Life Lesson: Trial of the Called

Abraham was called by God, so are we. As the called and chosen race in the New Testament, the history of Abraham is indeed our story today. God set him as a pattern from which we draw our life's path. He walked by faith, so must we. God's promise to him was humanly impossible, yet they were all proven possible. Only God knows the "science" of the impossible becoming possible; there is no way a human mind can fathom. Only the fools would try to. I guess I am not one to follow suit. Lord, have mercy on me.

Recently, I had a conversation with a brother who is also my house owner. That conversation triggered something I never expected in my life: a consideration of having my own house in Gurugram. I have been living in the city for twenty years now, and eighteen years in the present premises. There were thoughts flying around my head as to the hows and wheres of this consideration becoming a reality. The more I thought about it, the more I felt it was impossible. I tried planning and scheming, but to no avail. I tried searching online for some real estate options, and the only scheme available is an affordable housing based on e-draw, and the venue is outside the city, though in the district of Gurugram. For this, I even registered myself online at the government portal. Then, on further reconsideration, I took a break from applying for the draw, though the due date is still a week away. I would rather pray over it first and also fellowship with my wife. And follow the Lord’s peace within and between us, 

Through all these, deep within, the Lord has promised me, as He did to Abraham, that He would provide at the proper time, which only He knows. As called by God, I have been following the Lord, and I must continue to do so, on and on, step by step. Meanwhile, I have been warned by the example of Abraham committing a mistake in using his natural strength to fulfill God's promise when he ended up producing Ishmael, whom God rejected. Instead, at the proper time, when neither of them believed in God’s promise, Isaac was born.

Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed and said in his heart, Will a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? And Abraham said to God, Oh that Ishmael might live before You! But God said, No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. (Genesis 17:17-19, RecVer)

Is anything too marvelous for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. (Genesis 18:14, RecVer)

And Jehovah visited Sarah as He had said, and Jehovah did to Sarah as He had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. (Genesis 21:1-3, RecVer)

Nothing is impossible with God. I must trust in God and take Him as my faith, to live by faith. At the appointed time, He will fulfill His promise, even for the earthly tabernacle until He returns, all for Him according to Him.

A place where the church can meet fruitfully,

A place where the literature service can operate peacefully, and

A place where my family can live joyfully. 

Until He leads me further, I must stay put, at the place where I have been. No argument, no negotiation, but total submission to the will of my heavenly Father, is all that I need to do. He knows what is best. I must simply trust Him. Lest, there is a chance of becoming like Cain who left the presence of God, like Jacob, needlessly struggling with his uncle Laban. Only Jacob proposed to serve his uncle for seven years for Rachel yet ended up serving fourteen years and got the two daughters of his uncle. Later, after twenty years of service, he had to flee in haste. 

Jacob should serve as a warning for me, not to use my natural strength to gain even what God has promised. At the proper time, He will fulfill His promise. I don't know how, I don't know when, but He surely will fulfill His promise. O Lord, help my unbelief.

And Jesus said to him, You say, If You can. All things are possible to him who believes. Immediately, crying out, the father of the child said, I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:23-24, RecVer)

At the time of life, God’s promise of my Isaac will be fulfilled. And in my Isaac, the promise of God will be full of riches.

And the man became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very rich. (Genesis 26:13, RecVer)

Lord, let Your will be done.

Lord, may Your promise be fulfilled.

Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

Amen

Ministry Journey to Belagavi, Karnataka

After my hectic traveling schedule, which began on 5th January till today, the 19th Jan, I came to Belagavi to attend the Lord’s Table Meeting on the 17th January night after a seven-hour-long bus journey, as the conclusion of the ministry literature journey this time. To my surprise, I was given hospitality in an elderly brother's house, who took care of me so well despite the health condition of his wife. The couple was so joyful to host me. In fact, they joyfully exclaimed that I was their first guest in their newly renovated house! They fed me like a "king" despite my informing them again and again that I did not need such attention. As a guest, I just enjoyed their hospitality. 

Being their guest and a brother, the brother fellowshipped with me at length concerning the spiritual experiences he has been through, the dealings and the lesson of the cross he has been learning, and his subjective experiences of the power of the blood of Jesus that gave him victory over many unseen demonic attacks in his family. He took the opportunity to fellowship with me during breakfast and lunch. Our fellowship went on for hours. Though I also fellowship some testimonies of the Lord’s work in my family, I was mostly listening to what he had to say. He was so joyful to release all that was in his heart concerning his family situation. Now and then, we would simply pray together for all the points of the fellowship. 

Yesterday, on the Lord’s Day, the brothers invited me to break the bread with another brother. In fact, it was my first Lord’s Table Meeting in the church in Belagavi, though I visited the saints a couple of times in the past. What a blessed fellowship!

In the prophesying time too, I shared my enjoyment of the Lord’s word in Matthew 5:48. And shared how, as children of God of our heavenly Father, we can be perfect as He is perfect, in His love, using 1 John 4:8,16,12, 17. 

Later in the evening, together with the brothers, we visited all the saints' homes one by one. It turned out that this was their first visit after a long gap and the first in this year, which they felt was overdue. In all the home visits, we simply prayed for the saints' family. That prayer itself was such a shepherding to the saints.

Today, after the whole morning of personal prayer and Bible reading, and fellowship over breakfast and lunch with my hosts, and a time of prayer together, a brother dropped me off at the Belagavi airport. Thus, concluding the last lap of the ministry distribution, and with this, covering all thirty-one districts of Karnataka.

In this new year 2026, in the first month, the Lord led me to twelve cities covering three states: Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Kerala in two-weeks time, attending a fellowship, a training, a Christian convention, a secular book fair, and a ministry literature journey to three districts. Praise the Lord and to God be the glory!

Lord, bless the church in Belagavi! Lord, bless Your move in Karnataka! Lord, bless Your move in India!

Ministry of the Word to Koppala and Hospet

Beginning from the time the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada was printed, the Lord burdened me to travel the length and breadth of Karnataka for the introduction and distribution of the same, along with the seven newly released Kannada ministry title books. Since January 2025, in coordination with the local brothers, I have undertaken five ministry literature journeys. This time, from 15 to 17 January 2026, the remaining three districts of Karnataka were covered. From Bengaluru in Jan 2025 to Hospet in Jan 2026, the entire state of 31 districts was visited for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature. What a grace from the Lord that He led me step by step, locality to locality, and met with the key Christian leaders in each district, either in the Pastors' fellowship, or small group meetings, or at their offices/homes, or in the church meeting venues. What an experience the Lord blessed me with these trips! Only the Lord knows how much He has gained me. And I can testify too, how much I have gained Him in all these journeys. Praise Him!

In the last two places, it was purely an introduction of the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada and the available ministry books in Kannada. Though we had to lodge in hotels and eat with the local brothers who led us, it was worth all the expenses for the sake of making the ministry available to God’s children in the state.

One evening in Hospet at a Pastor's house, we had a wonderful time of fellowship on the word of God concerning Christ and the church. I had no intention to share these topics; the Spirit led me to do so in the course of our fellowship. The family, especially the father, was so enlightened by the fellowship. Then, we had dinner together with the family in a local restaurant. The next day, in one of the biggest meeting halls in the city, a good number of Pastors gathered together, where I had a special time of introducing the ministry to all. Later, one of the Pastors invited us to visit his mother, who was battling cancer for years. We visited the family and prayed for the mother. Then, we enjoyed our last meal together with the local brothers, who are Pastors themselves, and concluded the ministry journey.

Then, a brother and I had to take a seven-hour-long bus journey from Hospet to Koppala to Hubbali to Belagavi. And, thus concluded the Karnataka ministry literature journey!

Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow.

And others fell into the good earth and yielded fruit, coming up and growing; and one bore thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one a hundredfold. 

(Mark 4:3, 8, RecVer)

One day, the seed sown will grow and bear forth fruits; thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold!

Lord, bless Your move in Karnataka!

Ministry Journey to Davanagere, Ranebennur, Haveri, and Hubbali

As the Lord burdened me to visit every district of Karnataka for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature in Kannada, I prayed and planned for this final ministry journey. Though this plan was met with cancellation when I fellowshiped with one brother who could not join this trip due to his mother's health issue, and a Pastor who was supposed to lead us did not respond. However, as I brought the matter to prayer, the Lord impressed me deep within that if I did not carry out this trip this time, I would probably never be able to make it again, ever. Therefore, I prayed and considered before the Lord, then the Lord led me to fellowship with another brother. As I did so, step by step, the plan came to fruition, though with a change in the dates. I took that as the Lord’s leading and visited Chennai and Kerala first, then Karnataka. Due to this change of schedule, I was even able to visit Chennai, which turned out to be a very fruitful visit, even beyond my imagination. 

In all these trips,  I chose a train journey so that I could spend enough time in prayer and reading the word. From Tiruvalla at 9:30 AM to Kochi to Bengaluru to Davanagere the next day at 9:30 AM. A hectic yet experiential journey!

Davanagere

In Davanagere, a Pastors' meeting was arranged where I shared the word of God on "the wife of Uriah" along with the introduction of the New Testament Recovery Version and the ministry books in Kannada. To my surprise, almost all the Pastors ended up purchasing the NT Recovery Version and the ministry books. Three brothers, one of them a key brother from Nayakanahatty, along with two new ones, also joined the meeting and were very impressed by the ministry presentation. Even as we were about to leave, another senior Pastor enquired about the Bible and purchased five copies from our already limited stock. Then, we rushed to the next city.

Ranebennur 

In Ranebennur, a group of seekers was waiting for us for quite some time. The moment we arrived, we introduced the ministry books and the Recovery Version. Many of the seekers here too purchased the minsitry books. Then, we rushed to the next destination. 

Haveri 

We arrived at the right time for the meeting scheduled for us. In a way of introducing the minsitry literature, I shared the word on Acts 8, the event that transpired between the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip, and the life of Paul. Here too, most of the Christian leaders and seekers present purchashed the literature. The key Pastor was very receptive to the ministry. 

May the Lord open up the Scriptures to them and gain them for His testimony one day.

Hubbali 

In Hubbali, a much bigger congregation, I was requested to minister the word. Though not prepared beforehand, always prepared and ready in the spirit. As I prayed before I was called, the Lord burdened me to minister on 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, along with John 6:63 and Matthew 4:4. I enjoyed the rich anointing of the Lord as I ministered the word of God. Then, I briefly introduced the ministry books. The key Pastor was so impressed by the minsitry of the word and the ministry literature introduction so much so that he, using his "Pastoral authority," encouraged all the believers to pay the price to purchase the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada. Here, all the stock of the books and the Bibles we brought along with us were fully sold out!

Then, we had a time of fellowship over tea and dinner with the key brothers. Thus, our day ended. We checked into our hotel room, I took a bath and had a deep sleep after the whole day, laboring and traveling. My day began at 3:30 AM and ended past midnight after traveling through seven localities!

May the Lord gain all the places He demarcated for us as He promised Joshua of the Bible 

Every place on which the sole of your foot treads I have given to you, as I promised Moses. (Joshua 1:3, RecVer)

Ministry Journey 2026: Bengaluru, Chennai, Kozhecherry, Kumbanad, and Kochi

My first ministry journey this year, 2026, began with the full-timers training in Bengaluru for three and a half days, with a one-day preparation fellowship. In all these visits, I purposefully choose train journey as my mode of transportation with the view that I could spend more time in prayer before I arrived the destinations. All these visits required much prayer from my side so that the purpose of my visit to each place would be fulfilled. Overall, I had sufficient time for prayer and enjoyed the Lord’s special grace throughout.

Bengaluru 

In Bengaluru, the Lord’s direct speaking was on my need to be pruned so that as a branch abiding in the Vine, I should bear fruit, much fruit, and remaining fruit. The speaking of the Lord was from John 14, 15, and 16. Yes, the spiritual fact is that, as believers, we are in the Lord. However, we must exercise to abide in the Lord by exercising our spirit to live out Christ, to pray, to read the word, and to be in constant fellowship with the Lord. In this way of our abiding in the Lord, the Lord would also abide in us. Thus, this mutual abiding will produce the spiritual fruits, even the fruits that remain.

The Lord has set the direction for the entire year with His timely speaking: abide in the Lord, be pruned, bear fruit, and that our fruits should remain.

Besides, there were practical fellowships on our going on in the Lord’s move in this country. Despite the changes in the outward governmental and religious environment, I believe the Lord will advance in His move and bless His testimony in India with Himself as the blessing.

Chennai

Then, in fellowship with the brothers, I realised that I should go to Chennai and participate in the Chennai Book Fair on the Lord’s Day afternoon after the church meeting. My schedule was changed abruptly for the better when I learned that the preplanned distribution journey to Karnataka was adjusted.

In Chennai, I was able to spend time in fellowship with a college student at length over coffee and dinner as he opened up about his personal situation. I was glad that the Lord arranged such a precious time with him, which I never expected. My time with the serving ones in the literature service was on the need to be a man of prayer, a man of the word of God, and handling finance properly by honoring the Lord as the Source of supply. Though I did not plan it, due to an invitation, I also visited an uncle and an aunt and fellowshipped with them on the promise of God the Lord gave me at the beginning of this new year: Ezekiel 36:9-11, 37. All these were never thought of, but at the last minute, the Lord made it happen. What a fruitful visit to Chennai!

By the way, it was while in a train journey from Bengaluru to Chennai that the Lord graced me to complete reading my Holy Bible for the fiftieth time!

Kozhencherry 

My journey to Kerala was to attend the Kumbanad convention at the invitation of one of our serving brothers in Kerala. I was given hospitality in Kozhencherry in a big "white house", surprisingly. In fact, it was a foretaste of what the Lord would provide as I started praying for our own residential house for the threefold purposes of fruitful church meeting, peaceful literature office, and joyful family living.

Kumbanad 

Then, one afternoon, I was with the saints in Kumbanad convention and met with a good number of seekers visiting the ministry books stall, where I could introduce and minister the word to a good number of Bible college students, Pastors, and seekers.

Kochi

Finally. I came to Kochi with the burden of honoring our senior brother, who the Lord used for the initiation of His recovery in India and the pioneer of the literature service in this country. What an honor to honor him in the best way I could! With love, concern, and care in the humanity of Jesus, I did what I felt I could do best. In fact, I felt that this was the opportunity the Lord gave me, as I have no control of the future, and I did not know if there would be another opportunity in the future. 

We had a buffet lunch together at Barbeque Nation in LuLu Mall, Kochi. Then, I had the privilege to honor him with love and respect by walking around with him, holding hands as he needed balancing, while walking due to his maturity in age. And bought for them a branded formal shirt and an informal collared shirt for the brother, and two pairs of sarees for the sister, all of their choices. It was a blessing to me to be able to participate in the little that I could, to honor and respect the elderly saints, and make them happy. May the Lord give them good health and long life full of peace and joy.

Thus, having accomplished the first part of this journey, I boarded a train to Bengaluru for the ministry literature journey in Karnataka. 

Amen to God's Faithful Words

This new year has brought new things in many ways. Spiritually, the Lord has promised me with His faithful word of increase, fruitfulness, and multiplication. Since then, my prayer for increase has been intensified. In fact, I shared these faithful words of the Lord with some brothers and pray-read these verses. I shared the same with a group of serving ones in Chennai as I visited them on my literature journey. Today, as I visited my spiritual and local guardian when I was a student in MCC twenty-five years ago, I shared the same words of the Lord. They were very much encouraged and received it as the Lord’s speaking and promise for them too. The verses are the very verses the Lord gave me on the 2nd of January 2026, which I shared with a few others.

My Enjoyment of the Word of God Today (Received and Shared on 2nd Jan 2026)

For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you will be tilled and sown; And I will multiply people upon you, the entire house of Israel, all of it! The cities will also be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. I will also multiply upon you man and beast, and they will increase and be fruitful, and I will make you inhabited as you were formerly, and I will make it better for you than when you began. Then you will know that I am Jehovah. 

(Ezekiel 36:9-11, RecVer)

Thus says the Lord Jehovah, Moreover, for this I will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them;

I will increase them with men like a flock.

(Ezekiel 36:37, RecVer)

On the practical and physical realm, too, God has given me a burden to pray for our own housing in Gurugram. All these twenty years, we have been living in rented houses. I believe the time has come now to have a house of our own. The visit of our house owner recently and his request for a rental increase have ignited the need for our own housing. I took whatever transpired as the Lord’s doing and picked up another burden to pray for, for our own housing, with the view that it will be useful for the literature service, and for the church meeting place. The specific speaking of the Lord for this house that I and my family have started praying for is to be useful in the following way.

That the literature service can run in peace.

That the church can meet in fruitfulness.

That the family can live in joy. 

Besides, the Lord further gave me His faithful words in which He promised to fulfill this at the proper time. He also indicated that He would give two young brothers as my spiritual children and two elderly brothers whom I should shepherd like I would shepherd my own parent. Yes, two spiritual younger brothers and two spiritual elder brothers. I amen His words. May His words be fulfilled in time.

Even as I was reading the book of Genesis, the written words had become so living that I could see God speaking through the verses I had read. From the lives of Noah, the years he lived; Abraham and Sarah, the possibility of the impossible at the time of the year; and Isaac, the Lord’s provisions.

For as many promises of God as there are, in Him is the Yes; therefore also through Him is the Amen to God, for glory through us to God. (2 Corinthians 1:20, RecVer)

Amen to God’s faithful words!

Be Perfect?! In Love

You therefore shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48, RecVer)

No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12, RecVer)

And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. In this has love been perfected with us, that we may have boldness in the day of the judgment because even as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear has punishment, and he who fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:16-18, RecVer)

God is perfect! As Christians, God is our heavenly Father, possessing His divine life and divine nature. As children of God, we can be perfect because our heavenly Father is perfect. What a miracle! What a mystery! What a possible impossibility! To be perfect as our heavenly Father is, is to be perfected in His divine love.

He who does not love has not known God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8, RecVer)

And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16, RecVer)

God is love. Love is the essence of God’s divine nature. Having received His life, we also have His love. By abiding in His love, exercising to love God and love one another, we can be perfected in His love. 

God's love is already perfect. However, the perfected love of God must be perfected in us by loving God and loving whom God loves. This love is of the divine life which we received during our spiritual birth and which we now possess. By this divine love, we are becoming love. In fact, His divine love is being perfected in us, love itself. Thereby, His divine love mingling with our human love perfected by His divine love, makes us one in His love. The issue of such divine mingling is, God and man, God and us, becoming one and being perfected in His love!

The word "perfected" in 1 John 4:17 in Greek means teleioo, which means "to accomplish, to finish, to complete." God is accomplishing His divine love in us. This will result in our boldness to contact God in fellowship with Him and to face the judgment at the judgment seat of Christ. By loving the brothers with the love of God, we will be bold and will have no fear before God. 

I enjoyed this truth concerning God's divine love. In fact, this was my sharing portion yesterday at the Lord’s Day prophesying meeting in the church in Chennai, and also my sharing portion in Delhi at the serving one's training. This truth has gradually become my experience, and yes, it will be perfected in me one day!

Father, perfect me as Thou art!

Father, perfect me in Thy love.