2. MY LIFE…
'I have been dealing with certain Sinful ways in my life, and sometimes they still get the
better of me. But with my ever expanding communion with Jesus, I have been able to rid or
greatly reduce these Negative actions such as Anger, Vengeance, Jealousy, Un-
forgiveness, Hatred, through convictions I have received by reading and attempting to live as
thought by Jesus’ teachings. I have also been able to increasingly find solace in Jesus because
I know that He is with me, and therefore I am an entity and one with the Master of the
Ocean, the Earth and the entire Universe.
Am I perfect? Of course not, but with greater understanding of Jesus’ word I strive to live
in the light and be a light onto others - with whom I come in to contact on a day to day
basis - so that when they praise me I will direct their praises to Glorify my God in Heaven.
Ajith G. Perera
God Company Sri Lanka.
3. HOW DID I COME TO THIS
CONVICTION
When I accepted Jesus as my personal savior - after 48 years
of my life - I began a journey seeking Jesus as a new born
Christian… The depth of His teachings initially created awe
in me which in turn became the very basis of my
relationship with Jesus. I like to share a few key teachings
that I believe are the main elements in Christianity, in the
hope that my experience would provide helpful insights to
any others who are on the same path of discovery .
5. THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF
FAITH
I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THROUGH THE WORD THAT
ABSOLUTE FAITH IS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT.
Jesus healed many who came to Him in Faith…
Matthew 9: 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat.
When Jesus saw their FAITH, he said to the man, ―Take heart, son; your sins
are forgiven.‖
Mark 5: 34
He said to her, ―Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace and be
freed from your suffering.‖
Luke 18:42
Jesus said to him, ―Receive your sight; your FAITH has healed you.‖
6. THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF
FAITH CONT…
Jesus rebuked those who did not have Faith…
Matthew 6:30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you -YOU
OF LITTLE FAITH?
Matthew 8 : 26
He replied, “YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely
calm.
Matthew 14 :31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “YOU OF LITTLE
FAITH,” HE SAID, “WHY DID YOU DOUBT?”
7. THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF
FAITH CONT…
Absolute Faith is an absolute requirement…
Mark 11
22 “HAVE FAITH IN GOD,” JESUS ANSWERED. 23 ―Truly I tell you, if
anyone says to this mountain, ‗Go, throw yourself into the sea,‘ and does not
doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done
for them.
Matthew 13:58
And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
9. THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE
I also came to understand that Love is also an absolutely important element
in a Christian life. Without Love we are nothing and fall far short of what is
expected from us as Christians.
Luke 6 : 27
27 ―But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Matthew 22
37 Jesus replied: “„Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind.‘[c] 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39 And the second is like it: „Love your neighbor as yourself.‟ [d]
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.‖
John 13 :34
―A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, SO YOU
MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
10. IMPORTANCE OF LOVE CONT…
Love that Jesus expects from His followers is quite complex. I
asked my self how could one Love someone else as much as
one loved his family…
As our creator He has to know that we will fail in this regard.
We are emotionally connected to our families and family
extensions.
By telling us to love our fellow man AS MUCH AS OUR
SELVES Jesus is Emphasizing the importance of Love.
11. IMPORTANCE OF LOVE CONT…
.
As expected by Jesus if an abundance of love was present
in the world today then all what has gone wrong WILL
NOT EXIST. Because with an abundance of Love a host
of other connected inputs such as
Care, Peace, Humility, Selflessness, Compassion, Helpfu
lness, Honesty, Trust, Integrity are released in to the
world.
I strongly believe that as Christians we have to Live with
Love for those around as so that through our good deeds
we are singled out as being different to others.
WE HAVE TO BE A LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD.
Imagine a world filled with Love…
12. IMPORTANCE OF LOVE CONT…
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not
have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries
and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move
mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I
possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I
may boast, [b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
14. THE IMPORTANCE OF
FORGIVENESS
I also came to understand that Forgiveness is also an
absolutely important state of mind in Christian living. Jesus
emphasized many times on the very importance of
Forgiveness.
Matthew 6
9 ―This, then, is how you should pray: ‗Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 18
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ―Lord, how many times shall I
forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?‖ 22
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
15. THE IMPORTANCE OF
FORGIVENESS Cont…
Mark 11
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that
you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand
praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that
your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.‖
16. MARK 11 : 22
This is an important scripture that I claimed on my life. My perception
of this scripture is that:
When I pray I have to have the FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT I WILL
RECEIVE
To receive I SHOULD LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY and as such my request
should be a righteous one. –
14 ―Therefore,
if your whole body is full of
light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full
of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.‖
-Matthew 5:14
17. THE IMPORTANCE OF
FORGIVENESS Cont…
In order to receive blessings from God, our lives should be filled with
LOVE THAT TRANSCENDS FORGIVENESS TO OTHERS so
that OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN BY OUR FATHER IN
HEAVEN - enabling us to stand before Him as cleansed persons.
I strongly believe the pinnacle of Christian living is to live a life with
Love and Forgiveness
After being whipped, assaulted, spat upon, ridiculed, humiliated
, Crucified - one of the most long and painful methods of human
execution…and while hanging on the cross…
34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they are doing. - Luke 23: 34
18. MATTHEW 5 : 14
I have to live in the Light to receive blessings from God.
When I live in the Light shunning darkness and negativity from my
life(not easy but I keep working at it each day addressing all the
failures of the previous day…) my whole body is full of light. You
feel the difference…the freedom. It is then you can receive Gods full
blessing… because God is light and has no capacity for darkness.
19. KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED TO
LEAD A CHRISTIAN LIFE
FAITH LOVE
LIVING
FORGIVENESS
EXAMPLE
20. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
A LIVING EXAMPLE – A LIGHT ON TO
OTHERS
I also came to understand that being a witness and an
example to others is an important requirement in
Christian living.
Matthew 5
14 ―You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they
may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
21. IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
By being an example to others we can be instrumental in
brining many people to Jesus. To believe in Jesus Christ and
be saved. This is the whole point of Jesus‘ coming. To save
the world. Therefore we are expected to spread the Good
news to as many as we can by LIVING EXAMPLE and
produce a crop(…not simply offer lip service). Mark 4
20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept
it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a
hundred times what was sown.‖
22. IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
To do this we don‘t all have to be Pastors and TV
Evangelists. The way we live and the collective impression
that Christians generate in society will be the drawing factor
towards our Lord.
23. IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
The early Christians rapidly grew because their good
deeds were seen and people were drawn to them
because of their vivid example of Christian living.
Acts 4:
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that
any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything
they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God‟s grace was so powerfully at
work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them.
For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold
them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles‟
feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
24. IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
Yes...a hard act to follow. But in todays context we are not expected to be
Philanthropists… Marriage being one of God‟s covenants, we have to
marry have Kids and families. We have been given responsibilities that
we have to perform within God‟s plan for us. We are required to perform
these tasks that God has given us.
While performing these duties Christians are expected to live a life that
is pleasing to God filled with LOVE and FORGIVENESS … So that our
good deeds will be seen by others and (they) would be drawn to our God
and Father in Heaven.
16In the same way, let your light shine before
others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5
25. KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED TO
LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE
FAITH LOVE
LIVING
FORGIVENESS
EXAMPLE
26. THANK YOU
God Company Sri Lanka
Email: godcompanysl@yahoo.com
Website: slideshare.net/thornmd /presentations