stephen-on-bible

Since I have been born-again by the grace of God in the year 1996, in God’s sovereign providence, I lived in both the circles—the tongues speakers and the non-tongues speakers. I wish in my heart to boast about their love and respect they have for each other in spite of the differences, but sadly that’s not the case. Instead, what I generally observed in both of them, though not all, is this—self-righteousness and other-accusation. Hence, here is a word for them. Tongues Speakers Dear brothers and sisters who speak in tongues, may I plead with you in Christ Jesus—do not look down on those who do not speak in tongues. To the church at Rome that had certain differences among them, Paul wrote, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Rom. 12:10). Based on what Paul said, do you become a better person than others just because you speak in tongues? If you speak in tongues, should you honor yourself above those who don’t speak in tongues? W...

Note: One morning, I had a severe struggle with lust. To win this war, I turned to the words of Job in chapter 31:1-12. Job was one of the oldest patriarchs and is renowned for being a man who feared God and shunned evil. What he spoke here few thousands of years back are very much challenging to the people of modern age. As I reflected upon these few words of Job, I was led to write the following words, elaborating the discourse of Job and allowing them to plainly converse with our hearts. I found the words of Job quite challenging in my own life in regard to living a life of sexual purity. Here is Job. Listen to my words. Let me tell you something to think about. I made a covenant with my eyes, with my sight, with how I look at a woman. Do you want to know the covenant I made with my eyes? I determined not to look lustfully at a woman. I resolved not to entertain sexual fantasies about a girl. I took a stubborn decision , not only to flee from committing physical adultery, but al...

What do you think is the pastor's greatest temptation? I am not going to talk on the common battles that are well known to many – gold [money], glory [pride] and girl [lust]. I would like to share with you about something crucial which many pastors do not even think about it as a temptation. One of the reasons, I believe, why the church today is not maturing is due to the pastor's focus on this while neglecting the essential. I think, almost every pastor, who is honest with himself, agrees that his focus is primarily on this and that this is indeed his greatest temptation. I have seldom come across a pastor who is free from this enticement. What could this be? Sunday Service In my years of Christian life and ministry, I have observed that the pastor's greatest temptation is Sunday service . His focus is primarily on getting people together, possibly in large numbers, on Sunday. His main passion is to fill the place with people and feel good to see every member on the chair...

"Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth," said A.W. Tozer. These days I have been meditating on the book of Amos. What wealth of insights the Lord has in store for His children to learn about His ways! When I came to chapter 6, I was moved in my heart to self-examination, for it reveals three tragic signs of complacency. One of the terrible diseases of Christianity today is complacency [a feeling of self-satisfaction]. A.W. Tozer says, "Religious complacency is encountered almost everywhere among Christians these days." He also observed, "Among the many who profess the Christian faith, scarcely one in a thousand reveals any passionate thirst for God." I cannot resist agreeing with Tozer. If the world is shattered because of its callousness towards the truth, Christianity is miserable due to its complacency in the truth it has believed. Let us reflect upon the following brief message with a prayerful heart and allow God to redeem us from this ...