This issue of Sampark is in your hands only because of the many hands that were joined in prayers. I thank God from my heart for all of them, my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Truly speaking, without their support I would never have been able to bring this to you.
A man went to the river with another swimmer to learn swimming. The stones on the bank of the river were slimy and quite slippery. As he stepped on them near the water, his foot slipped and he fell with a thud. Immediately he got up, turned back and briskly started to return. His friend called out after him, “Hey, where are you going?” He replied, “Sir, this is a very dangerous proposition. It was good that I happened to slip on the river bank, outside the water; had I slipped and fallen in the water then what would have happened to me? Let me first learn to swim; only after that will I go in the water.” Speaks volumes of his faith in his friend and the friend’s abilities! Was he being rational? Can anyone learn swimming without entering the water? But similar irrational fears hold us back from growing in the Lord in various ways.
The fear of loosing makes us loose our own confidence too. But loosing can lead to learning if we understand the reasons. Loosing can teach us to stop trusting in our own capabilities and totally rely only upon the ever faithful Lord our God. For a believer in the Lord, even loosing can be a blessing – Romans 8:28. Maybe your problems, your own nature, or maybe even your own family has left you dejected and at a loss. Don’t despair, you may have been defeated, but not your God. Your Omnipotent God is far greater than any and all of your problems.
Every incident recorded in God’s Word has a lesson to teach. His Word speaks to me, to you, to every defeated person – don’t be dejected, a big victory ahead is awaiting you. In Mark 5:22-42, we have the story of two defeated people. In the house of Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue, a cause for joy had been born 12 years ago; this, his only child, was now on her deathbed and he came to the Lord for help. The Lord did not disappoint him; He immediately hurried to go with him to his dying daughter. At the same time, in the life of another woman, a sorrow had come 12 years ago in the form of an incurable infirmity. She had spent everything she had for the healing of her body, but to no avail. She too came, believing that “if I can only manage to touch the edge of the Lord’s garment, I will surely be healed.” She was confronted with an insurmountable problem, a huge crowd, people falling one upon another to see Jesus; how was this frail and sick woman to reach Him to be healed? But against all hope, this woman with a sickness of 12 years somehow made it across the crowd and reached Jesus. How did this impossible happen? The Lord had said “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” - John 6:44. It was only the Lord’s power that could draw her to Him. Here was her chance and she took full advantage; just a touch of the Lord’s garment turned her gloom to cheer and her defeat to victory – she was healed.
Having received healing she wanted to stay quietly hidden in the crowd, but she could not hide herself from the Lord. He stopped for her, and she had to step out to give a brief testimony. The ensuing delay was causing anxious moments to the desperate father, due to fears of the looming irretrievable loss, since his only daughter was taking her last breaths. But from the Lord’s perspective, this testimony of the woman was necessary for the faith of the apprehensive father. And as Jairus waited for the Lord to resume journey, the dreaded news came from his home – your daughter is no more, don’t bother calling Jesus home anymore. What could be done now? All his hopes were crushed. But the Lord spoke to this dejected father now left with no hope, “Be not afraid, only believe.” The father did believe in the Lord even in this impossible and hopeless situation, and his faith in the Lord brought his daughter back from death. The Lord overturned all hopelessness; He won victory over the defeat brought by death. With such a Lord in control of all your life situations, can anything ever leave you defeated?
Despairing Moses cried for death, dejected Elijah cried for death, disconsolate Job cried for death, defeated by his nature Paul cried out “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). But the loving Lord did not just change their problem situations, He transformed even them!
Trust me; even I led a shameful and defeated life for many years, where I could see no way out other than suicide. But through just one prayer of repentance and submission the Lord wrought a miracle in my life; and those onetime defeated hands are today able to write this message of triumph for you. This is the power of that Blood shed on the Cross of Calvary.
Do write and let us know about this copy of Sampark. Your letters encourage us and your suggestions help us to improve.
Yours in the Lord,
- Editor, Sampark
A man went to the river with another swimmer to learn swimming. The stones on the bank of the river were slimy and quite slippery. As he stepped on them near the water, his foot slipped and he fell with a thud. Immediately he got up, turned back and briskly started to return. His friend called out after him, “Hey, where are you going?” He replied, “Sir, this is a very dangerous proposition. It was good that I happened to slip on the river bank, outside the water; had I slipped and fallen in the water then what would have happened to me? Let me first learn to swim; only after that will I go in the water.” Speaks volumes of his faith in his friend and the friend’s abilities! Was he being rational? Can anyone learn swimming without entering the water? But similar irrational fears hold us back from growing in the Lord in various ways.
The fear of loosing makes us loose our own confidence too. But loosing can lead to learning if we understand the reasons. Loosing can teach us to stop trusting in our own capabilities and totally rely only upon the ever faithful Lord our God. For a believer in the Lord, even loosing can be a blessing – Romans 8:28. Maybe your problems, your own nature, or maybe even your own family has left you dejected and at a loss. Don’t despair, you may have been defeated, but not your God. Your Omnipotent God is far greater than any and all of your problems.
Every incident recorded in God’s Word has a lesson to teach. His Word speaks to me, to you, to every defeated person – don’t be dejected, a big victory ahead is awaiting you. In Mark 5:22-42, we have the story of two defeated people. In the house of Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue, a cause for joy had been born 12 years ago; this, his only child, was now on her deathbed and he came to the Lord for help. The Lord did not disappoint him; He immediately hurried to go with him to his dying daughter. At the same time, in the life of another woman, a sorrow had come 12 years ago in the form of an incurable infirmity. She had spent everything she had for the healing of her body, but to no avail. She too came, believing that “if I can only manage to touch the edge of the Lord’s garment, I will surely be healed.” She was confronted with an insurmountable problem, a huge crowd, people falling one upon another to see Jesus; how was this frail and sick woman to reach Him to be healed? But against all hope, this woman with a sickness of 12 years somehow made it across the crowd and reached Jesus. How did this impossible happen? The Lord had said “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” - John 6:44. It was only the Lord’s power that could draw her to Him. Here was her chance and she took full advantage; just a touch of the Lord’s garment turned her gloom to cheer and her defeat to victory – she was healed.
Having received healing she wanted to stay quietly hidden in the crowd, but she could not hide herself from the Lord. He stopped for her, and she had to step out to give a brief testimony. The ensuing delay was causing anxious moments to the desperate father, due to fears of the looming irretrievable loss, since his only daughter was taking her last breaths. But from the Lord’s perspective, this testimony of the woman was necessary for the faith of the apprehensive father. And as Jairus waited for the Lord to resume journey, the dreaded news came from his home – your daughter is no more, don’t bother calling Jesus home anymore. What could be done now? All his hopes were crushed. But the Lord spoke to this dejected father now left with no hope, “Be not afraid, only believe.” The father did believe in the Lord even in this impossible and hopeless situation, and his faith in the Lord brought his daughter back from death. The Lord overturned all hopelessness; He won victory over the defeat brought by death. With such a Lord in control of all your life situations, can anything ever leave you defeated?
Despairing Moses cried for death, dejected Elijah cried for death, disconsolate Job cried for death, defeated by his nature Paul cried out “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). But the loving Lord did not just change their problem situations, He transformed even them!
Trust me; even I led a shameful and defeated life for many years, where I could see no way out other than suicide. But through just one prayer of repentance and submission the Lord wrought a miracle in my life; and those onetime defeated hands are today able to write this message of triumph for you. This is the power of that Blood shed on the Cross of Calvary.
Do write and let us know about this copy of Sampark. Your letters encourage us and your suggestions help us to improve.
Yours in the Lord,
- Editor, Sampark
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