FAITH NOT ONLY FOR MIRACLE BUT MISERY

"Faith not alone for miracle but misery"

Evidently, so many Christians define faith in God as something that will always deliver them from disease, deformity, debilitation, danger, distress, discouragement, destruction, darkness, dejection, dungeon, death; in short faith will release us from all sorts of sufferings. 
Sadly when these doesn't seem to happened or miracle doesn't take place in long run many a believers tend to loose faith in God or withdraw themselves from Christianity. 

But the question comes to us is; is this portrayal of faith is the full truth or there is something more to it ? 

A closer look at scriptures opens our eye to the flip side of the story and helps us answer this question. 

Hebrews chapter 11 is one of the most powerful at the same time very popular chapters of the Bible. It talks about the heroes of faith in its two third of the whole chapter. Interestingly enough, the unpopular part is the last portion of the same chapter; the rarely read and rarely preached portion (verse 36-40). 

Someone said that 'the truth is bitter' and here it is; 

Hebrews 11:35-40 KJV

...and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection [36] And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: [37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; [38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. [39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: [40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 

An embodiment of this experiences are Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Stephen, James, Paul, Peter and even till today this list goes on with you and me. 

We don't always receive by faith but give, not only get delivered but bounded, not only taken care of but tortured, not only freed but fenced, not only calmed but disturbed, not only healed but diseased, not only at rest but restless, not only housed but wander, not only plenty but poverty, not only prosperity but persecution. 

All by faith and faith alone. 

You may have been going through some physical, personal or family problems you have no answer to. But if your faith has not decreased over the time you are a Hero of faith. There may be some reasons for this problem to be in your life, however, none is known to any men, therefore, whether we fall on any side of these aspects of faith let's come out as heroes. Its God who does choose human agents for to perfect His purposes for His glory.


I pray that God will provide you ample strength to endure such pain yet remain persistent in faith towards God.

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SO CALLED "LOVE"

Understanding the concept of love 

In the Greek language there are four words for love; 

1. Agape:  ἀγάπη it refers to divine love, unconditional love with stick-ability; Agape is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. Jesus Christ showed this kind of divine love to his Father and to all humanity. 
2. Storge:  στοργή it refers to parental love; Even though this Greek word for family love is not specifically found in Scripture, examples of it are seen throughout the Bible. 
3. Philia: φιλία it refers to brotherly love, enjoyment, fondness, friendship; Philia is the type of love in the Bible that most Christians practice toward each other.  
4. Eros: ἔρως it refers to romantic love, marital/sexual love

There is no fifth kind to this category that today many lovers would die to talk/argue about: the love between a girl and a boy, in some instance, b & b or g & g. 

Such love is actually an emotional state of an individual who is deeply infatuated to other human being (male to male, male to female, female to female). 

Today it's unanimously called love because it is mistakenly named love by our predecessors without any thought. 

Such so called love is of three kinds: 

The first one is an immature infatuation towards an individual that one finds to be more attractive or beautiful; the drive, here, is immaturity. This kind of love is usually experienced during adolescent years. Many call this as first love or first crush and recall it as foolish and funny tender days of their lives. Such infatuation can also happen in later years of an individual's life but will still remain immature because it involves the lust of our eye. 

The second kind is the attraction towards other's body. The drive here is the lust of flesh that seeks to find its fulfillment in partner's body by involving in a physical relationship. 

As once someone said, "The best buy of lust can be through love". And this is seen quite often than the usual these days.

The third kind, which is the good one, is an individual's attraction towards one's persona. This kind requires a management skill to perceive such characteristics in an individual that sees partner as an apt candidate to meet all his/her subjective marital/social/fiscal standards and finally seeks to marry with proper approach. 

And many such so called love-relations we see every then and now emerges out of second kind which is lust. That's why we see among youngsters a trend of hopping in relationships or frequently changing their partners in a disguising vague name of love. And such love is so frequent that it happens to them every second morning to every second face they see. This is insatiable, therefore, leads to simultaneous multiple relationships. Finally leads to post break up trauma and depression. And it's not hard to witness this in our sex-driven postmodern society. 

A Jewish research shows that after having spent a period of time in a relationship (pre-marital) or multiple relationships it's hard for an individual to be committed in a single (post-marital) relationship because the gum of binding is lost. This, eventually, leads to infidelity in marital life. Therefore, things like live in relationships are very trendy in our times because no one wants to be answerable/accountable about their relationship's limits to anyone anymore. 

Out of these three disguises of love, it should not be called love any longer but infatuation, lust and management. The third one which is management is most acceptable among the three and to an extent is Biblical. Because it doesn't lead one towards the sin of lust neither leads towards an immature relationship through infatuation, which, eventually is a dramatic waste of energy, time and money.

Another reason it should be named management because it requires careful philosophizing of one's purpose of life, therefore, right selection of life partner who meets all the demands and then gradually develops caring attitude towards the partner which is the golden key for any relationship to last (seen mostly in traditional arrange marriages). 

So let's stop using the word love by seeing such so called affairs around us, instead, use the more clearly defining words like; infatuation, attraction (lust) or management.

Bible says LOVE never fails/fads; so if it fails/fads its not LOVE then but something else purposefully disguised in the apparel of LOVE. 

To Be Continued...!!!! 

Image Source: https://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icytales.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F09%2FLove-vs-Logic.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icytales.com%2Fthe-g-d-discussion-love%2F&docid=MawNK755bjntxM&tbnid=yiF4WKt6nmeGZM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiTkLD9hfvSAhWLpI8KHRmRAooQMwhbKCQwJA..i&w=2880&h=1800&noj=1&bih=629&biw=1364&q=love&ved=0ahUKEwiTkLD9hfvSAhWLpI8KHRmRAooQMwhbKCQwJA&iact=mrc&uact=8#h=1800&imgrc=yiF4WKt6nmeGZM:&vet=10ahUKEwiTkLD9hfvSAhWLpI8KHRmRAooQMwhbKCQwJA..i&w=2880 

The Four Loves is a book by C. S. Lewis which explores the nature of love from a Christian and philosophical perspective through thought experiments

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THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THEOLOGICAL BELIEFS

Once I heard a pastor sharing his experience. As he went about evangelizing, he happened to meet a bunch of Indians. To one guy pastor asked, “Do you know what the Bible is all about?”. One guy replied, “Don’t worry I know I will tell you, it’s a history of English men coming to India and robbing our people”. This is the sorry state of affairs of our country. People fail to understand the preciousness and irreplaceability of God’s Word. If it was a religious text of some other religion which has been proven to inspire violence in history and wide spread terrorism at present or a bunch of religious texts that kept people blinded for centuries in the shadow of superstitious beliefs which still continue to do so in many part of India, it could be easy and reasonable for one to evade Bible as something not for any good. Paradoxical to aforementioned notion, Bible has proven itself with hardcore testing to be most reasonable, accurate, historical, scientific (to an extent), divinely inspired, life transforming and peace-keeping text among rivals that even the father of our great nation India Mahatma Gandhi (was not only a reader but a follower. He frequently read sermon of the Mount and got inspired for movement of non-violence) and Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Wrote Book on the teachings of Jesus Christ) read and treasured in their libraries.

Undoubtedly I love my country India as I’m it's citizen but facts are facts regardless of one’s patriotism. Theologically speaking (God in control), unmistakably the two countries that follow the Bible are the greats of the world; America and Israel. No matter how much we boast on ourselves, hiding our weakness, for many reasons they are better than us. A simple probe will prove that the are the great nations; the world powers. We, in our country, worship everything that's in existence; gods and goddesses of wisdom, money, peace, prosperity, war and victory, ironically, we had been subjugated for years under Christians (British Rule), we have most illiterate (dumbs with degrees because scams in education system), poor, cases of domestic violence, gender discrimination, crimes against women, ill-water supply, poor/no medical care, poor sanitation, useless/corrupt security and ever increasing and daunting levels of corruption in politics. This can be proven by seeing the statistics of immigration that how impatient Indians are to run away from India to find shelter in US/UK. By stating this I'm not completely denying the existence of evil in those countries but we are concerned about the levels and prevalence of it. This, in short, sums up the idea that the God they worship has blessed them far above than others because their foundations were laid with Biblical principles. 

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बाइबल मे मिशन

मिशन शब्द बाइबल मे नही पाया जाता है लेकिन इस शब्द का अर्थ पुरे बाइबल मे गुथा हुआ देखा जा सकता है

परमेश्वर के द्वारा इब्राहीम की बुलाहट से लेकर चेलों की भेजें जाने, प्रचार करने, शिक्षा देने एवं बप्तिस्मा देने की बुलाहट तक परमेश्वर को मिशन कार्य करते देखा जा सकता है

शुरूवात के लेकर अंत तक उसकी पुस्तक एक मिशनरी पुस्तक है

मिशन की शुरूवात परमेश्वर के हृदय से हुई और मसीह के दुबारा आगमन तक  परमेश्वर के  साथ चलता रहेगा

  

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GENDER RELATION ISSUES

Unless our global society proves to be just and humane we can’t claim any progress or achievement.[1] Egregious gender inequality still exists globally despite of considerable national and international actions that have been taken towards gender equality. While UN Speakers, from various countries, come together to discuss on the topics as such “Female Empowerment in Changing Workplace, Gender Equality Commitments, as Commission on Status of Women” there is still a vast landscape where the theme is greatly underscored and challenged in frontline. On the one hand, in the elite strata of womanhood, women are flaunting their talents by competing with men and they have found equal platforms as well. But on the other hand women are still in the marginalized, discriminated and robed of their rights. Therefore this paper work is undertaken to provide a general perspective on gender relations experienced worldwide and what are some of the challenges to overcome it along with plausible measures.
 1.      Defining Gender
Gender refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women that are fashioned in our families, our societies and our cultures. The notion of gender also comprises the prospects held about the characteristics, aptitudes and likely behaviours of both women and men (femininity and masculinity). Gender roles and expectations are learned.[2] They can be variation over time and they differ within and between cultures. Structures of social distinction such as political status, class, ethnicity, physical and mental disability, age and more, modify gender roles. The idea of gender is significant because it’s functional to social analysis, it discloses how women’s subservience (or men’s domination) is socially fashioned.
 2.      What is Gender Relations?
Gender relations refer to a complex classification of personal and social relations of control and authority through which women and men are socially fashioned and preserved and through which they achieve access to authority and material resources or are apportioned status within a society.[3] Gender relations are the social and economic interactions which occur in any family, community, office or society between males and females. For an example in India, most men think through their female counterpart’s responsibilities as housewife; they belong in the kitchen and they don’t have much say in decision making both in the workplace and the public. This sort of relationship has an incredible consequence on how both men and women are perceived in their family and community and as result it even leads to more physical violence, clash and demises which are, if not always mostly, unreported. Gender relations are power relations between men and women in our society and is vital for understanding the grounds of violence against women and gender discrimination in any society.
 3.      Are Gender Relations a Problem?
The research of gender problems is becoming more and more significant and popular in the social sciences. Many Western researchers have emphasized that gender divisions are a basic social relation and, for that reason, that gender inequality is as important as class or economic change in understanding social reality. This is enormously significant as in this way gender studies have advanced away from a former focus on the position of women as one comparatively underprivileged group. Current research stresses how gender relations between men and women assemble society, including inequality between the sexes. National and international events are at work but they are not adequate to abate and eradicate gender inequality. For instance, the Society of Defending Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia is planned to empower women and guard their rights. In India, the Prevention of Immoral Traffic, the Dowry Prevention Act and the Sati Act target to prevent widow burning. Indeed, China and India are both fighting feticide and infanticide. This shows that gender relations, the way it’s researched and presented is an emerging problem and must be taken into serious consideration before it’s too late. 

4.      Gender Inequality
Gender Inequality, in simplest terms, may be defined as discrimination against women based on their sex. Women are conventionally considered by the society as weaker sex. She has been rendered a secondary place to men. She is demoralized, degraded, violated and discriminated both in our homes and in outside world.[4] This peculiar type of discrimination against women is prevalent everywhere in the world and more so in Indian society.

Gender inequality refers to a situation:·         When men and women are not treated equally, or
·         Where men enjoys certain privileges over women, or
·         Where men misuses their dominant position to establish control over women, or
·         When the voices of women are discouraged, or
·         When women do not enjoy equal right for education, or
·         When the good performance of women is unjustly ignored
Sex-selective abortion is yet another foremost tragedy of gender inequality as it fuels human trafficking, demographic imbalance, and sexual exploitation. India and China, the two most populated nations on Earth, both informally continue this practice of favoritism for male child birth over female. The degree and causes of gender inequality vary throughout the world. Noticeable crimes against women consist of violence, femicide (murder of women), and rape (war rape). Honor killing, one such offense, is when a female member of a family is killed for the perception of having brought dishonor to the family. From an economic viewpoint, gender discrimination is also a major impediment to growth as it prevents countries from reaching their maximum productivity potential. Although women constitute 40% of the global work force, there are still many who are unpaid family workers in the informal sector. Those who do work are generally paid much below that of male workers, despite being equally capable and skilled.

Types of gender inequality.

·         Ideological: the idea that one gender is better than others.
·         Economic: paying/employing people of one gender more than others.
·         Legal: laws that treat one gender in a more privileged fashion.
·         Opportunity related: giving more opportunities to people of one gender.
·         Emotional: talking disparagingly about people of a certain gender compared to others.
The Harmful effects of gender inequality might include, first, the Social effects by shaping many of our societies and traditions. Second, the loss of talent by nurturing the talents of one gender more than others. Third, the confidence of treating people of a certain gender disparagingly can harm their confidence. Fourth, is the emotional by discriminating against people of one gender can cause great sadness and stress? Final, the economic: discrimination can cause one gender to be – overall – richer than others.The human race cannot be said to be free unless all of its members are free. If women are being oppressed or denigrated, then the whole community that they are a part of is not free. We must all oppose gender inequality. Tackling poverty and negative attitudes to girls and women, and providing free and accessible education for all are crucial steps for gender equality. 

5.      Social Stereotyping: Three Duos
It's also vital to identify that social stereotypes are hugely influential - and that if we do nothing about them, they will simply restate themselves, sneaking back in through the side door. It still exist in our society and is a major cause of inequality. There are many ways of doing this, like color, cloth, hobbies, hairstyle, sports etc, however, here three harmonized duos of stereotypes that are useful to explore:

a.      Men do but women are
This stereotype is the crucial cause why it's so problematic for women to get credit for what they do - and the low rank still rendered to what they do. A great deal of effort has been done in the past three decades on the women's side of this equation, which has led to all those absurd "the first women to do this... the first women to do that..." stories in newspapers, but also a modest credit to women can and will do almost any kind of work in our society. While in the case of men, all their works are always greatly highlighted over women.

b.      Men don't feel: Women don't Think
Although a disheartening number of women and men do demonstrate their corresponding shares of this stereotype, it is only a stereotype, a fact which has been proved many, many times over by innumerable proficient and qualified women. Yet, again, whilst massive effort has been done in the past few decades to counter the women's side of this stereotype, the male side has, if anything, been strengthened.[5] There are endless demands that men should say what they feel but are aggressively quietened or maligned if they do and woman is demonstrated to be highly emotional with little or no reasoning capacity.

          c.       Men are hunters; women are gatherers

This again is predominantly a stereotype, but it's one that does have candid pedigrees in framework, physiology and perceptual psychology, and as such can be useful. It's the cause, for instance, why men so often appear to anticipate admiration after having done the washing-up: to a 'hunter' viewpoint, every job is a distinct mission with a beginning, a middle, an end, and a festivity or rest - period - not just part of a continuum, as it is to the 'gatherer' viewpoint. And male and female perceptual psychology tend to be diverse, with males inclining toward a hunter's 'one-pointedness' and spatial orientation, and females toward a gatherer's concern with multi-tasking and minute detail.[6] Where in the world women have proved to be the hunters in many instances but the label (gatherers) on them doesn’t seem to disappear. I, personally, have been nurtured by single parent mother makes me believe that this is misleading stereotyping. 

6.      Patriarchy: A Major Cause of Gender Relation Problem
Patriarchy is the term used to define the society in which we live today, branded by current and historic unequal power relations between women and men whereby women are systematically disadvantaged and oppressed. Patriarchy is the single most life-threatening social disease assaulting the male body and spirit in our nation.[7] Male violence against women is also a fundamental feature of patriarchy. Women in minority groups encounter multiple tyrannies in patriarchal society, as race, class and sexuality interconnect with sexism.[8] Under the dominion of this regime the worst evil, however, is that women have been affectively conditioned to accept their inferior status. This takes place across almost every sphere of life but is particularly noticeable in women’s under-representation in key state institutions, in decision-making positions and in employment and industry.   

7.      Feminism: Countering Patriarchy
Feminism is a word coined in the late nineteenth century, is at once both the theory and a movement. It’s a way of assimilating and analyzing the reality of women (by women) as well as movement to change the reality.[9] Feminist have challenged the notion that men and women are two separate, distinct biological categories.[10] Just as the water takes its shape from container its found in feminism is articulated in different ways depending on the local situations and issues.[11] Though Feminist activism is the struggle for that equality they all share common belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. 

8.      Women Empowerment: An Attempt for Gender-Just Society
Women Empowerment refers to strengthening the social, economic and educational powers of women. It refers to an environment where there is no gender bias and have equal rights in community, society and workplaces. Reforms are needed at various level for gender-just society. It should begin with woman first and then the men, followed by system as society as whole.[12]

The challenges/ barriers of women empowerment are the following:·         Because of the inherent superiority complex among the males, they often doesn’t allow their female counter-part to rise as high as them.
·         High level of domestic responsibilities.
·         Restrictions to participate in social, economic and religious activities.
·         In our society, the boy-child often gets preference for education and healthy diet over the girl child.
·         Preference for male-child still exist among many families in the society.
The solutions for empowerment of women must include, first, the education through mass communication. Both women and men should be made aware of their responsibilities to promote and practice gender-equality. Second, we must gather national data and identify the areas where instances of violence and gender-inequality is the most. This data can be used by the Government, NGOs and field workers to raise the status of women. Third, the society should be made aware that both boy-child and girl-child are equal, and they both should have equal access to resources. Fourth women need to be empowered not only at personal level but also in political, economic, and social level. Fifth, women capacity for leadership has to be recognised, supported and promoted. Sixth, gender relations are dynamic, therefore, must be changed with conscious efforts. Finally, changes in the societal systems and organizational structure have to be effected through some policy making.
 

Conclusion
Despite the aforementioned facts and analysis of women being mistreated across societies during the last 50 years, there is an improved positive perception towards women. Constitutionally, the women of today enjoy similar opportunities with men. The needs, concerns, feelings and fears of women and of men are of exactly equal value and importance. The gender-issues debate has become so dominated by inflated hysteria and 'politically-correct' thinking that it's difficult to get back to the real issues. The good news is that the participation of women in the mainstream workforce is continuously increasing. They are largely hired in banking, hospitality, health care, and other server sector industries. Women Empowerment is now considered a human rights issue. Sadly gender discrimination still exists in many cultures. Gender inequality cannot be fully eliminated merely by the legal and administrative measures. The educated people should develop a national consciousness of the positive impact of gender equality. There is a need for changes in perception towards women. Equality should be for all, regardless of gender, age, race or nationality. Everyone should command the same respect, and enjoy the same opportunities. That means respecting women without qualification and never thinking or treating them in an ill-mannered way. The human society would be most advantaged only if women are treated equally and are not deprived of their rights. Let us hope for a society where women are not discriminated because of their gender.

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[1] Nirmal Raj, ed., Women and Society (Madurai: Lady Doak College, 2001), 1.[2] Uma Ramaswamy and others, Reconstruction Gender towards Collaboration (Bangalore: Books for Change, 2000), 16.[3] Nancy Cook, Gender Relations in Global Perspective: Essential Readings (Ontario: Canadian Scholar's Press, 2007), 11.[4]Anthony Giddens and Simon Griffiths, Sociology (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2006), 468.[5]Scott Sernau, Social Inequality in a Global Age (London: Sage Publication,2014), 13[6] Shannon Speed, R. Aida Hernandez Castillo, Lynn M. Stephen Dissident Women: Gender and Cultural Politics in Chiapas (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2006),7 [7] Bell Hooks, Understanding Patriarchy (Louisville: No Boards Publishers), 1. [8] Sukumari Bhattacharji, “Position of Women in Ancient India” Women in India: Problems & Prospects Sonam Das, ed. (Calcutta: ISPCK, 1997), 16.[9] Jayamatha Frank, “Defining Feminism” Women and Society (Madurai: Lady Doak College, 2001), 12. [10] Stephen Garret, Gender  London: Tavistock Publication, 1987, 7.[11] Kamala Bhasin and Nighat Said Khan, Some Questions on Feminism and its Relevance in South India (New Delhi: Kali for Women, 1999), 2.[12] Nirmal Raj, Ed., “Understanding Gender Issue: A Move Towards Gender Equality” Women and Society (Madurai: Lady Doak College, 2001), 6.

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THE MAKING OF A LEGACY: A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING

 

As Dr. Matthew K. Thomas, the president and the principal of CITS and the senior Pastor of PCG Itarsi, enjoying the Godly legacy of Late Dr. Kurian Thomas and following his Godly footsteps has successfully completed his 25 years of ministry in Lord’s vineyard it seems as an auspicious moment that provides us an apt context to discuss a few thoughts about the making of a legacy from a Biblical perspective.

Leaving a legacy is an important part of our life. A legacy is developed out of a life dedicated to self-reflection and purpose. Interestingly enough, the fact of the matter is that every one of us is going to leave a legacy regardless of our choice, however, choosing what to leave holds a key significance. What kind of legacy you will leave? Will it be long-lasting? How will you create a desired legacy? Will it be imperishable and eternal? Or will you leave behind only tangible items; buildings, money and properties?

A legacy isn't only about leaving what you earned but also what you learned.

The apostle Paul inculcated an important lesson in the heart of his spiritual son, Timothy, then, pastor at the church at Ephesus, to invest his life in faithful men who would became a catalyst to pass on the Truth of God to the next generation.

At present, current ungodly world views persistently make all imaginable attempts to annihilate embryonic faith of our children and escort them into politically correct ideology and gross immorality that would have stunned preceding generations. This is what, as stark reality, confronts and terrifies many of us in our local churches. And why not? It should, only then we would hasten to find a way out this predicament. At the as such this what our upcoming generation needs is ‘the one who leaves a LEGACY behind for onlookers to follow’. With the Biblical understanding, in this article, we shall look at the idea of legacy acronymically bound within the biblical principles.

L- LOVE THE LORD

E- ENLARGE YOUR TERRITORY

G- GUIDE THE WAYWARD

A- ASK IN PRAYER

C- COMMIT FOR A NOBLE CAUSE

Y- YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

L LOVE THE LORD

One of the best ways for a Christians who seem to be interested in building a strong and lasting legacy is to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and might. And that’s how it will leave behind an everlasting imprint on children and they would remember the Godly path their parents have walked and will not depart from it when they grow old, in result, they will not only live your legacy but leave a legacy behind for others to follow. 

Deuteronomy 6:5-7And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (KJV)

We must first love God and His word without any falter. Arguably, many doubt and contend that Loving God, seen as the great commandment, is NT concept and was absent in the OT, however, aforementioned passage from OT debunks such notion. This tells us that God, as demonstrated by Jesus’ embodiment and teachings, is supremely Loving right from the beginning of the time, therefore, demands the same love from His creation. Love is something that caused Father to sacrifice His only begotten Son; it caused Jesus to bestow His life as a ransom for many; caused disciples to preach the unchurched at the expense of their own lives. Love is something that develops over a period of time, it is a gradual process. As one gets immersed in the depth of God’s Word, worship and prayer, the person begins to priorities God over every other aspects of life. Interestingly, its love that can and will genuinely motivate us to work for God selflessly, in turn, help us build and leave a lasting Godly legacy. There can’t be making of any legacy without the Love for the Lord. 

E ENLARGE THE TERRITORY

Another pivotal point when we discuss about legacy is the idea of largeness. People usually don’t remember the one who comes second but to the one who is first. Similarly for anyone attempting to leave a long lasting legacy must endeavor to enlarge his/her territory. Though be it business or mission, the vastness of its field is heavily matters. Hopefully, we may very well remember the classic parable of Jesus about the Talents; master, who represents God here, doesn’t only affirm and appreciate the hard work of his servant who multiplied the talents but also allocates more goods under his stewardship for more profit.

Matthew 25:23"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!'(HCSB)

No one likes a lazy person neither anyone wants to remember such a one after his/her death for any good reason, therefore, what this master did to this lazy servant we all can support. On the other hand, we know and listen it in every conventional interpretation of this parable that greatly highlights the imperishable legacy this servant has left behind for us to follow by just enlarging his territory set by his master. God, our good master, has not left you empty handed. He must have entrusted you with very little (one talent) or much (five talents) but if you are industrious enough to move forward for painstaking efforts and enhance it manifold, undoubtedly, God is going to entrust you with abundance. Thus, the key here is to enlarge/enhance whatever is in your court. This, in turn, will adorn you with a legacy that will outlive your existence.

G GUIDE THE WAYWARD  

One of the essential things that this present generation desperately needs is a good leadership or a role model to imitate. And doing this, with all selflessness, will not only help them make critical decisions of their lives but it will also help you, as a guide, leave a strong legacy in the pages of history. We see Paul, in the Bible, guiding and instructing his spiritual son Timothy. Timothy, then, was a youth and was pastoring a church at Ephesus, a city in Asia Minor.

1 Timothy 4:12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (KJV)

The above passage is a classing quote frequently used in counselling and preaching youngsters. And many such guidance, that he gives every then and now throughout the letters to Timothy, makes Paul a true spiritual father to Timothy. On the flip side, people, sometimes, don’t need your words for the guidance they inevitably follow your example. And this is more emphatic than hours of counselling put together. That’s why Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that “your action speaks so loud that I can’t hear what you say”. Therefore, this is one of the key reasons our churches are losing this generation; We have more schedules less encounters; more emotionalism less enrichment; more teaching less transformation; more messages to listen less models to follow. Paul could say, years before, “imitate me as I imitate Christ”. What makes Jesus great among non-Christians, even among the ones who accept Him merely as a teacher, He practiced what He preached. For anyone to leave a sturdy and enduring legacy; besides guiding the wayward with words guide them through life by becoming a role model. 

A ASK IN PRAYER

Beside all possible efforts to live and leave a legacy one must espouse the power of prayer throughout the process. In Christendom we can go on listing the names of the great men/women with godly fame and legacy achieved great things for God in the mission field, however, never undermined the place of prayer but affirmed it even more.

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

Here we see that Jabez was a prayerful man, he prayed for everything he needed and further we read about him that “he was more honorable among his brethren” (v. 9). It’s quite easy for anyone to conclude that Jabez live and also left behind a Godly and long lasting legacy.

Jesus, on whose legacy Christianity stands, secluded himself for this purpose. Amidst the enormous amount of ministerial opportunities, where crowd was thronging upon Jesus every then and now, He found His way out for the personal time with Father. Despite Jesus having pre-knowledge of His coming mission, achievements and legacy in His sovereign omniscience, He choose to pray about it and humbled Himself before God in prayer. 

So for anything, small or big, personal or public, under your power or outside of your power humbly present it before God in prayer. Only God can help you build a lasting legacy.

C COMMIT FOR A NOBLE CAUSE

Commitment is the key to any success in any field. No work/mission is small or big but all it requires to flourish is commitment. Commitment is a trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose. Legacy is always seen as something that is related to a noble work that has helped/emancipated the society or an individual. Despite being highly successful, so many people live a self-centeredness life and their success doesn’t help people around them. Though they also leave a legacy but that is monetary, entrepreneurial or limited within own empire and is not something that society can boast about. However, Bible talks about a noble cause that we need to look at:

James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before our God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...” (HCSB)

Many boast about their religious belief by confining themselves within the cultic religious practices, however, Bible contradicts and shocks such self-centered religious folks by portraying a concrete picture of a true religion. Christianity, as a religion, functions beyond the ecclesiastical walls constructed by dogmas and self-righteousness. In order to establish a legacy which will be celebrated and remembered by masses one needs to commit himself/herself for a noble cause that will benefit not just an individual but society as a whole. In Matthew 9:36 we read: "And seeing the multitudes. Jesus felt compassion for them. Pandita Ramabai, committed herself for the emancipation of downtrodden women of India, left behind a long lasting legacy which will be celebrated for the centuries and hardly ever be disremembered. Similar is the case of John Wesley. A book written on him entitled, “England: Before and after Wesley”. We can go on talking about William Carey and many more who sacrificed their life and left an immortal legacy that is remembered not for any personal achievement but for a noble cause. We need to leave a legacy by being committed for doing something about our world. Many Christians today are walking in the middle of the road; they're so focused on what other people think that they are unwilling to take any risks in order to make an impact for Christ. In the light of this, Jamie Buckingham wrote, "The problem with Christians today is that no one wants to kill them anymore." Stand and commit yourself for a noble cause legacy will follow you inevitably.

The idea of leaving a legacy is the need or the desire to be remembered for what you have contributed to the world.

Y YIELD TO THE SPIRIT

This is where the idea of legacy, between godly and worldly, comes in stark contrast. Undoubtedly, without having to be worried about any legacy making, we need to work hard and put every possible efforts we can for the expansion of the kingdom of God but if we espouse to the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit any task becomes pretty much opportune. Instead trying everything and later failing it’s better to yield to the Holy Spirit and let it guide you to do what is God-destined purpose for your life. When one tries to engage in kingdom-affairs without the guidance from above he/she is bound to struggle and eventually give up. Carnal men depends on their own abilities and boast in their aptitude for any human achievement. Jesus assured his disciples about the giving of the Holy Spirit for the power and guidance as they go about fulfilling God’s purpose for their life. So there can’t be a formation of a godly legacy without the power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:2
While church was seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He [Holy Spirit] said, “set apart Barnabas and Saul for the task to which I have called them”.

This verse very well sums up the demand of yielding to the person of the Holy Spirit that opens up an opportunity for God to move in our lives. Many Charismatic Christian groups greatly undermine the Holy Spirit by seeing him as a power, influence or fire, however, the Biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit strongly teaches us that Holy Spirit is a Person; the third person of Trinity.

Ask Holy Spirit to give you a sense of purpose, direction, and mission. In fact, true vision, direction, and destiny can come only from the One who controls not only the present but also the future. By discovering your eternal destiny, you will begin to build lasting legacy in your life.

However, for most mere mortals walking this earth, most will leave a more modest legacy that doesn’t necessarily change the world at large but does leave a lasting legacy which will be cherished by those whose lives you have touched and Dr. Matthew K. Thomas is an ideal example of that. The challenge before us is the same for all of us. Will we follow Christ and fulfill His call and vision for our lives without being overtly concern about our legacy? 

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Jesus' Four Principles of Disciple Making

Connection  

Selection 

Association 

Delegation 

1. Connection: Jesus was good at making connection. The connection here simply means relationship with the people. One of the key factors of success in ministry is in the art of establishing and maintaining relationships. Ministry is people business. You make impact on people by the way you relate to them. No one likes the people who are not social or don't like to get together with other fellow human being. Sometimes they are characterised as introverts. While being introverts may have some benefits, however, in ministry one needs to be friendly, relational and more connective as Jesus was.  

2. Selection: Out all that Jesus saw and met He selected twelve to the world changers. While we relate and encounter a lot of people on daily basis, it's very important to wisely select and frame inner circle of our relationship. The process of selection might take time and efforts. 

3. Association: bible in Mark 3:14 says Jesus chose twelve to keep them along with Him. Association is very vital in disciple making. This requires a model presentation in the part of the master so that disciples can follow and learn as they are closely associated. In order to associate someone, one needs to develop a kind of lifestyle that idealistic or model keeping. Unless our life is a model for others to follow we can't associate anybody. Jesus life was a model for His disciples to follow. Thus, build your own life and associate juniors to inculcate same in their hearts. 

4. Delegation: finally Jesus delegated the responsibility. Many a masters nowadays are afraid of surrendering their ministry to subordinates. Jesus knew when is the time to hand over ministry to disciples with authority and power. In fact, this was the end purpose of Jesus behind disciple making. A lot of ministry have been dead and are dying just because masters are not ready to develop second line leadership. There is no successor to their legacy. We must learn to delegate before its too late. 

These are the four simple methods that Jesus used to make twelve disciples, who later became world changers. 

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