HUNDREDFOLD RETURN OF ALL THAT IS LOST!Speaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: Is there a life on earth without sorrows and sufferings? "So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." Mark 10:29,30.
The Lord said these words to His disciples who forsook all their possessions and followed Jesus. Everyone who loses anything for Christ shall surely get back hundredfold of what he had lost. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12.
Why this persecution?
"and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" says the Bible Romans 8:17.
Afflictions, persecutions and agony are permitted in our lives so that we can receive the glory of God. Each servant of God undergoes his or her own kind of afflictions. If we do not pass through the valley of sufferings we cannot receive the glory of God. David cried out saying that everyday his foes tried to devour and oppress him (Psalm 56:1-2; 42:3).
Is there a life on earth without sorrows and sufferings? So also there is no Lord's ministry without humiliations and afflictions. When we experience these adversities, let's run to the feet of God for solace (Hebrews 4:16). He will never forsake us. Along with persecutions He will strengthen us with a hundredfold blessings.
One day a family from Bangalore came to meet me. When they entered my room, their two little children came running towards me and sat on my lap. They were extremely happy and they were much excited. I embraced and kissed them affectionately. The parents narrated to me their experience, "Sir, when we got married the members of our families rejected us. We live alone - cut off from our relatives. Our children, when they come back from school tell us, that their classmates studying with them go to homes of their grandparents for their holidays. They ask us repeatedly, "Don't we have our grand parents?" Unable to answer their question we were perplexed. One day as we were watching your T.V. programme, we pointed you to our children and told them, "Look! over there, He is your grandpa". Immediately the children jumped with joy and demanded let's go and meet our grandpa during this vacation! That is why, when their vacation began we have brought them here to meet you. After meeting you, we are going to Bethesda Prayer Centre at Coimbatore. We are going to spend our holidays there. We have told them that that was their grandpa's home."
We lost our only daughter Evangeline. But after that great loss we did not give up but continue to do the Lord's ministry with all sincerity and faithfulness. To us God has given such daughters and grand children from all over the world. We have innumerable brothers and sisters in every part of the earth. Our Lord is one who compensates richly for our loss. Whatever you have lost the previous year, this year you will surely get them back a hundredfold.
Dearly beloved in Christ, the Lord God who had blessed Isaac a hundredfold would bless you also similarly. He tasted the bitter death for each and everyone of us. (Hebrews 2:9). So definitely the Lord would give you a hundredfold blessings. He will multiply your descendants, give all that you have lost and would bless you a hundredfold.
Prayer
Our heavenly Father,
With great humility and much trembling I come to Your feet seeking Your grace which is new every morning. I beg You to prosper all labour of my hands today and grant me a hundred fold blessings in everything that I set my hands upon.
In Jesus' precious name I pray.
Amen |