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Ladder To Heaven, Dehradun, Dehra Dun (2026)

06/03/2024

Beware – The Modern False Preacher
The stadium could easily house 35-40000 people. It was jam-packed. In the front was a massive stage which was crawling with the team of the preacher viz., event manager, team manager, publicity manager, marketing manager, spiritual manager, etc. The organization organizing the prayer meeting was well-graced with technical and spiritual staff competent to handle such events. Professionals were hired to give witness and portray/exhibit instant healing on the stage. The hype was created and mass hysteria was building up. At the right moment, the preacher enters in like a rock star with thundering applause. He is dressed in a custom-made suit, shoes, and hat. The meeting begins one after the other witnesses rant their tales. The sick, the lame, and the handicapped get instant healing. The miracle continues unabated. The crowd is hysterical and pours out offerings and cheques in the collection bags. The irony of the whole show is that nowhere is the Lord Jesus glorified. At the end of the show, the preacher walks out with a rich b***y.
These pastors’ religion is a lucrative business and they are stinking rich. The smaller pastors at the village and city level are no exception. Barring a handful many have become commercial, preaching a gospel of convenience and polishing the boots of the members for their own selfish monetary gain. When Jesus was in this world doing his ministry, whatever He did, He did glorify the Father. The death and resurrection of Lazarus is a burning example of how our Lord Jesus glorified the Father (John 11:4). When we usurp the glory that rightfully belongs to the Lord, we align ourselves with Satan whose pride made him glorify himself, as given in Isaiah 14:13 “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:” It is also noteworthy that while Jesus carried out His ministry, how much treasure did He amass while healing the sick, the paralytic and the handicapped, making the blind see, driving out demons, raising the dead?
The Bible clearly tells us that we shall know the false prophets/ preachers by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-17 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”
A false preacher or prophet can easily be identified by his teachings, behaviour, and acts of glorification. Whether the teachings are as per the Word of God? Does the preacher exhibit character and qualities that glorify God? Does he practice what he preaches or is he a hypocrite? Does he lead a double life? A false teacher can be known by his pride, greed, ego, and rebellion.
“While true prophets were commissioned by God and conveyed God’s messages to men… false prophets are self-appointed… False prophets are the representatives of the power of darkness masquerading as an angel of light. False prophets ultimately direct people away from God and away from obedience to His word.” {Sermon by Nate Wilson}
Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! “Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Dr Ashwin Drummond

06/03/2024

'The Book of Life and Remembrance'
Record keeping is an important tool to establish facts, draw conclusions, and document. Such records are also maintained in Heaven to decide man’s final fate viz., eternal life or eternal death (Malachi 3:18). The Bible mentions several books in which the experience and acts of human acts are recorded. Some of the important books mentioned in the Bible are given below:

1. The Book of Life
The book of Revelation states that names of those not found in the ‘Book of Life’ will perish. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15). “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5). Psalms 69:28 states “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous”. Revelation 17:8 states that the names of the followers of the Beast will not be written in the Book of Life. This is further confirmed in Daniel 12:1, which states that only those whose names are written in the Book will be delivered. Thus, it is clear that the names of only the righteous will appear in the ‘Book of Life’, who will rightfully inherit the kingdom of God. Revelation 22:19 further testifies that “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Mathew 25:46 points out “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
A careful reading of the above reveals that the names in the book of life can also be blotted out. Since the name of only the righteous will be in the book of life, it follows the unrighteous names shall not figure in the book. A man who is righteous today may not be so tomorrow. In such an event his name will be blotted out/ erased from the ‘Book of Life’. This also negates the popular Christian belief that ‘once saved always saved’.

2. Book of Remembrance
This book records the works/deeds of man. “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” Malachi 3:16. They contain the painful experiences of God’s servants (Psalms 56:8), the acts of love performed on behalf of others (Nehemiah 13:14), and the conversations of those who fear the Lord (Malachi 3:16).
If anyone thinks he, does it in secret and no one sees, he is sadly mistaken. “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). He sees what is behind and what is ahead, all the threats, all the dangers. “God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The books of good and evil deeds are opened particularly during the judgment. Daniel 7:9- 10 describes the divine tribunal in session and the use of books during the proceedings. A similar scene is described in Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” It is explicitly stated that the final and immutable verdict is based on what is recorded in the books.
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Elder Sreedhar Mellam

23/02/2024

博客No.1
午夜的朋友
在路加福音 11:5-8 中，耶稣讲述了一个关于有需要的朋友的比喻，以传达坚持祈祷的重要性。与这个寓言非常相似的是寡妇和不公正的法官的寓言。在背景中，耶稣正在某个地方祈祷。祈祷完毕后，他的一位弟子请求他也教他们祈祷。主教导了主祷文。（路加福音 11:1-4）。此后，主讲了这个比喻。
耶稣说：“假设你们有一个朋友，半夜去找他，对他说：‘朋友，借给我三个面包吧，因为我的一个朋友来了，我没有什么可以摆在他面前的。 ”（路加福音 11:5-6）。朋友回答说：“别打扰我，门已经锁上了，我的孩子们和我一起躺在床上，我不能起床给你任何东西。” （路加福音 11：7）。耶稣接着表明了他的观点：“我告诉你们，即使他不会因为他是他的朋友而起身给他任何东西，至少因为他的坚持，他会站起来给他任何他需要的东西。” （路加福音 11:8）
对犹太人来说，热情好客至关重要。如果一个人在接待客人时没有做好准备，他的处境就会非常尴尬和可耻。正是因为这个原因，他向他的朋友要面包。明知市场即将休市，他只有一个选择，那就是麻烦他的朋友。这也是他坚持和大胆的原因。主进一步解释说，由于他的恳求，他会给他所需的面包。这就是耶稣所说的，当我们接近施恩的宝座时，我们应该采取的态度。我们应该怀着自信和勇气，坚持不懈地追求神，直到他赐予我们怜悯和恩典。希伯来书 4:16 所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。
然后耶稣立即将这个比喻与祷告联系起来，说出了著名的“求、寻找、敲门”段落。耶稣告诉我们要不断地祈求（马太福音7:7），无论我们按神的旨意求什么，我们都会得到保证。他刚刚教导门徒做主祷文，其中包括“愿你的旨意成就”这句话（路加福音11:2）。因此，总而言之，我们看到我们要坚持不懈地祈求上帝在我们的生活中动工，并根据他完美的旨意回应我们的祈祷。这是主的郑重应许，他在第10节说：“凡祈求的，就得着；凡祈求的，就得着；凡祈求的，就得着。” 寻找的，就寻见；叩门的，就给他开门。”
主进一步保证了他的话的力量和重要性。耶稣接着说：“你们中间有谁，如果你的孩子要鱼，却给蛇而不是鱼？或者如果孩子要鸡蛋，却给蝎子？如果你这样，谁会人都是恶的，尚且知道如何把好东西给儿女，何况天父，岂更将圣灵赐给求他的人吗！” （路加福音 11:11-12）
如果我们回顾创世记，雅各与主摔跤。他们一直摔跤到天亮。创世纪 32:26 他说、天黎明了、容我去吧。他说，除非你祝福我，否则我不会让你走。” 雅各的坚韧得到了回报，最终他得到了祝福。
耶稣告诉我们要坚持不懈地、无耻地祷告，也要满怀期待地祷告（雅各书 1:17）。“每一份美好的恩赐都是从上而下，从光明之父那里降下来的，在他那里，没有因变化而产生的变化或阴影”。
发布者：Ashwin Drummond 博士
www.laddertoheaven.co.in

23/02/2024

ब्लॉग नंबर 1
आधी रात को दोस्त
ल्यूक 11:5-8 में यीशु ने प्रार्थना में निरंतर बने रहने के महत्व को बताने के लिए जरूरतमंद मित्र का यह दृष्टांत बताया। इस दृष्टांत के समान ही स्थायी विधवा और अन्यायी न्यायाधीश का दृष्टांत है। पृष्ठभूमि में, यीशु एक निश्चित स्थान पर प्रार्थना कर रहे थे। प्रार्थना समाप्त करने के बाद उनके एक शिष्य ने उनसे उन्हें भी प्रार्थना करना सिखाने के लिए कहा। प्रभु ने प्रभु की प्रार्थना सिखाई। (लूका 11:1-4) इसके बाद प्रभु दृष्टान्त सुनाते हैं।
यीशु कहते हैं, "मान लो तुम में से किसी का कोई मित्र है, और तुम आधी रात को उसके पास जाकर कहो, 'हे मित्र, मुझे तीन रोटियाँ उधार दे; क्योंकि मेरा एक मित्र आ गया है, और मेरे पास उसे देने के लिये कुछ भी नहीं है।" .'' (लूका 11:5-6)। दोस्त जवाब देता है, "मुझे परेशान मत करो; दरवाज़ा पहले ही बंद कर दिया गया है, और मेरे बच्चे बिस्तर पर मेरे साथ हैं; मैं उठकर तुम्हें कुछ नहीं दे सकता।" (लूका 11:7). यीशु फिर अपनी बात कहते हैं, "मैं तुमसे कहता हूं, भले ही वह उठकर उसे कुछ नहीं देगा क्योंकि वह उसका दोस्त है, कम से कम उसकी दृढ़ता के कारण वह उठेगा और उसे जो कुछ भी चाहिए वह देगा।" (लूका 11:8)
यहूदियों के लिए आतिथ्य सत्कार का अत्यधिक महत्व था। एक आदमी अपने मेहमान के लिए बिना तैयारी के पकड़ा गया तो वह बहुत शर्मनाक और शर्मनाक स्थिति में होगा। यही कारण है कि वह रोटी के लिए अपने दोस्त के पास जाता है। यह अच्छी तरह से जानते हुए कि बाजार बंद हो जाएगा, उसके पास केवल एक ही विकल्प था और वह था अपने दोस्त को परेशान करना। यही उनकी दृढ़ता और निर्भीकता का कारण भी था। भगवान आगे बताते हैं कि उसकी जिद के कारण वह उसे उतनी रोटी देगा जितनी उसे जरूरत होगी। यीशु यही कह रहे हैं कि जब हम अनुग्रह के सिंहासन के पास पहुँचते हैं तो हमारा रवैया यही होना चाहिए। हमें आत्मविश्वासपूर्ण साहस के साथ आना चाहिए जो ईश्वर का अनुसरण तब तक जारी रखता है जब तक वह हमें दया और अनुग्रह प्रदान नहीं करता। इब्रानियों 4:16 "इसलिए, हम अनुग्रह के सिंहासन के पास साहसपूर्वक आएं, कि हम दया प्राप्त करें, और जरूरत के समय मदद करने के लिए अनुग्रह पाएं।"
यीशु ने तुरंत इस दृष्टांत को प्रार्थना से जोड़ते हुए प्रसिद्ध आस्क, सीक, नॉक मार्ग कहा। यीशु हमसे कहते हैं कि मांगो और मांगते रहो (मैथ्यू 7:7), और जो कुछ भी हम परमेश्वर की इच्छा से मांगते हैं वह हमें निश्चित होता है। उन्होंने अभी-अभी शिष्यों को प्रभु की प्रार्थना करना सिखाया था, जिसमें वाक्यांश "तेरी इच्छा पूरी हो" (लूका 11:2) शामिल है। तो, यह सब एक साथ रखने पर, हम देखते हैं कि हमें ईश्वर से हमारे जीवन में काम करने और उनकी सिद्ध इच्छा के अनुसार हमारी प्रार्थनाओं का उत्तर देने के लिए निरंतर प्रार्थना करते रहना है। यह प्रभु का एक गंभीर वादा है जब वह पद 10 में कहते हैं “क्योंकि जो कोई मांगता है उसे मिलता है; और जो ढूंढ़ता है वह पाता है, और जो खटखटाता है उसके लिये खोला जाएगा।”
भगवान आगे अपने कथन की ताकत और महत्व का आश्वासन देते हैं। यीशु आगे कहते हैं, "क्या तुम में से कोई है जो यदि तुम्हारा बच्चा मछली मांगे, तो मछली के बदले साँप दे? या यदि बच्चा अंडा मांगे, तो बिच्छू दे? यदि तुम, तो कौन?" बुरे हैं, अपने बच्चों को अच्छी वस्तुएं देना जानते हैं, तो स्वर्गीय पिता अपने मांगनेवालों को पवित्र आत्मा क्यों न देगा! (लूका 11:11-12)
यदि हम उत्पत्ति की ओर देखें जहां जैकब प्रभु के साथ कुश्ती लड़ता है। वे दिन ढलने तक कुश्ती लड़ते रहे। उत्पत्ति 32:26 और उस ने कहा, मुझे जाने दे, क्योंकि पौ फट गई है। और उस ने कहा, जब तक तू मुझे आशीर्वाद न दे, मैं तुझे जाने न दूंगा। जैकब की दृढ़ता सफल हुई और अंत में उसे आशीर्वाद मिला।
यीशु हमें लगातार और बेशर्मी से प्रार्थना करने के लिए कह रहे हैं और उम्मीद से प्रार्थना करने के लिए भी कह रहे हैं जेम्स 1:17। "प्रत्येक अच्छा उपहार ऊपर से है, ज्योतियों के पिता की ओर से आ रहा है, जिसके साथ परिवर्तन के कारण कोई भिन्नता या छाया नहीं है"।
पोस्टकर्ता: डॉ. अश्विन ड्रमंड
www.laddertoheaven.co.in

23/02/2024

Blog No.1
The Friend at Midnight
In Luke 11:5-8 Jesus tells this parable of the friend in need in order to communicate the importance of being persistent in prayer. Very similar to this parable is the Parable of the Persistent Widow and Unjust Judge. In the background, Jesus was praying at a certain place. After finishing praying one of his disciples asked him to teach them to pray as well. The Lord taught the Lord’s Prayer. (Luke 11:1-4). After this, the Lord tells the parable.
Jesus says, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.'" (Luke 11:5-6). The friend answers with, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything." (Luke 11:7). Jesus then makes his point, "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” (Luke 11:8)
Hospitality was of paramount importance with the Jews. A man caught unprepared for his guest would be in a very embarrassing and shameful position. It is for this reason that he approaches his friend for bread. Knowing fully well that the market would be closed, he had only one option and that was to trouble his friend. This was also the reason for his persistence and boldness. The Lord further explains that because of his importunity he will give him as much bread as he needs. This is what Jesus is saying should be our attitude as we approach the throne of grace. We should come with confident boldness that persists in pursuing God until He grants us mercy and grace. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Jesus then immediately relates this parable to prayer, saying the famous Ask, Seek, Knock passage. Jesus tells us to ask and keep on asking (Matthew 7:7), and whatever we ask in God’s will is assured to us. He had just taught the disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer, which includes the phrase “Your will be done” (Luke 11:2). So, putting it all together, we see that we are to be persistent in asking for God to work in our lives and answer our prayers according to His perfect will. This is a solemn promise by the Lord when He says in verse 10 “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
The Lord further assures the strength and import of His statement. Jesus goes on to say, "Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:11-12)
If we look back to Genesis where Jacob wrestles with the lord. They wrestled till daybreak. Genesis 32:26 “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” The tenacity of Jacob paid and, in the end, he is blessed.
Jesus is telling us to pray persistently and shamelessly and also to pray expectantly James 1:17. “every good gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”.
Posted by: Dr. Ashwin Drummond
www.laddertoheaven.co.in

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