Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

5Ps – Problems and Solution

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On November 4, 2011

In Christian

Problem statement: Man is a slave to one or more of the following – Power, Position, Prestige, Popularity and/or Pleasure. An obsession to these things are of the flesh and man must make no provision for gratifying these, but the flesh is weak, though the Spirit is willing.
Solution: There is only One and His Name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Prophecy, proclaimed in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15), who came to this world, in the Persona of mankind (Philippians 2:7), and a Passion to save all (Romans 5:8). His death on the Cross and His resurrection comes as the Provision of a Savior (1 Corinthians 1:30) for the Problem of sin (Acts 2:38)

Romans 13:14 (KJV)
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Genesis 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Romans 5:8 (KJV)
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV)
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Acts 2:38 (KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ab ovo

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On November 3, 2011

In Christian

Ab ovo (pronounced: \ab-OH-voh\) in Latin, means from the beginning.

Genesis 1:1 states that In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Bible not only talks about God’s creation of nature in the beginning, but it also talks about you and me, who were made in the image of God, and chosen, from the very beginning, even before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

Points to ponder:
Before the foundation of the world, Jesus Christ existed and was foreordained (1 Peter 1:20) and He was the foundation under all of God’s creation (Colossians 1:16-17) and ab ovo, He chose us. But why did he choose us? He chose us ab ovo, so that we would be holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1:4)

1 Peter 1:20 (KJV)
20 Who [Jesus Christ] verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Ephesians 1:4 (KJV)
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Knocking God

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On November 1, 2011

In Christian

When we hear of the phrase “Knocking God”, we are often reminded of the Bible verse from Revelation 3:20 which states, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
This is God knocking at the door of a sinner’s heart seeking to Commune with the one who responds.

But God is not only knocking at the door of the sinner’s heart. He is knocking at the heart of the saint (the one who is sanctified by the blood of Jesus, for having believed in Him) as well. Song of Solomon 5:2 states, that the beloved (God) is knocking and asking his loved one to open unto Him.
This is God knocking at the door of a saint’s heart seeking the Companionship of the one whom He loves.

Points to ponder:
If you have not yet believed in Jesus and confessed of your sins, behold, Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, knocking. If you hear his voice, open your heart to him and he will come in to commune with you.
If you have believed in Jesus and are sanctified by his blood, Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, knocking. If you hear his voice, open your heart to him so that he can have the companionship that he is seeking.

Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Song of Solomon 5:2 (KJV)
2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Celebrating death

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On October 31, 2011

In Christian, Hallowe'en

I am not sure as to the fascination about celebrating death on Halloween (the last day of October) and as I pondered on this topic, I was reminded of Psalm 116:15 which in a sense states that God celebrates death. God celebrates death, but not the death of any and every one, but only those of his saints.

Psalm 116:15 states, that the “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” What does this mean? To be a saint, one must be sanctified, and that means that they must have believed in Jesus; that he is the Son of God so that his righteousness is imputed on them. And all those who believe in Jesus, though they die, they shall live, eternally (John 11:25; John 3:16). In other words, saints don’t die. They merely sleep only to awake when the LORD returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Neither the first nor the second death has any power over those who have believed in Jesus and so when these saints physically die (first death), God celebrates their absence from the body which is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), and that is precious in His sight.

Points to ponder:
If you were to die today, would it be precious in the sight of the LORD? In other words, are you sanctified as a saint, i.e., have you believed in Jesus? If not, I plead with you, tarry no further. Acknowledge the need for a Savior who can save you not just from the first death (physical) but also from the second (spiritual; eternal separation from God). Believe in Jesus Christ that he is the Son of God who paid the wages of our sin (which is death) by his death, and rose again from the dead, conquering sin and death, once and for all for all. Confess that you need him and ask him to be your Lord and master. Today is your day of Salvation, delay no further.

Psalm 116:15 (KJV)
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Rest and Test

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On October 28, 2011

In Christian

Jesus went to the wilderness to REST in God, before His ministry (Matthew 4:1).
The devil went to the wilderness to TEST the Lord, before Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 4:1).

Points to ponder:
When we are to begin the ministry, or are in the ministry that God has given unto each one of us, do we take the time to first REST in God? Often we hurry and plan for God himself, not allowing his purposes according to his time to be fulfilled in our lives.
Secondly, when we go to rest in the Lord, we must be aware and beware, always watching and praying, so that we do not fall into temptation, for the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour and those who are resting in the Lord are particularly his targets to test (Mark 14:38; 1 Peter 5:8).

Matthew 4:1 (KJV)
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Mark 13:38 (KJV)
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Are you an astronomer or an astronaut Christian?

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On October 27, 2011

In Christian, Movie Motions, Reuben

On our drive back from Dallas to Austin, our cherished five year old son, Reuben asked my beloved wife Sangeetha and me, a question. He wanted to know if he could jump and reach the Sun that was setting beyond the horizon. This led to a discussion of how no man can reach the Sun, although man kind has reached the moon. We explained to Reuben, that those who go to outer space (like to the moon) are astronauts, while those who stay on earth and observe outer space are astronomers. It reminded me of the movie, Jurassic Park III, in which, Dr. Grant (played by Sam Neill) explains to Erik (played by Trevor Morgan), that there are only two kinds of boys, those who want to be astronomers and those who want to be astronauts. The astronomer (or the paleontologist) gets to study these amazing things from a place of complete safety, but never get to go into space.

As astronomer is a spectator, while an astronaut is a partaker. In our Christian walk as well, we can function as an astronomer or as an astronaut. Many of us (including myself), many a times, merely function as a spectator, observing the wondrous and amazing things, ordained by God, from a place of complete safety, without getting involved in the Kingdom business of snatching souls from the doorposts of hell. We function as astronomer Christians, pleased to hear of God words, instead of functioning as astronaut Christians, doing God’s work. The Bible is very clear on the need to be a doer; to be a partaker in God’s mission of reconciling man to God and restoring man back into a relationship with God. To be merely a hearer (spectator) and not a doer, is in essence, the worst kind of deception; a deception where one deceive themselves (James 1:22).

Points to ponder:
We need to be doers of God’s work, and not mere hearers of God’s words.
We need to be partakers, and not mere spectators.
We need to be astronaut Christians not mere astronomer Christians.
Are you an astronomer or an astronaut Christian?

James 1:22 (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

When Jesus Comes

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On October 26, 2011

In Christian, Reuben

Recently, when Sangeetha and I ask our five year old beloved son, Reuben to do something, like clean his game room, or wear his shoes, he would dilly dally for a while, before getting to the task given and when we ask him to hurry up, he would raise his hand in a gesture telling us, that he is going to do what has been asked of him, but for now, leave me alone. The last couple of times, I would ask him, “When are you going to do it?”, “When Jesus comes?” to which he would always burst out laughing.

Once during this conversation, it dawned on me that there was a fallacy in my assumption and my question which implied that Jesus would come again sometime in the future, hopefully by which time, Reuben would have completed his chore, was indeed not necessarily accurate. I corrected myself and used that opportunity to tell Reuben, that actually, none of us know “when” Jesus will come back. It could be in the future or it could be this very instant. What is really important is that, when Jesus comes, how will he find us? Will we be ready filled with the Holy Spirit of God or would the oil in have run out?

Jesus said, “Of the day and that hour of Jesus’ return, no man knows, nor do the angels in heaven, neither does Jesus himself as the Son of God, but only God the Father knows of this. So we must take heed, watch and pray, for we do not know when the time is.” (Mark 13:32-33). This day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Points to ponder:
Are you/I going to be ready, taking heed, watching and praying, for we do not know When Jesus Comes?

Mark 13:32-33 (KJV)
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (KJV)
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

The Crux of Jabez’s prayer

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On October 25, 2011

In Christian

One of the books that became an international bestseller, topping the New York Times best seller list in 2001, selling over nine million copies, is “The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking through to the Blessed Life” by author Bruce Wilkinson. The book is based on the Scripture text recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:10. The words of Jabez’s prayer is “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” And God granted him that which he requested.

Most Christians are not unfamiliar with this prayer, and many use this as a model to pray for the PROVISIONS of God (blessings and enlarging of one’s territory) or for God’s PROTECTION (keep me from evil that it may cause me harm). But as I pondered over the crux of this prayer, I believe by divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, I realized that the crux of this prayer is centrally positioned in the prayer itself. The crux is not about the provisions or the protection of God, but it is about the PRESENCE of God (Oh that the hand of God might BE WITH ME). The provisions and protection of God are byproducts of God’s presence. For example, when a parent is with a child, not only does the parent PROVIDE for the child, but also PROTECTS the child from any and all harm to the child. As long as the parent is with the child (PRESENT with the child), the child has nothing to worry about. In the same manner, Jabez prayed for God’s presence and received in full measure, not only God’s presence, but God’s provisions and protection as well.

Points to ponder:
When was the last time, you/I prayed, just for God to be with us; for his hand to be with us?
Next time we pray, instead of focusing on asking God for his provisions (blessings) and his protection, let us ask for God’s PRESENCE to be with us, since the rest will follow.  |
My prayer today, for today and the coming days, is “Oh Lord God, I pray that thine hand be with me!”

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV)
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Lesser known characters :: Zadok

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On October 24, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

Beethoven once said, “I would bare my head and kneel at his grave.” recounting the greatness of George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), who needs no introduction to the music lover. A composer during the Baroque period, he was known for his masterpiece rendition of the Messiah “Hallelujah” chorus. In addition to the Messiah, another composition of his that gained popularity is “Zadok the Priest”. The lyrics of this rendition tell the story of king Solomon’s coronation. But who is this Zadok the Priest?

Zadok, the high priest was a descendant of Phineas, the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron. So from a Levitical lineage, he was qualified to be a priest that would serve the Lord, but it was not his lineage that makes Zadok standout. He served alongside Abiathar, another high priest during the reign of David. When Absalom, the son of David, rebelled against his father and king David, Zadok remained faithful by David’s side and followed David’s request to stay with the ark of the Lord, in Jerusalem, and later we see that he was asked by David to accompany Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the protector (soldier) to crown Solomon as king, after David. Once Solomon, builds the temple in Jerusalem, Zadok becomes the inaugural priest to serve in the first Temple. Prophet Ezekiel, in fact, refers to those who remained faithful to the Lord, not succumbing to the pagan worship during his days, as the sons of Zadok, who would have the privilege of serving God in the New Jerusalem, where the Lord and the Lamb (Jesus Christ) himself would be the temple (Ezekiel 44:14-16; Revelation 21:22).

What can we learn from Zadok?
Zadok does not go down in history, just as the first high priest to serve in the temple of the Lord built in Jerusalem, by Solomon, but because of his faithful service to God in keeping charge of the ark of the Lord and his sanctuary, when the people of Israel went astray, he is remembered as the father of those who remain faithful and who will be given the privilege to serve God in the New Jerusalem, whose builder will be God himself, one far greater than Solomon. Like Zadok, we must remain faithful in serving God and those whom God has appointed over us, so that we may be known by God, not just for our current service but also for our service in the future, when we see Christ face to face.

Ezekiel 44:14-16 (KJV)
14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.

Revelation 21:22 (KJV)
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

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