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counseling center

Vol. 10, Issue No. 12 December 2017

Hebron, Kumbanad, Kerala

Hebron, Kumbanad, Kerala – 689 547

Iu¬kenwKv skâÀ “New Hope Counseling Center serves all who seek hope, purpose and wholeness at home, work and daily life through proven methods and Bible values” Help in handling

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Director : Rev. Saju Joseph M.A., M.Th, (Ph.D Candidate)

Coordinator : Mr. Manu Mathew B.D., MCP (Counseling)

Tel : 884-883-8171 Email : nhcc@ibc.ac.in nhchebron@gmail.com Web: www.ibc.ac.in/nhcc

We offer

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Personal Counseling Marriage & Family Counseling Pre-marital Counseling Trauma Counseling Supportive Counseling Psychometric Testing Intervention Programs

Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Location : NHC Hebron, Kumbanad

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Our Team 1. Dr. Isaac V. Mathew, M.Th, Ph.D - Consultant Counselor 2. Dr. James George Venmony, M.Th, Ph.D Marriage and Family Counseling

3. Mrs. Anu Kurian, M.Sc, M.Ed, DCPC

(Retd. Principal) De-Addiction & Adolescent Counseling

4. Rev. Dr. Cherian Mathew, M.Th, D.Min Family Counseling and Anger Management

5. Mr. Vivyn Mathew, MSW, PSW, M.Phil. (NIMHANS) Mental Health Consultant

6. Mrs. Susee Johnson, M.A, B.Ed, M.Th., DCPC 7. Mrs. Tessy Grace Mathews, M.Sc, M.Phil.

(Ph.D Candidate) Clinical Psychologist Consultant

An initiative of IGO & affiliate of IBC and Seminary Printed, published and owned by Major V.I. Lukose (Retired), published from P.O. Box 31, Hebron, Kumbanad, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India and Printed at Viani Printings, Ernakulam, Kerala, India. Editor: Pastor Dr. John K. Mathew

Glory of God

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THE GLORY

Pastor Dr. T. Valson Abraham Founder/President India Gospel Outreach

President India Bible College and Seminary

What is the glory of God?

The dictionary

defines “glory” as “very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown; something that is a source of honor, fame, admiration; resplendent beauty or magnificence or prosperity; a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment; the splendor and bless of heaven.”

What is the glory…of God? The truth is, we don’t know. None of us has ever seen God. We cannot look upon the fullness of His glory and live.

However, the Bible declares in Psalm 19, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”

What are the heavens telling us?

The “heavens” are what astronomers call the “observable universe,” what is described as “a spherical region comprising all matter that can be observed at the present time because electromagnetic radiation from these objects have had time to reach earth since the beginning of cosmological expansion.” It refers to the “limit created by the speed of light. Any object further away than light can travel in the age of the universe (estimated at about 14 billion years) have not reached us yet.”

This “observable universe,” we are told, is now about 46.5 billion light years in radius, or 93 billion light years in diameter. One light year, the distance light travels in a year, equals about 6 trillion miles. Early in 2017, an English team of astronomers estimated that within this observable universe are at least 2 trillion galaxies, each with billions of stars, 10 times more than previously thought.

This means an observable universe of stars numbers in the quintillions, sextillions and septillions.

The human mind cannot begin to understand or comprehend such numbers.

All of these stars and galaxies, however incomprehensible their numbers and sizes, still

india bible college and seminary, 21 November 2017

OF GOD

represent only 4% of the total mass of the universe. The remaining 96% comprises other matter that the astronomers haven’t even been able to identify yet!

Pastor Saju Joseph introduces and leads the service

Pastor Dr. T. Valson Abraham, President of the Seminary, took a class on the ‘Characteristics of Christian Leaders.’

All of this represents only the “observable universe.” Most parts of the universe are simply too far away for any of us to ever observe with any telescope no matter how advanced because we live in a universe that is expanding faster than the speed of light.

Bro. George Tiwari, a senior member of the India Christian Assembly, California greeted the community and shared from his recent mission trip experiences.

The Bible also tells us that God has a name for each star.

None of us can fully comprehend the universe, but the Bible tells us that the very size and complexity of the universe declares His glory. The God who created it all holds the universe in His hands.

In His hands. Think of it—the vast universe in which we live only hints at the glory of God. We cannot actually behold the glory of God and live. But in the heavens, God has left us a big hint of His glory, so obvious that none of us can miss it.

The more evidence astronomers gain of the universe’s expanse, we can react in one of two ways. The conventional way in a secular culture is to ignore God altogether and say that the universe is just a vast and impersonal place. The earth is a speck of dust, humanity is nothing more than a collection of worthless microbes, and life has no meaning.

As Christians, our growing knowledge of the universe’s expanse should declare to us that God is even greater than what our godly forefathers knew. His love and grace are more boundless than we thought, His incarnation more miraculous, His humbling of Himself in Jesus Christ to suffer in our place is more stunning. His sacrifice is more sacrificial, His character more outstanding, His trustworthiness more pure, His Word holds greater value.

In your spirit, enter the stable in Bethlehem with its pungent smells of hay, straw and animal dung. Listen to the bleat of sheep and goats, the lowing of cattle.

Note the young woman who lovingly watches over a red-faced infant, fresh from her womb, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Faculty and staff with student community

Singing praises to the King

book release Pastor p. j. daniel, senior faculty at India Bible College and Seminary has authored several books. The recent books ‘An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation' and ‘A Study on the Epistle of Philippians’ was released by Pastor Dr. T. Valson Abraham, on 21st November at India Bible College. The first copies of these books were given to Pastor Sunny Kurian and Pastor Thomas Mathew.

Look again at the newborn baby lying in the straw. This male-child is the creator of all the stars, planets, galaxies and dark energy. He is the Lamb of God, about to bear your sin and my sin, the sins of every person who ever lived or will live.

He is about to enter us into a new humanity that will one day astound the angels of heaven.

Behold in that newborn baby the love of God that will not let us go. Then fall down and worship Him. This is the glory of God. We must make sure that others know about Him. He is the one person we all should take the time to know. *** Father God, your glory is so great, I cannot grasp it. I thank you that in your glorious grace, you have sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to help me experience your glory as the greatest gift I could possibly enjoy. And when I see you, I shall be like you because I shall see you as you are. I pray for others who do not yet know you,

that they will also know this inexpressible gift. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Pastor P. J. Daniel

renewing and enriching life

contents editorial Rev. Saju Joseph

THE GLORY OF GOD IN CREATION Pastor Dr. K. G. Jose

“And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle”

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17 20 24

THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FUTURE ETERNITY Pastor P. J. Daniel

Biblical Principles Relating to Worship Dr. A.C. George

Vol. 10

Issue No. 12 Decmber 2017

A magazine that will enrich and renew your spiritual life and give Christian perspective on current events. e-mail : revivemegod@gmail.com igotoibc@gmail.com visit us : www.revivemegod.org CHAIRMAN emeritus PASTOR T. S. ABRAHAM CHAIRMAN PASTOR Dr.T. VALSON ABRAHAM MEMBERS BRO. JACOB THOMAS BRO. SUNNY KODUMTHARA EDITOR PASTOR DR. JOHN K. MATHEW

news

ADMINISTRATIVE EDITOR PASTOR SAJU JOSEPH

Pastor Philip P. Sam

ASSOCIATE EDITOR MRS. STARLA LUKOSE

Louie the Littlest Lamb

MANAGER PASTOR T. J. ABRAHAM

Brother Noah

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QUIZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JUNE THOMAS ANN ABRAHAM PUBLISHER, PRINTER & OWNER MAJOR V. I. LUKOSE (Retired) HEBRON, KUMBANAD, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA. PRINTED AT VIANI PRINTINGS, LISSIE JN., ERNAKULAM, KERALA PLACE OF PUBLICATION KUMBANAD, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA - 689 547 DESIGN Beam Design S2dio Ph: 93870 73135 beamfine@gmail.com POSTAL ADDRESS P.O. BOX. 31, HEBRON, KUMBANAD KERALA, INDIA, PIN - 689 547 Phone: 0469 - 2664075, 2665855 Mobile: 94476 08954

The views and ideas expressed in each article are those of the writer. - Editor

Pictures Courtesy : ibc & S media / Google

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Letters

Only way of Contentment Dear Editor, The biblical references and the illustrations used in the Editorial

by Rev. Dr. John K. Mathew on Contentment was very pointed. Paul’s strong statement reinforcing that ‘ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ is very challenging. It is true that contentment is not getting what we want but being satisfied with what we have. The illustration about the little teardrops floating down the river of life. One teardrop asked the other, “Who are you?” “I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him”. “But who are you?”. The first drop replied, “I am a teardrop from a girl who got him”. This imagery helps us understand that human beings will never be truly content in this world.

Real contentment will be found only through an individual’s salvation in Jesus Christ. It happens when those who receive salvation through Christ put their full trust in Him and His promises.

Praying God’s blessings on the ministry of revive.

Joymon Jacob, Chennai

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Thanking God at all Times Dear Editor, I went through all the articles in the latest revive on Contentment and Thanksgiving and the one by Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mathew states that one of the main themes of Psalms is giving thanks to God in all situations and seasons. There are different types of Psalms - lament, complaints, intercession and the Psalmist never forgets to give thanks to the God Almighty for His inestimable benefits and mercy. Thanksgiving focuses on what God has done and praise focuses on who God is. The Thanksgiving Psalm is a witness to the Lord’s goodness and power. It praises the Lord’s name in front of the congregation and leads the congregation to praise his name. Praise, laments and thanks are three main features in the Psalms. May this inspire and motivate us to display our gratitude to our Lord in all circumstances of our lives.

Roby Mathew, Kannur

Sacrifice and Thanksgiving

Dear revive, You dealt with a very significant and relevant topic in your most recent issue. Very often we think that we are offering something to God from our possessions and wealth. But Dr. K. B. Georgekutty clarifies this very clearly in his article. The danger of sacrifices and rituals is that we are increasingly tempted to believe that we have something to offer God, when the sacrifice is actually meant to demonstrate that we are coming to God as his debtors. The people who give thanks for the sacrificial animal also give thanks for God’s sovereignty.

They have not lost anything but are in reality only giving to God what is already His. It is out of gratitude that they return what belongs to God. I thank God for this very meaningful and motivating article which would be helpful for

many sincere Christians.

Praising God for your ministry.

Joy Mathew, Mumbai

Thanksgiving and Humility Dear Editor, At the outset, I offer my appreciation for every effort of revive magazine in assisting your readers develop Christ like character.

Dr. George Cherian’s article on Humility was very well written and touching. It is true that humble people will always have a thankful heart.

Those who are arrogant in their heart will never be thankful. Thanksgiving to God and thanksgiving to fellow humans is the result of humility. As the writer truly says a spirit - filled life always displays a spirit of humility which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. A humble person is always thankful. It is the pride in man that prevents him from glorifying and praising God. Moreover a grateful attitude helps us to witness and spread the Good news to all people.

The presence of content and grateful people in the society bring the aroma of heaven in this hell bound world.

While we need to remember and thank God for the immeasurable gifts we have received out of His goodness, the primary blessing that ought to move us constantly to thanksgiving is that God has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Kurian V.V., Kochi

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renewing and enriching life

Pastor Dr. John K. Mathew

The Gentile nations had their temples, priests, religious laws, and sacrifices, but only the nation of Israel had the glory

of the true and living God dwelling in their midst.

Apostle Paul writes, " For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises" (Rom:9:3,4).

When Moses dedicated the tabernacle, God's glory moved in, but the sins of the people caused the glory to depart.

When Solomon dedicated the temple, once again God's glory filled the sanctuary. But centuries later, the prophet Ezekiel watched that glory leave the temple and then come back again. In the words of Warren Wiersbe, "Without the presence of the glory of the Lord, God's people are just another religious crowd, going through the motions".

What is the glory of God? According to Rick Warren, "It is who God is. It is the essence of his nature, the weight of his importance, the radiance of his splendor, the demonstration of his power, and the atmosphere of his presence. God's glory is the expression of his goodness and all his other intrinsic, eternal qualities".

Jesus Christ possesses God's inherent glory because he is God. He, the light of the world, illuminates God's nature. Apostle John an eyewitness narrates, "The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory of the one and only son, who came from the father, full of grace and truth" (John1:14).

Scripture clearly says that the glory of Jesus is dwelling in them who believe in Him. Colossians 1:26 and 27 reads, "the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people.To them, God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory". Then it becomes the Christian's responsibility to reflect God's glory through us.

How is that? In his book, What on Earth Am I Here For, Rick Warren deals with five things that we can glorify God. We glorify God when we worship him. Worship is our first responsibility to God. We bring God glory by loving other believers. It is written, "accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified".

(Rom.15:7) We bring God glory by becoming like Christ. Jesus honored God by fulfilling his purpose on earth. We honor God the same way. When we serve others with our gifts we bring glory to God. And finally, we bring God glory by telling others about him, as we read in

We bring

God glory by becoming like Christ. Jesus honored God by fulfilling his purpose on earth.

We honor God the same way. When we serve others with our gifts we bring glory to God. 2 Corinthians, "All this is for your benefit so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God" (4:15).

Living for God's glory is the greatest achievement we can accomplish with our lives!

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Pastor Dr. K. G. Jose, USA Bible Teacher, Preacher, Pastor

THE GLORY OF GOD IN CREATION Glory refers to the reputation of a person. It is that which is intrinsically impressive in the being of God. Glory is the weight and uniqueness of the actions of

God. Personality in man is limited, in God it is infinite. In His ordering is a mathematician and artist. God is orderly and full of beauty. The universe was made to fit together and to have meaning. In Ex. 33:18ff Moses expressed his desire to see the glory of God. And God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you� (Ex. 33:19a). Glory is the goodness of God.

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Humans do not have the ability to search and comprehend the glory of God and we depend on the self-revelation of God. There is an aspect of hiddenness in the glory of God. The glory of God is always surrounded by a cloud (Ex. 24:15ff; 40:34ff).

The cloud covers the tent and glory of God fills the interior. Glory is a radiant fiery substance. There proceeds from it fire which consumes the awaiting sacrifice. After speaking with God, Moses has a radiance of face which dazzles the Israelites. After each encounter, each worship, we are improved with glory on us. Cloud is a meteorological phenomenon while glory is manifestation of God. The psalmist in Psalms 63:2 prays for a theophany in sanctuary by which to experience the glory of God. There is a frequent demand to give God glory (Jer. 13:16; Ps. 29:1; 96:7; 115:1) to recognize the import of His deity.

Creation and History Creation shows no other power in the universe but Yahweh. The foundation of God’s control of history is creation. This is His cosmos. The God who created this world controls the history of the world. The creator God controls the nature. Everything in nature and history depends on God. There is no natural cause and effect worth noting.

Unless God helps, nothing can be done. Therefore, there is no difference between natural and supernatural. Nothing on earth without the act of heaven. Our way of looking at natural and those of divine intervention are heretical to Israel. “There could be no such thing as intervening, because to intervene in something it must be to some extend independent of the one intervening”. One cannot speak of a teacher’s intervention into a course that he is teaching.

If God is the creator nothing can veto His purpose. The work of God gave shape to us and His voice to the world around us. God made me and the world around for me.

God can work together whatever is best for me. Therefore, as long as we are faithful, we need have no fear of circumstances. God can make conditions work together to finish whatever is the best that He means to create in us. Whatever is waste and void His Spirit moves creatively according to a holy purpose which nothing can be strong enough to turn aside. When life seems empty within, darkness seems to descent, the brooding Spirit has not vanished from us.

The natural order exists only because God is actively upholding it. To say ‘God intervenes in natural order’ is meaningless. The natural laws of the world are order set by God and maintained by Him. Making something is a onetime act. But creation is a perpetual activity. He is the Originator, Preserver, and Provider of creation. Chaos still threatens the world from all sides, natural, social, ethnic, and political. It is God’s move that hinder such forces and restrict.

Jeremiah 27:5 is clear and comprehensive statement of creation, the absolute power of God over history as Creator, “I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me”. The shaping of history is also creation.

Providence of God is a second creation.

In the beginning is not the beginning of God. It is not the beginning of everything, but the beginning of time and of history. Technology reduced time, travel time, cooking time, cleaning time; still we need time to pray. Time, which our culture keeps trying to save has paradoxically, become a meaningless notion. We have saved so much of it that it has no true definition. Who are we saving time for? It must be for the important things of life. Therefore, control and redeem time.

Creation and Redemption The doctrine of creation in the Bible is very much connected to redemption. It is the redeemed who proclaim the creed, ‘God the Creator ….” The evil in the world is not fate, but a contradiction of God’s purpose and so can be redeemed. The miserable condition of humanity is not any defect of creative work of God. The Bible concludes with New Creation in Jesus Christ. The whole creation is ever dependent on the Creator.

The creator God prepared a path in Red Sea (Ex. 15:21), for the redeemed Israel and preserved in the wilderness by mighty provisions, and gave victory over enemies making stars to fight (Jud. 5:20-21). God’s glory He will not give to another (Isa 42:8).

The correlation of Creation and Redemption are well presented in Isa. 40-66. The whole task of Is 40-66 is to prepare the way to reveal God’s glory (Isa. 40:5).

The Redeemed people of God has a redemptive relationship with the creation. Doctrine of

The creator

God controls the nature.

Everything in nature and history depends on God. There is no natural cause and effect worth noting.

Unless God helps, nothing can be done.

Therefore, there is no difference between natural and supernatural. creation is a religious affirmation and our residence on this earth is God’s provision (Isa. 45:18).

Creation is for a redemption, showing relationship between humanity and God. Here we find the meaning of our existence (Ps. 73:23-26).

Since the universe began in God’s purpose, all existence can be viewed not tragically, but with trust: “This is my Father’s world”. Creation is to let me live December 2017

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and grow. Rest is the main goal of creation (Gen. 2:1-2). God has been working to achieve a rest. It is the seventh day that is blessed and sanctified, which suggests the significance of the creation. World is a temple. Sabbath purpose as rest-worship.

The divine contemplation of His creative work, “God saw that it was good”, everything complete as God intended.

Everything in subordination to the Creator. Evil has no natural place in the universe. Rest is needed not because of weariness. The rest should be religious. Why should God take six days to create, God can do it in a moment. To show that work is result of deliberate purpose. Rest is memorial of past labor; remember God the creator.

Paradise with its calm, pure beauty is gone, but Sabbath is not passed away. It has accompanied man in his sorrows, his joys.

‘Holiness to the Lord’, is written upon Sabbath by the finger of the Creator. It is to consider the wondrous work of creation. All my work is part of His creation.

Sabbath is my response. Sabbath was made in the paradise. It was revived in the wilderness. The mind and body are invigorated in the presence of God. The curse of work is suspended. Finished redemption is then celebrated.

The means of grace enjoyed. The heavenly rest is anticipated. Now we begin the week with Sabbath. No man can for any length of time pursue work without mental and bodily injury or insanity; Sabbath is a blessing. In the silence of the night gets repair.

One portion of it cannot be called into incessant activity without the risk of injury.

Its different regions, devoted to different functions, must have their separate times of rest. The excitement of one part must be coincident with a pause in the action of another. Mind, worn out with one thing turns to another, and its physical excitement is followed by physical repose.

Creation and Nature Humans are set in a physical environment far vaster than themselves. The forces and elements of nature are Yahweh’s minions, not His essence. In other religions deity is associated with nature. There is no divine quality in nature. The creature remains basically different from the Creator ever.

He is the Lord of earth (Pss. 24:1). Nothing in creation should be glorified, but points to the glory of the Creator, “Heavens declare the glory of God” (Pss. 19:1). Glory is an element belongs to the higher heavenly regions. The heavenly bodies are not deities that control human destiny but instrument of God to control seasons (Gen. 1:14-19).

The Creator God has provided a time for every aspect of human life. There is a season for everything (Eccl. 3:1-8). Creation inspires to worship God (Pss.104:24). Creation has a lot of mystery which God alone knows (Job. 38).

This is not mother earth that give all but God’s command to produce vegetation and animals (Gen. 1:11-12, 24-25). Future messianic salvation will be marked by a flowering of the desert (Isa. 35:1-2). The wilderness awaits blessings of God. This universe is not governed by its own law but a God who created and sustain it for His will (Job. 38:33). God has even a covenant with the day and night that they also change at His interference “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon” (Joshn 10:12, 13).

Creation by Word The Hebrew word for Creation, ‘bara’ occurs 48 times and takes only God as its subject; characteristically divine activity. This verb is never used where materials are mentioned for creation. Man was created with materials, from the dust of the earth, but still it was bara, to show that man is not mere dust but a unique creation of God. Though he was created from earth, he was created in His image, and so offspring and kin of God. The creation concerns bringing heaven and earth into existence and focuses on operation through assignment of roles and functions. God brought cosmos into operation with its roles and functions. God guarantees order, nothing left to accident or chance.

Empty, dark, and void situation is awaiting God’s call to light and life. light is God’s first blessing.

Earth is a distinct creation of God. God created the earth not as a waste. God said, nine times, and after each saying things happened.

Word of God creates. God’s word is not a sound but an act, an event focused on a result, “So shall my word be that goes out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it”

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(Isa. 55:11). Word given by God can overthrow and build, “I have set my words in thy mouth …to root out, and to pull down, … to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:9-10).

God commands and in obedience to His command creation takes place (Pss. 33:9).

The Word of creation is the command. Word is the expression of one who wills and acts consciously.

The absolute sovereignty of God is evident in creation. Every creation is for a specific task under the Creator. The Creator approves when creation corresponds to His intention, “it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). Creation remind humans on the goodness of God which leads to praise the Creator.

Formless and void is the starting point, void is not made. God created, causing to become, it is energy causes to become. Intelligence of the Almighty God creates, blind force does not create anything. Force needs intelligence to create, and the mastery of volition. Thus, there is energy, intelligence and will behind the creation.

Creation of Humanity God created man and woman in God’s own image. It refers to the quality of humans; they are the top class in creation as they alone receive God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1:27). Humans are the climax of God’s creation. Man is honored by the breath of God into his nostrils (Gen. 2:7). God came down and stood face to face with man to blow into his nostrils. Man is created to have intimate fellowship with God. God gave authority and glory to man (Gen. 2:20; Ps 8). He is the only creature who can answer God, either in defiance or in trust. Although all God’s creatures are summoned to praise him, man is the only creature in whom praise can become articulate. We articulate praises and hymns to proclaim God’s glory. Human life is made for conversation with God, for a dialogue in I-Thou relationship (Is. 43:21).

Image of God confers us dignity, entrusts with responsibility, implants us with certain potential, to mirror our creator. Our capacity to be godlike impacts our view of self. Our aspiration is to be Godlike, and in that goal, we find our purpose. We live in a goal-oriented society.

Educators talk of measurable outcome, there are many important outcomes that cannot be measured. But if they cannot be measured, they get left off the list of targeted outcomes. ‘Be ye holy as I am holy’ is the measurable outcome (Phil. 2:5; Eph. 5:1).

When God created body from earth, body is far greater than dust. Human work cannot exceed the matter itself. In an over cared body there ever dwells a neglected soul. The life of man consisting in the union of the soul with the body, hath but a very weak foundation. The life of man is only by his soul.

Humbling origin of body-this is most humbling. It was not formed of heavenly matter. When we reach heaven, it is a heavenly body. Body is not formed of the matter or radiant sun, or the sparkling stars, nor the most precious jewels; but of vile dust which is trodden under foot.

Only humans have the life of an intelligent soul. Life is to be measured by action, not time; a man may die old at 30, and young at 80; the one lives after death, the other perished before he died. Man is a link between the material and the spiritual; his is a compound nature.

Creation and Eschatology The glory of God is also the religious hope of eschatological expectation. The vision of prophet Isaiah is that the “Whole earth is full of the glory of Yahweh” (Isa. 6:3). Life began in goodness, they can go forward into it with courage and expectation. Creation is not a finished story. As there was the beginning in God, there can be new beginnings.

Creation also has a hope toward the final end. “In the beginning God” also has “In the end God”. The purpose of history is grounded in the will of the Creator. Creation is

fundamentally an eschatological doctrine. In the beginning God expects in the end God. No more sea and night is the culmination (Rev. 21:1 and 22:5). If men can trust that life began in goodness; evil in the world is not fate; it is a contradiction to His purpose.

You will not leave us in dust, not made to die.

Birds follow their homing instincts, but man’s instinct is wrong (Jer. 8:7). Satan’s rule lasts only as long as men are deceived by him; and in the last day, when God’s victory is complete, Satan too will be destroyed. The goal

God

created man and woman in God’s own image. It refers to the quality of humans; they are the top class in creation as they alone receive God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1:27). Humans are the climax of God’s creation. of history will be a return to the beginning, not as a historic cycle, but the original intention of the Creator let me conclude with the poem of Elizabeth Browning: Earth’s crammed with heaven And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees takes off his shoes, The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

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Pastor Philip P. Sam Teacher, India Bible College and Seminary, Kumbanad

“And the glory Thanksgiving: Old of theTestament Lord filled theSacrifices tabernacle” In the Old Testament the phrase ‘glory of God’ has a great significance especially in the life of Israel. We see Yahweh revealing his glory to the Israelites

in many ways at numerous occasions. What exactly is the meaning of this phrase?

How did God reveal his glory to the Israelites? How did the Old Testament writers describe the glory of God? How did the Israelites understand the glory of God? A more pertinent question for us is how was the revelation of the glory of God important for the Israelites?

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In the Old Testament ‘Khavod’ is the Hebrew word used for glory. The meaning of ‘Khavod’ literally is “to be heavy” or “weight” and it is used as a technical term for God’s manifest presence. It means honor and dignity and in terms of glory and splendor refers to God. Rolf Rendtorff describes glory as that aspect of Yahweh that could be perceived by people and in which he himself is revealed in his power.

Khavod however is not a well defined concept in the OT. It is best to treat the term as something that points to the godliness of God as it appeared in his manifestations and his revelations. Thus the term “glory of God” has to be understood as a term that represents the nature, character, power and the majesty of God which was revealed through various manifestations in the life of Israel. A synopsis of the varied application of the phrase “glory of God” in the life of Israelites would give us a fair picture of the meaning and significance of the phrase. Let us look at the different aspects of the glory of God revealed to the Israelites.

Glory of God revealed in the name of God: In the Hebrew thought name displays the character of a person. Thus when God proclaimed his names like El-Shaddai, El-Royi, Yahweh and so on, God was revealing his glory. That the name of God was very much related to his glory is evident in Psalms 8:1; 29:2; 66:2; 79:9; 96:8. The proclamation of God’s name before Moses when he asked God to show his glory also illustrates this reality. There Yahweh makes his goodness pass by Moses, proclaiming his name and explaining his character (Ex 33:19).

The name Yahweh: The progressive revelation of the nature of God in the book of Genesis through the proclamation of his names, El-Shaddai, El-Elyon, El-Royi, Jehovah-Jireh so on was the unveiling of the glory of God. Taken in this sense the revelation of God’s name as Yahweh to Moses through the experience of the burning bush was a significant act of displaying the glory of God. Though the name of God as Yahweh was known before as we see in the book of Genesis, yet in disclosing the name Yahweh to Moses, God was actually committing himself as the personal God of Israel. The name Yahweh did not express any attribute of God, or describe God as to His essence; but it described Him in this relation to Israel- “I will be with thee.” God was committing himself to Moses and Israel as their personal God eager to enter into a covenant relationship with them. It was in the personal commitment of God to Moses and eventually to Israel, the name Yahweh became unique and first of its kind of revelation.

In the theophanic manifestation of God as the fire engulfing the bush yet not consuming it, God was beginning to display his glory to Moses and Israelites in a more concrete (understood by the senses) and personal way. In this disclosure of the consuming glory of God, the thorny desert bush (representing Israel) was not consumed, but became the channel of displaying God’s glory. In the rest of the history of Israel God was displaying his glory in and through Israel.

A study of the Old Testament would make it clear that Israel’s history and purpose was closely related to the revelation of the glory of God. In other words, Israel’s existence as a priestly nation among the whole earth depended upon their understanding of the nature of Yahweh (glory of Yahweh). God’s purpose in this selfrevelation was that the Israelites would know him and follow his nature. An illustration of this could be seen in the command of God, “…therefore be holy for I am holy” (Levi 11:45). Thus the revelation of the glory of God has to be seen with this purpose of making the Israelites follow the nature of God.

The glory of Yahweh was revealed in the tabernacle and displayed through the acts of Yahweh in the history of Israel.

In this revelation of his glory, God was progressively moving from revelation of his glory in Israel to the eventual filling of the whole earth with his glory.

Glory as the manifest presence of God: In the concrete understanding of the Old Testament Khavod means a fiery phenomenon from which radiance shines forth. Thus glory of God in the wilderness journey of Israel meant terrifying display of God’s power in mount of Sinai and the cloud of God’s presence

in the tent of meeting. A similar manifestation of God’s glory is seen by Isaiah and Ezekiel in their vision of God throne.

This awesome expression of Yahweh’s glory was necessary for the Israelites to understand the holy and powerful nature of God. Glory of God revealed in the cloud: The term “glory of God” is first used in Exodus 16:7 in relation to the complaint of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron regarding the lack of provisions during their wilderness journey.

Moses tells the people that they will see the glory of God in the morning and know that their complaint is not against their December 2017

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Israel’s

existence as a priestly nation of God was founded upon these revelations of God’s nature as the guide, protector and sustainer of the Israelites. leaders but against God. What Moses was trying to communicate to the Israelites was that the presence of God, signified by the manifestation of the “glory of God”, was accompanying them in their wilderness journey. This demonstration of the glory of God was also tied to the miracle of providing food for the Israelites.

Thus, God’s glory was related to the expression of the nature of God as the provider and sustainer of his people. Israel’s existence as a priestly nation of God was founded upon these revelations of God’s nature as the guide, protector and sustainer of the Israelites.

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Glory of God revealed in the Tabernacle: For the people of Israel the tent of meeting or the tabernacle (mishkhan-meaning the place of God’s dwelling) was the place where God revealed his glory and gave his law and guidance (Exodus 40; Leviticus 9:23). This manifest presence of God is said to accompany Israel during the wilderness period. However after settling in Canaan, the Israelites took the Ark of God as an assurance of the presence of God even when the covenant was trampled and subverted by them. This is illustrated by I Samuel 4 which describes the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Philistines and the capture of the Ark. This event was described by the wife of Priest Eli’s son Phinehas as Ichabod which means “The glory has departed from Israel”.

The Ark was brought back later to be housed in the Temple.

Glory of God in the Temple: King Solomon placed the ark of God in the magnificent temple which was filled with the glory of God at the time of its dedication (1 Chronicles 7:1-3). Solomon confessed during the dedication of the Temple that even though God has chosen to establish his name in the temple, the heavens cannot contain the glory of God (1 Kings 8:27).

However we see that in the later times the Temple took more prominence in the life of Israelites than obedience to the commands in the Torah (Jeremiah 7). This subverting of the covenant of God and trusting in the temple as an assurance of the presence of God eventually led to the downfall of Jerusalem and the temple of God. The glory of God departing from the Temple was seen by prophet Ezekiel (Ez 11:23).

Glory of God fills the whole earth: The prophetic literatures describe the glory of God in relation to the eschatological (things that would happen in the last days) vision of the whole earth being filled with glory of God. This is especially evident in Isaiah’s prophecies (Is 6:3; 40:5; 62:1,2) and the prophecies of Ezekiel about the eschatological temple. The glory of God seen as departing from the temple in Jerusalem eventually was seen by Ezekiel to return in the eschatological temple (Ezekiel 43).

In the New Testament, the glory of God was revealed in a more concrete way in the person of Jesus Christ. John the Apostle writing the gospel of John testifies, “The word became flesh and tabernacle among us… We beheld his glory, the glory of the one and only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). And again John testifies in his first epistle, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life…” (1 John 1:1) The glory of God displayed in various ways in the Old Testament was eventually manifested in the flesh and dwelt among us, to be heard, to be seen closely and to be touched! In Jesus God was expressing his glory in the most tangible and concrete way.

Theological Significance: God revealed his glory in the life of Israelites with the purpose of making them his own people, a people devoted to his covenant. If Israelites have to follow the nature and holiness of God then they must see his nature revealed in his glorious presence. Thus the life and character of Israelites was very much related to their understanding of the glory of God. Continued on page 16

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Brother Noah

Louie the Littlest Lamb Not much happens in our village and most people who come leave pretty quick. You see, our family are shepherds and shepherds ... well, we smell like sheep.

Now, I've never minded smelling like a sheep.

My dad and mom smell like sheep.

My pop smells like a really old sheep (but not so much my nana who just smells real good).

Even our school kinda smells like sheep because all of us kids have lived with the sheep all of our lives.

Between our house and my Pop's house on the hill are the sheep pens. Every spring, everyone in the village gather the sheep into the pens and take the wool off of the big rams and ewes.

Its a lot of work but it is also so much fun because every night, all of our family and friends get

My name is Eli and I’m just a little kid like you.

I have a family like you and live in a village that is so small everyone knows everyone else. My uncles live right next door with their families and my Pop and Nana have a house on the hill. There are all of my friends too who go with me to the school where old Rabbi Joseph teaches us from the Torah, God's book written to all Jews.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

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together and eat, tell stories and sing songs.

In the summer the sheep go out to wander around the hills and valleys. That's where me and my friends are all summer... with the sheep! Jacob and Matthew, Simon and Josiah... all of us follow the sheep and make sure they don't get into trouble. There are so many sheep that each of us have a little flock that we watch over, especially if a wolf or a bear is close by.

During the spring the baby lambs are born and that's the best time to be a shepherd. When a little lamb is born, the mamma always lets me come close, no one else but me. You see, she knows me. I've taken care of her when she's not feeling well. And sometimes I have to rescue her when she get stuck in the rocks or ravines. So when she's about to have her lamb, she walks out of the flock and just stands there in front of me and I know she wants me to help her. I find her a nice safe place to lie down and before you know it, a little lamb is born.

I take the baby and rub it real nice with my shawl, and then I stay there with the mama and baby to make sure they are warm and out of the wind.

Sometimes, we have lots of little lambs to take care of through the summer. It's no

wonder that we all smell like sheep. After the summer is over and all the little lambs start to grow we start the long walk back to our village. Sheep don't move very fast so my dad taught me to be patient and just walk behind them and watch out for the lambs. And so that is what I do. By the time I get back to my home, the nights are turning cold and my mom's soup sure tastes good after all those nights camping out with the sheep.

I want to tell you a story about one very special lamb and one very special night.

I had one old sheep named Maggie that I loved the most. Not long ago all the other mamma sheep were having their babies but Maggie just kept eating and baa-ing like she always did. Maggie didn't have a lamb... at least not when she was supposed to.

Through the summer, I followed my flock all around the hillsides. Maggie always seemed to fall behind and I worried about what was going to happen to her.

Then, one night when I was asleep under the stars, I felt a cold wet nose on my face... it was Maggie and she stood looking at me, telling me what was about to happen.

Long after all the other sheep had their babies, Maggie was about to have her own.

Just before daybreak, her little lamb was born. Maggie looked at me as if to say, "I'm too old to take care of this little lamb all by myself. I need your help!" And so I did.

I named him Louie the Lamb and Louie soon stayed closer to me than to Maggie.

Smaller and younger than all the other lambs, Louie the lamb would get knocked down while playing with the other older and bigger lambs. As the summer began to change to fall, he would run circles around me and butt me to play with him instead of running off with the others. Louie the Lamb thought I was a much better play mate than all the other sheep.

The nights were turning cold when we finally began the long trek back to the village. I could look across the valley and see my cousins and friends herding their sheep towards the village and day by day we got closer to one another until finally our little flocks grew into one big flock.

The village was now in sight. The flocks passed into the pens where my dad and uncles stood to count them one by one, making sure all the sheep made it home safely for the winter. When I reached the pens, my dad smiled so big at me... he was so proud that I had brought all my sheep home.

The sheep passed under the watchful eye of my dad and uncles. Finally, all that was left was old Maggie who always walked so slow behind me.

It was then that my heart felt like it fell all the way to my feet. There was Maggie, but Louie the littlest lamb was nowhere in sight.

"Dad!" I yelled, "Louie is not with his mom! I've got to go and look for him!" My Dad understood. A good shepherd never leaves a lamb alone to find his way home.

Every shepherd knows the rule... when a lamb is lost, you leave all the others behind and go and look for him.

The sun was just going down over the hillside and the chill of a cold wind was beginning to blow as I bundled my shepherd's shawl around my head, gripped my staff and began to retrace my steps to find the little lamb.

Soon, the lights of the village disappeared. The darker it got, the harder the wind seemed to blow... but little Louie the lamb was no where in sight.

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fall like rain, getting bigger and bigger as they fell. And then the most amazing thing happened. A beautiful song turned the silence of the night into a celebration.

The falling lights were not lights at all, but angels that now filled the sky in front of me singing a song of celebration.

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!�

Louie started to jump and baaa like I had never seen or heard and I just stood and stared. I didn't know what to do! I was scared, excited and happy all at the same time. The night was bright as day, the angels were so joyful, and the night no longer seemed cold at all. Angels, bright stars and the happiest lamb I had ever seen... wow, what a night!

And so there we were in the middle of the night with angels instead of stars over head. I ran

Then I remembered something that old Rabbi Joseph told us. He told us that Jehovah God was the great Shepherd of Israel. He told us about the children of Israel in the wilderness and how God followed them and protected them... just like a shepherd follows after his sheep.

"O God," I cried out over the wind, "would you watch over me and little Louie tonight? Would you help me find my way and bring him home safe?"

Suddenly the wind stopped blowing. The clouds that had made the night so dark began to roll away and fade. It was then that I saw the most beautiful star I had ever seen shining low on the horizon. I sat down under a tree to look at this marvelous star and rest just for a moment, but was soon fast asleep.

A cold, wet nose pushed against my face. "BAAAA!" I awoke with a start! It was Louie and he had found me! "Louie, where have you been? I've been so worried about you and so has your mom."

I was thinking so much about getting back home that I didn't even notice that the star was shining so bright that it lit up the entire countryside. "BAAAAAA!" he said back to me and then turned and began to run in the opposite direction of home.

"Louie, where are you going!" But Louie never turned around, he just kept running ahead as if he wanted me to follow.

All of a sudden, I noticed the lights. Far up in the dark night sky, lights began to

God's purpose for my life is that I have a passion for God's Glory and that I have a Passion for my Joy in that Glory, and that these two are one passion.

Jonathan Edwards December 2017

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after Louie as fast as I could as he headed towards the bright star on the horizon. All the way, angels were darting through the sky shouting and singing with Louie leading the way!

The hills seemed alive with shepherds who had been keeping their flocks now running towards the star as well. Brighter and brighter it grew until it seemed like it would touch the ground with its glory. As Louie and I crested a final hill, the valley below showed the little town of Bethlehem and a single light shining from a run down sheep shed. All of heaven was alive and focused on the tiny light that shined from the stable on that cold night in Bethlehem.

The angels had faded back into the dark sky above and now a peace filled the night that I had never felt before or since. Little Louie was now walking beside me and together we made our way towards the star. Something

wonderfully strange and gloriously silent filled the starry, starry night and my heart was filled with a peace I had never known before.

Louie pushed ahead. The little lamb was not afraid at all and instead of me taking care of him, he was taking care of me. As he reached the very edge of the barn, he turned and looked at me... I'm telling you something I've never told anyone!..., smiled in a lamby kind of way and disappeared into the soft glow that poured out of the stable.

All of the other shepherds stopped but I just followed Louie, and when I got to the edge of the stable and looked in, a momma was holding a tiny baby and Louie lay at her feet. And I knew, somehow I knew, that the little baby was both the Great Shepherd and the Lamb of God that was promised to take away all the sins of the world, just like the angels has said.

All the shepherds made their way into the tiny stable where the baby now lay in the manger. The smell didn't seem to bother Mary and Joseph at all. Other animals were there as well and together we kept the place warm. One of the shepherds began to sing and through the night, the shepherds sang the songs they sang to the sheep through the dark nights on the hillsides around Bethlehem. But this time they sang to the baby named Jesus.

Dawn was breaking. The sleepy town began to stir. The shepherds pulled back from the stable while the young parents slept and quietly slipped back to their flocks. Only Louie and I were left to gaze at the little Lamb, lying in the manger hay, and finally we too slipped out, leaving the scene I would never forget.

And that is my story. Louie and I were never the same after that night. That silent night would become the night of all nights when Louie the littlest lamb led me to another Lamb who would become the great Shepherd of all.

“And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” Continued from page 12 Their self-understanding and future depended upon the power and might of God revealed in the glorious presence of God. Talking about a manifestation of God’s glory today, we need to consider the glory of God displayed in the manifestation of his love in the person of Jesus Christ and his death upon the cross. God revealed his nature in a more expressive way by becoming flesh and dwelling among us.

The awesome glory of Yahweh displayed to the Israelites could be grasped with these words, “And so terrifying was the sight

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that Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and trembling (Hebrews 12:21).” In Jesus the eternal Yahweh was displaying his glory more expressly. What an amazing display of God’s glory! In becoming flesh and living among us God was displaying his nature and character more fully.

God’s glory today has to be centered upon the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing transformation in a disciple’s life. Today the Holy Spirit has been poured into the hearts of disciples for them to experience and understand the presence of God. The Holy Spirit teaches and guides us into all truth related to the character of Jesus and his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is working in us to enable us to work for the extension of His kingdom, a kingdom which will be filled with his glory as was seen by prophet Ezekiel. What a great privilege we have today to be vessels carrying the glory and the presence of God! Do we truly understand the significance of God’s glory today? What do we really mean when we talk about the glory of God today? What is the role of the Holy Spirit today in our churches and in our personal life? If only we could understand the significance of the amazing privilege we have today to behold the glory of God in the person of the Holy Spirit!

renewing and enriching life

Pastor P. J. Daniel Thiruvananthapuram Faculty, India Bible College and Seminary, Kumbanad

THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FUTURE ETERNITY The glory of God is the beauty of His Spirit. It is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, but it is the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that

He is (James 1: 10). We are the vessels which contain His glory 2 Cori 4: 7. Natures exhibits God’s glory. Psalms 19: 1 – 4 says, the heavens declare the glory of God and their expanse are telling the works of His hands. Psalms 73: 24 calls heaven itself glory.

“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory (heaven)”.

So the glory of God fills the whole Universe both heaven and on earth. Paul says to the Ephesian church that when the times reach their fulfillment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ (Ephesians 1: 10).

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Etymology The word “glory” is a fascinating word. It has been derived from the Latin word “Gloria”, which is used to describe the manifestation of God’s presence. Sometimes it is used for God Himself. Italso referred to the brightness of Heavenly bodies (Acts 22: 11; 1 Corinthians 15: 41). Glory is referred in some places as a position (Genesis 45: 13) -like royal positions (Psalms 21: 5; Numbers 27: 20).

Material possessions are also considered as glory (Genesis 30: 43). To comprehend the glory of God, we have to consider all these characteristics together, mentioned above. Our God is God of all glory, which includes his brightness, royal position, and possessions.

The Hebrew word ‘Kahbowd’ refers to the brilliant splendor of God’s appearances.

The Greek word ‘Doxa’ can also refer to the brilliant splendor of God’s appearance. The writer of Hebrew records that Jesus is “brightness of His glory”. (Hebrew 1: 3) Jesus, who is now at the right hand of God, possesses the glory that He had with the Father when He was with Him in the beginning as the Word (John 1: 1-2, 14; 17: 5)

God’s Glory in the Old Testament After God delivered Israel from their bondage in Egypt, Moses led them to Mount Sinai, where God had planned to give them the Decalogue. Then God told Moses to come up on the mountain to receive the tablet. The account continues: “Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. The people of Israel saw God’s glory as devouring fire on the top of the mountain. They could not comprehend that Glory. Instead of praising God they trembled before Him. In the later account Moses asked to see God’s glory (Exodus 33: 18) God replied in verses 20 -22; “You cannot see my face: for no man shall see me, and live…Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I pass by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen”.

When Moses was coming down from the Mountain after forty days, his face was shining with glory, the Israelites afraid to come near him. So Moses spoke to them by covering his face with a veil.

When the prophets had seen His glory they trembled and fell down before God in a prostrate posture. “When Ezekiel saw the glory of God, he fell facedown. (Ezekiel 1: 28). When Daniel had seen the vision of the glory of God, he bowed with his face toward the ground and speechless (Daniel 10:14 – 15) From these accounts, it is clear that the people of the Old Testaments could not comprehend the glory of God. They feared and trembled to see God’s glory.

God’s glory in the New Testament

Any work done by a follower of christ to the glory of God is “gold, silver, precious stone.”

But if any follower of Christ works with any self-interest or personal ambition involved, it will be “wood, hay, and stubble” and will be burned.’’

Billy Graham 18 December 2017

The glory of God is manifested in the New Testament in manifold ways. Jesus Himself was the true revelation of God’s glory (John 1: 1-2, 14). The glory of God is revealed partially through Jesus Christ on the mount of transfiguration.The apostle Peter, James and John were given the opportunity to have a vision of Jesus in His glorified state when He was transfigured before them on a high mountain. Mathew tells us: His face shone like sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” This is similar to the description given in Revelation 1: 16 of the glorified Jesus, whose “countenance was like the sun shining in its strength”.

When the people of Israel saw the glory of God on the Mount Sinai, they were frightened and trembled. When the disciples saw the glory of God at the Mount of transfiguration, they said it is good for them to be there.

Jesus Christ is the Replica of God’s glory. God’s glory is the same yesterday today and forever. It cannot be diminished nor decreased like the shifting shadows (James 1: 17). It will continue even in the future. 1 Corinthians 13: 12 says “ For we see his glory now in a mirror dimly, but then face to face, now I know in part but then I shall know fully just as also have been fully known”.

God’s glory in the Future God’s glory in the future is vividly described in the Book of Revelation. The first chapter of Revelation itself reveals the fascinating seven fold glory of risen Lord Jesus Christ. While John the Apostle was in the island of Patmos, He was in the Spirit and

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could see the vision of the glorified risen Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was standing in the midst of seven golden lamp stands, like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he had seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1: 12 -16) In Revelation 15: 8 we read of an effect of God’s glory: “the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angles were completed”.

We also read in Revelation 21: 23 “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it, The Lamb is its light’ Therefore, an important attribute of God’s very being is that He is glorious – shining with brilliant splendor. The city of New Jerusalem reflects the glory God. There will not be any sun or moon or stars to give light in the city. God’s glory will be shining in brilliance in the city.

Our privilege There are many other scriptures that refer to the brightness of God’s glory. But what does this mean to us? It helps us to understand our own future. God created humankind to give us the opportunity to become the very sons and daughters of God (2Cointhians 6: `17 – 18). If we are to become members of God’s own family, one of the attributes we will receive is the very glory of God. Paul records that we are to “walk worthy of God who calls you in to His own kingdom and glory”.(1 Thessalonians 2: 12) Paul further writes in 2 Thessalonians 2: 14 “He called you by the gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Jesus Christ now has the very glory of God. He is the brightness of His glory (Hebrews 1:3). We are to obtain the same glory (2 Thessalonians 2: 14) as sons or daughters of God. In Romans Paul emphasis that “If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs

Jesus Christ

is the replica of God’s glory.

God’s glory is the same yesterday today and forever. It cannot be diminished nor decreased like the shifting shadows with Christ. If so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together” Romans 8: 1618 Apostle John further explains “ Beloved now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3: 1-2) To receive the very glory of God is a part of our inheritance as children of God.

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Dr. A.C. George Former Principal, Southern Asia Bible College, Bangalore

Biblical Principles Relating to Worship Worship which is acceptable to God must be performed according to God’s Word.

Any act of worship which is not in accordance with biblical principles is a mockery and mere ritualism. Let us examine the basic principles that govern true worship.

A. Only God is Worthy of Worship The Scriptures state categorically that there is only one true God and that worship must be offered to H im alone (Ex.20:3). The first three of the Ten Commandments

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were directed against the crass polytheism which characterized the religions of the ancient Near East. The Israelites were strictly prohibited from making or worshipping other gods, which from the biblical perspective were no gods at all (ex.20:3,4).

They were also warned not to make any images or representations of the true God (Deut.4:19,23-28). On the other hand, they were commanded to fear the Lord and serve only Him (cf.Deut.32:39; Josh.24:14-15). Idolatry was punishable by death (cf.

Ex.32:27-35).

A careful study of the Scriptures – both Old and New Testaments – shows that worship is the exclusive right of God. The Word of God strongly prohibits and condemns any attempt on the part of man to attribute power and glory to any human being or spirit or images that are represented as deities. Worship must be directed to God alone.

Since God is invisible and transcendent, any representations of God through images or pictures would be dishonoring to Him and would detract from His true nature as revealed in the Word of God. All forms of idolatry – physical and spiritual – are to be shunned (1 John 5:21). God alone must be loved and worshipped. He says: “I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God” (Isa. 44:6).

B. Worship Transcends the Limitations of Time and Space God being eternal and infinite, cannot be limited by time or space. Even after the time line of history comes to an end, the Lord will be worshipped. The Revelator gives us a graphic picture of the worship rendered to the Lamb by the angelic hosts and all the redeemed saints. The scene is very much like the one the prophet Isaiah saw in his vision (Isa.6:1-4). The four living creatures that remind us of the Seraphs in Isaiah ascribe glory and honour to the one who sits upon the throne saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev.4:8) This act of worship gains momentum when the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the King of glory at whose feet they lay their crowns. They shout in unison: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev.4:11) Undoubtedly, worship will be the salient feature of eternity! As such, the worship of God here on earth is just a preparation and training for that great event.

The worship of God – whom the heavens and the earth cannot contain, as King Solomon rightly acknowledges at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:27) – cannot be localized. It is true that in the Old Testament we read of certain selected places, like the tabernacle and the temple that Solomon built, where God chose to manifest His presence through the glory–cloud called “Shekinah.” It has to be pointed out also that Jerusalem gained significance because of the temple where the Israelites gathered to worship God and celebrate their festivals (1 Kings 8:15-53). Worship in the New Testament is not confined to any particular place, as was made clear by the Lord Himself: “neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem” (John 4:21). What matters in New Testament worship is not the place of worship, but the manner of worship – “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). It is to be noted that neither the Lord Jesus nor His apostles left any instructions to their followers to build sanctuaries for worship. The Apostolic Church had no problem worshipping God in houses or temple or prison or any convenient place where they could come together to glorify the Saviour (Acts 2:46-47; 16:25). The New Testament emphasis is not on the place of worship, but on the people who constitute the Church, which is called “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim.3:15), and “a holy temple” (Eph.2:22).

C. Worship provides the Dynamism for Victorious Christian Living One of the fallacies relating to worship is that worship is something that takes place periodically and only in certain contexts. Many “worship leaders” seem to think that actual worship of God takes place only at certain parts of the service when the congregation raise their voices and utter words of praise. It can

God

being eternal and infinite, cannot be limited by time or space.

Even after the time line of history comes to an end, the Lord will be worshipped. The Revelator gives us a graphic picture of the worship rendered to the Lamb by the angelic hosts and all the redeemed saints. be observed that some worship leaders do not think that the hymns and choruses that are sung in the church are an essential part of worship. At the same time, the Sunday morning service is often referred to as the “worship service.” It is very important for Christians to realize that our whole life is and ought to be an act of worship. Worship is a human response to the divine grace shown to us. It streams December 2017

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renewing and enriching life

from the heart and flows through every fibre of a believer’s being and then overflows through all the channels of his life and activities to others who come into contact with him.

When worship is understood in its larger and deeper dimensions, it becomes a meaningful and enriching experience. A true worshipper whose encounter with God is genuine cannot but radiate the grace, love and power of God. Worship will liberate one’s spirit

A true

worshipper whose encounter with God is genuine cannot but radiate the grace, love and power of God. Worship will liberate one’s spirit from all shackles. It will provide happiness and contentment.

from all shackles. It will provide happiness and contentment.

The Psalmist describes the worshippers this way: “Happy are those who have reverence for the Lord” (Ps.128:1). Worship will recharge the spiritual batteries of the believers so that they can run the race well and be victorious.

It is about such worshippers that the Psalmist sang: “They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion” (Ps.84:7).

22 December 2017

D. Worship involves the Whole Life and Activities of a Child of God Worship is not to be perceived as something that an individual does periodically, or that it covers a few spiritual exercises such as prayer and praise. True worship covers the whole gamut of human activities and experiences. Worship can be rendered to God in the context of a congregational act of worship as well as in the solitude of an individual whose heart rises toward the Lord of Heaven. Worship occurs when feelings and thoughts are verbalized through prayers. Worship can also occur when the human intelligence fails to translate the yearnings of the human heart into audible utterances.

St. Paul speaks of this mediation of the Spirit this way: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Rom.8:26) Commenting on the Spirit’s intercession for the believer, Dr. Stanley Horton says: “In our weakness we often do not understand ourselves or our needs. We want to do God’s will, but we do not even know how to pray as we should. Then the Spirit comes to our aid and makes intercession for us (instead of us) with groanings too deep for words.”

It is important for us to learn that worship can be done without speaking aloud.

It is not only possible but necessary for God’s people to worship God through silent prayer. This may not be palatable to those who tend to equate spirituality with the volume of sound they can produce in worship services. It gives them an opportunity to be heard and to hear. But there are times when God’s people will have to learn the truth of God’s Word: “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Ps.46:10). Hearing is possible only when one learns to wait patiently and silently before God and allow God to speak to him (cf. Ps.40:1). Many a Christian does not hear God speaking to him simply because he does not give God the opportunity to speak. Judy Bartel has this to say about ‘waiting on the Lord:’ “To ‘wait on the Lord’ means to keep still outwardly and inwardly while waiting for Him to speak to us. The Holy Spirit can bring thoughts to our minds that will help us, or bring verses to our remembrance to guide us. Here is where the fellowship and communion of worship take on their full meaning.”

Sufficient has been said, I believe, to stress the fact that worship is not limited to a few religious ceremonies or exercises, but extends to all aspects of life, it has a vertical and horizontal dimension. The vertical relates to God and the horizontal relates to man. True devotion to God will naturally express itself through act of kindness and service to our fellow beings. Real worship embraces the totality of a person’s being and doing. This is a biblical truth that cannot be controverted.

“The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that any of us … shall please God… to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son - it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.” - C. S. Lewis

renewing and enriching life

Despite

creating such a beloved, often-translated Christian allegorical work as The Pilgrim’s Progress, British author John Bunyan faced a life of difficulty and obstacles.

First, he had little schooling. His formal education lasted only two to four years; he served as an apprentice in his father’s tinker trade, and he also spent some time in military service. Second, his youth appeared not to be one of piety, but of abandonment, where he indulged in profanity and other behaviors considered sinful at the time.

For a while, he was racked with fear over having committed the”unpardonable sin.” Some even believe he suffered psychotic illnesses. Only after becoming an enthusiastic believer while immersing himself in the Baptist Church did he feel free from his mental and spiritual burdens.

These trials became the basis for his great work The Pilgrim’s Progress. As he began to write, he also preached, and this, too, became a contentious issue in his life. He fiercely disagreed with the Quakers and at one point was indicted for preaching without a license. When he refused to stop preaching, he was thrown into prison. For twelve years he was confined, and there he wrote a large part of his definitive work. Only after Charles II issued the Declaration of Religious Indulgence was Bunyan finally released.

But Bunyan began to preach again, causing Charles II to retract his declaration and throw Bunyan into prison again.

Despite these circumstances, Bunyan was able to finish his masterpiece.

John Bunyan (1628–1688)

Author of The Pilgrim’s Progress

An uneducated, mentally anguished criminal wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, the second-most translated book of all time behind the Bible.

Fact: Sir Walter Scott believed John Bunyan was of gypsy descent because his father was a traveling tinker–a mender of pots and pans. Others say the elder Bunyan was a village blacksmith.

In the year 1628…

• Puritans from the Massachusetts Bay Colony arrived in Salem, Massachusetts.

• The English Parliament’s Petition of Right outlined the offences of Charles I. • The Battle of Wolgast marked the end of Danish involvement in the Thirty Years’ War. December 2017

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renewing and enriching life

news A Museum Fit for the Bible: Telling the Story of the World’s Greatest Book

Mall—comes not a moment too soon. As we’ve been telling you a lot recently here on BreakPoint, biblical illiteracy is running rampant in the culture. New Testament scholar David Nienhuis states, “Christian leaders have been lamenting the loss of general biblical literacy in America. … Much to our embarrassment, however, it has become increasingly clear that the situation is really no better among confessing Christians, even those who claim to hold the Bible in high regard.” Indeed. Gallup and Castelli call America “a nation of biblical illiterates.”

But is biblical literacy really important? A couple of American Founders answer that question. John Adams, second US President, noted, “The Bible contains the most profound philosophy, the most perfect morality, and the most refined policy that ever was conceived upon earth.”

Of course, many in our postmodern world don’t believe that and dismiss the Bible out of hand—but maybe that’s partly because they’ve never had the opportunity to engage with it. Museum of the Bible gives them that opportunity, not by cramming “religion” down someone’s throat, but by presenting the Bible as the best-selling, most debated, most influential book of all time. Back in the day, you weren’t considered educated if you didn’t know the Bible. It’s still true today, and Museum of the Bible will step in to fill that knowledge gap for Christians and non-Christians alike.

I am striving for Christians uplift: MLA Phillip The grand opening took place in Washington DC, on November 17 of the massive, 430,000-square foot, stateof-the-art Museum of the Bible in the United States of America. A project of an interfaith, international team of scholars, the museum is an innovative, global, educational institution with the aim of inviting all people, of whatever faith or no faith at all, to engage with the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible.

The museum cost $500 million to build, and when you visit, you’ll see why. Museum of the Bible has breath-taking exhibits, hi-tech LED screens, and tons of ancient artifacts and precious manuscripts. You’ll be amazed. But why so much, and why now?

“It was surprising to us that a book this influential didn’t yet have a major museum focused on it,” Steve Green, Hobby Lobby president and Museum of the Bible founder, told Christianity Today. “The Bible has influenced nearly every aspect of our world, from the arts and culture to business and entertainment to health care, education, and government. We hope to create the kind of museum that would share this book we love with as many people as possible.”

And Museum of the Bible—situated just three blocks from the U.S. Capitol and two blocks from the National

24 December 2017

Guntur, November 06,2017: Phillip C Tocher, the nominated Anglo-Indian MLA, says as a boy he was inspired and fascinated by the charity and humanitarian, selfless services of the noble lady Mother Teresa.

Philip was born in Bengaluru and brought up in Hyderabad, he developed a penchant for social service and wanted to work for the betterment of the poor by emulating Mother Teresa and started in that direction at the tender age of 18. He said that NTR was impressed by his style of functioning for the party among the Anglo-Indian community. And after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wanted to nominate him as an MLA to represent the Christians in general and the Anglo-Indian community in particular and Philip was the obvious choice.

Through the efforts of Philip, a Central Christian Bhavan at Adavitakallapadu in suburban Guntur on two acres land at a cost of Rs 10 crore was being constructed he said and added that the government was planning to set up one Christian Bhavan in 13 district headquarters.

The most troubling problem for the Christian community in the state is lack of burial grounds for the departed, all most all the major cities and towns have expanded around the cemeteries which were once on the outskirts

renewing and enriching life

Hindu extremists beat Pastor unconscious in southern India following conversions among Banjaras India, November 5, 2017: Weeks after a pastor led a southern village’s first five families to faith in Christ, masked men on motorbikes intercepted him on his way home from worship and tried to kill him.

Pastor BanothuSevya, 26, was in a coma for 48 hours after the drunken Hindu extremists beat him in Govindapuram, on the outskirts of Jamandlapalli village in Telangana state, last month. They had threatened him twice before, he said.

“But I didn’t pay attention, knowing that when the Lord’s work is taken up, there will be hurdles, and I never complained the police officials,” Pastor Sevya told Morning Star News.

In their prior threats, the assailants had accused him of fraudulent or forcible conversion, asking how he lured Banjara tribal people and what he told them, he said.

“I told them, ‘I only share the gospel, that we are all sinners, and this world is to come to an end someday. Only Jesus Christ can cleanse us from the sins. He was crucified for our sake, and rose again to present us eternal life. I ask them if there is life in the rocks, trees and water – why worship them?’”

Pastor Sevya said he told them he spoke to every person individually when they came to ask him about Christ.

The assailants are from JangiThanda, where Pastor Sevya had been evangelizing the past few months, she said.

“They attempted to murder him,” she said. “Doctors in Mahabubabad and Warangal districts told me he would die, and my father and father-in-law arranged for 100,000 rupees [US$1,545] and shifted him to a private hospital in Hyderabad.”

Doctors told her he had blood clots in the cerebral area, brain coordination problems, injury to his eye and a damaged eardrum, she said.

The pastor said he was alive only by the grace of God. “I forgive the youth who attacked, and I am praying for them,” he said. His wife filed a written complaint with police in the Mahabubabad Rural Police Station, but they did not register a First Information Report, she told Morning Star News.

Pastor Sevya said police claimed they would continue to investigate, but that they offered little hope as the assailants were masked and he could not remember most of the assault, having slipped into a coma.

Bishop dismisses call to make India a Hindu nation New Delhi, November New Delhi, November 5, 2017: An Indian bishops’ conference official has reacted sharply against a radical Hindu party for trying to negate the secular Indian Constitution.

Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretarygeneral of the Indian Catholic bishops’ conference, also disagreed with their insistence that Hindus in India should get priority over Christians, Muslims and other religious minorities.

“India is a secular country and it will also remain so. It was not born out of religion and we do not want it to turn it into some religion-based country,” he said.

Bishop Mascarenhas was reacting to the Oct. 30 editorial in the Marathi-language newspaper Saamana (combat) which said India should become a Hindu nation.

“India belongs to Hindus first and others later,” Indian media quoted the editorial as saying. The publication is considered the mouthpiece of the regional pro-Hindu Shiv Sena party.

The party, which has a history of using violence to defend Hindu culture, said there are many Muslim, Christian and Buddhist countries but “Hindus do not have any country except this.”

India has 967 million Hindus, or 80 percent of its 1.2 billion people, while Muslims number 172 million, Christians are just 28 million, constituting 2.3 percent of the population.

Persecution Relief, an ecumenical Christian forum that monitors incidents of persecution, in June said it has recorded 260 incidents of violence against Christians in India during the first five months of the year. The incidents included destruction of churches, threats and harassment, hate campaigns, abduction, physical violence, and attempted murder.

Journalist and writer, AnuradhaBhasinJamwal told ucanews.com that parties like the Shiv Sena should know that India is a secular state. “To say that Hindus come first and others come second is tantamount to undermine the basic idea of India,” she said.

Political commentator Zafarul-Islam Khan, who currently heads the Delhi Minority Commission, told ucanews.com that such statements are “illegal and unconstitutional.”

People making them should be taken to task.

December 2017

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renewing and enriching life

QUIZ–58 SUPERNATURAL JOURNEYS 1. What prophet was able to travel for 40 days on just thestrength from a cake and water?

2. Elijah and Elisha walked across the Jordan river on dry groundafter Elijah struck the waters with what?

3. Elijah outran a king's chariot, running all the way from MountCarmel to Jezreel, almost 10 miles. Who was the king?

4. How was Elijah taken up into heaven?

5. Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry ground and also crossed ariver on dry ground.

Which river?

6. What carried Philip from Gaza to Azotus?

7. What two people walked on water in the midst of a storm?

8. Who took Jesus to a pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem?

9. Ezekiel was lifted up by a spirit, which held him between earthand heaven. What was the spirit holding on to?

10. Who was taken up into heaven in the sight of his followers?

11. What man knew someone who had been caught up to the thirdheaven?

The ABC of becoming a Christian

Admit that you are in

need of someone to save you from guilt, shame and bondage or addictions.

Admit that you have violated God’s Laws.

Answers for Quiz - 57 CURIOUS QUOTATIONS 1. Ezekiel (27:25) 2. Song of Solomon (5:3) 3. Ecclesiastes (10:1) 4. Isaiah (49:23) 5. Job (28:22) 6. Exodus (40:17) 7. Joel (2:6) 8. Hosea (10:7) 9. Psalms (29:6) 10. Isaiah (2:22)

Believe that Jesus Christ is the

only One whois able to save you and to bring deliverence and offer forgiveness of sins. Believe that Jesus is the only One to conquer death and is the risen Saviour.

Confess with your

mouth that Jesus is your Lord and submit to His rulership in your life.

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Subscribers in Other Countries Cheques, Drafts, Money Orders may be issued in favour of K.E. ABRAHAM FOUNDATION and mailed to K.E. Abraham Foundation, Hebronpuram, Kumbanad, Kerala - 689 547.

26 December 2017

THE GLORY

Pastor Dr. T. Valson Abraham Founder/President India Gospel Outreach

President India Bible College and Seminary

What is the glory of God?

The dictionary

defines “glory” as “very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown; something that is a source of honor, fame, admiration; resplendent beauty or magnificence or prosperity; a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment; the splendor and bless of heaven.”

What is the glory…of God? The truth is, we don’t know. None of us has ever seen God. We cannot look upon the fullness of His glory and live.

However, the Bible declares in Psalm 19, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”

What are the heavens telling us?

The “heavens” are what astronomers call the “observable universe,” what is described as “a spherical region comprising all matter that can be observed at the present time because electromagnetic radiation from these objects have had time to reach earth since the beginning of cosmological expansion.” It refers to the “limit created by the speed of light. Any object further away than light can travel in the age of the universe (estimated at about 14 billion years) have not reached us yet.”

This “observable universe,” we are told, is now about 46.5 billion light years in radius, or 93 billion light years in diameter. One light year, the distance light travels in a year, equals about 6 trillion miles. Early in 2017, an English team of astronomers estimated that within this observable universe are at least 2 trillion galaxies, each with billions of stars, 10 times more than previously thought.

This means an observable universe of stars numbers in the quintillions, sextillions and septillions.

The human mind cannot begin to understand or comprehend such numbers.

All of these stars and galaxies, however incomprehensible their numbers and sizes, still

india bible college and seminary, 21 November 2017

OF GOD

represent only 4% of the total mass of the universe. The remaining 96% comprises other matter that the astronomers haven’t even been able to identify yet!

Pastor Saju Joseph introduces and leads the service

Pastor Dr. T. Valson Abraham, President of the Seminary, took a class on the ‘Characteristics of Christian Leaders.’

All of this represents only the “observable universe.” Most parts of the universe are simply too far away for any of us to ever observe with any telescope no matter how advanced because we live in a universe that is expanding faster than the speed of light.

Bro. George Tiwari, a senior member of the India Christian Assembly, California greeted the community and shared from his recent mission trip experiences.

The Bible also tells us that God has a name for each star.

None of us can fully comprehend the universe, but the Bible tells us that the very size and complexity of the universe declares His glory. The God who created it all holds the universe in His hands.

In His hands. Think of it—the vast universe in which we live only hints at the glory of God. We cannot actually behold the glory of God and live. But in the heavens, God has left us a big hint of His glory, so obvious that none of us can miss it.

The more evidence astronomers gain of the universe’s expanse, we can react in one of two ways. The conventional way in a secular culture is to ignore God altogether and say that the universe is just a vast and impersonal place. The earth is a speck of dust, humanity is nothing more than a collection of worthless microbes, and life has no meaning.

As Christians, our growing knowledge of the universe’s expanse should declare to us that God is even greater than what our godly forefathers knew. His love and grace are more boundless than we thought, His incarnation more miraculous, His humbling of Himself in Jesus Christ to suffer in our place is more stunning. His sacrifice is more sacrificial, His character more outstanding, His trustworthiness more pure, His Word holds greater value.

In your spirit, enter the stable in Bethlehem with its pungent smells of hay, straw and animal dung. Listen to the bleat of sheep and goats, the lowing of cattle.

Note the young woman who lovingly watches over a red-faced infant, fresh from her womb, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Faculty and staff with student community

Singing praises to the King

book release Pastor p. j. daniel, senior faculty at India Bible College and Seminary has authored several books. The recent books ‘An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation' and ‘A Study on the Epistle of Philippians’ was released by Pastor Dr. T. Valson Abraham, on 21st November at India Bible College. The first copies of these books were given to Pastor Sunny Kurian and Pastor Thomas Mathew.

Look again at the newborn baby lying in the straw. This male-child is the creator of all the stars, planets, galaxies and dark energy. He is the Lamb of God, about to bear your sin and my sin, the sins of every person who ever lived or will live.

He is about to enter us into a new humanity that will one day astound the angels of heaven.

Behold in that newborn baby the love of God that will not let us go. Then fall down and worship Him. This is the glory of God. We must make sure that others know about Him. He is the one person we all should take the time to know. *** Father God, your glory is so great, I cannot grasp it. I thank you that in your glorious grace, you have sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to help me experience your glory as the greatest gift I could possibly enjoy. And when I see you, I shall be like you because I shall see you as you are. I pray for others who do not yet know you,

that they will also know this inexpressible gift. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Pastor P. J. Daniel

News paper Reg. No. KERENG/2007/22479

REVIVE (ENGLISH) december 2017

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Date of Publication : 11/12/2017

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(Ph.D Candidate) Clinical Psychologist Consultant

An initiative of IGO & affiliate of IBC and Seminary Printed, published and owned by Major V.I. Lukose (Retired), published from P.O. Box 31, Hebron, Kumbanad, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India and Printed at Viani Printings, Ernakulam, Kerala, India. Editor: Pastor Dr. John K. Mathew

Glory of God

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