MEDAK CHURCH & REFORMATION !


Medak Cathedral Entrance (photo courtesy by: S Jeshurun)
Before we begin our Bible study Let us recite this verses:
A.“ Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”. ( Psalm 119:105)
B.“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” ( John 4:24)

If you are new to the Bible then recite this verses:
A."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
B.“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him" (John 3:36).

KING of Jeshurun Devotions on Psalms 31:24 (KJV)
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD”.

KING OF JESHURUN DEDICATES THIS ARTICLE IN THE ETERNAL MEMORY AND GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OF REFORMATION 
 On 30/10/2011 we had the privilege to visit the Medak Cathedral and attended the 9:30 worship.The  Medak Church is like a pilgrimage to the people from all the walks of life and a tourist location for many visitors.I saw it’s a great place of pilgrimage to many poor people who come there from different places worship the Lord and spent time there coming from different villages of Andhr a Pradesh.Eventhough previously  I had been to lot of Hindu piligrimages during my childhood before my regeneration in Christ I do remember my Ayushkarma was performed at Tirupati (For more information on Ayushkarma: http://www.indianhindunames.com/mundan-chadakarana-first-hair-removal.htm
But making pilgrimage to worship One true God give us great experience and Kingdom Blessings.Like this I have a desire to make pilgrimage to Holy Land Israel and other biblical locations in the middle east for meditation and exploring,researching the divine truths of the Bible is a lifetime adventurous experience for every believer.There is a great history over building of this church during the time of Ist world war.
Inside left view of the Medak Cathedral (photo courtesy by: S Jeshurun)
Inside right view of the Medak Cathedral (Photo courtesy by S Jeshurun)

It is a Church that needs to be cherished
The church is a mere two-hour drive off National Highway 7 from Hyderabad. Though it is part of the Incredible India campaign launched last year, very little has been done to maintain the church that owes its name to ‘methukulu’ (meaning rice in Telugu), which is why the place is also called Medak.
Inside upper view of the Medak Cathedral (Photo courtesy by: S Jeshurun)

Charles Walker Posnett was a missionary to Medak to know more visit:http://medakcathedral.org/about-us/rev-c-w-posnett
In 1896, when the district was struck by famine, Rev. Charles Walker Posnett, a missionary, evolved the ‘food for work’ programme. If villagers contributed to building the church, they could in turn earn food. That set the ball rolling for this renowned Gothic structure.
Outside left view of Medak Cathedral as you walk (photo courtesy by: S Jeshurun)

Outside right view of Medak Cathedral as you walk (Photo courtesy by S Jeshurun)

From 1914 to 1924, the farmers toiled to erect the church and Thomas Edward Harding, the architect, left no stone unturned in building the cathedral. For the floor, tiles from famous potteries were shipped from England. Then, Italian workmen were brought from Bombay to lay them. The tile’s design is an intricate one in six colours — red, brown, black, yellow, chocolate and grey. The marble on the chancel floor and the reredos behind the Holy communion is from Italy.

Inside glasses ( photo courtesy by: S Jeshurun)
 What sets the Church apart are the three stained glass windows, created by Sir Frank O’ Salisbury of London. They constitute ‘the gospel trilogy’ in art — the nativity, the crucifixion and the ascension. Made of solar glass, the windows appear in all their glory when its bright and sunny. All the stained glass windows have inscriptions in English, Hindi and Telugu. The Hindi inscription came later, at the instance of Vijaylakshmi Pandit, sister of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who felt that the national language must find a mention on the stained glass.
Out side right view of Medak Cathedral (photo courtesy by: S Jeshurun)
The church, the single largest diocese in Asia and the second largest in the world after the Vatican , is built in solid white granite. The tower is 173 feet high, with four pinnacles. If it hadn’t been for the Nizam, the church would have been taller. Old-timers say that when the cathedral was to be built, the Nizam had one condition, that the church should not be taller than the Charminar.


It was rare for me to attend the traditional church services but I really enjoyed the Godfearing atmosphere and enthusiasm of the people listening the word of God and prayers.Pastor James Victor was speaking on the context of II Chron 34:8-21
King Josiah hearing the law

 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the LORD his God.  They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites10 Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the LORD’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11 They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.  The workers labored faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments— 13 had charge of the laborers and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers. 
King Josiah tearing his clothes and humbling before God

The Book of the Law Found
While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been given through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan.
 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. 17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah,Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.” 
The great Reformers and Heroes of Faith
Great women of Reformation to know more visit: http://theresurgence.com/2010/11/14/awesome-women-of-the-reformation
 The Lord was speaking to me about how the courage of great believers like Wycliffe,Martin Luther and Zwingly  brought the existing Protestant Church during the 16th century when there was only one universal catholic church under the overseeing of pope.The Bible was not permitted to common man to be read only the clergy was authorized to study the Bible.Moreover The Bible was available in only Latin language.When Luther was jailed God the Holyspirit prompted him to translate the Bible into German language while he was incarcerated.

From Early Church to Catholic and thus Reformation brought Protestant Churches
We are all catholics in the sense of word that we are universal brotherhood.There was no protestant church before only early Christian Church established by Christ and Apostles but Roman Catholicism was emerged in the  church.Everyone who claims to be protestant is also a Catholic in term of universal brotherhood apart from doctrinal variations.Since people like Martin Luther and others protested some evil practices of the Roman Catholic church the protester was banned as Protestants thus we are all Catholic Christian protestants I want to stress which means “ Universal Christian protestants”.Do not be afraid or offended of the word Catholic.

Great Nations was established during the period of Reformation

It was also known as Revival of Radical Reformation
Martin Luther is a Reformist! Radical! or Revolutionist! ?
The Bible was the basis for Reformation
 The  Roman Catholic Church was selling the certificates of indulgence and raising funds for the Church.This means a certificate given for the forgiveness of sins.Even the certificates of indulgence was at sale for the people who were died.

This was a gross error performed by the Roman Catholic church.Exactly during this time many christian were praying and there was a Reformation which means correction in the Church.The Reformation is nothing but God the Holy Spirit was correcting the universal church from wrongdoing or doctrinal errors.
Our foundations of Reformation should always based on the above
This was done by the good courage sand divine strength and hope  in the lives of a believers.The situation was exactly like Jesus said: "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves."It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"( Matt 21:13).

The life of Josiah is a great encouragement for all the believers to humble ourselves and be of good courage of divine strength and hope in God to always live lives of Reformation and Transforming into the mind of Christ.


Lets pray:
Our Heavenly Father and divine Savior, Bishop and Ruler of the Church, we thank you this day for your unchanging grace by which you have preserved to us the glorious Gospel of reconciliation and made us heirs of eternal glory. We thank you for your many mercies throughout the years by which you have upheld your Church amid persecution and defeat. You have given to the Church mighty leaders and defenders of the truth. We acknowledge your goodness and grace toward us. We thank you for the privilege of membership in your Church Universal into which we
were born through your Holy Spirit. We rejoice in the fellowship with all who, following in the footsteps of the saints of old are dedicated to the truth that we are saved by grace through faith in your redeeming sacrifice. We ask you to continue the blessings coming forth from your unerring Word and the privilege of fellowship with faithful people. Teach us to use the talents entrusted to us with fervent testimony, dauntless courage, and hallowed zeal. We give ourselves to the task of bringing the saving message of forgiveness to the world and thereby give evidence of our loyal devotion to you. Kindle in us a greater love that we may serve you as the heroes of faith of yesteryear. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.


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