From time to time, God has ignited many hearts to think, read, preach and pray for revival and that has been the story for hundreds of years already. Yet, I believe that the real fire is yet to be released. A dear friend of mine, Sis. BeBe Rail from the U.S., often reminds me about how God is taking us to the centre of the fire and it is at the centre of the fire where it is the hottest!No matter how dramatic and large the other revivals have been, I am absolutely certain that the best is yet to…

When I landed in America on the cold morning of February 22, 2001 eight years ago, I immediately knew that life here was going to be so different. I now had the challenge to quickly get used to drive–thru, fast food places, ATM machines, sprawling malls, fast cars, bigger houses. There was also this burning dream within me to make something out of my life in this land of opportunity but the greatest emotion within me was the sense of freedom to live in America, a nation founded on Christian principles. As a new immigrant, here is what impressed me in…

On Sunday, in church, we were singing a worship song with the line, “Everywhere I look, I see Your face,” when all of a sudden a thought occurred to me.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if everywhere we looked we actually saw His face? If we saw God everywhere, our lives would completely change.  When we were sad, we we would look up and see Jesus smiling at us.  I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for the frown to turn upside down.  When we were worried, we would turn around to see Jesus’ eyes re-assuring us.  Knowing He has our back,…

Last Saturday, i.e. on 13th March, a seminar was held on “Healthy Family Dynamics”, addressing especially on parenting. Although being in an embryonic stage in the field of parenting, the Lord has blessed me with the gracious privilege to speak on this topic. After uncle Joy David and sister Hazel delivered their lecture, encouraging the participants on healthy parenting, I was left with only few minutes to share my message. Considering the short time I had, I gave up the message I had prepared and was inspired in my heart to speak to parents on honoring their parents. In my…

i am a Christian. i am a Feminist. i am an Indian. i value justice and equality. i will not apologize. i will not retreat. i will not be defeated. i do not owe anyone an explanation. i am independent. i am empowered. i am a woman. and i am writing herstory.Benita Joy

Urban Indian women are leaving a new trail – smoke. Women are catching up fast and narrowing the gap across gender lines in the domain of smoking or chewing tobacco. See a report in India Today. It is based on a World Health Organization’s global survey of tobacco usage.Here are some disturbing finding:31% women tobacco addicts in India are between age 15-49.25% Indian women light up over 10 cigarettes per day.62% of women smokers die in their prime compared to 38% of those who don’t.1 in 20 women in India to die between age 30-69 due to tobacco in 2010s.20%…

When 1.2 billion people are awakened. There is transformation . . . We just concluded a 5 week ministry trip to India. Thank you to the many of you that were praying. We had a wonderful crusade in Delhi and ministry in Mumbai and Kerala.The highlight was the Emerging Leaders of India Conference in Mumbai where 800+ leaders under the age of 35 attended. It was phenomenal hearing some transformation stories and meeting some great leaders in the making. The patron of this Conference was Dr. A Pinto, Founder of Ryan Group of Schools. This is an man with an…

I know your record of works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! [16] So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! [17] For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:15-17 (AMP)We had a great couple services this morning with a strong sense of God's prescence with us. I felt…

The book of Revelation speaks of the triumph of the Lamb of God. But we are told that the Lamb has an army of disciples through whom He fights His battles and overcomes. These disciples are called, chosen and faithful. "The Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful" (Rev.17:14). Many are called, few are chosen, but fewer still are faithful. These are the overcomers spoken of ten times in the book of Revelation. They are disciples of Jesus who have not only been accepted by…

Dear friends, The Christian Messenger has been put on offline mode because it has come under a series of vicious and vengeful attacks by hackers who claim to be Muslims from Pakistan. While we are working in the background to assess the damage and put the website back on track, we seek your continued prayers and patronage. 'The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.'The Christian Messenger FaceBook Page

Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; When I looked for light, then came darkness.The churning inside me never stops; Days of suffering confront me.Job 30:25-27 (NIV)Benita Joy

Reading: Ephesians 6:10-18"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15:57) Christ is the Captain and we are His soldiers. Our weapons are not nuclear, chemical or biological but spiritual. Through them we destroy the enemy's war machine (2 Cor 10:4,5).The devil is usually goodlooking! He is a masquerader. He came to Jesus in the wilderness as His promoter (Mt 4:5-10). Jesus unmasked him through the spiritual sensitivity gained during the forty days of prayer. On another occasion the devil camouflaged as his wellwisher. Jesus had no difficulty to discern him because of…

Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. John 12:27-28Why did Jesus die? It’s a simple question and if you’ve ever been to church or Sunday School you’re sure to know the answer. Whatever words you use, the basic answer always comes back – for us. That’s right. That’s true. But could there be another answer. A higher answer. This Sunday we explore the idea that while Jesus’ death on the Cross was for us, it was first…

On Good Friday, we remem ber the sac ri fice of our Sav iour. Some two thou sand years ago, a man who came from God, born of a vir gin, who did many signs and won ders, healed sick, raised the dead, opened blind eyes, cast out demons, helped the lame walk, who loved beyond all thought and feel ing, also died for our sakes. This per son, both fully God and fully man, the enigma of all enig mas, incar nated to us the blaz ing love of God for all.His life and pur pose was to save…

In Revelation 1:12-13, when John turned around to see who was speaking, he saw Jesus. But he saw Him in the midst of the churches. It is through the local church that the Lord seeks to reveal Himself and to speak to others. The first dwelling-place of God mentioned in the Bible is the burning bush that Moses saw in the wilderness (Deut.33:16). Like John at Patmos, Moses also turned aside at that time to see that marvelous sight. And that's when God spoke to him (Exod.3:3). Today the church is God's dwelling place. God desires every church to be…

The centrality of Christ’s person and work seems to be usurped in contemporary ‘Christian’ preaching and ministry by a variety of charismatic themes, social issues and humanitarian activities. Vital as these are, Paul writing to Christians at Colosse makes the definitive statement: ‘Christ is All and in All’ (3:11). Why must Jesus be first (before all things) and preeminent? This is because, as Paul notes (1:16-18), it is by  Christ’s power, i.e. through  him and for  him that all things were created. All things are his possession and it is ‘in Christ’ and due to his providence that all things…

In Matthew 6:16 Jesus said “when” we fast. Thus, He was expecting His followers to fast. He also said that our Father in heaven will reward us for fasting in secret. The following are some principles related to the spiritual discipline of fasting.Text: Matthew 6:16-18“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to…

Gethsemane, Aramaic for ‘Oil press’, was an olive garden maintained by wealthy Jews on the west slopes of the Mt. of Olives (Mt. 26:36-41; Lk. 22:42). On his way to Jerusalem, across the Kidron valley, Jesus reveals to his disciples how that same night they will ‘desert’ him. The Shepherd is going to be struck and his sheep scattered (Zech. 13:7); Peter vehemently vows that even if the others did, he will never let him down (v.33) and Jesus warns that before cockcrow, Peter would have denied him thrice! At Gethemane, Jesus shows us how to be strongJesus will be…