Thirst

By Chandra Devi Baskaran

THIRST is a living testimony of the author of God's promise in Acts 1: 8 on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to make believers witnesses for Him in their own locality, and indeed, all over the world. Born in a remote village in South India, her first knowledge of God came through a picture of Jesus with John 3: 16 printed at the back, given to her as a small child by a British missionary. A temporary spiritual set back occurred after the death of her beloved father, but her undying thirst for God and the encounter with the Giver of the living waters resulted in rivers flowing freely from within her blessing those around her.
This book will satisfy all who have a longing for spiritaul growth, for all lovers of Christ Jesus and the wonderful paths in which He leads His children. The unquenchable thirst that the author had to be filled with the gifts of the Holy spirit became her life experience which she deserves to pass on to her readers in words of simplicity and grace, each chapter dealing with a specific gift.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Feb 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482818451

Book preview

CONTENTS

1. SO LOVED THE WORLD JOHN 3:16

2. FOR MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NEITHER ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS, SAITH THE LORD ISAIAH 55:8

3. MY LORD, MY LORD, WHY DID YOU FORSAKE ME? PS. 22:1

4. LET YOUR WILL BE DONE MATT. 26:42

5. HOLY SPIRIT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH JOEL 2:28

6. PROPHECY I CORINTHIANS 14:39

7. GIFT OF HEALING

8. MIRACLE

9. WORD OF WISDOM

10. GIFT OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

11. FAITH

12. SPIRIT OF DISCERNMENT

13. BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my beloved father

V. MANICKAM (Headmaster)

1921-1971

who nurtured me and encouraged me to

study the Bible from my childhood

CSI TIRUNELVELI DIOCESE

PALAYANKOTTAI PASTORATE

HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL

THE REV. G. STEPHEN LIONEL B.D., CCS(UK)

PRESBYTER IN CHARGE

12, Guru Street, Palayankottai—627 002

Ph. Off.: 0462-572852

Res.: 0462-574906

FOREWORD

I thank God for the privilege given to me to write the Foreword to this Christian literary creation THIRST. I congratulate Professor Mrs. Chandra Devi Baskaran for this great effort. I know very well the thirst for spiritual growth that was aflame in her for many years. The unquenchable thirst she had to be filled by the gifts of the Holy Spirit became her life experience and not only that, it was her desire that they should be passed on to others. I am happy that it has taken the shape of a literary piece now.

As the brief thirteen chapters of this book explain the growth of Christian life and also they are from her personal experiences, I am sure, that this book will be a good spiritual guide. Covet earnestly the best gifts says Paul and continues to say in the end of I Corinthians Chapter 13, Now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. In this book, faith is given ample explanation and hope and love are explained clearly under the heading, Christ’s Compassion, Gift of Healing and therefore, it is certain that the perfection of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are made explicit in this book.

With the words of a Theologian, Believe the Giver of gifts more than the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Be prepared to give up anything that does not bring honour to Him I complete my Foreword.

May God’s grace continue to be with the author of this book.

Rev. Stephen Lionel

THIRST is the reflection of my spiritual thirst and that is the background of this book. Though I was born and brought up in a traditional Christian family, I never knew about Salvation, Anointing of the Holy Spirit, God’s leading or Gifts of the Holy Spirit. I felt emptiness within me though I had everything. I could feel that something was lacking in my life and there was an empty space in my heart. Then I read the book Like a Mighty Wind by Mel Tari. In that book I read about the anointing of the Holy Spirit, visions, miracles and God’s wonderful leading. I had a thirst to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

I used to close my eyes and pray to see if I had visions. But, there was only darkness. I was eager to see visions. I wanted to sing praises to God in strange languages. This spiritual thirst was increasing in me day by day. I wanted somehow to see Jesus. I searched for ways and means to find it out. When I got the certainty of salvation at Calvary, I had an unquenchable thirst for the Holy Spirit. I cried to the Lord, O Lord, quench my spiritual thirst. Then God forgave my sins, gave me the garment of salvation, anointed me with the Holy Spirit and called me for this honourable ministry. As thirst to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit was in increase in me, I prayed and prayed and received them. These personal experiences alone are the source of this book Thirst". When you read this book, you too will begin to have spiritual thirst. I am giving this book in your hands with the faith that Christ will fill you also with His Holy Spirit.

I am indebted to many in my path of ministry. I remember my father and mother with gratitude. Especially, my heart felt gratitude to my mother Mrs. Grace Manickam who has been supporting me in her tearful prayers from the time she bore me in her womb.

I remember with gratitude Rev. Stephen Lionel, who was instrumental for my spiritual growth.

I thank the Lord for my husband Mr. S.D. Baskaran, for he was a pointer to the Holy Spirit in my life. He was instrumental for my writing this book and encouraged and counseled me in this task.

My heartfelt thanks are due to Dr. Nirmala Thangaraj for translating the book and Dr. Janet Wilson for editing and proof reading.

This is my first effort in my literature ministry. Your opinions of this book are welcome. Pray for my ministry. May God bless you!

In Christ’s ministry

Mrs. Chandra Devi Baskaran

2298.png

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.

(John 4:13, 14)

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)

1

SO LOVED THE WORLD

John 3:16

C hildren were running about and playing in the street of a small village and one of the boys shouted, "Hey, Missiamma (Lady Missionary) is coming! They stopped playing and all eyes turned to the East, in the direction of the lady’s arrival. Where is she? a small boy asked and the answer came, There, near the stream, the rock there hides her. You’ll see her in a minute." All the eyes were turned towards her and the white lady was seen, a small figure first and then bigger… When the lady was visible… a marathon race! All the children ran towards her.

I too joined the running crowd, as a small girl. This crowd was nearing the Missiamma. Children asked for pictures and each one got a picture with gladness. With gleaming faces they said, My picture is the best. Yours is not so good as mine. I too approached her and asked for a picture. I got one as well.

I was very happy to receive a lovely picture and on the other side of the picture was the verse, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

I did not understand why these pictures were given at first. The little children were enjoying the pictures they got. A big crowd had gathered there meanwhile. The missionary lady gave pictures to all the children and then asked them to read the verse at the back of the picture. All read their verses. I too read mine. That was the first Bible verse that I came to know. Unknowingly, this verse worked in me. I realized that God gave his Son as a gift to this world. It got impressed in me that something valuable has been given to this world.

As a child I did not