*? Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law? (Psalm 119:18)* In Matt. 1:20-25, we see how an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. News had reached Joseph that Mary his espoused wife was with a child. He began to wonder and even thought of putting her away privately (v.19). Any man would have thought as Joseph thought, because he had never heard in the history of the world of a virgin being with a child. Joseph was much troubled and distressed. So God sent an angel to make him know how it had happened. ?.. that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost? (v.20). No man would have succeeded in convincing Joseph about the Child being conceived by the Holy Ghost. Similarly, the message of salvation cannot be understood by any human being. Man may try to explain but one cannot understand, ?.. because they are spiritually discerned? (1 Cor. 2:14). Man with his natural wisdom cannot understand or comprehend the things of God. It does not matter how intellectual a person may be, spiritual things cannot be understood by any one easily. The very same thought is given in Romans 8:5-7. The ordinary human mind cannot grasp or comprehend the divine truth about salvation. To understand the Scriptures we have to claim the anointing of the Holy Spirit again and again. That is why before giving the message we pray, and after giving the message also we pray and at home we pray several times. *Supposing a man goes on reading the Bible the whole day and also consults very good books in the library but does not pray sufficiently before giving message, everyone will soon know that there is no life in the message and that they are mere words.* But when the preacher prays sufficiently, then they see new life. Even though we read the Bible many times it cannot be understood by human wisdom. We need the anointing every day and every time we read the Word of God. Some great scholars though they know everything, bring doubts about the Bible. They say, ?This part of the Bible is not true and that part of the Bible is not true?. And like that they go on. But they are fools and they do not know that these things are prophesied by the Holy Spirit and they cannot be understood by the ordinary mind. Even though one may be a teacher of the law, without the Holy Spirit he cannot understand. It is not only study of the Scriptures, which is going to give us spiritual life, but the inward working of the Holy Spirit in our lives is also necessary. We have to pray again and again, ?O, Lord, open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of Thy law? (Psa. 119:18). Because it is the Word of God, and not the word of man, it cannot be understood by our ordinary, natural and corrupt minds. Do not let your human wisdom deceive you. asgdkiranpaul@gmail.com Please Share. ? Praise the LORD?

*?In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you? (I Thess. 5:18)* In England on Coronation Day there is a grand royal procession, when the king and the queen ride in the beautiful royal coach. The royal coach is used only on that day. Before it is used for the procession, it is sent to a special place for cleaning and polishing. There are lamp stands on both the sides of the coach. Once a young boy was appointed to polish these lamp stands. He worked very, very hard and made them look very bright. On the day of the procession, he too stood in a particular place waiting for the coach. After much waiting the royal coach drawn by eight horses arrived. As the coach came near, the boy shouted with joy, ?Look how they shine, look how they shine!?. The man near him asked, ?What?? He replied, ?The lamp stands.? He was not looking at the king or the queen, he was looking at the lamp stands. Why was he so happy? Because he had made them shine; he had some share in the procession. The same is true of us because our trials, afflictions and difficulties will give all of us a share in the New Creation. This is mystery. All of us as believers have some share in the New Creation. Our earthly trials, however painful they may be should not discourage us because all the suffering which we go through is contribution for the coming New Creation. So for a believer, failure and success have the same joy. As we grow spiritually we can thank God for everything because we know that God uses our failures also for a purpose. Many people who were careless have been drawn closer to God through sickness, poverty and hardship. Many truths in God?s Word become real at the time trials. The Psalmist says so in Psa. 119:67,71 and Psa. 66:10-12. If we go on praising God for all kinds of trials and afflictions and hardships we are brought into a larger and a wealthier place spiritually. ?He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me? (Psa. 18: 17-19) As believers, for every situation we can pray, ?Lord, what are you teaching us through this situation?? Then thank God for the ways He uses; it may be sickness or health, failure or success, poverty or wealth, friends or enemies. We can thank God for all our enemies because they keep us humble. That is God?s method. The more enemies we have the more humble we are. By nature we are proud and keep away from God. By remaining humble we are brought nigh unto him. According to Isa. 57:15 *God lives only in two places, in the Holy place and in the humble heart.* And that humility does not come easily. We all have some pride of country, education, caste, job etc. But under all circumstances we must be kept humble. Paul testifies in 1 Cor. 15:10 saying, ?But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.? We praise God for every situation He takes us through, to make us useful and fruitful to draw us nigh unto Himself, to give us the honour to be used by Him for the New Creation and a part of His dwelling place for eternity. Please Share. ? Praise the LORD?

*?.. he is the head of the body, the church: .. that in all things he might have the preeminence ? (Col. 1:18).* The house built by Moses was according to the pattern shown by God. The house was only a shadow of the house which is now being built by the Lord Jesus Christ. God kept Moses in the wilderness for forty year and then on the mountain for 40 days to empty him of his own wisdom. There, on the mountain, God gave him the heavenly pattern of the house to be built and also warned him to take heed and build after the pattern which was shown (Exo. 25:40). Every detail of the construction of the tabernacle was shown to Moses. Neither Moses nor anyone else could change the pattern. The words ?as the LORD commanded Moses? are repeated eight times in Exodus chapter 40. In building the tabernacle, Moses followed every detail given by God. Only then God?s glory could fill the tabernacle. Now the Lord Jesus Christ is building the spiritual House with our partnership. None of us can make any change in that plan. If Moses could not make any alteration in building the material house, how can we make any alteration for the spiritual House? But many God?s servants make some changes, and do God?s work with human wisdom. That is why we see defeat, failure, barrenness and darkness in our midst. We are warned from God?s Word to take heed in building His House. In the name of a constitution, people have brought in many changes. Also darkness and wrong teaching have crept into the Church. If we want to take any share in the building of God?s House, first of all, we must keep ourselves under the Headship, Lordship and Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. To build a large building, the chief engineer will have a plan. Masons and other workers will be under him. Whatever he says they must do. In the same way, when our personal life, family life and church life are brought under the complete Lordship, Headship and Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can hear God?s voice day by day for our guidance. But if we are defiled by any sin, we become deaf spiritually and cannot hear God?s voice. That is why many people are deaf spiritually and their ears are hardened so that they cannot understand what God wants to say. Also they become blind spiritually. They do not know God?s plan. Only by keeping ourselves under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ in our personal life, family life, and church life, we can know God?s will. Then we will become partners in building God?s everlasting habitation. At the same time we can enjoy God?s fullness in His House. God?s love is fully expressed in His House. Every one of us has a Heavenly calling to be true co-workers of the Lord Jesus Christ, to build His everlasting habitation under His Headship. We can take our share in the building of that glorious sanctuary, provided we are willing to come under His Headship and Lordship. Please Share. ? Praise the LORD?

Psalm 37: 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Job 22: 21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

Galatians 6: 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Welcome to the myPraize family Kiran! Looking forward to seeing you in the chat room or reading your posts!

Psalm 20: 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.