stephen-on-bible

The last weekend, the Lord has given me the privilege to minister to the young folks in Mumbai. During the Q&A session, someone asked, “How to stay steadfast in my devotion to God?”  Don’t you suppose this is an intense struggle many of us often pass through? Enlarging Ordinary Devotions There are many who disappointedly ask, “I went to numerous seminars, camps and church meetings. I heard powerful messages, was set on fire for God and made great commitments to change. However, just after few days, the fire subsided and I returned to the same pathetic condition. I lost hope to change. How can I have my heart continuously burning for the Lord?” In fifteen years of my Christian life, after experiencing many such topsy-turvy moments, I have learned a secret, or rather a fact—the way to keep fanning our inner flame for God, the means to steadfastly maintain and enhance our spiritual fervency, is through consistent private devotions . The seventeenth-century Anglica...

Last month, a wonderful brother in the Lord gifted me a book Radical by David Platt . It is one of the few books in my life that I read in its entirety with great earnestness, even planning to read again.  As I read through the pages, I was deeply convicted and challenged to live a different life as a disciple of Christ Jesus. O, how I wished in my heart to buy as many copies of this book and give to as many Christians as possible, so that they would read and learn to live a crucified Christian life in this self-indulgent world! Well, when we look at the contemporary Christianity, don’t you suppose many of us who claim to be disciples of Christ seem to live a self-elevated rather than self-denial life, comfort zone rather than crucified life, earthly-minded rather than heavenly-focused life, world-like rather than Christ-like life and religious rather than radical Christian life? The aim of many who claim to believe in Christ appears to be this—earn a nice educational d...

Few days ago, after many years, my brothers and sisters and all our families had the privilege of meeting together for a time of fellowship. Wondering when we would meet this way again, I arranged a photographer for snapping photos of our families together. Wow, I thought, everything went on well!  But when we got the pictures in print, we were disappointed to see them as they came out with a very poor quality, like a mobile’s VGA camera. My younger brother was angry, went to the studio and yelled at the photographer for his crappy work. When I learned about my brother’s reaction, since the studio person knew that we are Christians, I felt concerned about the gospel and wondered—what would happen to the saltiness of our Christian testimony? Will our reaction become a stumbling block for these unsaved people to the receptivity of the gospel? What kind of message are we giving to the unbelievers through our conduct? Convicted by these questions, I immediately called t...

One of the worst deceptions of the devil is to make people believe they are Christians when they are not, to make people believe they are saved when they are not, to make people believe they are going to heaven when they are not. And there so many people in Christian homes and churches without having biblical salvation. Hence, this message is to help people understand the meaning and significance of biblical salvation in contrast to self-induced salvation.   ENQUIRIES: Feel free to write your comments below (or) write to E-mail: cstephendavid@gmail.com (or) stephen@tents-india.org

Money—who doesn’t want it? Both the good and the bad want it—the former out of need and the latter out of greed. As needful and useful money is, I have learned, it is also a dangerous asset. Many Christian leaders have wrecked their reputation and ministry because of money. Thus, if there is any area wherein we have to build some strong principles, I suppose, it should be in the area of money. I have been in Christian ministry for twelve years. I have committed so many blunders and learned so many lessons that eventually led me to make some wise resolutions in the Lord, particularly pertaining to finance. There is a reason why I want to share these resolutions—it may encourage others to be careful in the area of money matters, bringing glory to God. Also, sharing this puts me in accountability to all the readers regarding my commitment [if I go astray in my resolutions, please feel free to correct me]. Anything beyond this, may the Lord give me the grace to overcome al...

Did you ever think - Why does God save people? What is the purpose of God in saving people? I suppose, many are unaware of this fact. This brief audio clip explains the purpose of God in saving people. ENQUIRIES: Feel free to write your comments below (or) write to E-mail: cstephendavid@gmail.com (or) stephen@tents-india.org

We are well aware of the three temptations a man commonly confronts— glory [pride], girl [lust] and gold [money]. As we live in this modern, advanced age, there is another temptation that I wish to add to the list. This has become a powerful, irresistible temptation to many a man. It has now taken an enticing, equivalent position to the common three. Can you guess what it is? GADGETS . Today, many Christian men, including so many pastors and leaders, have become victims of the fourth temptation—electronic gadgets. These have enslaved so many of us in the form of being good to our eyes and appearing pleasurable to our senses while in fact eating away our precious and brief time on earth. Just think: • How many spend more time before Facebook than before God’s book! • How many spend more time in online chatting than in conversing with God! • How many spend more time before the television, watching movies and programs, than in study of sound books that builds oneself in the...