Words of Life|Pastor Balan Swaminathan|HIPM

Problems help you to face the real you. You don't meet him or her otherwise. You never get a chance to watch the real you from a distance until then. Problems expose the real you. Every circumstance a Christian faces in life, good or bad, has been designed by God for his benefit, so he/she should face them “in Christ” and rejoice in and thank God for them.----more---- Every circumstance a Christian faces in life, good or bad, has been designed by God for his benefit, so he should face them “in Christ” and rejoice in and thank God for them. Facing problems or dealing with certain people causes you pain from the world's perspective, but they conform you to the image of Christ, then you will not pray "comfort me Lord", instead you will pray "conform me Lord". John C. Maxwell when he talks about building character, He says, Some people are born mud and remain mud.... Sadly, some are born marble and die mud; some are born mud, dream of marble, but remain mud. But many persons of high character have been born mud and died marble.”

- God wants us to build our families on the foundation of God's Word. - Every member of the family must perform their duties and allow other members to perform theirs - Biblical order of families must be followed----more---- - Children need to be trained, corrected and the foolishness in their heart need to be removed - All family members must work together to bring harmony within family - Biblical model for priority must be followed for families to be built healthy and with longevity.

Two things are important as we build our lives on this earth. 1. Wise man built his house on the Rock. - It is important to build on the solid foundation that is Jesus Christ. - We can do that only by studying God's word and doing accordingly. - If we don't build on Christ, we will face white throne judgement.----more---- 2. It is important How we build our lives. - With Gold, Silver and precious stones, that is with Christian Discipline or with wood, hay, straw, that is by living a superficial Christian life, not allowing ourselves to be disciplined. - Knowing that we must give an account standing before the judgement seat of Christ.

Our God is the only hope for 2023 in this hopeless world. Our God is called "the God of Hope". Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Declaration of our Hope in God.----more---- Psalm 33:20-22 (GNT) 20 We put our hope in the Lord; he is our protector and our help. 21 We are glad because of him; we trust in his holy name. 22 May your constant love be with us, Lord as we put our hope in you.

Christ's birth is the only hope that there is light in the darkness. Christ's resurrection is the only hope that we will rise again. Christ's ascension is the only hope that Jesus will come back.

Christmas gave us a new Revelation of God. Christmas showed us the Way to God. Christmas made us a new Creation in Christ.

Christmas reminds us that many old things in our life have to end. Christmas reminds us not to be earthly focused, instead be kingdom focused. Christmas reminds us not to follow traditions, but to follow Christ.

Grace is free as we didn't pay for it. But it is not cheap. That means once we obtain grace we can never neglect or ignore or treat grace cheaply. Grace is Free, but it is costly because it cost God the life of His own Son. Grace is an attribute of our God. We can either allow or resist grace in our lives. ----more----We should never resist grace by our bitterness, pride and by relying on our flesh. We must instead allow grace in times of our weakness, our needs and in our sufferings.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 • Anything negative invites the devil to claim hold • Anything we refuse to do for God by saying excuses invites devil's attention • When we are discouraged the devil waits for us to see if we give-up or overcome----more---- • Your weakest moment is the highest opportunity for the devil to attack • Your soul is attacked when it is unprotected and the devil marks it for him, protect your soul • When your mind is attacked, it is hard to repair, so protect your mind • If you allow fear, anger, frustration & despair to harbor in your heart, they become strongholds occupied by the devil • Your body is the carrier of your soul until you are done on this earth, so it must be protected • Your Spirit is the one that senses the deepest things of God and keeps you up and running, it must be protected.

Mark 8:22-26 V 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 1. Seeing something is better than not seeing anything 2. Seeing something is one step closer to the miracle 3. Seeing something is a sign for fulfillment----more---- Today God is telling us that, your darkness is going to go away and you will see light at the end of the tunnel soon. Your situation is going to change soon but you must • Not complaint • Must not rebel • You must obey • You must believe as this blind man did

It's all in your hands, you can choose what you want to do: 1. It's in your hands to build a better tomorrow 2. It's in your hands to release the blessings 3. It's in your hands to release power & authority

A better way of thanksgiving is by Thanksliving knowing that we don't deserve anything that we have today, by living in contentment with what is given and by seeing good in people and circumstances around us.

This sermon is based on the "Truth & Reconciliation day" observed in Canada on Friday, Sep 30, 2022. God wants us to reconcile not only with Him, but also with the people around us. " The key to reconciliation is your attitude and the key to your attitude is submitting yourself to the sovereign God". We learn this from the life of Joseph as he reconciled with his brothers and father.

Lamentations 3:19-23 (NIV) • It is hard to escape a storm, it is harder to handle the aftermath of a storm. • Post-disaster recovery is important to repair and heal from the damages.----more---- • Rebuilding hope is necessary to get back to normal and fulfill our responsibilities. For all these to happen we must depend on God's unfailing love, compassion and faithfulness.

Be a lamp that gives light. If not, at least be a lampstand. But don't be a basket. Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ----more----16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The question is "Where's it all going to end?" - We ask "where's it all going to end" when we see too much of uncertainty around us - We ask "where's it all going to end" by looking at the current situation----more---- - We ask "where's it all going to end" when we see what others are going through - We ask "where's it all going to end" when we don't see any way out But Jesus promised us that He is with us even unto the end of the age. So, It's all going to end well.

• Clay has no value, but the jewel inside the clay is valuable • God has put potential inside of us, when we develop our God given potential, people will come to know our value • Real transformation exhibits kingdom characters as kingdom of God is within us. • Once you experience transformation within you, transform others.

I believe the best is yet to come because • It happened in the past & it's happening today • If we love, believe & follow Jesus, the best is rest assured • If we are willing to improve, the best is certain. Willing to Believe, Pray, Learn, Change & Serve.

• We are living in a world where battle never ends. • When people around us harm us, God wants us to do two things. • He wants us to allow Him to fight by doing good • He wants us to ask Him to protect us by trusting in Him • When we leave it to God, He has his own way of fighting the battle for us.

As we hear a teacup speak with respect to Jeremiah 18:1-6 this is what God is teaching us. • As the clay is in the hands of the potter, we are in the hands of God. • God knows what He is doing in our lives, so don't be too concerned about your life.----more---- • Even if things are not going on well, we are still in the hands of God. • After all these struggles, something good is going to come out of us

• Some of you maybe standing in front of a closed door. • God is telling you that don't wait for a closed door to open. It's not going to open, you need to move ahead. • Some of you may be looking for another door to open. • God is telling you to keep an eye for an open door. God is going to open a new door for you soon.

Final thoughts: • Our lives began in the past (eternal past) even before we were formed. • Our lives are not going to be done even when we leave this earth. • Life is valuable, it must be protected, other lives matter, this life must be used to bless others and to bring glory & honor to our creator.

Today if your life is boring, dull and with no motivation certainly there is something missing. Ask the following questions. 1. Am I saved 2. Am I doing something to save others 3. Am I serving God----more---- 4. Am I serving others You need to believe in Jesus and tell about Jesus to others You need to have a servant heart to serve others.

• When we approach God in prayer and found self-righteous, our prayer is not going to be heard. • Even if we fast and regularly tithe, if our attitude is not right, our prayer is not going to be heard. • Our prayer will be heard only when we humble ourselves realizing our sinfulness----more----• Our prayer will be heard only when we plead for God's mercy to cover our sinfulness.

• Pray for you and for those who are affected by injustice caused to them • God wants His people to cry out to God day and night, until we see justice • If you continue to persist on God asking according to His will, even if it delays, it will certainly come.

In this sermon of the Prayer series we learn, • God wants us to be persistent in our prayer for the right motives that are according to the will of God. • Many things in life won't happen automatically unless we persist in prayer.----more---- • Persisting to achieve wrong desires with wrong motives in prayer leads to sin and is an abomination to the Lord.

3 Reasons why we don't hear God. 1. Damaged/Broken Receiver - Our lives need to be fixed to hear God. 2. Not Tuned In - We need tune our hearts and minds to receive from the right source, that's God. 3. Outside of the Coverage Area - We can't go far away from God, we need to come back to God to hear Him.

Father's blessings are great in the Bible. Fathers who fear the Lord enjoy all these blessings in life. • They eat the labor of their hands • Their wives are so fruitful at the husband's house • Children are like wild olive trees grafter into cultivated olive trees, partaking in all the blessings----more---- • Blessed with long life to see children and children's children Today God may pour these blessings upon all of you.

True transformation always begins within you. It transforms your desires and then it transforms the purpose of living. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Pentecost Sunday is the 50th day after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. This has Old Testament relevance to the feast of weeks or Shavuot. Here are the highlights of the sermon. • Manifestations (gifts) of the Holy Spirit is given for common good. • We are all baptized into one body by one Spirit whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free.----more---- • Gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all people, to those who want to receive.

Value, love & care for people, but don't hold on to them, they will leave. Hold on to what is spiritual, supernatural and eternal. Learn to leave what is temporal. As long as you hold on to something that God wants you to let go, you can't pickup the mantle that you need to divide the obstacles that are in front of you.----more---- - Elijah's departure was a supernatural experience. - Elisha was given an opportunity to receive anything he wanted, but he asked for the double portion of the anointing. - But there was a condition to receive what he wanted to receive. There is a condition for us to go to heaven. We must be prepared. - There was a moment of separation that no one can avoid, but we must let go. - The separation made a huge impact on the life of Elisha as he let Elijah go and held on to the mantle he received.

River Jordan represents three things in the Bible. 1. It's a place of transition - where things are going to change. God wants you to transition to the next level. 2. Jordan refers to a boundary and a crossing point - where blessings are experienced beyond that boundary. ----more----God wants you to cross over the boundaries that you have set in your lives. 3. Jordan represents freedom from oppression. God wants you to receive a breakthrough, and deliverance.

Mothers influence their children in their presence, they influence them in their absence and continue to influence them in their eternity. Mother's influence and bring forth good human beings they eventually transform into eternal beings of heaven.

2 Kings Ch 1- We need to have a holy life to escape the consuming fire that is going to come upon those who don't believe and live a God pleasing life. We need to be found in Christ in order to escape the condemnation that is already declared over those who don't have Christ. ----more----We want to be humble and meek so that we will not self exalt without the will of God and before God's timing, but instead humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt us in due time.

If you are Fearful, Selfish and Careful in taking steps to do something for God, you will never be able to do anything. Instead, be Fearless, Selfless and Reckless in doing something for God.

Death is to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. We believe in the bodily resurrection because scripture says so. When resurrection takes place, this inferior body will be replaced with a glorious body. Those who believe in God, know God and work towards resurrection can take part in this glorious event. This is our hope beyond the grave.

The excellence of life or the good quality of the living on the earth comes from the sin free, guiltless and God pleasing life that Jesus has offered to us through His death & resurrection.

In the Old Testament, children of Israel let the ark of the covenant (God's presence) come into the tabernacle. In the New Testament, the people of Jerusalem let the king enter in. Today we must let the king come into our lives and into other lives.

Elijah was intentional and he wanted to be a solution in the situation, not to be a problem. How can you be a solution to the problems? 1. Do not neglect the problem 2. Don't focus on the problem 3. Don't fix the problem all alone----more---- Majority of the people on this earth have two major problems and the good news is that we have two solutions. 1. People are not knowing where to go and what to do - We need to shine light, as because of darkness they can't see 2. People are not having any desire to go and desire to do - need to add flavor as they lost the taste for life. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-14 You are the salt of the earth 14 “You are the light of the world.

God works in you to stretch you beyond your comfort zone as that's where miracles happen. - What is that little you still you see in you? - What do you see beyond what you have in you? - What are you going to do with what you have?----more---- - Are you willing to stretch beyond your comfort zone so that God can do something in you and through you - Jesus obeyed and allowed himself to be stretched to do His Father's will, are you willing to obey?

When your motives are selfless, when you depend on God for your daily miracle, not depending on your own strength, you can't hear anything else than the voice of God. Once you hear God's voice, humble yourself, pray for the vision to come true and be willing to work hard to achieve it.

It's better to turn the light On than to curse the darkness • Spiritual darkness doesn't allow us to connect with the true source of light. Spiritual darkness can be removed only by having proper relationship with God through prayer and His Word.----more---- • Intellectual darkness doesn't allow us to function at the God given potential. We need that light, understanding and excellent wisdom that was in Daniel. • Physical darkness doesn't allow us to see the way God sees ourselves and others. ○ What is the call of God in your life and what are you doing about that? ○ Are you preparing yourself to fulfil God's call in your life? ○ That requires tremendous commitment, dedication and sacrifice. ○ Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to be found with God to receive light and with sinners to shine light as Jesus did.

Psalm 27 gives us assurance of God's protection against Fear, Trouble, Shame, Rejection and Accusation. - Protection against Fear - Protection during Trouble - Protection against Shame----more---- - Protection against Rejection - Protection against Accusation

Wherever we are, dangers are always around us. Psalm 121 gives us an assurance of God's Providential Protection. As David says, - We must know where to find help (V1-2) - Once we know, we must go there to get help (V3-8) Psalm 121 assures the following types of protection.----more---- - Protection when we are careless - Protection when we are tired and low in faith - Protection from celestial influences - Eternal protection - Protection in all your ways

Psalm 46 portrays A God who is in our troubles, A God who is in our midst and A God who is in our battles. - God is in our troubles as our refuge, our strength and our very present help in trouble - Because God is in our midst, there is gladness, we will not be moved and He will do it for us in the right time.----more---- - As God is in our battles, we behold, stand still and know that He is your God.

Psalm 91 Summarized: - God has a peculiar care for His own people. - God provides a supernatural protection over His people in this journey. - The same Psalm that brings protection over our family can bring disaster if we test God. His promises are given for us to trust Him, not to test Him.----more---- - The same God who protected Israel and Jesus in the wilderness can preserve you as you walk over every obstacles and threats of life. - Because you love God and you know Him, He bestows a special favor over you. That favor delivers you, lifts you up, honors you, gives you a long life and saves you eternally.

Understand these Truths, only Truth can set you free. - God is your Rock - You need to hide behind that rock for comfort, safety and strength. - God is your Fortress/Stronghold - You need to come into that shelter to hide yourself from the attacks.----more---- - God is your Shield - Use the shield to protect from the attacks that are coming to destroy you - God is your Horn - Allow the horn to smash, scatter and destroy the adversary who throws adversities in your life.

1. Fall reminds us to let things go - Not to fully indulge and give ourselves to the world - Let go the hurt and bitterness, ego, selfishness, desire to possess and our past - Reminds us to forget those which are behind and reach those which are ahead----more---- 2. Fall reminds us the impermanence of life - Do not think about your past, do not worry about your future, live your today. - Everything we do is going to perish, only what we do for Christ is going to remain for ever - What do you do for God? 3. Fall is a time of great reward - Your reward for all your hard work is coming, but you have to wait until fall - Be strong, do not stop doing the good work, you will be rewarded soon - God knows the intention of your heart, your work will be rewarded accordingly

1. Summer is a season of growth and expansion - Growth is inevitable during summer. - If Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man, we must grow. - What steps are you taking towards growth?----more---- 2. Weed & Pests thrive in Summer - Weeds are certainly a threat to your growth. - Weed could be wrong thoughts, wrong ideas, negativity, insecurity & fear. - What are the weeds and pests in your life affecting your growth? 3. Extreme heat is a threat during Summer - Extreme heat not only stops growth, it also destroys what was grown over many years - Unless you are determined to grow, the extreme heat conditions of laziness, procrastination, life events, fear, your immediate needs will stop growth.

1. Spring is a season of cleansing and restoration -God wants us to have true heart, strong in faith, sprinkled with His blood and washed by His Word, renewed and restored. 2. Spring makes everything new and fresh again -Spring is a time of sowing fresh seeds, getting new ideas and making use of every opportunity.----more---- -Spring is a time to raise next generation to seek and follow God. -Spring is a time of multiplication and spreading the seed everywhere. 3. Spring renews relationships -Spring is a time to strengthen the intimacy in your relationship and also to see where we stand with respect to our love relationship with our God.

Winter is known for, 1. Shorter days and longer nights God wants us to work when it is day as night is coming and no one can work. 2. Keeping oneself closer to a heat source during the times of trouble, its better to walk closer to God than going away from Him----more---- 3. Plants and trees going dormant and animals hibernating Your waiting is not going to be for ever, spring is around the corner. God is going to lift you up.