians, cost her all her money and made her a hopeless case.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, nevertheless she was a determined woman who had faith that she could find relief merely by touching Jesus. In her desperation to be healed, she takes risks by breaking the laws. And purposely comes into contact with other people. She stealthily got into the crowd, and forced herself, boldly to touch the garment of Jesus. She was sure that Jesus would heal her if she touches the hem of his garment. She thought that she could carry away the blessing. But Jesus looked at the crowd and said, “Who touched Me? No one in the crowd knew about this act of the woman. But Jesus knew. And He said, “Somebody touched Me. For I perceived power going out from Me.”Realizing that she was noticed, she came trembling before Jesus and fell down before Him. She declared to Him in the presence of all the people, the reason she had touched Him, and how she had been healed instantly. The cure of the woman was instantaneous and complete. Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in Peace.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, are you suffering from serious incurable disease? Then trust Jesus. He will heal you of all your disease. He will restore you with good health. He will heal you as He healed the woman. The Bible says, a great multitude followed Jesus, because they saw His signs which he performed on those who were diseased. Jesus is concerned about the sick and the needy. He is a God of compassion. Look to Jesus and He will heal you right now. God says, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, surely I will heal You. He keeps His promise. Believe and you will be restored. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank you for your compassion, love and concern. Thank you for healing the woman with a flow of blood. Lord we look up to You for help when we are desperate. Give heed to the voice of our cry. Keep us free from disease. Give us strength that we may live a healthy life.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Jeremiah 32:21, “You brought Your people Israel, out of Egypt, with Signs and wonders. With a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we come to know that the people of Israel were in bondage in the land of Egypt for nearly 430 years. God had promised Abraham some hundreds of years ago, that they should come out from where they had been as bondmen. God had chosen them as His own peculiar people for Himself, above all the people. And so He brought them out of their state, of bondage. This was God’s own doing, Since they could not deliver themselves and the enemy would not let them go. Unless and until God through His supernatural power caused Pharaoh to let them go with signs and wonders.
Under the leadership of Moses, God delivered the people of Israel from the hands of the Egyptians by sending several plagues among the people with a view to destroy them. Water changed into blood, large locust were let out, storms of fire, more of frogs, swarm of lice , boils, plagues of darkness over the face of the earth, Hail storms, and in the end since Pharaoh was adamant and hard hearted to let the people go, God sent the final plague which was the death of the firstborn of all the people and animals.
To avoid the punishment, people had to apply the blood of the lamb on the door post of their houses. That night the Lord would pass through the land to strike the Egyptians. And when He sees the blood on the door posts the Lord will pass over the door, and not allow the destroyer to come into their houses to strike them. The first born of those houses which failed to apply the blood on their door post were killed. Pharaoh’ son, as well as many children of the Egyptians were killed that night.
By this gruesome death Pharaoh was terribly upset and commanded the people of Israel to leave the land of Egypt immediately. There were 600,000 men besides children, who left that night. Thus God delivered the people of Israel from the cruel task masters. God said, “So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from the land to a good and large land flowing with milk and honey.”
In the same manner God will deliver you and your family from all your problems in his appointed time, and bring peace and harmony into your lives. He will change your sorrow into joy. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank you for hearing the cry of your children and setting your eyes upon them. Lord we also thank you for delivering them from their cruel task masters. Lord You had kept your promise which you had made to Abraham. We thank you for your goodness and favour that you show to your children. It pleased the Lord to bless Israel. And so we pray that you will continue to bless your children.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Jeremiah 32:27, “’Behold I am the Lord the God of al flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”’
The Lord said to Jeremiah “’ I am about to hand this city over to king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”’ Jeremiah grew afraid as he was much troubled by Zedekiah king of Judah. So he prays to God and therefore God replies saying Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Times of fear, should be times of prayer. The thought of the omnipotence of God was there, as always, the ground of prayer. Actually Jeremiah adores the Lord. And His infinite perfections.
Whenever we are perplexed about the providence of God it is good to consider that God is the fountain of all being, power and life. Because with Him no difficulty is too hard that it cannot be overcome. For He is a God of boundless mercy and He is a God of strict justice and that He directs everything for the best. Whatever trouble we may go through, personal or public, we can comfort ourselves that the Lord sees it and knows how to remedy it. Jeremiah praises God saying Behold thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and outstretched arm. For nothing short of Almighty power could have produced such a stupendous work as the heavens. With all the host of sun, moon, stars, the earth and the sea with all that is in them. But there is no such thing with God whose understanding is unsearchable and His power irresistible , with Him nothing is impossible.
Our God is a wonder working God. He does great things past findings out, yes wonders without numbers. Jeremiah says, Your wonderful works which You have done cannot be recounted for they are more than can be numbered. You have revealed Your strength to Your people, And the heavens will praise your wonders. God says, All flesh shall know that I the Lord am your Saviour and Your Redeemer. The mighty one of Jacob. For He spoke , and it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. Jeremiah realized that there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Jeremiah realized that God shows loving kindness to thousands. He recognized the justice and judgement of God. God delivered the people of Israel out of the Land of Egypt through signs and wonders.
In response to the prayer of Jeremiah God first affirmed His power and might in the same terms as Jeremiah prayed. Jeremiah said to the Lord there is nothing too hard for You. God replied back to his praying servant “’ Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Yes, Nothing is too hard for the Lord. God will do a miracle in your life.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You for revealing Your power and Might in a marvellous manner. Teach us to fear and have reverence to You as Jeremiah. May we look up to You in prayer when we go through fearful situation and in all difficult times. Help us to realize that You are a God of Justice. Show us Your loving kindness.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of 1 Chronicles 29:11, “The Lord reigns over all, in your hand is power, and might. In Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength”.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we come to know that the Lord reigns over all, and there is power and might in His hand. He has the power to make one great and to give one strength. God gave power and strength to prophet Haggai, to deal with the people wisely. The Jews actually returned from the Babylonian captivity, under the leadership of Zerubbabel. At first the Hebrews had been anxious to re establish their religious tradition. They set up the altar of burnt offerings. And laid the foundations of the temple. But soon they became discouraged due to opposition, so the work of restoration was suspended.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, But Prophet Haggai, encouraged the people to resume their work on the house of God. But gradually selfish materialism corroded their hearts, and they were more concerned for personal ambitions than the Lord’s interest. They actually neglected the building of God’s house, that they may have more time, and money for worldly affairs. Many good works that had been intended regarding the building of temple, was badly neglected as people considered that the proper time had not come to build the temple. Thus they shirked off their responsibility.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, thus even today believers slip off opportunities that are useful and many neglect the concerns, of their souls. If we labour for the meat that perishes, we are in fear, of losing our labour. That is why Haggai says, You have planted much, but bring in little. You eat, but you are never satisfied. There is much drinking, and not to exhilarate. You put on clothes but you cannot keep yourself warm. As long as sin lasted, so long they received punishment. As a result God’s appointment in nature to satisfy, to gladden, and to warm, failed of its effect. Hence it is better and wiser to seek to be blessed by God, who bestowed, on us all things. The Bible says, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank you Lord for telling us that all our labour will be in vain, if we labour for the meat that perishes. Lord let not selfish materialism corrode our hearts. But teach us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, so that we may inherit the blessings of God.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
