“We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans Chapter 8 verse 37) by Maria Sangeetha.

From June 2008 to June 2009, the church celebrated the Year of St Paul – a saint being given an extraordinary status – because he has an extraordinary role in our life and purpose. He was purposeful, committed to a Life Principle and this carried him from a blinding fall at Damascus to glory for eternity. This is the first of a three part series on the path of glory St Paul points us to.

Every human person is a masterpiece carved by the perfect hands of the Master Craftsman. God makes no second grade matter. And every creation of His is made with a grand purpose. “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah Chapter 29 verse 11). Everyone has a claim to love, joy, peace and life in all its fullness. In fact Jesus would say that this was the very purpose of His coming – that we may “have life, and life in all its fullness” (John Chapter 10 verse 10).

Every one of us is born with not identical but equal facilities and opportunities for growth. “For with God there is no partiality” (Romans Chapter 2 verse 11). So when we look at those who “made it” successfully, we need to see what is it that makes the difference, the life principles that has propelled them to where they are.

“Imitate me as I imitate Christ”.

One of the greatest success stories in the history of our faith is that of St Paul of Tarsus. Though he was a contemporary of Jesus he was not among the chosen twelve. He did not even have that chance of seeing Jesus when he walked the earth. He would even count himself as “the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle” (1 Corinthians 15 verse 9) and again as the “worst of sinners” having persecuted the very Body of Christ. After all his great striving for his ideals and faith, all he had been handled was humiliations and persecutions. So much so that he would say now that all he can and would boast about was of his weaknesses!

Yet what we see today is that the Church places and celebrates Paul alongside Peter, the prince of the Church, the rock on which the Church is built. He was a witness to the Lord and even experienced the third heavens! The bulk of the New Testament is the writings of Paul. It is considered that the theological foundations of the faith are largely drawn from the thought of Paul. Some even go to the extent of saying that Christianity as a religion was founded by Paul. This is debatable but the fact remains that Paul has been used mightily by God in guiding the Church from its very beginnings and 2000 years later the Church leans heavily on him as a model and guide for our journey to salvation.

LIFE PRINCIPLE – Galatians Chapter 2 verse 20.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2nd Timothy Chapter 4 verse 7). St Paul was a man who made it! What was the secret of his phenomenal success that has seen him endure down the many centuries and generations to be an inspiration for us? All over the Pauline writings we see the conviction of Paul clearly and strongly echoed. The faith statement of St Paul is his life principle: “I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME” (Galatians Chapter 2 verse 20). His life had a foundation – the Son of God who loved him so much to die a most horrific death all for love of this worst of sinners, His every decision and every experience was weighed and viewed by the perspective of the Son of God hanging on the Cross for love of him.

THE FAITH PRINCIPLE: “I live by faith”.

St Paul challenged kings and pagans, Greeks and Jews. Even the apostles were not spared! And today he challenges us: “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”. We always see St Paul as a man of extraordinary confidence. Confidence is the one key factor for success, just as fear is the sure guarantee for failure. We are so conscious of our need to succeed that unwillingly we have placed ourselves as victims of fear. And fear destroys.

We are living in a world where success is projected as God. We cannot face failure. We often don’t even venture out because of the fear of failure. Fear of failure is what has effectively put the brakes on us doing the great things God has planned for us.

It is fear that the evil one always employ to destroy our lives. At Eden, Adam & Eve listening to the words of satan doubted the love of God and took on this unholy fear of God. In Genesis Chapter 3 verse 10 we read - “I heard the sound of Thee… and I was afraid”. Adam had begun running away from God. And he lost paradise that was placed in his hands. We will lose all that is precious just by fear of it. So dangerous is fear. So effective is fear in the hands of the enemy whose agenda is “to destroy, plunder and kill” (John Chapter 10 verse 10).

Jesus gave us the parable of the ten talents. Two of the servants invested well in what they received, got rich dividends and received grand rewards and honors from the master. The third servant, who failed and was rejected by the master, lost the little he had. And we see it all had to do with his attitude of fear that comes out in the few words he spoke, “Master, I knew you were a hard man…so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground” (Matthew Chapter 25 verses 24 & 25)

Why do we bury our talents? Why do we fail and our efforts end without bearing fruit? Why have we lost paradise? Because it is in fear that we step out. Because the image we have before us is of a God who is hostile to us.

THE FEAR FACTOR IS THE FAILURE FACTOR

Conversely we see with St Paul that the CONFIDENCE FACTOR IS THE SUCCESS FACTOR. Fear had no space in his vocabulary as he clearly declares: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self control” (2nd Timothy Chapter 1 verse 7).

FOUNDATION PRINCIPLE: “It had been founded on the rock” (Matthew Chapter 7 verse 25)

It would be a gross exaggeration to say that most of us have no faith or confidence. Everyone, including the atheist, lives by a faith, has an interpretation for everything from life to death and hence we could say even has a spirituality! Even for those whose lives are propelled by fear they have at some time or the other too lived in a confidence. But there is a vital difference.

What us the difference St Paul invites us to? For this we need to look within ourselves and find the answers.

We all live. Do we all live by faith? Surely there are many in fact who do live by faith… But the faith is in what? Am I living in the faith of the people I love… my parents, my friends, my business partners? Am I living in the faith of my influence, my popularity, my money, my talents? All these are limited and must pass away!

Again there are some who live by faith in their limitations, their bad experiences, the pattern of failures that they’ve drawn together. And some live by faith in ‘nothing’. They are like driftwood that must eventually decay and disappear.

“The price of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus” (Philippians Chapter 3 verse 14).

Here is the difference of St Paul. He is clear about what his confidence is about. It was not about his talents or influence. It was definitely not about his righteousness. There was just one object for this faith and he spells it out clearly at every occasion. He lives by faith “in THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME” (Galatians Chapter 2 verse 20). He is more than a conqueror by faith “through Him who loved us” (Romans Chapter 8 verse 37). He speaks of righteousness by faith “in Jesus Christ” (Romans Chapter 3 verse 22).

Jesus assured us, “If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he see the light of the world” (John Chapter 11 verse 9). We will not fail if the light of such faith in Jesus guides us. If we must reach our goal we must “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 7). And this faith is sure and rewarding when it is “in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians Chapter 2 verse 20).

Maria Sangeetha serves as the Youth Co-ordinator at DRCM and have been active in the DY ministry for more than 7 years.

Courtesy: Divine Voice June 2009 Issue

“No Longer I, But Christ Lives in Me” (Philippians Chapter 4 verse 13) by Maria Sangeetha

“If God is for us , who can be against us? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is Christ Jesus, who died, rather, was raised, who indeed intercedes for us.” (Romans Chapter 8 verses 31 to 34). Life is a battle where we are pitched against challenges that are gigantic as Goliath. And if we are to be conquerors in this we need know our strength – that God is on our side. This is the second of three part series on he life principle of St Paul.

Life is the most precious gift handed to us. And we must give the best we can for life. And the place we begin is at the foundations. The higher and stronger our structure is to be, the deeper and sturdier should be our foundations. If we are building our life on the passing sands, with every change, all that we are standing on will crumble. But if I build my life on the Rock of Christ I will never fail.

The fool builds his life on the superficial and slippery ground of passing fads. But the wise one goes deeper and builds his life on the one sure foundation of the love of God that is unchanging and ever providing. Storms will come, strong winds of change, but we shall remain unmoved for we remain in the shelter of the Lord’s love. “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever” (Psalms Chapter 121 verse 1). Saint Paul was clear about what was his life determined by: “I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians Chapter 2 verse 20). The greatest love, the highest sacrifice, was there at Calvary. And he would settle for nothing less than the best he could get for his life.

THE RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLE – “by faith in the Son of God”

From the fall of our first parents, we human beings have constantly lived in dread of the God Almighty who reigns from Heavens. We have kept the image of a distant and hard, demanding God holding the reigns of our life. Hence we have no enthusiasm for life itself but for St Paul fear had no relevance. He feared “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any creature” for he was in his own words “convinced” of one thing – that none of these are anything “will be able to separate us (him) from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans Chapter 8 verses 38 to 39). As he looked up St Paul realized one thing in life the sacrifice was one thing to live by. “He who did not spare his own Son but handed Him for us, how will He not also give up everything else along with Him?” (Romans Chapter 8 verse 32)

And with this confidence he changed his platforms of operation. “I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself us for me” (Galatians Chapter2 verse 20).

Till this moment he was a Pharisee struggling for his righteousness. Driven by zeal and ambition, he saw perfection. But with all his resolutions he came to bemoan “I do not do the good I want, but the very evil I do not want is what I do….Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans Chapter7 verse 19 & 24).

He had realized no matter how noble his intentions, or determined his will be, even the sprit may be willing but the flesh remains weak! The answer now lay not in looking to himself and his strengths or weakness, but in looking to the Son of God who dies that we might have life, who became Sin that we may take on His righteousness. When he looked at Christ he drew strength that “if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies” (Romans Chapter 8 verse 11)

Life is a difficult struggle, a warfare, indeed. We are most constantly battling with ourselves. St Paul is not turning a blind eye to that. His spirituality is not of escapist. He was well aware that the challenges before us and the powers against us were far too great for us to tackle. “Our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Ephesians Chapter 6 verse 12) and his solution: “Put on the armor of God.” Put on Christ over us.

What we see is the movement in the life of Paul FROM RESOLUTIONS TO RELATIONSHIP. From now he would urge us to do as he did himself “to put on Christ”. Christ and he had come to an union of intimacy, the desires of Jesus would become his passion, the weakness of Christ would become his strengths, the foolishness of Christ’s sacrifice would become Paul’s wisdom and power and salvation (Refer 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 verse 24 & 25). And Paul would say “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians Chapter 2 verse 20).

“He is our peace” (Ephesians Chapter 2 verse 14) – The elder brother comes to bring the prodigal home

The constant yearning of the Father has been to embrace us in love. Ever since the misunderstanding, Satan created. Time and time again God spoke through the prophets that He was ready for anything to get us back: “I formed you, Oh Israel, you will not be forgotten by me… I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me for I’ve redeemed you…Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I gave men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life” (Isaiah Chapter 44 verse 21 to 22 and Chapter 43 verse 4).

And finally God sent His Word Incarnate, His one precious Son.

Christ came down to this earth with one mission – to reconcile us to our Father. We had run away from our home, where alone we could be ever comfortable and loved. An unreal fear had taken over us – the fear of the false image of God which Satan created with a lie. But Christ tells us, “Look at the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the loving parent, the Good Shepherd… look everywhere and see and how much He loves you. He’d give all that He has for you, even the ninety-nine good sheep for you when you have failed…” And finally pointing to Himself Jesus would conclude at the Cross “God so loves you that He’d gave His one precious Son, His one unblemished dearest lamb… all for love of you that you live and love and flourish for eternity.” Righteousness, St Paul, would declare was no more in works by law but in the relationship of faith. It is when we firmly place our hands in His hands, living moment by moment in His love, and then we shall never fall. For now we are held up in the firm hands of love that leads us to righteousness.

What the prophet had all along given as the assurance from the Lord “Fear not, I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah Chapter 41 verse 10). God is stretching out his arms from the cross to receive us and support us in His love.

Maria Sangeetha serves as the Youth Co-ordinator at DRCM and have been active in the DY ministry for more than 7 years.

Courtesy: Divine Voice July 2009 Issue

“I Resolved to know nothing… except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2) by Maria Sangeetha

There is this famous painting of the Risen Lord supporting a fainting young man. Clearly visible in the man’s hand are a hammer and nail. The young man who went to crucify is the one the Lord chose to save and support. The central experience of St Paul was strikingly similar. Hence he declares, “God shows His love for us (Rm 5:8). In this last of the three part series on the Life Principle of St Paul we arrive at the core of his existence – Christ crucified – the life breath, the salvation and the proclamation of Paul.

“I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20) For St Paul, the crucified Christ testified to the personal love of God. And so sure is this testimony that one could live by it. The extreme sin within us, the deathly coldness of our hearts, the darkness of the grief and fear that we are covered by – none of these can hold out against the loving determination and power of the Lord to seek us out and bring us back to life. The Cross is a bridge by which the love of Christ stretches out over and beyond my every failure and every obstacle to reach me to salvation. God is not confined by time and distance. He is only confined by His love that knows no confines. Hence St Paul insists, ““I Resolved to know nothing… except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2)

THE BEYOND PRINCIPLE – “The Son of God who loved me”

When St Paul looked at the crucified Lord he was transported to the beyond. “What eye has not seen and ear has not heard… God has prepared for us” (1 Cor 2:9,10). Life had to be lived beyond what the senses could tell us. The senses can only limit us. “If you live according to the flesh (the limits imposed by our senses) you will die” (Rm 7:13). No wonder we are desperate and depressed! We have been living our life on limitations – the illness that is beyond cure, the wounds that are beyond healing, the complexes that are beyond change, the separations in our relationships that are beyond reconciliation, the problems in our family that have existed beyond generations, the financial burdens that are beyond our earnings, the impossible challenges and the final failures.

St Paul invites us to look with him, beyond to the God who is beyond all limitations. Our God works at a superior level of grace. We are reminded of the grand prophecy: “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so much greater are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts” (Is 55:8,9). The crucified Christ stood before St Paul to constantly remind him that the love of God was beyond all boundaries and limitations. He writes, “For I am convinced that… nothing can ever come between us and the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rm 8: 37-39).

The stumbling blocks in our life circumstances, the limitations or the foolishness we see within ourselves – even these can hold no resistance to the love of God. Even if the whole world is against us, there are charges established against us, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because it is He who is our advocate…who intercedes for us, pleads for our cause, acquits and stands by us. The Risen Lord came through locked doors of fear and grief to present himself to his disciples his wounded hands and torn side to touch that they might realize that death is not final, nor is any darkness. Life has conquered and we have no reason to grieve. While in the gospels and everywhere else we are promised the fullness of grace – love and joy and peace and life in superlative measure; St Paul always goes a step further and speaks of the “beyond.” The love of God is beyond our comprehension (Eph 3:18,19). Hence He gives us beyond our asking and our imagination (Eph 3:20)

THE “CRUCIFIX & I” PRINCIPLE – “The Son of God who…gave Himself up for me”

The crucified Christ was ever before the eyes of St Paul. The sacrificial death of Christ and the love behind was not a mere historical fact or even an incident in the salvation sequence but a personal experience for Paul. This is how it is meant to be for every Christian. Paul was an active participant in the Calvary event – the very reason for the crucification and death of Christ. The famed actor-director Mel Gibson was asked why he did not act in “The Passion of Christ” the movie he had made. He told the surprised hearers that indeed he did play a major role. His hands were seen as nailing Christ to the Cross.

So also Paul counted himself as intimately connected to the reason and hence to the salvation of the Cross. So he would insist, “I resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). Again he would say what this cross meant for him, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1: 23, 24)

The crucified Christ was for Paul a living and relevant reality in every aspect of present life. Apart from counting himself as the reason for Christ’s extreme step of self giving, the cross of Christ casts a shadow on every cross of the Christian’s life. The Cross of Christ transforms all our crosses. The cross dismissed as a stumbling block and foolishness is now transformed by the overwhelming love of God into the very power and wisdom. So also every suffering, every obstacle, every shameful failure is transformed into an occasion to witness the power and wisdom of God. There is no room for regret. The apostle assures us that therefore, “ALL THINGS shall work for the good” (Rm 8:28). And he would now declare that his glory is his sufferings. Boasting in his persecutions and rejections, his humiliations and heartbreaks, St Paul obviously saw these as vents through which the power of God could enter into his life and mission. The Cross is not merely to be revered, hung up and decorated or the sacrifice of the Cross simply to be praised. St Paul leads us beyond these to embrace the Cross of Christ and unite to it all our crosses. It is for all of us to recognize and acknowledge the presence of the power and wisdom of God in our daily trails. A mentally retarded child, a paralyzed parent, a shameful failure, a heartbreaking tragedy – all these are sacraments of God’s presence in our life. All these by my worldly logic would be foolishness and stumbling blocks. But when I acknowledge the Cross of Christ as my salvation, I need to accept that very power of God operating through these wounds in my life.

We have been lost to the fear of sufferings and grieved over the curse of pain. St Paul invites us to share in the victory of Christ by building our life on the Rock of Calvary. For it is at the Cross that I am assured that God moves beyond the boundaries and walls, that have deprived me of the light of day and life. It is at the Cross that I know that God reaches out to me even beyond my sin and fears. It is at the Cross that my crosses are transformed into sites of graces. I am the reason for Christ being raised up on the Cross. And in me is the reward of His grand sacrifice.

Maria Sangeetha serves as the Youth Co-ordinator at DRCM and have been active in the DY ministry for more than 7 years.

Courtesy: Divine Voice August 2009 Issue/ Painting Copyright: Thomas Blackshear II