Tag: jesus

Blessed, US Blog

Jesus’ sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes!

Nov 22, 2022 by Percy Parakh

Matthew 5:1-16 The Message
You’re Blessed

1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.Salt and Light

13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.LikeCommentShare

Unbreakable, US Blog

Unbreakable in Jesus – The Story of Louis Zamperini

Sep 26, 2021 by Percy Parakh

Louis Zamperini’s military plane crashed at sea during the war, killing eight of eleven men onboard. “Louie” and two others clambered into life rafts.

They drifted for two months, fending off sharks, riding out storms, ducking bullets from an enemy plane, and catching and eating raw fish and birds. They finally drifted onto an island and were immediately captured.

For two years Louie was beaten, tortured, and worked mercilessly as a prisoner of war. His remarkable story is told in the book Unbroken.

Jeremiah is one of the Bible’s unbreakable characters. He endured enemy plots (Jeremiah 11:18), was whipped and put in stocks (20:2), flogged and bound in a dungeon (37:15–16), and lowered by ropes into the deep mire of a cistern (38:6).

He survived because God had promised to stay with him and rescue him (1:8). God makes a similar promise to us: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). God didn’t promise to save Jeremiah or us from trouble, but He has promised to carry us through trouble.

Louie recognized God’s protection, and after the war he gave his life to Jesus. He forgave his captors and led some to Christ. Louie realized that while we can’t avoid all problems, we need not suffer them alone. When we face them with Jesus, we become unbreakable.

High Priest, US Blog

Christ Our Eternal High Priest

Dec 22, 2020 by Percy Parakh

Jesus is our eternal High Priest. ⁠⁠”His sacrifice is superior. His covenant is superior. His mediation is superior. It’s based not on the blood of bulls and goats, but on His own blood.

It’s needed only once to offer propitiation for the sins of mankind. ⁠⁠I know it might feel like we can just saunter up to God whenever we want, for whatever we want, in whatever way we want.

But that’s not how it works. We’ve been invited into the presence of God on the basis of one thing only: the perfect and superior intercession of our High Priest. ⁠⁠Jesus didn’t have to make a way for us, but He chose to make a way for us.

And He is still making a way for us and will continue to do so forever. We will not enter heaven one day because of anything we have done or will do, but only because of the faithful and unceasing ministry of Christ Jesus, our High Priest. ⁠⁠

So you see, the position of high priest is still very much in effect today. It’s not an ancient institution, but a present reality. O praise the LORD that He saw fit to offer a more perfect way through which we can draw near to God (Heb. 7:19)! ⁠⁠

For when the powers of hell accuse me, when holiness escapes me, when habits overwhelm me, and the heaviness of guilt assaults me, therein is Jesus my High Priest intervening: No, she stands, because He is forever and always with me.”⁠⁠— Stacey Salsbery ⁠

Sunday School, US Blog

The Boy Jesus – Wisdom From The Gospel

Jul 12, 2020 by Percy Parakh

Ecclesiastes 3:1 King James Version (KJV)
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:7b King James Version (KJV)
7b A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Luke 2:39-52 King James Version (KJV)
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Jesus, US Blog

Evidence of God in the Human Body (7 min.)

Aug 4, 2019 , by Percy Parakh

Molecular Biologists have found that the Human Body has a Protein Molecule called Laminin. Laminin is like the Rebar in Cement Concrete, and similarly, this Protein Molecule holds the entire body together.
You will be pleasantly surprised and thrilled when you find out what Laminin looks like!!