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John 3:3—“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

In this encounter, Jesus Christ speaks to Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee and ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus came with religious knowledge, moral reputation, and sincere curiosity. Yet Christ immediately directs him to the one reality that religion alone cannot produce—the new birth.

The double affirmation, “Verily, verily”, underscores the absolute certainty and importance of the statement. Jesus declares that entrance into the kingdom of God requires nothing less than being “born again.” The phrase indicates a radical spiritual transformation, a work of God whereby a person receives new spiritual life. Natural birth introduces us into earthly life, but spiritual birth introduces us into the life and rule of God.

Christ reveals the profound insufficiency of human merit, heritage, and religious performance. Nicodemus possessed learning, status, and devotion, yet Christ declared that without regeneration, he could not even “see the kingdom of God”. Spiritual blindness characterises the unregenerate heart.

Every person ought to examine whether they have truly experienced the renewing work of God’s Spirit. Christianity is not merely moral reform or religious affiliation; it is the miracle of new life from above. Where the Spirit grants this new birth, eyes are opened to the glory of Christ, hearts are turned from sin, and God’s kingdom becomes a present personal reality. The rule of God is no longer resisted but is received from Christ with faith and humble submission. The greatest question, therefore, is not what we know or what we achieve, but whether we have truly been born again and entered the kingdom of God.

If the Lord has given you good health and wisdom to earn money, enabling you to have enough for your needful expenditure, even leaving you with surplus savings, what shall you do with your riches? The apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 6:17-18, gives us the pure and perfect wisdom of God concerning how Christians ought to lay up their treasures: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate”.

Right Attitude towards Riches

The first attitude is that “they be not highminded”. As an old saying goes, “The mind grows wanton in prosperity, for it is hard to endure good fortune with calmness.” Abundance of money often makes people very proud of their achievements and causes them to consider themselves better than others. Ego compels them to live a luxurious life. The increasing prosperity and luxury invariably inflate the pride, which consequently hardens and debases our hearts. So if you have wealth, do not glory in it.

The second attitude is that we “trust (not) in uncertain riches, but in the living God”. Have you heard the saying, “Treat money like your God, and it will plague you like the devil”? The reason for such miserable ordeals in the life of a lover of money is that he is trusting in “uncertain riches”. The Book of Proverbs warns us, “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Proverbs 23:5). Since “riches are not for ever” (Proverbs 27:24a), we therefore should trust God more than our wealth. It is our living God “who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (v. 17c). Our trust in God can only be verified if we by our lives prove that God, and not money, is our Master. Don’t let money be your master, but let it be your servant. It will do us much good if we can remember Martin Luther’s words: “God only, and not wealth, maintains the world; riches merely make people proud and lazy.”

The third attitude is that “they do good, that they be rich in good works”. The love of money is the parent of all wickedness. J.C. Ryle said, “Nothing I am sure has such a tendency to quench the fire of religion as the possession of money.” We must not allow the wealth that we have to affect our spiritual and moral commitment. Money is given unto us, that we may increase in “good works”. Good works are the fulfilment of the Lord’s will concerning us. Every work of self-gain and self-glory is evil work. Always remember that your money is to help you further God’s will. We can never be used or blessed by the Lord, if we do not have a full commitment to give all for His glory.

The fourth attitude is that we must be “ready to distribute, willing to communicate”. When we receive money, most of us immediately think of the best way of keeping or multiplying it. It is wrong to withhold from the needy, when the Lord has not withheld it from us though it was more than sufficient for all our needs. The Scriptural exhortation is: “distributing to the necessity of saints” (Romans 12:13); and “to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). More blessings come from giving than receiving (cf. Acts 20:35). Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving! The right mindset is: “Get all you can, save all you can, and give all you can” (John Wesley). Note this attitude of giving must be accompanied with “readiness” and “willingness”. The words “ready” and “willing” in v. 18 call us not to delay when it comes to giving to the needs of the Lord’s work or for the poor. We should give as we would receive – cheerfully, quickly and without hesitation.

Laying Up Riches in Heaven

“Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:19). These further words of Paul assure us that if we cultivate the right attitude about investing the money we have (as per Scriptural teaching), we shall have “a good foundation against the time to come” – not only for the rest of the time in this world, but also for eternity.

This biblical attitude has also been corroborated through our Lord Jesus’ teachings. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). Jesus also taught us that He will reward us – “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).

We therefore do well to heed Paul’s exhortation to the Galatian Christians: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10). That is biblical investing of our lives and resources for sure returns!

Sermon Text: Psalm 129
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 8th March 2026

Mark 1:41—“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

This brief verse reveals both the heart and authority of Christ. A leper, ceremonially unclean, socially isolated, and physically afflicted, approaches Jesus with humble faith: “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (v. 40). He does not question Christ’s power, but only seeks His willingness.

Mark tells us that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” The Son of God is not coldly sovereign nor distant in majesty. His power flows from a heart stirred by mercy. This compassion reflects the very character of God revealed throughout Scripture “merciful and gracious, longsuffering” (Exodus 34:6). In Christ, divine holiness does not recoil from human misery; it moves toward it.

Most strikingly, Jesus “put forth his hand, and touched him.” Under the Law, touching a leper rendered one unclean (Leviticus 5:3; 13–14). Yet here, purity does not become polluted; uncleanness is overcome. Christ’s holiness is contagious in grace. When He touches the defiled, He does not become unclean; He makes the unclean clean.

“I will; be thou clean.” With sovereign authority, He speaks cleansing into reality. The leper’s restoration is immediate and complete.

This amazing story of Christ’s cleansing of the leper comforts the guilty and broken. No defilement is too deep for Christ’s touch. Those who come in humble faith will not find reluctance in Him. His heart is willing, His hand is powerful, and His Word is effectual. He still delights to cleanse all who seek Him.

Ezra 1:1—“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing…”

This opening verse of Ezra is a majestic testimony to the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. Israel’s exile in Babylon had been long and painful, yet it had never been outside the bounds of divine purpose. The captivity itself had been foretold, and so too had the restoration (Jeremiah 25:11–12; 29:10). Now, according to our text for today, in God’s appointed time, the Word spoken through Jeremiah comes to fulfilment. History is not governed by empires, but by the LORD.

Remarkably, God accomplishes His promise by stirring the heart of Cyrus, a pagan king, to rebuild the house of the LORD, according to the following verse. The ruler of Persia does not act independently of God; rather, his spirit is moved by the unseen hand of the covenant LORD. Scripture consistently affirms that “the king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:1). Even those who do not know Him are instruments in His redemptive plan.

What a comfort it provides for all weary believers. Seasons of exile, whether personal, spiritual, or circumstantial, do not nullify God’s promises. He remembers His Word. He governs rulers, circumstances, and timelines with perfect wisdom. When the hour of fulfilment arrives, He moves hearts and opens doors no man can shut.

So let us yield in patient trust. The God who fulfils His Word in history will also fulfil His promises in our lives. Not one syllable of His covenant mercy shall fall to the ground.

Job 9:12—“Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?”

Job speaks these words in the midst of deep anguish. Having lost his children, his wealth, and his health, he wrestles not merely with pain but with the sovereignty of God. Though deeply wounded, not only by his losses but also by the false accusations of his friends, Job does not deny God’s sovereign rule. Even when misrepresented as a secret sinner and pressed to confess imagined crimes, he refuses to abandon the truth that the Almighty reigns. In chapter 9, Job acknowledges the greatness and unchallengeable authority of the Almighty. Though troubled, he does not deny God’s rule.

Job’s words, “Behold, he taketh away,” are his recognition that loss does not ultimately come from chance, nature, or men alone. Behind secondary causes stands the sovereign hand of God. This echoes the earlier confession: “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away” (Job 1:21). Scripture consistently affirms that God’s rule is absolute (Daniel 4:35).

Job’s next utterance, “Who can hinder him?” is an expression of his awareness that God’s purposes cannot be restrained. No human strength, no earthly power, no unseen force can thwart His decree. His will is neither reactive nor uncertain.

So Job asked, “Who will say unto him, What doest thou?” This is not an irrelevant protest but a recognition of man’s creaturely limitation. The clay cannot summon the Potter to answer for His design (Isaiah 45:9; Romans 9:20). God’s sovereign purposes rise above the limits of human understanding, calling us not to interrogation, but to humble trust. 

Certainly, this verse is a call to all of us to humble ourselves before God, whatever the situation. In seasons when God “taketh away”, we may not understand, but we are reminded that He is never out of control. His sovereignty is not cold fatalism; it is the rule of a wise and righteous God. The believer’s comfort lies not in explaining every loss, but in trusting the One whose purposes are perfect and whose character is faithful.

Numbers 6:26—“The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

This concluding line of the Aaronic benediction in Numbers 6:24–26 encapsulates the intense relationship between God and His people. To have the LORD lift up His countenance is to experience His attentive gaze and favour. In ancient times, the lifting of one’s face conveyed acceptance and goodwill. When God directs His face toward us, it assures us that we are seen, valued, and welcomed into His presence. This divine attention is not just an acknowledgement; it is an active engagement that transforms our lives.

If God were to hide His face, it would signal judgment or distance (cf. Psalm 13:1). But here He lifts His face. For sinners to enjoy the lifted countenance of a holy God, atonement must come first. Ultimately, this finds fulfilment in Jesus Christ, who bore the Father’s hidden face on the cross so that believers might live under His smiling approval. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 records, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The promise of peace that follows—“And give thee peace”—is equally significant. Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, represents not mere absence of conflict, but well-being under God’s rule. This benediction offers a comforting reminder for those who feel overwhelmed or estranged. God’s desire is for us to experience His peace, regardless of external circumstances. Through Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of peace, we are assured of our standing before God—accepted and cherished (Romans 5:1). Embrace this assurance today: the LORD lifts His countenance upon you, inviting you to rest in His perfect peace. Let this truth guide and sustain you, even in the most challenging moments. 

Our blessings and security do not rest in circumstances but in the lifted face of the LORD. When His countenance is toward us, we lack nothing essential. Under His gracious gaze, we are kept in covenant peace.

Numbers 6:25—“The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.”

This second line of the priestly benediction (Numbers 6:24–26) deepens the promise of covenant blessing. Spoken by Aaron over Israel, these words assured the people that their hope rested not in ceremonial performance but in the personal favour of Yehowah. The language here is deeply personal and covenantal, portraying the LORD turning toward His people with the warmth of His shining countenance—“The LORD make his face shine upon thee.”

In Scripture, the shining face of God signifies His pleasure and nearness (Psalm 31:16; 80:3). Just as the sun gives light and life to the earth, so the smile of God brings spiritual vitality to His people. Conversely, when God hides His face, it signals discipline or distance due to sin (Isaiah 59:2). 

Thus, when the LORD makes his face shine upon us, it implies reconciliation. For sinners to enjoy the shining face of a holy God, atonement must be made. Ultimately, this finds fulfilment in Jesus Christ. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). In Him, divine radiance is not consuming wrath but saving grace.

Our text also says, “And (The LORD) be gracious unto thee.” The LORD’s grace is His unmerited favour toward the undeserving people. Israel’s standing was not earned; it was bestowed. So with us. Every expression of heaven’s favour flows solely from sovereign grace. “Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16; cf. Ephesians 2:8–9).

Every believer must recognise that he lives and progresses beneath a gracious Father whose face shines with covenant love. In Christ, we are graciously welcomed, forgiven, and sustained. How comforting it is for trembling hearts to be reminded that His grace will always be available to us, no matter what may confront us, overwhelm us, or expose our weakness. His supply does not diminish with our failures, nor does it retreat in seasons of trial. In every burden, every uncertainty, and every fear, His grace remains sufficient, steady, and near.

Numbers 6:24—“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee.”

This is the first line of the priestly benediction given by the LORD to Moses, to be spoken by Aaron over Israel. This blessing concludes the instructions on holiness, especially the Nazarite vow. It reminds us that consecration is sustained not by human resolve alone, but by divine favour. The holy God who calls His people to separation from sin to live for Him also pronounces His preserving grace upon them.

The first pronouncement is “The LORD bless thee”. The covenant name, Yehowah ("the LORD"), appears here as Israel’s redeeming God (cf. Exodus 3:14–15). Blessing in Scripture is not merely material increase; it is the gracious bestowal of God’s presence, favour, guidance, and covenant faithfulness, which He grants. Every true blessing flows from His sovereign hand. For the believer today, this finds its fullest expression in Christ, for we are told in Galatians 3:9, “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (cf. Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3). To be blessed of the LORD is to live beneath the light of His redeeming favour.

The second pronouncement is “And keep thee”. The God who blesses also guards. The Hebrew idea is that of careful watching, like a shepherd over his flock (cf. Psalm 121:7–8). Israel would face the dangers of the wilderness, enemies, and its own frailties. Yet their security lay not in their strength but in His preserving power. So it is for us. We are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:5).

Pastorally, this benediction steadies anxious hearts. The Christian life is not upheld by self-effort, but by divine benediction and divine preservation. The LORD Himself blesses. The LORD Himself keeps. Under such a covenant-keeping God, we may walk forward in humble confidence and holy rest.

Leviticus 10:3—“Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.”

These solemn words were spoken in the shadow of judgment. Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, had offered “strange fire” before the Lord, worship not commanded, fire not appointed. The result was immediate and severe: fire from the Lord consumed them. At that moment of personal loss, Moses reminded Aaron of a divine principle: “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me.”

God’s holiness is not negotiable. Those who approach Him must regard Him as holy. The priesthood was a place of privilege, but also of accountability. Nearness to God does not diminish reverence; in fact, it must deepen our reverence for Him.

We must remember, as we draw close to God in worship, that He is jealous for His own glory. Worship must be regulated by His Word, not shaped by human creativity or convenience. To come near wrongly is to misrepresent Him before the people.

When we read “And Aaron held his peace”, it was not indifference, but submission. A grieving father bowed beneath the sovereign hand of God. He did not argue, protest, or accuse. He recognised that the Lord was righteous.

Today’s text confronts our casual spirit. Do we approach worship lightly? Do we assume familiarity where Scripture calls for fear? The God of grace is still the God of holiness. Yet in Christ, we are granted access—not by strange fire, but by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Let us draw near with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire, and a glorious Redeemer.