AKR MINISTRIES

Jere 31:1-2 « Genesis 27:41

1. What a mercy it is to have a family God, and to have our whole family in Christ! Brethren, you have a family Bible, and you have, I hope, a family altar; may your whole family belong to God! (Spurgeon's Exposition)

2. God rescued His elect, the remnant from the dreadful sword of their Enemies.

As I'm reading the first book of Torah [Genesis], what catches my eyes today is this, God turned the mind of Esau who decided to kill his brother Jacob [Chosen man] (Gen 27:41) just like He hardened Pharaoh's heart to express His excellencies. He made him escape from the sword of Esau.

What a great Omnipotent God we serve! We can completely rely on Him. He's faithful to protect us from the snares of our Enemy (i.e., the Devil).

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Jacob typifies Believers - Typology in Old Testament

Jacob flees from his father's house due to his deceptive way of getting the portion and of his brother's anger towards him.

True Christians (Elects) flees from God’s presence due to their original sin and because of God’s wrath on their heads.

God spoke to Jacob and giving him a new name ‘Israel’

God spoke to us (through the Gospel), and gave us a new name ‘Christians’

Hos 12:12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep.

-> Man places promise at the end of a service of long life. But, God places promise prior to our service to Him.

-> 1. Here, Jacob served 7 years intentionally for Rachel, but was cheated by Laban with Leah.

‌ 2. Jacob got Rachel and he kept the sheep he got already from Laban 7 years.

-> Symbolises our Salvation. If we intentionally do all works for Salvation, we won’t find it. Salvation is a free gift that provides Sonship (promise) and afterwards works in us to do good works for the glory of God.

-> Paul perfectly records this order when he say “whose I am, and whom I serve” (Acts 27:23)

God choses Abraham from all the tribe. God choses Isaac and left Ishmael (step brother). God choses Jacob and left Esau (own brother).

God does not see as a man would see. In examining these three patriarchs, all of them were younger ones. God’s way is unique.

God adds to the promise given to Abraham provides assurance that He will ultimately guard him and bring him back to his father’s house. (Gen 28:13-15, Gen 28:20-22)

When Jacob fled from his father’s house and in desperate condition that Esau might kill him, God visited Him and gives Him the promise.

We Christians acknowledged our desperate need of Saviour and found Him.

Jacobs vision of ladder that had each end on Earth and Heaven symbolises Christ

Sin separated Men and God.

God sent His Son to bore our punishments and die on the cross to pave us a way to reach God.

As the ladder that set up on the earth and the top reached the heaven, Christ sent to the downward parts of Earth and acts as a ladder (/ a bridge) that connects Men and God. See Gen 28:12, John 1:51

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Pickled Pork Hocks are a fully cooked, ready to eat, pickled delicacy. Bay View Packing Carole Chazoule sorts and selects only those hocks which meet their high.

Reverend Aaron - Arumugam Pillai the first indigenous Pastor in India

- Krupanand P

Reverend Aaron the first indigenous Pastor ordained by the Lutheran mission at Tranquebar died at Cuddalore, Tamilnadu, India on June 14, 1745.

The Trade Treaty of Tranquebar, signed in 1620 by Rakunāta Nāyakkar (1600–1634), the ruler of the Kingdom of Tanjore (Tañcāvūr), and Ove Giedde (1594–1660), an admiral of a Danish ship that had stranded near Tranquebar, stipulated that the European inhabitants of Tranquebar had the freedom to practice their ‘Religion of Augsburg,’ namely Lutheranism. Rakunāta Nāyakkar required the Danes to maintain harmonious relationship with the Portuguese inhabitants in his domain.

In spite of this agreement, the Danes in Tranquebar did not build a separate building for worship for 80 years. Only in 1701 they dedicated the Zion Church for worship services in Danish and German. Their colonial interest lay in trade with Indians and not in any religious concerns. Their Indian partners and employees were ill disposed towards Christians. The Danes ensured that their Indian traders, soldiers, spies, tax collectors, and other service providers remained satisfied; hence, they refrained from any overt missionary activity.

The year 1704, however, marked a turning point. King Friedrich IV (167 –1730) charged his court chaplain Franz Julius Lütkens (1650–1712) to find appropriate missionary candidates. The Danes did not listen to Lütkens’ invitation. Therefore, he looked to his Pietist friends Joachim Lange (1670–1744) and others in Berlin, Germany, who in turn persuaded Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg (1682–1719) and Heinrich Plütschau (1677–1752) to travel to Copenhagen.

King Friedrich IV issued the call for missionary work and ordered his Bishop Henrik Bornemann (1693–1710) to ordain these two Germans as missionaries. Consequently, they sailed from Copenhagen in November 1705 and reached Tranquebar on 9 July 1706. There they laid a firm foundation for the emergence of a Tamil Lutheran congregation. Their report on Tamil people, language, culture, religion, and converts, published in Berlin in 1708 attracted much attention in Germany. Its English translation (1709) appealed to few influential Anglicans in London, England.

Arumugam Pillai was born in 1698 into a Hindu Vellala high caste wealthy family in Cuddalore in the South India state of Tamil Nadu. He was originally named Arumugam Pillai by his father Chokkanatha Pillai a merchant. His father traded with the East India Company, but suffered a great loss and moved his family to Arasapuram.

When the Tranquebar Lutheran Mission - the first Protestant mission in India - established a school in front of his house Arumugam was one of the first students at the school to learn from Tamil books printed by the Mission.

A teacher named Savarimuthu introduced the teachings of Jesus Christ to Arumugam when he was 19 years old. In 1718 he travelled to Tranquebar where he was baptised and Christened as 'Aaron' by Bartholomaeus Ziegenbaig a pioneer of Protestant missionary in India.

(The German Missionary, Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg (1683-1719) who arrived in India in 1706 , had deep respect for the Tamil people, their culture, and their traditions left an enduring impact upon south India and had far-reaching influence.

By the time William Carey, the celebrated English Baptist missionary often called the Father of the Modern Missionary Movement," arrived in Calcutta in 1793, evangelical Christianity in India was nearly a century old. Almost every missionary method that he later developed had already been tried—by a Pietist Lutheran in Tranquebar.)

The new young believer Aaron stood steadfast in his faith despite the opposition shown by his family members. He studied Bible in Tamil Theological School and soon was appointed as an assistant catechist at New Jerusalem Church in Tranquebar.

Aaron had a deep burden for his people and used to travel long distances to preach the gospel. He visited and proclaimed the gospel in Poralyar, Sirkali, and Sandirpadi in Tamil Nadu.

Impressed by his zeal for ministry, the German Lutheran Missionaries ordained him as a minister on 28 December, 1733. He became the first non-European to be ordained as a pastor. Aaron had four daughters and one of them married Devasahayam Pillai and their daughter married John Devasahayam who was ordained in 1896 as the first Indian Anglican priest.

Aaron was a man with good communication skills. His inter-personal relationships enabled him to provide spiritual comfort to the locals and ministerial insights to the Europeans. He became the main link between the Tamil people and European missionaries.

He stood out as a man of great courage, integrity and wisdom. He didnt shy away from conflicts but faced them boldly and solved them at ease. He reasoned with local people and made efforts to end the abusive and evil social practices.

Though his ministry was not of long duration, he earned the respect and love of both the Hindus and Christians in the regions he served. He had labored for eleven years, even after his health failed, winning hundreds to Christ. He died on June 14, 1745.

During his short lived ministry he built a strong reputation as a man of courage and integrity. He was mourned by both Hindus and Christians.

https://books.google.co.in/books?id=dbq6fkyp698C&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=aaron+the+first+Protestant+preacher+in+india&source=bl&ots=jVeL1Nf1Sb&sig=ACfU3U1EyDxtT_N1oQHx8FLw0TKiUvMtzA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGzLnLj5XxAhUGT30KHcXfA0UQ6AEwGnoECCYQAg#v=onepage&q=aaron%20the%20first%20Protestant%20preacher%20in%20india&f=false

https://onewaytheonlyway.com/aaron-arumugam-pillai/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/freed_by-aaron_0.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjGzLnLj5XxAhUGT30KHcXfA0UQFjADegQIDBAC&usg=AOvVaw19VQIjfDYbZu19LsU3MgvS&cshid=1623610808162

Book summary on Dealing With Sin in Our Children by Arthur Hildersham

     Some time ago I stumbled across the writings of the Puritans and for several years their work formed the staple of my reading. Centuries after they put pen to paper, their insights into human nature struck a chord with me and changed the way I understood sin and the grace of God forever.

     Of course, as a home-educating mother, I was incredibly excited when my two interests intersected and the Puritans had something to say about children!

Arthur Hildersham’s 29-page booklet, ‘Dealing with Sin in Our Children’ ticked both of these boxes. His work is an exhortation to parents to do their utmost to work grace in their children and to use the means that God has made available to us. I have returned to it a number of times and would love to encourage you with his main points:

The Motives

     Why should parents have a particular concern for the souls of their children? Firstly, because we love them and in justice, we are ‘bound to make amends for the wrong we have done them’. Our children’s sin is inherited from us and when we wrong somebody, we are required to do what we can to right this.

Secondly, we will be hugely comforted to know that our children have had their sinful nature healed and that they have been redeemed. Children who are regenerated will be much more loving towards their parents than those who are not. Moreover, their regeneration can be a testimony ‘of the truth and soundness of grace in us.’

The Duty

     Although our children do not ultimately belong to us but to the Lord, Hildersham’s challenge is that parents are charged with the souls of their children. He writes,

‘No minister is more straitly charged of God to teach and catechize his flock than you are to instruct your children…None have such opportunities to instruct and bring others to goodness as parents have.’

On a grander scale, ‘the hope of God’s church and the propagation of religion unto posterity depends principally upon parents taking care to make their children religious.’

The Means

Hildersham directs parents in the use of the means God has given us:

- We must be careful to maintain authority over our children. We instruct our children by teaching them to know God when they are young, by making them acquainted with the practice of reading the Bible, prayer, giving thanks at mealtimes, and singing the Psalms, by taking them with us to church, and by testing them about what they have heard.

- We are to set a good example for our children. Our children should realize from our conversations that we fear God and that we love good things. Hildersham notes, ‘domestic examples, especially the example of parents, is of more force with their children to do them either good or harm than all other examples are’.

- We carefully watch over where our children go when they leave home. We pay attention to which schoolmasters and tutors we send them to as well as which ‘services’ and marriages we place them in.

- The final means which is the key to the first four points is that of prayer (Judges 13:8). We must earnestly pray for our children.

     Hildersham wraps up with the encouragement that although he cannot assure parents that using these means will necessarily bring forth fruit in each one of our children, that: ‘None have more cause to expect and, with patience, to wait for a blessing from God in the use of the means of grace towards any than you have towards your children because of the promises God made to you concerning your children (see Genesis 17:7, Psalm 22:29-30 and Isaiah 44:3). The fruit of your labor may appear hereafter, though it does not yet, as experience has proved in many good men’s children who for a long time lived most ungraciously.’

     This booklet is an encouragement to me to continue the means that the Lord has directed, to work in faith expecting fruit, and to trust that whatever the ultimate outcome, I please the Lord by being faithful to do my duty.

Source link: Dealing With Sin in Our Children by Arthur Hildersham

Augustus Toplady joins the cry with Apostle Paul — "oh wretched man that I am!"

Augustus Toplady (1740-1778) (author of "Rock of Ages"), wrote in his private diary under Dec 31, 1767 — "Upon a review of the past year, I desire to confess that my unfaithfulness has been exceeding great; my sins still greater; God's mercies greater than both." And again, "My short- comings, and my mis-doings, my unbelieve and want of love, would sink me into the lowest hell, was not Jesus my righteousness and my Redeemer."

(The Christian in Roman 7 written by Arthur W. Pink)

A short review on Mrs. Hutchinson's work and Her Teaching

Mrs. Hutchinson regarded as a Puritan born in the reign of James 1, 1620. She wrote 2 books called “On the Principles of the Christian Religion” and “of Theology”. The 1^st of these was written specifically for her daughter, and for a most practical purpose. She gave instruction that women should take particular care lest they be led away into errors.

Mrs. Hutchinson wrote her book, rather than simply recommending others to her daughter, because she wanted it to stand as a personal witness of all she regarded as of vital importance if her daughter was to lay a foundation of “sound knowledge for the building of a holy practice.”

While ever seeking to direct her daughter’s gaze upward to dwell on the majesty of God and the glory of Christ, Mrs. Hutchinson is equally concerned that she shall always do this through Scripture, the authority of which is unequivocally stated; and the book contains a solemn warning that “Christ is, in the Gospel, held forth to men to be received as their life and salvation, and they that seek a Christ anywhere but where God exhibits Him, that is, His own authorised Word, may find Christ of their own inventions, but shall never find the Christ of God, the alone Saviour of men.”

The book includes a number of warnings, and among these are admonitions against people who would reject the Old Testament as of no use to believers, or who would preach that anyone once justified can fall into an unjustified state. In the controversy over the order of justification and sanctification, we are told neither can be without the other though “justification is perfect and complete, being by faith received and given us in Christ; but sanctification, being derived from Christ to us, and wrought in our souls, is perfected in the body by degrees, and admits of growth and remissions and intentions.” Mrs. Hutchinson disputes with ministers who deny the preparatory work of convincing men they are sinners and who preach only the love of Christ, the grounds of her objection being that Scripture shows “that Christ and His apostles used the other method.” Consideration of the biblical meaning of faith also leads to a further warning that “he that receives Christ by a true saving faith, receives whole Christ in all His offices, and as well submit to Him as a King, as embraces Him as a Saviour. . . .”

Love is the last vital truth which the book presents, and it is declared that none truly love God but those who love God only; and constantly; and for Himself more than for His blessings. He that loves God loves all things that are His, all those that love Him, and all His ordinances and His word. But although this consideration of “love” concludes the “foundation truths” of the book, Mrs. Hutchinson goes on at once to enumerate what she regards as the most essential principles for Christian living since, as she reminds her daughter, “to know all the truths and mysteries of Godliness, without living in and according to that knowledge, will be less excusable than ignorance.”

…

She accuses the Greek poets in particular of mingling traditions with their own fables, and vestiges of truth concerning God with the worship of false gods, until it was impossible for men with blinded minds to pick out one from another, and they were led into all sorts of pernicious errors and abominations, and to worship a multitude of gods.

By these means, therefore, Mrs. Hutchinson maintains that all men’s efforts to arrive at true knowledge of God not only proved hopeless, but led them to catastrophe. But, she declares at last, “God, from the foundation of the world, determined that, in His appointed time, a light should break forth to the Gentiles that sat in darkness. . . .”

Her work in this book also explains clearly how natural theology gives the knowledge of creator in 1^st place (that they are without excuse Rom 1) and how it deviates them to create and worship multitude of gods. She stressed the importance of written Word of God (The Bible) through which only we can come to the knowledge of God.

Puritan Papers (Vol 1) - J.I. Packer (Pp 82-95)

Authority of the Bible

Feed my Sheep || Sunday Worship || R C Sproul

A faithful ministry doesn't entertain goats; it feeds the sheep.

The sad reality is that many churches today are valuing entertainment over exegesis, results over regeneration, and peace with the world over the proclamation of the word.

Yet, Christ is clear: the church's mission is to make disciples. That is, to evangelize the lost and encourage and edify the saints. Too many have lost sight of this in the name of growing a bigger church. But, it is not a big church that pleases Christ, but a faithful one. May we all turn back to the word and, as Luther said, let it do its work. For, where the word is faithfully preached, the Holy Spirit faithfully attends with all of His graces, causing the dead to live and further strengthening the faith of the redeemed.

"The saints, the holy ones, those called out from the world assemble together on Sunday mornings to be fed. We are to do evangelism, engage in outreach, and be involved in ministries of mercy, but Sunday morning belongs to the sheep. It is the task of the pastor and of the church to feed the sheep. If someone who is not a sheep comes in, that's fine, but we're not going to change the menu and give the sheep goat's food... Babies have almost no influence in a culture. Before they can turn the world upside down, they have to grow up, they have to become mature, and that happens as they are fed the Word of God. Nothing less will do. Notice that when Jesus spoke to Peter, He did not say, 'Peter, if you love Me, feed the goats.' Neither did He say, 'Peter, take care of your flock; feed your sheep.' He said, 'Feed My sheep, feed My lambs, tend My sheep.'"

— R.C. Sproul