The "Trump" Shall Resound! A Bible Study By Dr Jose Poulose

The Trump era is about to begin! Between the tweets, debates and policy changes, Donald Trump is going dominate the political discourse both in the US and outside from now on, for some years to come. Let us pray that the Lord will strengthen his hands and fills him with wisdom! As Christians, we are commanded to pray for our leaders. The bible exhorts us, “Therefore I exhort first that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

While we agree, and disagree with President Donald Trump, let us not forget about the other “Trump”, the Great Trumpet of the Lord, announcing the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! The final words of the famous gospel hymn “It is well…,” composed by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873, after the tragic loss of his four precious young daughters, goes like this….

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Let us keep our ears open for the sound of that great trumpet!

There are more than 300 references to the Second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the bible. It is the blessed hope for the people of God. The early Christians greeted each other with the words, “Maranatha” which stands for “Come, Lord Jesus.” When they faced persecutions, trials and difficulties, they comforted one another with the blessed hope of the Lord’s imminent return. That is when all suffering ends, and we get to be with our Lord, who gave himself for us on the cross of Calvary. His glorious appearing is near, let us get ready! We can divide the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the Second Coming into the following four categories.

1. Testimony of the Old Testament prophets:

The prophets of the Old Testament spoke with pinpoint accuracy about the first coming of Jesus. They were not speaking their own words, but were moved by the Spirit of God to speak. Micah spoke that the messiah would be born at Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2). Zechariah prophesied about the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13). Isaiah foresaw the suffering messiah on the cross. (Isaiah 53). David spoke of his death upon the cross. (Psalm 22) So when the Messiah finally came in the fullness of time, all the prophesies, which were foretold hundreds of years before His earthly coming were fulfilled, including the one given in the garden of Eden.(Genesis3:15)

Many of the same prophets spoke and said that He would back again. Zechariah prophesied “and in that day His feet will stand on the Mount Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount Olives will split in two,” (Zechariah 14:4). David speaks about His second coming in Psalms 110. Some of the other old testament references to the second coming of Jesus Christ are Daniel 7:14, Joel 3:2, Haggai 2:20-22, Zechariah 14:4-21, Malachi 4:1,2. There are many more.

2. Testimony of the angels:

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received them out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven”(Acts 1:9-11). These words are very comforting indeed. We know that Jesus was taken up into heaven from Mount Olives (Acts 1:12). The angels testified that He will come back to Mount Olives. That is exactly what we read in Zechariah 14:4.

3. Testimony of the Apostles of Jesus Christ:

Apostle Paul records, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Apostle Peter says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…” (2 Peter 3:9-11)

4. Testimony of Our Lord Himself:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have not told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3)

These are just a few references. There are many more throughout the bible. They refer to the different aspects of the Second Coming. The sequence of events will be as follows.
A. Rapture or secret coming of Jesus in the clouds to gather His saints, both dead and alive. (1Thesalonians 4:16-18) (Mathew 24:36-44)
B. 7-year tribulation on the earth and the rule of antichrist. (2 Thessalonians 3-10) (Revelation 6-19).
C. Visible, public coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Mount Olives with His saints and the war of Armageddon. (Revelation 1:7) (Mathew 24:30)
D. 1000-year millennial rule of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 11 and 35)
E. The war of Gog and Magog. (Revelation 20:7-10) (Ezekiel 38, 39)
F. The great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
G.  The dissolution of the present heaven and the earth by fire. (2Peter 3: 10)
H.  New Heaven and New Earth. (Revelation 21:1)
I.   New Jerusalem, the glorious heavenly city where the Lord will dwell with His people. J. Eternity.
My friend, are you ready for all these? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Have you repented of your sins? Are you living by His WORD daily? Are you waiting for His coming? If not, please pray this prayer now. “Dear Father in heaven, I am a sinner. I admit that I cannot save myself. I admit that I cannot earn heaven by my good works. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross of Calvary for my sins. I believe that He rose again from the dead on the third day. Lord, wash me and cleanse me by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Forgive all my sins, Lord. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior now. I want to live per your WORD daily, so that I will not be left out when Jesus comes back again. Thank you, Lord,”

If you have prayed this from the bottom of your heart, you are now a child of God. Your sins are forgiven. Live for Jesus every day and wait eagerly for His coming. May God, bless you richly. He has great plans for your life. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)

You can also sing along words of the immortal gospel hymn,

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Apostle Peter Sleeps in a Maximum Security Prison Cell

We all enjoy a good night’s sleep. It is one of the greatest blessings of life. But there are times that we can’t sleep well at night; as we get older, problems of life catches up with us. Many people suffer from insomnia; thousands are addicted to sleeping pills. We often hear about its dreaded consequences, especially among the celebrities. Many overdose themselves to it and often end their lives. Now imagine a prison scenario- that is the last place where anyone can sleep well. As you lay in there, you stare at your uncertain future; you are now away from your family and do miss them. You have your legal situations to worry about. Oftentimes, the guilt of your past haunts you. If your surroundings are noisy, your problems are amplified. Now I want to turn your attention to the pages of God’s Holy word, the bible, to discuss a prison scenario.

Apostle Peter was sent to prison for the sake of the gospel. There is a great narrative about it in Acts 12. Just prior to his arrest, his friend and fellow apostle James was killed by King Herod. He is next. Herod arrests him and puts him in a highly secure prison. The last time he was in a prison, an angel had miraculously rescued him. (Acts 5:17-25) This time they are very careful. They do not want Peter to escape. They have another problem as well. His arrest was during the Jewish feast of the unleavened bread. It was against the Jewish law to try or execute anyone during that time; hence his trial and likely execution is delayed. Now, do you see an invisible hand of God in this situation? Yes, our God watches over His people and works mysteriously through the unexpected circumstances that they find themselves in provided they trust in Him. Let us read about Peter’s situation from the bible. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him out before the people after the Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.” (Acts 12:1-6)

Can you picture this? He is in a prison and his hands are chained. There is a soldier on both side and guards right outside the cell. And he is sleeping. Is n’t that amazing? That is the focus of this study. How could he have slept under those circumstances? There may be several reasons, but I want to focus on 3 of them here.

1. Sleep is a gift from God: In the last part of Psalm 127:2, the bible declares. “For He gives His beloved sleep”. I believe that the Lord gave him peace in the midst of those painful circumstances and granted him sleep. He can do that for you as well.

2. The church was constantly praying for him: That helps a lot. As the family of believers prays together on our behalf, God grants us peace and does wonders for us. Dear friend, do you have friends, family and church praying for you? If you do, great miracles are waiting for you. Sometimes in prison, you lose contact with the outside world and you may be saying, “You know what? No one cares about me anymore. They do not come to visit me. I do not have anyone to pray for me”. Don’t be discouraged. You can always call on Jesus. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior? Have you surrendered your life to Him? If you have, be encouraged. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and praying for you. He is all you need. Oh, what a great friend we have in Jesus!

3. Peter had a promise from the Lord: Some years ago, the resurrected Christ had spoken to Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and lovingly restored him back to Himself. During that unforgettable encounter, Jesus had specifically addressed the issue of his death. Listen to the tender words of Jesus to Peter-“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. (John 21:18, 19)

Think about it; there was a promise hidden in those words. Jesus is in essence telling Peter that he is not going to die young. Peter was still young during the prison sentence that we are learning about. No one can take away his life when he is still young! He probably slept believing in the words of his master. The rest is history! As he fell asleep in the everlasting arms of God, He sent His own angel and miraculously rescued him! You can read the full account in Acts 12.

Dear friend, are you going through some extraordinary difficulties? Are you stuck in a prison and spending anxious, sleepless nights worrying about the outcome of your case? You may not know what tomorrow holds for you. But remember, Jesus knows all your tomorrows. All you need to do is to trust Him. You may say, ‘you know what? Peter had the privilege of knowing Jesus personally. He also had a promise, but I do not have that’. Not to worry-“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) The bible is the book God’s promises for you. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20). “Fear not”, which is one of the most comforting promises of the bible, is mentioned 366 times –you can claim one of them for every day of the year and an additional one for the 366th day of the leap year! Do you know this God personally? He came seeking for you nearly 2000 years ago and died for your sins on the cross of Calvary. His arms are wide open to embrace you right now. If you are not born again, please pray this prayer now. “Dear Father in heaven, I am a sinner. I admit that I cannot earn heaven by my good works. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary for my sins. I believe that He rose again from the dead on the third day. Lord, wash me and cleanse me from all my sins by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior now. I want to live according to your WORD daily. Thank you Lord”

If you have prayed this prayer from the bottom of your heart, you are now a child of God. Your sins are forgiven. Your name is recorded in the Book of Life in heaven. Please make it a point to meditate on the word of God daily. Let the WORD transform your life. You can claim the promises of the WORD for yourself and make them your own. Keep declaring them over your case, situations, family, children and everything that pertains to you. God’s WORD will never return to Him void without accomplishing its purpose. When you declare the WORD by faith, the angelic realm will be activated on your behalf and miracles will begin to happen. Attend a bible believing church and lead a holy life. Prepare yourself for His coming according to His WORD. Share the good news of His salvation with as many people as possible. His glorious appearance is near. May God bless you and your family. His plans for you are great.

Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead, along with God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. We have one God with three distinct personalities within the Godhead. Christians do not have three Gods as some people claim. There are no conflicts within the Godhead. The Father always tries to honor the Son and the Son in turn always glorifies the Father. The only place where the Father became silent to the cries and prayers of His only begotten Son was on the cross.....The Father turned His face away............the Son was forsaken for a few hours so that you and I can be part of God’s family. The Holy Spirit on the other hand always tries to glorify the Father and the Son. There is perfect harmony in the Holy Trinity. Just some examples of the distinction of their ministries.

1. God the Father: He gave us His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)

2. Jesus Christ: He died for our sins on the cross of Calvary. (1Timothy 1:15, John 10:11)

3. Holy Spirit: He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8)

I want to focus on the distinct work of the Holy Spirit in this study. Holy Spirit is not just a power as some people assume. He is a person with power. Jesus always addressed Him as He and Him and not it or that.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has

come... (John 16:7, 8)

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is diverse. 

1. He is involved in our salvation and is the one who brings the conviction of sin. He will also convict the world of God’s righteousness and the judgment. (John 16:8-11)

2. God’s love is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5)

3. Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers and intercedes for us. (Romans 8:26, 27)

4. Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8: 15, 16)

5. The conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary was by the Holy Spirit. Mary was the vessel that God chose for this purpose. She came from her natural parents, but Jesus came from heaven. The unique earthly body of Jesus did not come from His earthly parents, but from the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). That is why Jesus did not sin, there was no sin in Him, and He could not have sinned. For God cannot sin. Amen!

6. Holy Spirit’s work was involved in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:19, 20)

7. Holy Spirit empowers us with explosive, dynamite like power to witness. (But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth) Acts 1:8.

8. Holy Spirit gives us boldness in talking about Jesus. (Acts 4:31)

9. Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

10. Holy Spirit is a Spirit of holiness. (Romans 1:4)

12. Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in us. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

13. Holy Spirit fills us with joy in the midst of afflictions. (1 Thessalonians 1:6) (Romans 14:17)

14. Holy Spirit is our comforter and will be with us forever. (John 14:16)

15. Holy Spirit is our guarantee until the day of redemptions. (2 Corinthians 5:5)

16. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in us (1 Corinthians 6:19)

17. Holy Spirit is restraining the manifestation and work of the antichrist in the world today, until the Second Coming of Jesus. When Jesus Christ comes back to take us back to heaven, the Holy Spirit will leave the earth. There will be an utter chaos, deaths, and destruction upon this earth when He leaves. The Holy Spirit is now preparing the Bride of Christ, the Church, meaning those who are called out and washed by the blood of Jesus Christ... (Ecclesia in Greek)

This is just a partial list of His work. There is so much more in His WORD concerning the Holy Spirit. Let us thank God for the glorious ministry of the Holy Spirit. Let the full work of the Holy Spirit be made manifest in us. You can freely get all these benefits by simply accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior. If you have not made that decision yet, please do it now. The bible says that ‘today is the day of salvation and now is the time of acceptance’. (2 Corinthians 6:2) Please repeat this prayer once to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Dear Father in heaven, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross of Calvary, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Lord, wash all my sins away by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I receive Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior. I surrender my life into your hands. Give me freedom from all types of sin in my life. Fill be with the power of the Holy Spirit. Let the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control be evident in my life. Sanctify me and make me Holy, as you are Holy, Lord. Help me to walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Help me to be ready for the Second coming of Jesus at all times. I ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. If you have prayed this prayer, you are now a child of God. Give utmost importance to the following things.

1. The study of the WORD: Read your bible regularly. God speaks to you when you do it.

2. Prayer: Talk to God as often as you can. He loves to hear back from you. Pray to God the Father and ask in Jesus name.

3. Fellowship: Pray and worship the Lord with other believers.

4. Witness: Speak to others about Jesus Christ. Lead them to Him. God will bless you for it. Share a copy of this article with others.

Remember some powerful weapons. 

1. The name of Jesus Christ.

2.The blood of Jesus Christ.

3.The WORD of God.

4. Praising God.

5. Fasting and prayer. Use them to fight the Devil, the enemy of our soul.

No matter what you are going through, God is able to help you. That which is impossible with man is possible with God. He can remove any mountain out of your way. Jesus is able! He has already won the victory for you on the cross. May God bless you.

Pathway to Heavenly Citizenship

Citizenship comes with many privileges. All of us are citizens of the country of our birth. These days we hear a lot about ‘Pathway to Citizenship’; when that finally happens, it will be a dream come true for millions of people. Apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes about another kind of citizenship-that of heaven. In his epistle to the Philippians, which he wrote during his Roman imprisonment, he made mention of it. Paul used his prison time, which was the result of his unwavering commitment to the gospel of Christ, to exhort the fellow believers through writings. 

He wrote four epistles during his Roman imprisonment-Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These epistles have touched millions of lives over the centuries. The Church at Philippi was the first one of its kind in the continent of Europe. Philippi was a Roman colony named after Philip, the father of the famous Greek emperor Alexander. Apostle Paul had preached the gospel there a few years earlier and God had miraculously touched a woman by name Lydia, who became the first convert in Europe. Later a young girl who practiced divination was delivered and so was a Philippian jailer, who along with family came to Christ. Thus, a church was established at Philippi. You can read the details in Acts 16:11-40. 

Years later, while facing his Roman imprisonment, Paul exhorted the Philippian believers with these remarkable words, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Can you also rejoice like Paul, when everything is going against you? Yes, you can, if you know Jesus! 

Please note that Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen. Rome was the ruling empire of the day and its citizens had special privileges; no one could beat a Roman citizen before being condemned in a trial. “And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman”. Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes”. The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship”. And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen”. Then immediately, those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him”.(Acts 22:25-29 ) From this passage, you can see the power of Roman citizenship during Paul’s time. Once they realized that Paul was a Roman citizen, they became extremely careful in their dealings with him. 

In addition, no one could execute a Roman citizen through crucifixion, the worst form of capital punishment in those days. Church history tells us that when Apostle Paul finally faced execution for the sake of the gospel, the Romans used a sword. But Apostle Peter was crucified, since he was not a Roman citizen. He supposedly had one final request- “Crucify me upside down; for I am not worthy to die like my Master”. His Roman executers granted that request, as per church history. (Please note that the mode of execution of Paul and Peter are taken from church history and are not mentioned in the bible)

So we learn that Paul was a Roman citizen which helped him greatly in many different ways. But in the epistle to Philippians’, he talks about heavenly citizenship; “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself”. (Philippians 3:20, 21) A great promise indeed! In these words, Paul refers to our heavenly citizenship. How can we obtain the heavenly citizenship? Our earthly citizenships can be obtained in more than one way; but there is only one WAY to get our heavenly citizenship. Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. (John 14:6) Just like we became citizens of our earthly country through natural births, we become citizens of heaven by a process of rebirth-known as being born again. 

We read about it in John 3:3-5. Jesus answered him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” The water in this context refers to the Word of God and the Spirit, to the Holy Spirit. When you hear the gospel message that you are a sinner, and that Jesus Christ died in your place on the Cross of Calvary, the Holy Spirit will convict you of your own sins. When you genuinely repent of your sins, turn to God and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you become a citizen of heaven. Moreover, the best part about the heavenly citizenship is this; that it is free. It is offered to you free, not because it is cheap but because it is priceless. It cost God everything; He gave His only begotten Son for you and me. 

While talking about heaven, many people get excited about its streets of gold and all the precious stones. However, the joy of heaven is not its gold and precious stones: it is Jesus, our Lord. The scars and the nail marks are still going to be on His glorious body when we see Him. What a great day will that be when we see Him face to face. After we accept Him as our Lord, we must eagerly wait for His coming. What will he do when He comes back? He will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself”. Can you foresee that day? A day when our lowly body will be transformed into the likeness of His glorious body! That is what is going to happen at the Second Coming of Jesus! But it is a benefit offered to those who are citizens of heaven. Dear friend, are you a citizen of heaven? Are you born again? If not, please pray this prayer now. “Dear Father in heaven, I am a sinner. I admit that I cannot earn heaven by my good works. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary for my sins. I believe that He rose again from the dead on the third day. Lord, wash me and cleanse me from all my sins by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior now. I want to live according to your WORD daily. Thank you Lord”

If you have prayed this prayer sincerely, your sins are forgiven and you are now a child of God. You are a citizen of heaven and a fellow citizen with God’s people. Please make it a point to meditate on the word of God daily. Attend a bible believing church and lead a holy life. Prepare yourself for His coming according to His Word. Speak to friends, family and people around you about the message of salvation through JESUS. Share a copy of this message with as many people as you can. May He bless you and your family richly. Never give up! Remember, with God all things are possible. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Paralytic Poliomyelitis: A personal Story - By Dr Jose Poulose

 I was born and raised in a small village called Kogally, of Chickmaglur Dist, in the Southern state of Karnataka, India. My parents had moved to this place from the neighboring state of Kerala, aslo known as God’s own country. At the age of five, while I was playing in front of my house with my older brother, I remembered my legs suddenly going down and losing strength. I was unable to walk anymore and my older brother was forced to carry me into our house.

My father was away due to his business commitments and my mother with the help of my uncle quickly took me to the nearest town hospital. It was a Government hospital and the doctor demanded an upfront payment for treating me. Since my condition was critical, they left in a hurry and forgot to take money for my treatment. The hospital was an hour away from home and bus service, which was the commonly used mode of commute was very infrequent in those days.

By the next morning, I was completely paralyzed, from neck down! I was diagnosed with Poliomyelitis, the devastating neuromuscular disorder!

Soon my father arrived, as the doctor was about to perform a lumbar puncture on me. My father became irate kicking the doctor’s office door open in a fit of rage because he had demanded a bribe. He could not fathom that a true physician would withhold treatment to a young boy on account of receiving remuneration first. He did not allow me to be treated by this doctor.

The doctor had told my dad that there was very little hope left for my condition. With great disappointment, they brought me back home and looked for alternative treatment. As my father had been a well -respected resident and a social worker in that community, we received a continual stream of visitors to our home. I was completely bedridden and needed personal care for all my needs. I remember someone squeezing a peeled orange into my mouth with lots of affection inasmuch as I was completely paralyzed as only my head and neck moved. At this juncture, I wondered if this will this be my fate for the rest of my life?’

A few months passed and someone told my family about a Homeopathic doctor near Manipal, India, who treated my condition paralytic poliomyelitis. I was taken there and I began to receive treatment from the doctors. The treatment was basically an intense oil massage! I wasn’t sure exactly how it worked, but it did. The protocols were very intense as they began to massage by starting at the arm and massaging all the way down to the fingers, applying lots of pressure. This procedure was repeated hundreds of times over and over again.

After about two months, my upper extremities regained strength. The same process was repeated for my lower extremities. My mother watched the entire process and soon she was trained in the method of treatment. Mothers are exceptional individuals in their love and care for their children and my mother was no different. She was resilient and never gave up in the face of extraordinary adversity! I recovered, albeit slowly.

I was able to walk normally by the age of 6 years old, at which time I began school. I excelled in academics continuously each year for the next 10 years and therefore I was awarded a prestigious merit scholarship for my achievements and efforts. Physically though I had made a remarkable recovery, yet due to effects of Polio, I would fall often and would twist my ankle when I ran. As I look back, I may have fallen hundreds of times, yet I would not let it hinder my progress. My legs would often hurt after extensive walking. It was at this time the doctor recommended that I wear properly fitted shoes. I followed his advice for the next two decades and rarely wore sandals which brought great relief to my feet.

By God’s grace, I got accepted to Medical School through the Karnataka State Entrance Test. My parents made many sacrifices to send me to college and medical school.

One of my professors would say ” You almost never fully recover from Paralytic poliomyelitis”, but I objected stating my case as I am an example of a person that made a full recovery. It was always an exciting and fulfilling moment when I share my story with those who had never heard it before. My passion has always been to help the poor, the sick and needy without expecting much in return as I have considered my own personal struggles with paralytic poliomyelitis and recovery! During my college years, I once walked 2-3 miles as a trial and to found out that my legs were not hurting. I was pleasantly surprised! In my excitement,I kept walking for almost 18 miles, visiting friends and family along the way in our village, telling everyone that my legs are finally not hurting anymore.

I am thankful to God for the ability he has given me to walk again. Although I have fallen again along the life journey’s and undergone many painful events, His merciful hand has been over my life! He has enabled me to pick up myself again and kept me in pace throughout the journey of life walking the walk to inspire and encourage others.

We must keep walking and never allow the tide of adversity to make us lose hope. The good news is that we will receive a new life and a new body on the other side of eternity and be safe in the arms of God, provided we know Him!

Knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior has been the greatest joy, satisfaction, and experience I have ever gained on this side of eternity. One day I will  behold the face of my Lord Christ Jesus. Although His physical appearance will be glorious, the nail marks and piercings of the cross will be still visible! Oh, how I love Jesus! Thank you Lord for carrying me in your arms time and time again.

Thank you for the strength and favor. For I will not fear the days ahead as I am not alone in this journey. The Lord Jesus Christ is walking with me daily. With His help, I will surely reach my destination. Thank you Lord for being there for me!

Our Father In Heaven: By Jose Poulose

Fatherhood is probably one of the most important of all the human relationships. We can all relate to it, one way or another; a good father is a picture of protection, provision and nurture. Some of us were blessed with good earthly fathers and others were not. There are millions of children around the globe, who grow up without the care and counsel of an earthly father. It breeds insecurity in the minds of the children and many of them turn to violence and drugs, just to soothe the inner pain. One thing is certain; fathers have influenced our lives as no one else did, either positively or negatively. One of the greatest tragedies of the modern society is the collapse of good homes and the single most contributing factor is the absence of a responsible father. The concept of Fatherhood can be traced back to God, our maker. In the eternal Godhead, we see the perfect picture of Fatherhood; it is God the Father who sent His only begotten Son to die for us. In the pages of the bible, God’s holy word, this concept is seen everywhere. One of the most amazing things about God of the bible is that He wants to relate to us as a Father.

The Psalmist declares, “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation” (Psalm 68:5). What a comforting thought it is to know that God in His holy habitation is the Father of the fatherless; from that perspective, there are no real orphans in this world. The Fatherhood of God is also very evident in the famous prayer that Jesus taught His disciples; we commonly refer to it as the Lord’s Prayer even though the bible does not use that description. This is what Jesus told His disciples: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Let us study some of the important and powerful points reflected in this prayer.

1. Right motive and no vain repetition: Before He taught them this model for prayer, Jesus told them about two vitals ingredients for genuine prayer. First, not to pray just to be seen by others, like the hypocrites. Secondly, not to use vain repetitions, as the heathen do (Matthew 6: 5-8). Although there is nothing wrong in repeating the prayer as such (Luke 11:2), the context tells us that what the Lord intended here was something else. This prayer is to serve as a template for all our prayers; we can apply the principles of this prayer to any and every situation that we face in our lives. Remember that He was teaching His disciples how to pray. He was asking them to use this prayer as a model for all our prayers, when He said, ‘In this manner, pray’. That instruction is for us too!

2. Our: Remember that Jesus was teaching a group of disciples. The importance of corporate prayer in our worship is emphasized in the very first word. Yes, it a great blessing to come together for prayer. Jesus also said, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18: 19, 20). Let us not ignore group prayer with fellow believers.

3. Father in heaven: The prayer should be addressed to our Father in heaven. If you are walking down the street and someone addresses you as Daddy or Mommy, you will not acknowledge them if they are not your own children. The same is true of God; He does cause the rain to come down for the righteous and the unrighteous, but He is not everyone’s Father. Our Father in heaven has real children on this earth; how do we become the children of God? The bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12, 13). These verses refer to the process of rebirth by repenting from our sins, accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord, believing with our heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9, 10). We must ask Jesus to wash our sins by His blood and fully surrender our life to His Lordship. That is how we become the children of God. Please remember, you do not become a child of God just because your parents are Christians; you do not become one by joining a church either. Salvation comes to us by grace and through faith in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:9). Dear friend, are you saved? If not, repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now!

4. Hallowed be your name: Hallowed here means God is holy, set apart, and unique in His character and attributes. God’s holy name has been profaned in so many different ways; Israel profaned His name through disobedience. When we disobey God, His holy name is profaned because of us. Let us pray for His name to be hallowed in and through us and all around us.

5. Your kingdom come: When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, the spiritual aspect of this prayer is fulfilled. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14: 17). But one day Jesus Christ is going to come back and establish His literal Kingdom on this earth. That is when the second aspect of this prayer will be fulfilled.

6. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven: Please note that heaven is the place where the will of God is perfectly carried out. The angels are at His command. When Satan tried to rebel against God, he was thrown out of heaven. But here on earth, there is so much rebellion against His will. Hence, we pray for His will to be done here on earth just as it is in heaven. That can only happen after the return of Jesus. It is another way of saying, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’.

7. Give us this day our daily bread: This refers to our daily needs. Our Father is concerned about every aspect of our lives; we can boldly ask Him about anything, so long as it is in line with His word. Always remember to worship and adore God before making your requests to Him.

8. And forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors: Forgiving others must be a regular part of our prayer life. We cannot harbor bitterness against someone and expect God to bless us. Dear friend, are you bitter against anyone? Forgive them from your heart and watch God move on your behalf.

9. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one: Always remember that there is an evil one in this world, known variously as Lucifer, Satan, devil etc. We can ask our Father’s protection against his schemes. Remember that God Himself does not tempt anyone (James 1: 13).

10. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen: That is right; ultimately, everything belongs to Him. God does not share His glory with others. Let God alone get all the glory in everything. The kingdom, the power and the glory belong to Him and Him alone! Amen.

*Remember some of the most powerful weapons of prayer: The name of Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus Christ, the word of God, praise and worship, prayer of faith, prayer with expectation, agreement prayer, fasting prayer, enforcing the victory of Calvary, corporate prayer, forgiveness, persistence in prayer, a clean and a contrite heart before God etc. These are just a few. Use them freely in your prayers. Prayerfully give a copy of this article to family, friends and those around you. Never give up. God has great plans for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11)

May the Lord bless you and your family