Dear friends in Christ,
Wish you all a joyful and prosperous 2008. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16) is this year’s motto. Let us give some thoughts about our motto.
Prayer is one-way communication made available to man by the grace of God in order that man may communicate with God. While today God primarily speaks to man through His written Word (the Bible), He encourages man to speak to Him through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. It is a grace-gift from God to man.
What is wrong with most praying is an inadequate view of God. Hence, there can never be deep, reverent, joyful and awesome praying, where God is imagined, to be a lonely servant waiting for us to beckon him to come and listen to our requests. "Behold your God!" cries the prophet Isaiah to a people who had forgotten him. Prayer, worship, discipleship and holy living all shrink where Almighty God is ignored. So real prayer is found where the Bible is loved, preached and obeyed.
In his epistle, James tells about the prayer of a righteous man. How would we understand a righteous man?
Firstly, he is a man who lives rightly. He is not a blameless man - James goes on to remind us of Elijah’s imperfections. However, he lived as a just and straight man. Surely, we would all acknowledge that bad living makes bad praying. The stream of praying cannot rise higher than the fountain of living. We cannot talk to God strongly if we have not lived for God strongly. We cannot ask God to forgive us our sins if we do not forgive those who sin against us. Our conduct gives value to our praying, and our misconduct destroys the material of our devotion. Paul tells Timothy that he wants "men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" (I Tim.2:8). Pray by your life or do not pray at all. There is a choice before us, to quit praying or to quit unrighteousness. Of course, we can pray most beautiful prayers, while living sinfully. But, our prayer is effective only, when we lead a righteous life.
Secondly, a righteous man has reverence in his dealings with God. "A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master (Malachi 1:6). If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?' says the Lord Almighty. Think of the disorder, and noise, and childish attempts at entertainment, and universal irreverence of so many churches up and down the land. The righteous man reverences the living God. Not just on the Lord's Day, but, in all walks of his life too.
Thirdly, a righteous man is a straight man as he deals with God. That is, he is perfectly honest before the Almighty. There are times when our words run faster than our feelings, but we are speaking to the Lord. The psalmist says, "I say to God my Rock, 'Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?'" (Ps.42:9)
A righteous man is someone who brings to God all that is in his heart. God invites you: "Present your case,' says the Lord. Set forth your arguments,' says Jacob's King" (Isa.41:21). As we stand at the threshold of a New Year, let us submit ourselves to God to lead a righteous life, to honor God and to open ourselves, that is, not to hide anything from God. Let this year be bright and prosperous for us all.
Yours Shijuachen
Events (January 2008)
1. Every Sunday
9 : 30- 10: 30 Sunday School
9 : 45 – 10: 15 Bible Class
10: 45 Holy Communion Service
2. Fasting Prayer
5th January Mr. T. A Joseph
12th January, Mr. Aby Joseph
19th January, Mr. Shaji Kurian
26th January, Rev Shiju Samuel
3. Committee Meeting
12th January
4. Cottage Prayer
5th January Mr. Devid George
5. General Body
27th January
6. Area Prayer Meeting
Alternate weeks of the each respective group
7. Readings and Assignments
January 6 Sharing The Good News Malayalam Service
Lesson 1 Isaiah 58: 6 - 12 John Joseph
Psalm 34: 1-11 Jeena
Lesson 2 Romans 12: 9 - 21 Sam Joseph
Gospel John 1: 35-42
Elements Devid George & Premi
Food Samu & Family
January 13 Baptism of Jesus English Service
Lesson 1 Isaiah 49: 1-6 Alvin Varghese
Psalm 2: 1-8 Jashly Thomas
1Peter 3: 18 - 22 Sachu Kurian
Gospel Matthew 3: 13-17
Elements Kurian C. Kurian & Annamma
Food Lovy George & Family
January 20 Ecumenism Malayalam Service
Lesson 1 ll Chronicles 30: 13-22 George John
Psalm 122 Julie Thomas
Lesson 2 I Corinthians 1: 10-18 Aby Joseph
Gospel John 10:7-18
Elements Abraham & Sheela Abraham
Food George John & Family
January 27 Supremacy of Christ English Service
Lesson 1 Isaiah 41: 1-4 Youth
Psalm 110 Sheryl S. Devid
Lesson 2 Revelations 5:1-14 Youth
Gospel John 1:29- 34
Elements Youth
Food T. A Joseph & Family
What is Righteousness?
The Greek word that we translate righteous is dike (pronounced, dee kay). And while the ancient Greek meaning was tendency, the use of this word in the Bible implies justice and conformance to established standards. Justice means doing the right thing; and conformance to established standards (in the Bible) refers to following the ways of God. So, the word righteous can also be translated as just, since righteousness is so closely tied to justice.
Here are a few conclusions about what the Bible says is righteousness, and the scriptures from which these conclusions have been drawn:
· If you really want to be righteous, you can be – Matthew 5:6, ‘Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blest because they will be satisfied.’
· If you flaunt your righteousness, you won’t receive a reward – Matthew 6:1 ‘Be careful not to do righteous things in front of men so they can see what you are doing. Otherwise, you won’t have a reward with your Father in heaven.’
· Righteousness involves living for God’s Kingdom – Matthew 6:33, ‘[If you] put the Kingdom and righteousness in first place, then all these [other] things will be given to you.
· The things you do prove whether you are righteous – Matthew 11:19, ‘Wisdom is proven righteous by the things it does.’
· The things that you say prove whether you are righteous – Romans 3:4, ‘Your words can prove you righteous, and you can win when you’re being judged.’
· Someone who deliberately misleads other people can never be found righteous – Matthew 12:36, ‘I tell you that everything people say to mislead others, they will have to answer for on the Judgment Day.’
· To be counted righteous, you must treat other righteous people very well – Matthew 25:37-40, ‘Then the righteous will ask, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison, and come to you? And the king will say to them, I tell you the truth, when you did it for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me.’
· Righteous people are at peace with others – James 3:18, ‘The seeds of the fruit of righteousness are planted in peace by those who are making peace.’
· You have to be an honest judge to be found righteous – John 7:24, ‘Quit judging from the way things look on the surface; judge righteously!’
· Righteousness involves standing up for right things, even if that invites persecution – Acts 4:19, 20, ‘If it’s righteous in God’s eyes to listen to you instead of to God, judge for yourselves. But we can’t stop talking about the things we’ve seen and heard.’
· A righteous person has faith in God and His promises – Romans 3:28. ‘We believe that a man is called righteous due to his faith, so he doesn’t have to follow the Law.’
· True righteousness requires more than just faith – James 2: 24, ‘A man is called righteous by the things he does, not just by his faith.
· To be counted as righteous, you can’t be immoral or continue in a sinful course – Romans 6:12-14 ‘As the result, don’t allow sin to rule your mortal bodies and don’t obey its desires. Nor should you offer your body parts as unrighteous weapons of sin. Rather, offer yourselves to God as someone who has been raised from the dead, and [offer] your body parts to God as weapons of righteousness. So, sin must not be your master, because you aren’t under Law, but under [God’s] kindness.’
· Most people in the world aren’t considered righteous – 1 Corinthians 6:1, 2, ‘Would any of you who think you have been [wronged] by another dare to take it to court [to be tried by] unrighteous men, rather than by the Holy Ones?
· Although faith is required to prove ourselves righteous, speaking about what we believe is what saves us – Romans 10:10 ‘It is this belief in your heart that makes you righteous, but it’s your mouth, when it confesses this, that brings salvation.
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