Domenic Marbaniang

"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (Jn. 1:5) "The light shines" is in simple present tense; the darkness did not comprehend it is in past tense (in Greek, aorist). This is a testimony about Jesus Christ. 1. It points to the eternality of Christ, the light, who always shines, has always shone, and will always shine. There is no shadow of turning in Him. Yesterday and tomorrow are as today for Him. Therefore, His voice through the Spirit is always in the today. 2. It points to the defeat point of darkness as in the past. There is no present or future possibility left for darkness. The Scripture does not say " The darkness will not comprehend"; it says that it did not comprehend. In other words, the defeat of darkness is a finished fact. Christians must rest assured that it is impossible for darkness to ever gain the upper hand. Its defeat is over forever. 3. It points to the fact that those who love darkness can ...

Christ is the brightness of God's glory (Heb. 1:3). God's glory is incomparable with anything in creation. "...the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory." (1Cor. 15:39) Christ's glory far exceeds anything in creation. That Infinitely glorious one emptied Himself of holding on to that glorious form alone and took the form of man 2000 years ago. "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (Phil. 2:6-7, NLT) "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." (John 1:14) ---------------------------...

The Romans were the first who used imprisonment as a form of punishment, rather than mere detention. The Law of Moses didn't prescribe jailing as a form of punishment. The Cities of Refuge were places of protection for those who accidentally killed someone. OT Law was based on the "tooth for tooth" principle of justice (not the "stone for brick" one). The closest form of imprisonment (when fines or debt became unpayable) was slavery. But, it had the limit of 6 years; the slave had be set free in the 7th year and also given means of survival. The goal was that the slave could pay back in service what he couldn't in cash or goods. Also, there were laws to protect the slaves against oppression. However, the Law didn't have mercy on those who violated the Law through acts of murder, rape, violence, theft, and so on. The Judge had to pronounce judgement on the basis of the Law. Debts could be forgiven; violation of the Law (the Decalogue), never. Genesis tell...

The No.1 qualification of being a Spirit-filled Preacher is not to have a degree from a "great" University or have the recognition of a "great" movement; but, it is to be Spirit-filled and totally in tune with the work of the Holy Spirit in the world today. SPIRIT-FILLED PREACHING 1. Convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (Joh 16:8 NKJ) Spirit-filled preaching will not speak about grace without first convicting the world of sin; it will not talk about divine blessings without first demonstrating the righteousness of God; it will not talk of eternal life without first warning the world of judgment. 2. Will guide the listeners into all truth "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (Joh 16:13 NKJ) Spirit-filled preaching doesn't ignore some truths and highlight others; it is not customer-orient...

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matt. 7:11) Good Things.. 1. Are not things of lust/covetousness James 4:3 - evil desire.  Therefore, they ask but don't receive . Israel lusted after evil things 2Cor. 10:6 2. Are not things of compromise Num. 22:12,19- Balaam wanted to go, though God forbade. He began double checking to see if God would change mind. Jude 1:11 3. Are not things of despair, anger, and frustration 1Kgs.19:4-5 Elijah wanted to die, but God answered in the opposite Jonah 4:8-9 Jonah wanted to die out of anger, but God reproved him 4. Are not things against God's nature Exo. 32:32,33 Moses wanted to die instead of israel.. But, God is not unjust Examples of What We Must Pray For 1. Holy Spirit .. Not just gifts but the Person (Lk. 11:13) 2. Wisdom..  (James 1:5; 1Kgs. 3:6-9) 3. Grace in time of need (Heb. 4:16) 4. Boldness of speech (Ac...

1. God created the world out of nothing. This contradicts the scientific assumptions that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and that something cannot come out of nothing. The Bible is unique in its proclamation of creatio ex nihilo.   Even quantum physics based theories of the universe presuppose something preexisting, at least the quantum laws. The biblical doctrine sets apart God as transcendent, infinite, immutable, and one. 2. The material world is not the only reality. While certain psychical societies have been investigating this claim, science in general cannot include the supernatural into its equations, obviously. Anything beyond the material is beyond science. Science cannot base predictions on anything apart of realities that submit to laws of nature, as it knows. However, Bible believers can identify and predict many things that relate to the non-material world. These include events that involve angels, prophecies, faith, and cases of demonic activities. 3. ...

DR. KURIEN THOMAS (1922-2000) was a pioneer of the Pentecostal movement in central India. He came to Itarsi, the heart of India, in 1945 and laid the foundation of the Pentecostal Church there. In 1962, he began the Bharosa Bible School which grew on to be known today as Central India Theological Seminary. In 1967, he became the first Chairman of the Fellowship of the Pentecostal Churches in India. Dr. Thomas was a prolific writer in Hindi, English, and Malayalam. He was editor of Satyadoot , a continuing Hindi Christian monthly, and was author of several books. Kurien Thomas: God’s Trailblazer in India and Around the World , written in 1986, was his autobiography. Kurien Thomas was born on 9 January 1922 at Ranny, Kerala, into a Keralite Syrian Orthodox family that traced its origins to the first converts of Thomas the apostle of Christ. In 1939, during a gospel meeting in his village in Kerala in which the renowned Pastor K.E. Abraham ministered, Kurien gave his life to Jesus. Hungr...

Oswald J. Smith, The Challenge of Missions , pp.63,64 In Acts 19:8-10, 18-20, we have a marvelous example of the Pauline method. In two short years, we are told, all those in Asia heard the Gospel. Asia covered a territory of approximately 50,000 square miles. There was a mighty revival. Books belonging to various false cults were burned publicly. The upheaval was so great that books costing thousands of dollars were burned. How did it happen? Paul took charge of a school and taught every day. Most certainly he did not travel throughout Asia and evangelize the country himself. So far a the record goes, he stayed in one place, but he taught others; then they in turn went everywhere preaching the Gospel, with the results described in the 19th chapter. Wherever he went, he "preached and taught" (Acts 14:21). That method cannot be improved upon. It will work everywhere. The West Indies Mission has proved it. They started in Cuba with a Bible School. Not a church, mark you, but a ...

When silence seals the lips of friends, You let me know You are here; When cold confusion darkness tends, You shine Your light over here. When dull seems destiny, far unseen, You still keep walking, closely by. When friends fear failure will strike my knees, You stand to hold and lift me high.

Whenever a new word enters the market, there are many who wish to grab it and use it to express or verbalize concepts that occur to them. However, it is important to avoid sporadic use of expressions without understanding them in their original usage. It can lead to confusion of language. Two terms that are becoming more popularly used, in addition to "mission", are "missions" and "missional", and they require proper definition. Let's look at some popular definitions of these terms: Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God's People --Mission is all that God is doing in his great purpose for the whole of creation and all that he calls us to do in cooperation with that purpose. (Analogy: Science) --Missions is the multitude of activities that God's people can engage in, by means of which they participate in God's mission. (Analogy: Sciences) --Missional is to have (Analogy: Scientific) Ed Stetzer, Missions vs. Missional? --Mission is the...

For peace and harmony to exist in any pluralistic society, it is important to have respect for all religions. Those who wish to be respected must also show the same respect for others. In the past, religion has acted as a great dividing line and has spurred and continues to provoke among some incidents of violence and hatred. We must learn to respect other religions, but what does this respect involve? 1. It means to respect fellow humans as humans, first of all, as our neighbors. It means to show ourselves as good neighbors to them. 2. It means to respect the religiosity in humans, their quest, their pursuit for spirituality, for purity, for a good life, for a transcendent ideal that lifts us above the world of mere brutes. 3. It means to respect the confessions of saints, of communities, regarding their longing to know the unknown, to be delivered from darkness to light. 4. It means to respect their literature of wisdom and deep meditation on serious life truths. 5. It means to respe...

Remember God is faithful. In the midst of difficulty, acknowledge God is faithful. The faithfulness of God gives us courage , comfort , confidence . 1. Faithfulness is an Attribute of God . God is absolutely reliable, absolutely trustworthy, absolutely steadfast, absolutely constant. Faithfulness of God speaks of the stability of God in a changing world. What was once considered sin is now considered a weakness. Values are changing. But, we have a changeless Christ who is faithful. 1Cor. 1:9 - God is faithful. Psa. 36:5 - Your faithfulness reaches unto the clouds. Man cannot outstretch it . No matter where you are, His faithfulness can reach you. The extensiveness of His faithfulness. Psa. 119:9 - Your faithfulness is unto all generations. Man can never outlive it. The everlastingness of His faithfulness. Lam. 3:23 - Great is Your faithfulness. The exceedingness of His faithfulness. Man can never outmatch it. 2. Faithfulness is an Activity of God. The Bible tells us how God was fa...

God's faithfulness must be seen in perspective of 5 attributes of God: 1. Omniscience - He knows everything 2. Omnipotence- He can do everything 3. Omnipresence - He is within our reach 4. Truthfulness- He cannot lie 5. Immutability - He cannot change. An understanding of these attributes gives us Courage, Confidence, and Comfort in times of trial. Divine Immutability 1. God's Character never changes (James 1:17; Mal.3:6) 2. God's Truth never changes (Isa.40:8; Matt.24:35) 3. God's Purposes never change (Psa.33:11) 4. God's Love never changes (Psa.100:5) 5. God does not change His Mind (Num.23:9) 6. God's Words do not change (2Cor.1:20).

"And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent (nacham). For He is not a man, that He should relent (nacham)." (1Sam.15:29) …the LORD regretted (nacham) that He had made Saul king over Israel. (1Sam.15:35) There seems to be an apparent contradiction between the above two passages: the first tells us that God never regrets; the second, that He did. This again seems to conflict with the idea of immutability or the unchangeableness of God. …the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17) But, does historical information in the Bible contradict the idea of divine immutability? Well, 1Samuel 15 is not the only case we are told about divine repentance (or regret or change of action). Remember that we aren’t talking of ontological immutability here (i.e. as related to His being); we are talking here of moral immutability – that God is unchanging in His decisions and moral character. In the book of Jonah, we find again the issue of d...

Paradox: a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement which, when investigated or explained, may prove to be well-founded or true. For instance: Scientists say that Light is a wave, and then also say that Light is a particle. Now, something cannot be both a particle and a wave at the same time. Thus, when you look for light as looking for a wave, light appears to behave like wave, and when you look for it as a particle, it appears to behave as a particle… TEXT: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1Co 10:13 NKJ) However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew (azab) from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. (2Ch 32:31 NKJ) Reading: At that ti...

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jo 1:9 NKJ) The universe is not a free lunch. Nothing is free under the sun though some may think it is or wish it is. And if we see or receive something that is free, it is because somebody had paid for it. Somebody has got to pay anyway. -In any act of charity, the giver incurs the expense -In any forgiving of debts, the creditor has to bear the loss Generosity is a great virtue because God Himself is generous. Forgiving others is a great virtue because our God Himself is a forgiving God. But, then we generally understand that man cannot be compared with God. It is understood by some that God is only and just the “Wholly Other” the One who has no comparative in this universe. Sometimes, you may have heard people say, “Well, I’m not God; God can forgive so much, but I am not God” We read about the miracles of Jesus and are stunned by the greatness of power. We read abou...

In John 2:4, when the mother of Jesus shares with Him her concern that the hosts at Cana had run out of the wedding wine, Jesus replies to her that His time had not yet come. But, then He goes ahead and turns water into wine. So, why did He say that His time had not yet come? What did He mean by it? Again in John 7:6, when His unbelieving brothers suggest to Him to go to Jerusalem and show His works there so that people could see and believe, He answers that His time had not yet come but their time was always ready. Then, He tells them to go up to the feast and that He wasn't coming because His time had not fully yet come. However, when after they go, He secretly does go up to Jerusalem. So, what did He really mean when He said His time hadn't fully come? Did it mean that the time when He went up to Jerusalem was time He was actually talking about? Or did it mean something else? The Gospel of John has strong purposes in highlighting certain phrases and "time has not come...

Nothing better answers this question than the ancient adage: [Imagine a rider fall off a horse that stumbles because it loses its shoe] For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the message was lost. For want of a message the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. The moral is evident: Never undermine even a little, seemingly insignificant, nail. However, we can put this proverb a bit differently to gain another valuable lesson: [Imagine a farrier who refuses to shoe a horse because he can't find his perfect nail] For want of a perfect nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the message was lost. For want of a message the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a perfect horseshoe nail. In this second ...

In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. (Exod 15:7) The Bible differentiates between two kinds of anger: one that has a diabolical, evil, and ugly face; and the other that has a holy, righteous, and majestic face. Ugly anger is based on selfishness, lust, and pride. Majestic anger is based on love, purity, and truth. Ugly anger works evil. Righteous anger works good. Ugly anger is impatient and destructive. Holy anger is patient and constructive. Ugly anger makes one's face look ugly. Righteous anger makes one's face glow with majesty. The Bible doesn't say "Do not be angry", but it warns against anger that is based on lust, desire for revenge, pride, and every form of sin. (Eph.4:26; Gal.5:19-21)

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (Jn.21:15) Even Jesus asked Peter to verbalize his love for Him. Certainly, if Peter had at sometime denied Jesus saying "I do not know Him", it was more important to confess now his deep love for the Master. Does God need to hear an "I love you" from us? I strongly believe, yes. Not because He is in need of love as such, but because at the essence of relationship lies communication, and communication involves confession and verbalization of thoughts and feelings. Isn't that the reason why worship is not a rite but an act of truth and spirit? If it is important for God to hear us express how much we love Him and adore Him, it is also important for us as humans to verbalize love and esteem for each other. The other must hear our deepest appreciation. Of course, we ex...

1. Christ was Heard Because of His Godly Fear (Heb.5:7) Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear (Heb.5:7) 2. Noah was Moved by His Godly Fear (Heb.11:7) By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Heb.11:7) 3. We are Called to Worship in Godly Fear (Heb.12:28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Heb.12:28)

GODLINESS means devotion to God, reverential fear of God, a life that prioritizes God and His preferential will above all things, commitment to the plan and purpose of God, a life that is in tune with heaven. 1. Godliness is the lifestyle God desires us to live on earth (1Tim.2:2) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 2. Godliness is coupled with Honesty (reverence) or (1Tim.2:2). 3. Godliness guides the way we dress or behave in public (1Tim.2:10) in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 4. The Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus are called the Mystery of Godliness (1Tim.3:16) And w...

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (Joh 4:7) ~This is not the first time when God asks someone for a favor, but actually intends to do great things for that person. We know the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Elijah asked this widow, who was hoping to only die, to bring him some water in a vessel, and then called out to also bring him something to eat (1Kgs.17:9-11). The widow felt this to be too demanding, but only later realized that she had been chosen by God to be saved in the serving of God's purposes. When Jesus approached Peter in his failure of having caught no fish through the night's vigilant toil, He first asked him to move the boat a little away from the shore so that He could teach the crowd; only after that did He do a miracle that completely transformed Peter's life and showed him the purpose he was created for. Do we recognize Jesus when He comes and asks us, "Give me a drink."?

"Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Heb 13:4) 1. Marriage is Honourable . Not something to be ashamed of, not a sin, but considered  honorable by God. 2. Marriage is Holy. Bed must be undefiled. Marriage is a sacred and holy relationship between a woman and a man. It must not be violated in any way. 3. Marriage is Heavenly. Whom God joins, let no man put asunder. God is the Judge who is Lord over the marital covenant. He will judge adulterers and whoremongers; those who are unfaithful to the marriage covenant, have carnal lustings and who go after prostitutes.

The Doctrine of “Eternal Security” teaches that a person who has come to a salvific knowledge of Jesus Christ will never turn away from Christ and “lose” his salvation. The doctrine violates several scriptural assumptions and assumes, among many things, that God is ultimately responsible for evil in the world. Contrary to that position, we maintain that a person who has come to know Christ can depart away from faith in Him and lose the privilege of salvation. While the controversy is a large one (with roots dating back to the Augustinian-Pelagian controversy related to depravity and freedom), it is evident from all scriptural, rational, and empirical facts that the doctrine of eternal security violates key assumptions of scripture, reason, and experience. While we respect the religiosity of peoples, religiosity and zeal are not evidences for truthfulness of doctrine (Rom.10:2). One can have zeal for emphasis on the grace of God and still be misinterpreting the grace of God in a way...