We bid farewell to...

This Sunday(February 1, 2009) three of our friends from Apollo hospital bid farewell to us. Br:Jomy, Sis:Saimol, Sis:Grace decided to move back to kerala . They were with us for the last 3,4 and 5 years. All three of them explained about how Lord blessed them through this Church.

They were a blessing to the Church.
A.G.Thomas prayed for these three beloved friends.
We wish them the very best for their future and pray that Lord bless them and use them for His kingdom wherever they go.

God chose the unworthy

This Sunday(February 1, 2009) Br: Eepen John(Jai) gave the message in the English service at Fathe Nagar. Continuing on the study of Book of Ephesians, he spoke about fullfillment of God's great plan.
Ephesians 1:4-7
..according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace..

From this passage, Jai spoke specifically about 4 things which God the Father did for us, through Christ

1. He Chose us - Divine selection(Ephe 1:4)
When we chose, we always try to choose the best. Thats is human nature.
But the selection of God was different. He did not choose us because we are the best. He know our disabilities, our frame our weakness, in spite of all that God choose us so that we can be the best through Him.
- Why God chose unworthy like me?
As Apostle Paul said
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and God has chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised, and things which are not, in order to bring to nothing things that are; so that no flesh should glory in His presence"(1 Corinthains 1:27-29)

- When God chose us?
He Chose us before the foundation of the earth ( Ephe 1:4)

As Jesus told
You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.(John 15:16)

2. He adopted us
We are adopted into Gods family. So our we are no longer members of our original family where we belonged to(world). Our inheritance becomes different.Our objectives becomes different. Our priority becomes different. We become a new creation.
When a man is in Christ he's a new creation.
But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name(John 1:12)

3. He redeemed us(Ephe 1:7)
Two types of redemption
- By power(Book of exodus).Israelites are redeemed by Power.
- By purchase(book of Ruth).
In the Old Testament God gives a law to moses as to how to redeem a slave.Only wealthy man can redeem a slave.Redemption is a costly business.
- What is the price of our redemption?
...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; (1 Peter 1:18-19)

4. He forgive our sins