I am grateful for the fact that my grandfather is still living and serving the Lord. He has been an amazing example to me. Even today he has a ministry of writing a prayer letter to the pastors of Sri Lanka, where he lives. I received a copy of his latest letter and wanted to pass it along to you. Even at the age of 98 he is challenging people to be a people of the Book and then live it out with faith and adventure. I hope that you are encouraged as I was.
My dear Brother/Sister in Christ,
Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who exhorts us to read and obey His Word.
Sometime back I wrote in one of my letters to you about God commanding us to meditate on Gods’ word day and night. (Joshua 1:8,9) He did not only command but with He also gave us promises. Joshua had only 5 books at that time, but now we have 66 books(in the Bible) to read and obey, and we have many more promises in them. God loves us so much, and I am sure you too would have experienced His love in many ways, just as much as I have, perhaps more.
We should read God’s word often, if possible daily- at least a small portion each day. It will make us grow in our Christian life. I used to know a Mr Leisser, the proprietor of an English firm in Sri Lanka. He told me that he had read through the Bible 40 times. He knew it thoroughly from beginning to end. We need not do so much, but if we read it as often as we could and use it for His glory and for the salvation of souls we will be much blessed. It will be helpful if we could learn verses of scripture by heart.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
The Word of God has been used powerfully by many persons mentioned in the Bible. Let us have a look at some of them.
A centurion wanted his servant healed. He knew that if only Jesus would speak a word from just where He was, his servant would be healed, just as for when he speaks a word to his soldiers they obey. Please read about it in Matthew 8:5-13.
Jesus cast out demons with His Word. We read about it in many places in the Bible. Whatever Jesus said was with authority. Luke 4:32; Matthew 7:28,29; John 6:63.
After Jesus ascended, His disciples spoke with authority as He had done. One such occasion was when Peter and John healed a man who was lame from his birth. When this man was healed he went into the temple “walking and leaping and praising God”. (Acts 3:1-9)
In Acts 9:32-35, Peter only spoke a few words and Aeneas (who had been bedridden for 8 years) arose immediately.
In Acts 9:36-41 we read of Dorcas, who was dead, being raised up by Peter speaking only two words after praying.
When Elymas the sorcerer tried to prevent the deputy from accepting what Paul said, being filled with the Spirit Paul said, “You shall be blind not seeing the sun for a season”. Immediately he became blind. Acts 13:6-12.
In Acts 14:8-10 when Paul said “Stand up straight on your feet”, the man who had never walked, leaped and walked.
Please read the story of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-10. Both had lied and when Peter spoke to each one they fell down and died.
When we see what happened when apostles of Jesus did after seeing Him do all these, do we not get a desire to act similarly? But we might excuse ourselves, saying that they saw Jesus Himself do it all. What about us? Let us ask Jesus to give us too a vision and power to do likewise and be firebrands for Him.
May the Lord bless you.
Your servant in the service of the Most High God,
Tiddy Senapatiratne
(Note: Highlights are mine)