in

SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

MARCH 2015

Three major mission perspectives...

Hi Friend, Do You Know Him?

The importance of prayerlife

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

Published by:
GRACE POINT MINISTRIES INDIA
Edapparmbil House,
Anicadu P. O., Mallappally West,
Pathanamthitta Dist, Pincode: 689585
Kerala State, India
Call: +91 9744797080
Mail: mailtoinsight@gmail.com
Find us on
Editorial Board
Advisory Board:
Viliamu Aufai
Aniyankunju K. K.
Chief Editor
Pastor Santhosh Joseph
Editors
Ben Wilson
Vidya Santhosh
Disclaimer:

The views expressed in the

articles are those of the writers.
The magazine will not bear any
responsibility for them. Some of
the images used in this magazine
have been downloaded from
websites. We acknowledge that
the copyright of those images
remain with the original owners,
and The INSIGHT MAGAZINE
does not intend to use those for
commercial purposes and does
not claim any rights for them.

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

Pastor Santhosh Joseph

Three major mission perspectives

from the Parable of Good Samaritan

he parable of Good Samaritan is a classical narration told by Jesus in the New

Testament (Luke 10: 25-37). It is found in the gospel of Luke only. We find this
parable is a part of dialogue between Jesus and a lawyer. The lawyer asked Jesus
what he needed to do to inherit the eternal life. Jesus gave him the first table of the
law: Love God with whole heart. Then He added the second table of the law: Love your
neighbor as yourself. When the lawyer again asked Jesus to tell him who his neighbor is,
He gave him the illustration of Good Samaritan.
The mission of God is all about eternal life through Jesus Christ. If so, this parable is an
absolute example which portrays three major principals for a complete mission.
1. Reaching mission
2. Receiving mission
3. Restoring mission

in
SIGHT
seeing

True compassion is more than flinging a coin

to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which
produces beggars needs restructuring.
Martin Luther King, Jr.,

God's heart

MARCH 2015

4
In the story of Good Samaritan, A Jew was attacked and robbed. He was left on the
roadside with wounds. The priest and the Levite who passed by the wounded man did not
do anything for him. But the Samaritan had cared for him. The whole humanity is attacked
by sin and lay wounded on the road to hell. As true Christians, Jesus is our way and we are
journeying against the hell to heaven. As we walk, we cant just ignore wounded ones on
our way.

1. The Reaching mission - Luke 10: 30-33

The verb reach means to stretch out or put forth. The first mission of the Good Samaritan
was to reach the wounded man. But the religious people were reluctant to take care of
the wounded man. To the Jews, faith seemed to be the product of reading the scriptures,
worshipping in the temple and pious living. Therefore, Jesus caricatures the Priest and
the Levite in the parable of Good Samaritan to show the futility of religious practices.
Jesus was against the intellectual and religious spirituality. He showed practical spirituality
throughout His life. In Jesus view, the journey to the temple does not take one to God. But
straying from the way to the temple, and reaching the wounded man is the spirituality of
Jesus.
In the book of Genesis, God was taking the initiative to reach out Adam and Eve when they
sinned. The most important purpose of Jesus coming to the world was to reach the fallen
humankind. Therefore the mission of God is to reach the sinners in spite of their caste,
color, region, religion. The church is a divine community. It has the responsibility to be part
of eternal plan of God to reach the sinners with the love of Christ. It is mainly a spiritual
intervention of a believer to share the Gospel and win the souls. But it is also an act of
rescuing humanity from the socio, economic, political and religious oppressive structures
of the world. Jesus is concerned all the aspects of human life. He is not only interested in
the religious life alone. He loves to take care of ones physical needs as well. Therefore the
church must reach people with physical, economical and political needs.

2. The Receiving mission Luke 10:34-35

According to the Old Testament, priest and Levite is a mediator between God and man
(Exodus 19:5-6). They are appointed by God to represent God to man. But both of them
were interested only in the matters of ceremonial purity. They rejected to help the wounded

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

The restoring mission has two dimensions.

They are spiritual and physical. A man needs
to have spiritual restoration of salvation.
Men also need to have physical restoration.
It is to bring out the marginalized and
downtrodden people out of injustice and
social discriminations in the world.

man. They valued their opportunity to serve Gods temple more than they valued their
obligation to serve the beaten and bloody man. The religious personalities did not find
out the robbers to bring them under justice. Therefore the wounded man lost his human
rights and social justice. The religious leaders were not able to help the helpless man with
the law also. When ceremonialism meant more than humanity, the Godly character fails
in us.
But the Good Samaritan was not satisfied with reaching the wounded man. He went over
to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them. He could have gone
after giving some first aid medicines. He put one more step that is to accept him with his
wounds and helplessness. He put the wounded man on his own animal and took him to
an inn. Accepting someone in his painful conditions require a Christ minded character.
The wounded man was probably a Jew. The Jews and the Samaritans mutually hated one
another. Jews will not use the same cups and bowls that Samaritans use (John 4: 7-9).
But the Good Samaritan received him as he is. He was also ready to spend his time and
health. He also spent the resources like medicines for wounds, donkey for carrying him
to the inn, and money for taking care of him. Jesus too gave up all he had and took the
nature of a servant (Phil 2: 6-11). Jesus gave up His life on the cross of Calvary to receive
the fallen humanity in to the Kingdom of God. When we give up something for someone,
we actually accept him. The receiving mission is very important. But it is not the final step
of Good Samaritans mission.

3. The Restoring Mission - Luke 10: 35-37

The Good Samaritans mission did not end by reaching and receiving the wounded man.
His third step was to restore his life into the normal stage. The Good Samaritan took him
to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave
them to the innkeeper. Take care of him, he told the innkeeper, and when I come back
this way, I will pay you whatever else you spend on him. The Good Samaritan could do
all these things because he took pity on him. Until we are filled with compassion and love,
we cannot reach, receive and restore someone. If anyone says I love God yet hates his

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot
love God, whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20). The beauty of Christ- centered life is in
loving others as ourselves. I believe that love is not an emotion but an action. Love cannot
stay in the heart, it always wants to transform in to an action to help the fellow-human.
In this parable love for Jesus means that meeting the wounded mans need. When we
love God we can see only the affliction and agony of our neighbor. In the words of Martin
Luther King, Jr., True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see
that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.
The Good Samaritan might have felt that he had done his duty when he deposited the
wounded man at the inn. But he remained with him, inconvenienced himself by delaying
his journey, and cared him throughout the night. It was not all what Good Samaritan
could do to the man. The wounded man had been robbed, and had no money with him.
Therefore, before continuing journey, he left two silver coins with the innkeeper. Then he
promised that when he returns he would reimburse for any extra expenses the wounded
man might have it.
The restoring mission has two dimensions. They are spiritual and physical. A man needs
to have spiritual restoration of salvation. Men also need to have physical restoration.
It is to bring out the marginalized and downtrodden people out of injustice and social
discriminations in the world. Restoring mission is the dream and desire of God. The Bible
says, Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are
destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Thats where
you really love God (Pro 31:8-9). Jesus stops this parable with a strong statement that Go
and do likewise. Is this still sound in your heart? Then Go and do likewise.
The Christian mission is complete when the world church is united to apply this threefold
(reach, receive and restore) strategies in world mission today.

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

K. C. Joseph

Hi Friend, Do You Know Him?

Friend, do you know the One hanging on that cross is the One
Whose birthday the world celebrated three months ago
They thought of cruelly ridding the world of Him
Knowing not the world will be saved by Him
Everyone, except his killers, knows He is not worthy of this
He always did good things that pleased the Father and all
He healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead
He made the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

8
He loved, taught to love, not hate, even the worst enemies
Re-interpreted the Law - to obey not its letter but the spirit
Hated, exposed and opposed hypocrisy of the religious leaders
And the people saw the real light of life, the light of God in him
The community leaders and elders grew jealous of him
They captured him and awarded him with capital punishment
The human government approved and oversaw his execution
Knowing not they were mere instruments, fulfilling eternal divine plan
Two hours before this they heard him cry from the cross
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Even today many do not know what they do by rejecting him
My friend, I wish you are not one among them
He cried again from the cross, My God, my God,why have You
Forsaken me? when the load of the whole worlds Sin
Pressed him so heavily down as he agonised in pain and anguish
No answer came, as God turned his face away from him
They heard him say to the repented criminal on his side,
I tell you the truth, today you shall be with me in paradise.
Its never late to repent and seek him even in the eleventh hour
Salvation comes instantaneously as he is ever near to everyone
Dont you know hes the One who made all the worlds water sources?
Yet he cried out from the cross, I thirst in desperation
Dont you know hes the One who made sweet grapes and all juicy fruits?
Yet they offered him bitter gall to quench his thirst, but he couldnt
To his mother he spoke from the cross, Dear woman, heres your son.
To his dear disciple he said, Heres your mother, and she was taken home
This you know my friend, he still wishes everyone everywhere cared for
This he still does: restores broken hearts, broken homes, broken lives
Later, knowing its all over, he cried out from the cross, Its finished.
Leaving nothing undone, what his Father had asked of him
Leaving nothing incomplete, what he came to accomplish
Leaving nothing behind for man to do to make salvation complete
Finally from the cross he said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
For no one could take his life, he offered it voluntarily
Fair it is, he gave his life back to God from whom he came down
Friend, take him to your heart and his life is yours today.

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

The importance of
prayerlife

Vidya Santhosh

ntimacy with God should be our prime and highest goal. How can we make an intimate
relationship with God? Through prayer alone we can make it. God loves to have us
approach Him as His children, expecting Him to hear and to answer, and He loves to
have us call Him our Father. It makes the relationship more real in our minds too.
The goal of prayer is to know God. Prayer actually means communication between man
and God. Through prayer we can touch Gods heart. All through scripture God has worked
in miraculous way to rescue His children and to answer their prayers. When we pray
fervently God would come down to work for us. If we want to lead a very good Christian
life we should pray well. Prayer is the backbone for a Christian. We can pray for anything
and everything, and if it is a genuine ask, God works for us. God loves to give us everything
that we need. He wish to work for His children. As we are children of God, we should ask
our needs to our Father God in prayer. Then we can experience His blessings in every
aspect of our life- spiritual, physical and material blessings.

in

God knows what counsel to give us in

every situation and He longs to point the
way for us. Therefore, we should pray God
to guide us in every aspect of our lives.

SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

10

We can pray for:

1. Forgiveness of sins: In our day to day life, we commit so many sins knowingly and
accidently. Our thinking, relationship with our brothers and sisters, our talks, our deeds
may have some problems and it may be wrong in the sight of the Lord. So, we should pray
to God to forgive our sins and when we confess, He will surely forgive us.
2. Deliverance from troubles: We live in a world where we face a lot many troubles. We
should go through troubles. Deliverance from troubles can happen only when God works.
So how can God stand to deliver us from troubles? Through prayer we can ask God to
deliver us from all troubles. When we pray God works and He deliver us from all our
troubles.
3. Personal healing: Sometimes we need physical as well as mental healing. When we are
physically ill, we rush to consult a doctor and it may work out. But if our mind is ill, nobody
can heal it except God. God alone works for our complete healing. Bible says, when we
pray for each other, we may be healed. Therefore, for our healing we should pray God, and
He will heal us completely.
4. Material blessings: In this world, people always look for material blessings such as good
house, valuable dresses, cars and other household things. Bible says like this when we ask
God, He would surely gives us good gifts according to His will and wish.
5. Divine wisdom and revelation of Word: God gave us unique talents and gifts. Some people
may excel in singing, preaching, writing and so on. Some may not have capacity to do so.
But God says, if anyone lack wisdom, should ask God in prayer, He would give us wisdom.
He will surely reveal us His Word.
6. Souls of men: In Jesus great commission, He asked us to preach His word and to win the
lost souls for His nation. This world does not allow all of us to reach the unreached with
the love of Jesus by public means. But all of us can pray for the unreached people to be
reached with Jesus love. Prayer is the first step to win the lost souls. Praying for souls will
not go in vain. One or the other day, they will come to know Jesus love and Salvation.
7. Holy life: The people of this world are leading a sinful life. As children of God, we should
lead a holy life. As we live in this sinful world, we may tempt to do sins. But with the help
of Holy Spirit we can overcome all temptations. We must try our level best not to commit
sins. Living a holy life is one of the most important things to lead a Christian life.
God knows what counsel to give us in every situation and He longs to point the way for
us. Therefore, we should pray God to guide us in every aspect of our lives. When we work,
we just work, but when we pray, God works. That is why prayer life is important for a
Christian.
10

in
SIGHT
seeing

God's heart

MARCH 2015

11