Kanmalai Prayer Fellowship (கன்மலை ஜெப ஐய்கியம்)

The subject is as large as the bible itself. I would like to conclude that The Lord is with us till the end of the world. Abraham, who heard the voice of God and relied completely on the word of God, experienced the God’s presence and became his friend. It was on Mount Moriah that Abraham and young Isaac experienced the presence of God so vividly, that the sacrifice was perfect. God accepted the sacrifice and gave back Isaac as well.  What a wonderful God. He is looking for Abe’s and Isaac’s who surrender totally to the will and command of God. As a result Abraham became the Patriarch of the nations. Isaac was a patient and God fearing man of destiny. Life and experience of the saints mentioned in the bible had encountered God Almighty.

 Right from the beginning Adam and Eve, experienced the presence of God, when God met them in the cool of the day and conversed with them. What a sublime life, though for a short time, when they disobeyed God they were banished from the garden. The most painful punishment was they were removed from the presence of God. All that followed in their miserable life was the result of the absence of God’s presence. We see Enoch and Noah who walked with God, that is, they lived in the presence of God always fearing and obeying God.

Samuel the prophet grew up in the presence of the Lord. He was a holy man of God from childhood who lived a spotless and simple life to exalt the Glory of god, unlike the priest Eli. We see in 2 Chronicles 15, “The spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Obed. He went out to meet Asa and said to him listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him he will forsake you”.

For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. In James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you”. The presence of God is promised and manifested in all situations and circumstances Isaiah: 43 -2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire you will not be burned the flames will not set you ablaze“.  Jesus promised to be present even if 2 or 3 are gathered together in His name. The psalmist in 16-8, I have set the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken Psalm 34-18 tells this “Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit, Psalm 145:18. Lord is near to all who call on Him. Yes it is a magnificent feeling to have the presence of the Lord close to us, in us.  He has promised to be with us till the end of the world. Let us make sure every day that we humble ourselves and obey Him and do the will of God and live in the presence of the Lord always.

[Concluding the 3 part series of "Lord is with..." shared for South Asian Christian Fellowship of Omaha Prayer Group]

Thank you,

Uncle Pr Philip

The Lord was with Joseph the son of Jacob the Israel who wrestled with the Angel and overcame Joseph was a dreamer Gen 37:5-9 and the dream are fulfilled in Gen 41:42-44. He believed that this was from the Lord God and he was sure that it will come to pass one day He believed the vision and each day hoped that the dream will become true one day. He persevered in the vision God gave him. He was not distracted by the trials that he had to face the isolation he underwent the imprisonment he bore for no fault of his. In every situation Joseph faced with a calm serene countenance and determination fully trusting on the Lord. We in this life face so many trials temptations and trials. How do we face it? Get angry! Frustrated! Discouraged! Or like Joseph face it bravely and in full confidence in the Lord.

It is in our attitude how we take life something happening is 20% and how we cope with it is 80%. If we are sure, as Joseph was  The lord who created the heaven and earth is WITH ME I shall not be shaken whatever comes in my life, because all I have, I had and all that I am going to receive, I get it from HIM who is with me  without HIS knowledge nothing will happen.

Whatever happens to me and my family is only for my good because I fully trust in my LORD Joseph was faithful in all situations in hard places and in desperate mood Gen 39:1-6

Joseph resisted temptation Gen 39.7-13 he was unspoiled in sudden name fame and prosperity .He was elevated next to the king. Joseph remained the same Joseph all through Joseph returned good for evil Gen 50:16-21 depended completely on the Lord God for everything WHO was WITH HIM Is not Joseph life a lesson for us high or low, good or bad, tears or merriment. Always depending on the Lord who is with us, YES THE LORD IS WITH U AND ME. Never be discouraged never gloomy or worried. Trust in The Lord always. Meditate 2 chronicles 15:2

The New Year has begun I hope on a high note May the Lord almighty carry through the year. I thought while praying it would be encouraging if I could share some of the scriptural thoughts  which come up when meditating on the word of God  and so I am sending of some of the points which I hope will encourage you all if asked for a title it would be “ THE LORD WAS WITH “

To begin with we see Jacob in the Old Testament. The Lord was with Jacob Gen 28:13-15

He cheated his elder brother Esau out of his birthright Gen 29-34 He deceives his aged father 27-41. Compelled to flee to Haran to save himself from the anger of his brother who was determined to kill him and also to find a wife for him Gen 27-41 On his way to Haran lonely and exhausted he rest in the wilderness. He  sees a vision a ladder starching down ward from heaven touching the earth and angels going up and down on it  and  the Lord God speaks to Jacob Gen 28.13 15  I am with you and watch over you were ever you go and I will bring you back to this land  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you ,  What a consoling words form the Lord for person desperate ,lonely and tired  But one minute ,  Jacob the supplanted , the cheat the deceiver and naturally crafty guy! And the LORD Almighty spoke to him?   Our human mind agitates to agree isn’t it? Well that is Our God kind and merciful. God knows every one of us He wants all of us to be perfect like His son Jesus. Let us examine ourselves and remove those small jacobiess we may be cherishing in us.

He wants us to be holy as he is. Dear friends do not be down cast when loneliness, troubles and pains confront. The GOD of Jacob is with us. Yes the cheat and deceiver Jacob reaped the result of his sins in Haran under his father in law Laban He stealthily leaves Haran and the thought that his brother is coming to meet him with 400 men drove him to kneel in prayer Gen 32-3.12 He repents accepts that he indeed is a cheat wrestles the whole night in desperate pleading. He gains victory and his name is changed as Israel 32.24-32. He has an intimate meet with his brother and becomes a man of faith Hebrews 11-21. Yes the Lord who was with Jacob is with you. Jesus the Emmanuel is with us, He knows us in and out, Let us surrender and confess come out clean, elevated and blessed. He will never leave us or forsake us, believe that. Meditate also Isa 43-5, Exodus 33:14, and Mathew 18:20

[this message was shared for South Asian Christian Fellowship of Omaha]

[read "Lord was with Jacob"]

Uncle Pr. Philip

Kanmalai Prayer Fellowship

Kumbakonam

The Lord  was with …. Jacob. The deceiver ( Transformed into Israel. The prince of God)

Gen:28:13-15

The conflict between human behavior, the low and high nature. Jacob sank to the lowest level for the worldly gain. He cheats his brother Esau out of his birth right as we read Gen:25:29-34. He deceives his aged father as we read in Gen:27:1-29. Compelled to flee for his life. It is arranged for him to go to Haran to choose his wife.

Gen: 27:41,Gen:28:1-5.

All his way to Haran lonely and exhausted . Lying down to rest, he has some vision of heaven opening . A ladder led down from heaven touching the earth with angels going up and down and God speaks to him.

Wait!, The Lord God speaks to Jacob deceiver?. That natural deceptive cheat? Lord spoke to him? How can it be?

Our human mind find it difficult to understand isn’t it? That is our God the almighty, merciful and kind.

He loves every one.  He loves sinners while He hates sin.

He loves you and me. When we look at ourselves! we have our flaws and weakness ( we have our own Jacobs). Yet He loves us. He is with us. Let us  believe  this and rest in Him assured of His presence. He is always  with us and our dear ones. Yes Jacob the supplanter, cheap, deceptive wreaths the result of his sin in  Haran and his father in law Laban. Served fourteen years, at the end  of it  he is quietly left Haran with wives and all the riches he had. Only to be persuaded by Laban.

The thought his brother coming with four hundred men chases him to kneel in prayer. Read Genesis 32: 3-12. He repents, accept that he is a cheat., wrestles the whole night in desperate pleading. He gains victory and his name changed in to Israel. Read Gen:32:24-32. He has an affectionate meet with his brother Esau. Read Gen 33:1-16. Becomes a man of faith. Read Hebrew 11:21.

Likewise the Lord is with you. Jesus the Immanuel the Lord is with us. He knows us in and out. let us surrender, confess, and be saved, raised and blessed. Believe that He never leaves us . Never forget. He is  always with us even in our troubles, pain and tribulations. Read Isaiah 43:5, Exodus 33:14, Matthew 18:20. In spite of all his weakness, he (Jacob) was chosen as an instrument of God . The lord is with you and me .  The Lord is with us.

With love

Uncle Philip

(this message was shared for Indian Fellowship in Omaha, Nebraska – www.SACFellowship.org)