All posts by Paul Anand

Timing is important. How many of us believe that? Anything that happens before time is called premature and anything that happens after time, is called overripe or spoilt.

This Christmas season, let’s spend some moments reflecting on the significance of Christ’s birth.

Galatians 4:4 is an incredible verse. It says, “When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” God’s Word says, “When the time came . . . ” At just the right time God sent His Son. That represents the miracle of the moment.

The Bible says, “When the time came to completion, God sent His Son . . . ” But the reality is, most people missed the miracle of the moment. Most people did not recognize the significance of Christ’s birth at the time. People were much too busy to pay any attention to the young girl giving birth to her first child out in a stable there in Bethlehem.

At just the right time in history Jesus was born. The coming of Christ into the world was not a matter of chance or coincidence. His coming was part of God’s divine plan established before the foundation of the world.

1. He came at the right moment

This miracle of Christmas helps us to understand that God saved us just on time. He is always a miracle working God and all things take place in his Kingdom in His time.

John 11

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go. ”All things in our lives take place for the glory of God.

This Christmas season, it’s going to be new. Jesus will come and renew our lives. We may have been waiting for quite sometime now but remember, He comes at the Right moment.

Also, the essence of the miracle totally depends on the timing. If it is not the right time then it will never stir up our faith. Jesus came at the right time into our lives to save us. If he would have come a little early or little late then we would have missed it. Why do we call something a miracle because of the precision of time of the happening. Believe, trust God will come. But draw near to him as you wait for Him to come.

This Christmas my response would be ‘Lord I believe you will come and I want to draw closer to you’.

1. He provides at the right moment

Psalm 145:15 says, “All eyes look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time.” Psalm 104:27 says, “All of them wait for You to give them their food at the right time.” Deuteronomy 11:14: “I will provide rain for your land in the proper time, the autumn and spring rains, and you will harvest your grain, new wine, and oil.”

Romans 5:6 says, “For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly.” When do you need a miracle? When you have no more options and no more resources, you are in a position to receive a miracle from God. He has promised to come at just the right time and provide just what you need for the moment. When we are utterly helpless, Christ still comes to us today.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22: 1- 13

It’s not only materialistic provision that God provides.

He provides us with encouragement

He provides us with energy

He provides us with inspiration

He provides us with people who will lift us up

He provides us with His Salvation.

God provided His son and that is the miracle of the moment.

This Christmas let’s prepare our hearts to receive God’s provision. Let’s not forget that He provided an ultimate sacrifice for our redemption and that we may once again have that access to God.

Christmas is all about remembering that God kept His promise of long ago and provided us with His son.

III. He says now is the right moment

Second Corinthians 6:2 says, “I heard you in an acceptable time, and I helped you in the day of salvation. Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.”

We may believe or have an idea that if I don’t do it now it will never happen. but that’s not true

On the other hand many people have waited for the right time but what if God is saying the right time is now act on it and we keep procrastinating it till we miss it and settle for a mediocre plan. So be alert and do not vile away precious moments.

The birth of Jesus had precious moments and it was for a time which many of them grabbed like the shepherd, 3 wisemen but there were a few who died in their disbelief. The Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah were completed. At just the right time God sent His Son!

Parable of the ten virgins – the time the bridegroom came, that moment and then it was all over.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13

Time is now for change

Time is now to act

Time is now to repent

Time is now to Forgive

Time is now to welcome Jesus into our lives

Time is now to live

Time is now to love

Time is now to give

Christmas is a time of introspection. Jesus was born in a manger, so that He can easily be approachable by all. There were some who grabbed the opportunity at the right time to have glimpse of this messiah, however, there were some who totally ignored it. Christmas is the miracle of the moment to set all things right not because it is end of the year but because we recall what God has done for us.

He provided His son for us at the right time.

Sandra wife of  Virjil, The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

Martin Vareed is from Duabi Church.  The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

Stanley Mehta is the Senior pastor and pioneer of Gateway Ministries International.  The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

The Treasure Series – Serving God

Good morning church! This morning we are continuing on The Treasure Series, which we been looking on for last 4 weeks. Today we are going to look into an amazing hidden treasure known as Serve. Serving God.

Why Serving God is a treasure?

Proverbs 19:17 says – Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

What do you think? If it says you are lending to God and he is going to repay you back, was it not the real treasure? Receiving something from the precious person is really a treasure, right? So, of-course, serving God, is a real treasure. On saying that what does it means when we say serving God?

What is serving God means?

James 2:14-17 – ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

We have looked in the past weeks, that we need to Pray to God, that too Fast & pray, Sing Praise to him, have Faith in him. So, does it end there? No. Unless and until there is no action against to what I believe in, on whom I have faith, how can I be fruitful? How does my Faith become meaningful? our Faith needs some action associated to it. That is what is called as Serving God.

It widely means two things. 1) Worshiping God, 2) Working/ Ministering for God. During the time of Israelites when they departed from Egypt and travelling towards the land that God has promised to them, where it says that milk & honey flows. They came across so many challenges and situations. There were lot of ups and down. Finally, when they were about to enter into the land, now currently it is Joshua who is leading them after Moses

However, while the land that they settling in offered so much promise and opportunity, it was also full of immorality and idolatry. The Canaanite culture was so bad, even their religion promoted both female and male prostitution. Their worship consisted of orgies and sexual acts and their prophets and priests murdered little children by offering them as sacrifices.

Now Joshua was well aware of these practices and so as he was already getting old, he assembled the people of Israel for one final time and led them in a ceremony of renewal. In this ceremony, he started by reminding them of God’s faithfulness -how God took them out of the land of Egypt, how God blessed them and how God fulfilled His promises to them. But in the same ceremony, he also challenged them to make a decision and a commitment towards God, by throwing away the idols of their ancestors. He warned them that the God who delivered them from the land of Egypt would be the same God who will destroy them should they disobey and follow the practices of the Canaanites!

Joshua 24:14-15  ¹⁴ “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Even Today in this time, the Christian life is being confronted by various modern-day trends, influences and other stuffs. So, it challenges us too, whom are we serving? We have to stand firm in our decision in-spite of all the challenges influences and changes happens. Because our God is a God who remains the same yesterday, today & forever. If I’ve decided to follow Jesus, then there is no turning back. It’s always the Cross before me & the world behind me.

Job – Worshipped God, Even after his own wife asked to deny God

Job 2:9-10  ⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” ¹⁰ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish^[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

We knew the story of Job, where he had lost everything he had. Not because of his mistakes or wrong doings. Just because he was very true unto the God. Being faithful, upright and fearful to God. He lost everything, means literally everything. 7000 Sheep, 3000 camel, 500 oxen & 500 donkeys. 7 Sons & 3 daughters and large number of servants. Suddenly one after the other comes and says, I’m the only one got escaped everything else was lost. Now after losing all these belongings still more worser is happening. From the soles of his feet to crown of his head he is filled with painful sores. He was clueless what is happening around him. His own wife come to him and says, are you still maintaining your Integrity? Curse God and die. What a beautiful response he has made – Don’t be like a foolish woman. When we accept good from God and why not the trouble. He served God irrespective of the blessing that he has received. Even today if all my possessions are taken away, will I be able to serve my God wholeheartedly? Or what would be our response?

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – In-spite of the peer pressure

During those days king Nebuchadnezzar, was a very prominent king of Babylon. He has conquered Jerusalem and brings few of their young men’s to Babylon. He brought them so that he can use their talents in building his empire. Later sometime as they were still in this foreign nation, here the King had made a big statue and asking the whole nation to bow when the music is been played. Everyone bowed down, except these 3 men. It comes to the notice of king that these men of Israel have not bowed down. They were very strong and assured.  It’s an extraordinary response that they gave back to the king.

Daniel 3: 16-18 – ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Being away from their hometown, nobody is around them to say that if you do so you will be sinning against the God. Not their Parents, nor their leaders nobody is around. They could have easily just bent as with the other multitude of people.  Even Today how many of us in our daily lives, where we are sure that our pastor is not there around us, our parents are not around us, our leaders are not around us, or for that matter, students – when the teacher is not around, employee- your boss is not around, husband when your wife is not around, wives when your husband is not around, how is our behavior? Is it the same or there is a difference? If there is a difference then we are not fooling the people on the other side, we are fooling ourselves. God has not called u and me to live a life with a double standard, not to live a life which has masks worn. Inside the church singing Holy! Holy! Holy!, outside it is totally different. God has called us to be the salt & light, carry his love and fragrance to the people outside. Serve God – In-spite of the peer pressure.

How can I serve God?

Give out of all what you have – poor widow offering

Mark 12: 41-44 ⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Everyone gave out of their wealth, some portion from what they possess, whereas this woman gave in everything all that she had to live on. I’m not saying swipe your bank account and deposit into church account. It is not bad to have more money, but focused on having more money is bad.

1Timothy 6:10 says, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. The heart of openness, allowing our self to die, go an extra mile when there is a need.

God’s commandment in New testament talks about loving others. I can’t love someone based on my self interests, knowing that I’ll get something back from that person in return. It should be genuine, whether the person will be able to return me back or not, still I’ll go ahead and share my shoulder. That’s the true love. It’s not just money, it can be anything. It can be any resources, like your time, your car – dropping someone back home from church, your home- keep it open for people to come and stay, your talents – use it for the kingdom of God. Your good in teaching, then try teaching who is struggling to learn. If you are good in cooking, then teach the one who is not able to do, if you are good in artworks, train someone who can earn something out of it for their living. If I keep on listening sermon after sermon every Sunday without doing anything during the week, what is the point. I miss the point. It’s not just listening, it has to be in action. If I just preach and not exercise what is it, I’m missing the main point.  Many times, I’ve heard people saying, I want to do great things for God, and when they are asked why don’t you join our ushering team? No response. I want to do great things for God, why don’t you join our street children ministry? No response. I want to do great things for God, why don’t you join the setup team? No response. I want to do the great things for God, why don’t you join the worship team? No response. I’m not blaming or I’m not pointing fingers at anyone. If we are looking something positional based, where there is light, where others can clearly say, I’m sorry to say, we actually missed the point.

In the workplace, if an employee was asked to do a certain task, but the person started doing so many other things around every corner, and when the status was enquired started with all those other things, then the Boss interrupts, wait you missed the point. How many of you are with me?

Matthew 23:23  “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

God is not interested in your money. He is interested more in you and me, in our lives. We could Tithe, but more importantly, we have to love people, we have to be kind with others. We need to live a life faithfully.

Looking at all these, it’s all about something I’ve to do which is an outward act from me. If so, how can then the serving be a treasure? Treasure is something which is a reward, which is an incoming, which I get not give.

What is the treasure I get by serving?

1 Kings17:7-16 Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

7 Sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So, there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

It was a very crucial or a critical situation for this woman to do. Everything was got over, now they reached their last breath. So she wanted to make something out of all what they have. It was not even sufficient for her and her son. But now, there is this 3^rd person coming and asking to give a portion of it to him as well. But when she did, she experienced this miracle. Thy had sufficient for all 3 of them, not just for that one time, rather every day. That is the reward or a blessing or a treasure that we get in serving God. Nowhere else it is said to test and see God.

Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

I would like to share a small testimony of my own personal life. Till few years back, Due to my Financial crunch, EMI’s and other stuff, I was not regular in my tithing. Also, I use to borrow some money from my friends to manage. And next month I borrow again so that I can repay the previous person, so it was like a loop and it was the scene every month. One fine day, when we decided as a family, that we will give to God regularly a portion from our salary, things started changing. Within few months I came out of the looping of borrowing from friends. My EMI’s are still there. In fact, they increased, as we bought a home, later few months down we bought a car. But it’s truly a great miracle. I got a job switch with the good market salary range, and we also increased the amount we give to God. I’m not boasting about my-self saying I’m giving to God. No, the reason why I say is, when we serve the LORD he will surely bless us and reward us.

We all knew the parable Jesus spoke about talents. One who received 5, made it to 10, one who received 2, multiplied it to 4, one who received 1, kept it hidden. On the day Master arrived back, It was taken back from him. Whereas, the other two joined the master in the celebration. Yes, there is a reward for our righteousness, there is a reward for our faithfulness.

Serving God is just living our daily life in the way that God want us to be. We don’t have to be something extraordinary to serve God. No, just be ourselves is more than enough. Because we have this assurance and a great Hope. Jesus has paid it all. With him, in him and through him we have access to the Abba Father. We don’t have to struggle all alone to the commitment we make, he hung on the cross for u and me to saved. He took it all alone so that we could have an everlasting life. He took it so that we might be forgiven. WE have Christ now with us through Holy spirit, we don’t want to be alone even for a minute. He is with us right now and also in every problem, every difficulty we face, he’s there to help us in making every decision of our lives. What job should I pick up? Which location I need to chose for my vacation? Whom to marry? What should I speak? How to respond to the situation? How to handle my finances? He is there to help. Am I ready to serve him by responding to his voice. Church can we make that commitment this morning, no matter what I’ll serve you LORD. In-spite of what was our past, In-spite of what is there or what is taken away, In-spite of the peer pressure shall we make a commitment this morning? I’ll serve you Lord with my all my abilities, talents and resources that you have blessed me with. Be it money, Be it time, Be it my resources, be it my gifts, be it my Talents, I use them all to serve you and you alone God. Jesus said this –

Matthew 6:24 ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

No, it is not possible to serve both. LORD, we surrender our lives unto your hand by saying We will serve you O Lord. As we are also going to take part in the Lord’s table this morning, I request every one of us to reflect back in our lives, where am I struggling, what is that stumbling block which stops me from Serving God. Let’s make the commitment meaningful as we remember his sacrifice on the cross. Amen!

Paul Anand is working at Accenture and worshiping in Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

Faith – A Real Treasure

Today we are going to understand about Faith. Each one of us has some amount of Faith in something or someone. We all operate by Faith. We trust that the ‘transport’ will take us to the destination. We have faith in our education that they can provide us with a decent job. We have faith in our investments, and so on

Why is Faith a treasure?

This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1: 4 – 7

Because Faith is an inheritance and every inheritance is a treasure. In Matthew 13: 44 – 45 – 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

He had faith that this is worth more than his own fortune. I have to get it. So faith is of prior importance in our Christian journey as well. Without faith we cannot please God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11: 6

What is Faith?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11: 1 – 3

1. It’s Confidence – like before I had mentioned, I am sure of something
2. Hope and assurance– I am expecting an outcome.

However, this outcome is very tangible and so we act on this hope which then becomes faith.

Although we need to have hope in order to have faith but only having hope is not faith. The action that our belief brings about is faith. Hope is passive, whereas Faith is active.

Example: Hope someone gives me a glass of water

I request someone in confidence for a glass of water knowing that the person will give it to me. So that is Faith combined with assurance.

Now there are two kinds of Faith

1. Saving Faith: Which we all have. We believed that Jesus is Lord and saviour. He has died on the cross and has forgiven us.

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe^[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20: 26 – 31

Till now we are all in the same page. We all have believed and those who are yet to believe, this is where you need to begin in order to access this treasure of faith. I got to understand that Jesus is the one who can give me redemption and life. He can make me whole again. I need to accept Him into my life, rather than doubting in the first instance. Yes it’s good to clear the air but ultimately, it’s your faith that will give you all the answers.

2. Living by Faith: Once you have believed, many of us believe, that now I am very hopeful that I will be happy forever. This is not a fantasy story but a real journey that we embark upon. As I said faith is action, James 2 is all about the same.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. James 2: 14 – 24

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11: 13 – 16

We need to live by faith and there are levels to it.

To begin with, we need to ask ourselves – Where is my faith?

Right now, think of any situation or a problem, that Jesus cannot help you get through? Seems Jesus is not even aware of it or He seems distant.

²² One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. ²³ As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

²⁴ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8: 22 – 25

Being with God himself, listening and watching him 24/7, experiencing the miracles with him, they are asked – ‘WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?’ Where is my faith

1. In my bank balance
2. In the number of properties I have
3. I am so and so’s son daughter brother, sister cousin relative
4. So many degrees
5. Stable job
6. In the number of children I have
7. In the spouse that I have

Where is my faith?

The real answer will hit when a storm like this will come and Jesus will ask us – Where is your faith?

Next we move on to Unbelief.

We all struggle with unbelief, not because we don’t want to have faith but we have been conditioned to belief or expect things in a certain way. The boy’s father had seen him grow up with seizures and other behaviours. Now when Jesus asks ‘Do you believe?’

He says, I do but help my unbelief. What if he turns back again to the same as before? I am not sure. Because last time it happened that way.

Some Obstacles to Faith

1. Patterns – We see the same thing over and over again but never works out.
2. Experiences – I know it will not happen – cut the I KNOW, OR I KNEW IT
3. Expectations – may not happen the way we expected. I expected the disciples to heal but they couldn’t.

If you can – A statement that challenges Jesus, in return Jesus asks – if you can? Do you even believe?

Are we harbouring unbelief – asking Jesus ‘If He can’.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, Faith in what or Faith in whom will answer most of your doubts.

Imagine faith like this a step up –

We begin with baby faith or little faith

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 25 – 31

We all have to begin somewhere. Disciples began this way. They were terrified at the storm when Jesus was with them but we see eventually, they came to a level where they didn’t care about their life, because they knew that Jesus is for them.

Then we come to the next level of faith, that is healing faith.

We see small and little deliverance or healing that happens as we start to believe. This generally happens in every new Christians life. We have heard many testimonies. However, we should not stay there. There will be times when there will be no miracles after we pray – now that is a test.

These kinds of tests will keep happening, we need to continue at it. As mentioned in this scripture portion

²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹ She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9: 20 – 22

My very thought expresses faith. Application of what I have heard or read brings me to the next level of faith.

¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10: 17

We hear in the church, that is why community is so important. An atmosphere of faith is important. We can lift up each other through words of encouragement, testimonies, prayer, reminders, etc.

We go on to Forgiving faith…

Learning that Jesus is able to forgive is such an assurance. In the mental health field, I have encountered so many mental health issues because people are unable to experience forgiveness or are unable to forgive. However, Jesus, forgives and through faith we can experience it and at the same time be able to execute it.

This faith that I am FORGIVEN brings so much of relief. It’s like shackles falling off my feet.

This is why we believe Faith is a treasure that causes us to Praise God, knowing that we are accepted.

The Canaanite woman never gave up.

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes, it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.       Matthew 15:21 – 28

What astonishes Jesus is my faith

⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. Mathew 8 : 5 – 13

This is Resting my Faith. No matter what, I know Jesus is Resurrected and this resurrection power of God will help me see what God has stored for me. Eventually, even though miracles do not happen or healing doesn’t take place or I do not have an employment –  I will have Faith.

So I begin with little faith – move on to healing Faith (it becomes more relevant) – move on to Forgiving faith (that which I cannot see) – Great Faith (Praising God in all circumstances) – Finally Astonishing Faith (Resting in the Assurance of Christ’s Resurrection).

Reiterating the verse in Hebrews:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.          Hebrews 11: 13 – 16

As a summary, I would like reiterate that to build this treasure, we need to be-

• Be Ready
• Take Every opportunity to Exercise
• Faith comes by hearing
• Faith comes through the Resurrection power of Jesus
• Faith comes through the Holy Spirit

Sandra wife of  Virjil, The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.