Shepherding: Married Couple

For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:25, RecVer

Only the Lord Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls. No human can truly and fully shepherd the complicated souls. It would be foolishness to try to do so without the Lord, even stupidity to even think that one imperfect soul can shepherd another imperfect soul. Any attempt would simply be, a blind leading a blind. This lesson I have learned long ago. The Lord’s light have shown on me and I am well aware of the complication of the untransformed complicated souls.

Today, I received a surprise and a distress call from a sister who has been living separately from her husband. She called to enquire if I could somehow find out how her husband was doing. It seemed that a suicidal post came to light on social media from her husband. I have long ago stayed away from social media and was not aware about people’s posts. Thereore, sensing the urgency, I complied to her request, yet not without first praying and careful consideration of what I was about to get into.

I called the brother as requested to call, and sure enough, he was in a deep distress since his wife lived separately a few years ago. Deep within me, I prayed to the Lord for wisdom to discern the situation rightly and not be carried away by what I heard. One lesson I have been learning is, learning to listen. So, I lent my listening ears as he poured out his soul even with weepings, sorrows, anguish, regrets, loneliness, and desperation. I was fully aware that only the Lord Jesus is the soultion to his marital issues that comprises his personal life too. I dared not lightly voice my opinion nor even try to console in my natural man. For I know, only the Lord Jesus can console and comfort him. I was all prayers as I was listening to whatever he had to say. Finally, after about an hour of his emotional outpouring, I led him to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Then, I prayed and he followed suit. 

Though he confided in me his deep emotional longings, I led him to turn to the Lord Jesus who is the only Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. I cannot give life but I can dispense the Lord’s life dispensed into me to him through shepherding. Since he also requested me to initiate a conference call with his estranged wife, I gave my honest reply by letting him know that for such, her consent was required. I cannot intrude into other people's personal space without their permission. Then, we hung up the call for further calls.

As I called up the sister, she also poured out her feelings concerning him and the reason for separation and her decision for further actions. Again, with clear understanding in mind that only the Lord Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of her soul, I also let her know what the word of God says about a married couple. She also agreed for a conference call, so we had a conference call: he, she, and me, keeping in mind that we were not and cannot do anything in this regard, and praying that the Lord Jesus would come in, in the call.

As the couple and I were on a conference  call, I gave a general overview of what the Bible says about a husband and a wife. And God's purpose in creating man and Satan's strategy of destroying what God had planned. I only respoke the word of God and let both of them know and reminded them that, as chidren of God possessing God's divine life, they are to fulfill God's purpose and that their marriage life is for God and not merely for themselves. And also warned them that having known God's purpose, one's responsibility is to obey and submit to God and His words; no matter their history; no matter their feelings, opinions, and decisions; and no matter what. Nevertheless, I made it clear to both, the choice was theirs. 

Then, I let both of them speak. Each had spoken their view points that went on for another hour. The Lord’s grace was sufficient to pay heed to what the duo had to say. Though differences of opinion arose concerning their relationship, at least they both spoke their hearts out. Most importantly, they heard one another.

Finally, I had to interject and encouraged them to go before the Lord in prayer and let the Lord lead them. I prayed for the couple to be under the Lord’s perfect will, and that God's love, life, and light be their love, life and light, and that they would love one another with the divine love and be one with one another with the oneness of God. Therefore, I committed them both to God. Thus, the online conference ended in a good note.

Sometimes, I wonder why a good number of marital issues among the saints have been brought to me, time and again. I know fully well that I am incapable of settling any issue, and I would not dare even try. But as the matters keep coming I cannot escape from it either. I had to listen to marital issues, which, by and large, in principle, are all the same. All with different actors and settings, but same storyline. I only brought whoever brought their marital matters to me, to God, by the way, leading them to the Shepherd and Overseer of the souls.

Lord, preserve all the married couples in You for the sake of Your testimony. Lord, may all the married couples of the saints love one another with Your divine love and be one with one another in Your divine oneness. Lord, put Your enemy Satan to an open shame and turn all his divisive tactics to the manifestation of Your multifarious wisdom. And, glory be to You. Amen.

Lesson on Prayer: Shameless Persistence

I say to you, Even though he will not rise up and give him anything because he is his friend, surely because of his shameless persistence he will rise and give him what he needs.

And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.

Luke 11:8-10, RecVer

In prayers, we must be shamelessly persistent in asking the Lord what He wants us to pray for. We do not pray selfish and foolish prayers shamelessly. But, once we discern God's will, which He revealed through His word or through the inward anointing, we must exercise to pray by faith and pray it persistently.

This has been my personal experience and enjoyment in my prayer life. Whenever the Lord gave me burdens to pray for His will, I exercised my spirit to pray those burdens faithfully. In fact, the burden motivated me to pray all the more. Because I knew that these were God’s will for me to pray for. So, I pray daily, according to the burdens given by the Lord Himself. 

In many cases, the Lord imparted new burdens and confirmed it through circumstances. Therefore, I was all the more bold to pray those prayers in a way of commanding God to fulfill it. Because these are not burdens generated by me, it was bestowed upon me by God. So, according to His very command, I command Him to fulfill it.

Thus says Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel and the One who formed him, Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And concerning the work of My hands, command Me. Isaiah 45:11, RecVer

In many instances, the Lord gave me this experience of knowing His will and commanding him to do it. From matters as trivial as housing and rentals, children's education, daughter's college, son's exams, new ones' salvation and baptisms, my official service, church responsibility, etc., I experience shameless persistence in prayers.

In one case, when my daughter's result for college acceptance was pending as we had been praying daily for over ten months, one night, I just commanded the Lord that the university we prayed for should accept her, and I also directed my prayer to the university to accept her. The result of acceptance came today! Praise the Lord!

There are many other prayer burdens the Lord blessed me with. I pray for these burdens daily. In fact, I have been shamelessly persistent in my prayers, knowing fully that these are prayer burdens from the Lord. My responsibility is to pray and pray. The answers to my prayers are up to the Lord. I only simply pray persistently and shamelessly. 

The day before yesterday night, as I was out in the park for prayer, a heavy thunderstorm, lightning, and a hailstorm struck. I was determined to pray, and I prayed through and through, amidst the storm. As I released my burden, the storms also abated. When I finished my prayer, the storms and rain also stopped. As I came home, there was a power cut because of the storm, and there was also a water leakage due to rain, that aiped into our electric main control board. No electrician was willing to come at night amidst the rain. So, I decided to solve the electrical problem myself and prayed to the Lord for the solution. Meanwhile, I did not skip the regular Life-study pursuit and family prayer due to these electrical issues.

What an experience to pray this kind of prayer! It helps me in my prayer life and makes my prayer life very enjoyable. I enjoy the joy of praying persistently and shamelessly!

Lord, grace me with Your burden that I pray persistently, shamelessly, and perpetually.

God’s Blessing: Children's Studies

Since last year, when my daughter was studying her 12th standard, we have been praying for her college studies. Upon careful consideration and checking of the universities in Taiwan, we finalised on the best one for English honors program that also teaches in English. Besides, we wanted the one in Taipei so that our elderly parents can also be taken care of and the she can have a new beginning by living in the student center sisters' house for the campus service.

At one time, I even told my wife that, we must apply only for the universities in Taipei and that too, the best one, a well known national university. Since then, it became clear to us we have to pray just for one university, NTNU.

As a family, we started praying for this prayer burden everyday. When the time came, we applied for it. Though, we went through a lot of hurdles in the application processes, we experienced the Lord’s leading step by step.

Despite experiencing the Lord’s leading, we still had to face some hiccups. When the first list was out, she was on a waiting list. When the next one was out, she was not selected. This was a direct application. We did not lose hope. For, deep within, I knew that she should she selected. We have done all that we could, paying the price in fulfilling every requirement of the university, which was a very lengthy process as it was an overseas Chinese students' application through the embassy in New Delhi. I even had to face an accident, though nothing happened to me. I was almost ran over by a truck while on my way to collect the government verified and stamped documents. By the way, four different departments stamps were stamped with quite an amount of agency fee. Therefore, deep within, I realised, God will open the door in the university we applied for. So, we continued to apply for the second round through the embassy. 

Meanwhile, we continue to pray and pray. Two days ago, her class 12th result was declared. As we prayed, God blessed us, and she scored centum in two papers, and got a very good percentage overall. Since her acceptance to the university was still pending, I was considering an alternative in India. I just discovered that with her 12th score, she could quality for the best college in India too. In fact, I was considering to apply in India too, as a backup. But I was not peaceful to do so.

Yesterday night, I went before the Lord to pray and consider what step to take. The Lord impressed me to trust in Him and wait until this Lord’s Day. So, I decided to wait and did not even tell my family about this alternative plan. All this while, as a family, we continued to pray for her acceptance to NTNU.

Today, the Lord answered our prayers and the result was declared that she got acceptsed to NTNU. Immediately, as a family, we hugged each other and prayed to thank the Lord for answering all our prayers. This was a very wonderful experience the Lord gave us as a family to trust in the Lord, pray persistently in faith, and gain the Lord through the process.

Now, we will continue to pray for all the other practical details and experience the Lord again. This journey of prayers was an important spiritual lesson for our family especially, our children. We want to lead them to walk with God day by day and one day be living overcomers. Education is obe of the ways to experience the Lord and gain God day by day unto full maturity. 

Lord, may Your perfect will be done in our children's life. And, through the process, walk with You, experience, enjoy, and express You, and gain You fully to be Your overcomers.

Ministering in the Combined Meeting

Today, three local churches, the churches in Marthandam, Nagercoil, and Kanyakumari, had a combined Lord’s Table Meeting together in Marthandam. This was my first time to attend the meeting with the saints in these localities. For this meeting, a few weeks ago a brother messaged me that the brothers had alloted me to minister the word in two sessions. I took the matter to prayers and considered before the Lord. The Lord then gave me a message for the first session, but for the second, I was not sure. While I was attending the national serving ones training, the Lord made it clear to me to respeak the Lord’s speaking to the saints.

Yesterday night and today morning I went before the Lord in prayer and also went through the outlines of the recent training on "The Ministry of the Word and God's Dispensing for God’s Economy". The Lord then made the message clear to me with a very clear burden on what to minister.

As the meeting began, I released the burden the Lord gave me. Beginning with Acts 6:4 on the need to continue steadfastly in prayer and the ministry of the word, the burden was fully released as I exhorted the saints to spend time with the Lord in prayers and also in the word of God daily and using the ministry to open up the word. Following this is the ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, then issuing in the ministry of life in 1 John 5:16. The burden rotates around these three points, and when it was sufficiently released, I stopped my speaking and let the saints flow out. Many saints overflowed their enjoyment of the ministry of the word, and the first session ended.

We then partook of the table and had lunch lovefeast, afterwhich, the second session started. I continued to release the burden on the ministrering life for the Body and dwelt on the need to stay within the measure of God's rule in 2 Corinthians 10:12-15 and fighting the spiritual warfare in the Body. Finally, to fulfill God’s economy,  there is a need for our cooperation with the Lord to carry out His economy by being His faithful stewards who minister the word with a burden from the Lord and who coordinate with one another in one accord. When the burden was thoroughly released within the one hour time allotted to me,  I concluded my ministering. The saints then continued to flow out their enjoyment of the word. 

In both the sessions, the saints testified that the Lord’s speaking was very timely and apt and it was the need of the churches at the present time. Thank the Lord for the ministry of the word. 

May the Lord grace all the saints in tbe churches to be man of prayer, man of the word of God, minister of the word, having been reconciled, ministering life for the Body, functioning within the measure of God's rule, fighting the spiritual warfare in the Body in the victory of Christ, and cooperating with God in fulfilling His economy.

Ministry of the Word in Marthandam, Kanyakumari

Following the recently concluded national serving ones training in Angamaly, Kochi, I coordinated with the brother serving in the literature service in Keralam for a week of ministry literature introduction and distribution in Marthamdam and the surrounding localities.

In the Maruti Eeco which was also an offering from a brother for the ministry literature distribution, we travelled over nine hours from Angamaly to the Marthandam where the literature is stocked in the serving ones' house. From last Monday till Friday, we went to visit Christian leaders of different denominations in and around Marthamdam. Everyone we visited paid a careful heed to what we ministered through the literature, especially the introduction of the Holy Bible Recovery Version. To me, it was all the ministry of the word, the ministry of life, through the minsitry books. 

As the Lord answered our prayers, He opened the hearts of all the ones He led us to meet, and everyone one of them ended up purchasing the Recovery Version Bible  we introduced, except one who was very busy for for any reading, but still gave us the opportunity to display these ministry books in the meetings he is leading. We enjoyed a sweet coordination in one accord as we visited various Christian leaders, praying together along the way, and serving in oneness. I did not feel any pressure whatsoever. Neither did I feel like doing a work. Rather, I enjoyed the Lord’s presence in a very human way, full of peace and rest. To such a blessing from the Lord, I can only praise and worship the Lord for His marvelous way. Praise the Lord! Glory be to God!

In addition to the official burden of distribution, I also enjoyed a time of bending with our serving ones in Keralam in the distribution. I enjoyed their hospitality where they fed me with sea food everyday, of differnt variety cooked in different ways, along with my favorite "Kerala dry fried beef in coconut oil". The Lord shepherded me so richly inwardly and outwardly too. What a grace and blessing to serve Him!

An update I message to the brothers summerise this ministry journey enjoyment. 

Update: Ministry Literature Journey in Kanyakumari

In the past one week, the Lord led us to the key Christian leaders in Marthandam and the surrounding localities. All the Pastors we met either purchased the Recovery Version Bibles or gave us opportunity to display the ministry books in their upcoming big meetings. The Lord answered our prayers and granted us open doors to the big Christian groups; A_, B__ I___, C__, etc., introducing the ministry to the key leaders at their head offices.

Besides, we also enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship and blending with the saints in these areas, in the evenings.

Two new contacts, one, who purchased books online, and the other a local contact, came to meet us. The gospel was preached and both were baptised in coordination with the local brothers, and now have started meeting with the local saints.

Tomorrow, the saints have arranged a combined Lord’s Table Meeting of three local churches for blending, and on Monday, we will meet some more Christian leaders till afternoon and then I will be back to Gurugram. 

Thank you for your prayers. Continue to pray for the Lord to open up the Scriptures through the reading of the Recovery Version to all these dear brothers who have purchased the Bibles and the ministry books.

Lord bless Your move in Kanyakumari!

Baptism: Jesus is Lord!

Yesterday morning I was enjoying the word of God in Revelation 12:11 on the truth concerning the word of our testimony.

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they loved not their soul-life even unto death. Revelation of John 12:11, RecVer

The word of our testimony is the declaration of the facts Jesus Christ had accomplished at the cross. At the cross, the Lord defeated Satan, our one unique enemy and the source of all the problems in the universe. Declaring this fact outloud to Satan is the secret to the overcoming life. Satan, as the tempter he is, tempts in every possible way at every possible time. Our one weapon is the application of the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross. We must declare again and again that Christ is Victor and Jesus is Lord! This is the word of our testimony.

As I was enjoying this fundamental truth during my morning watch, I proclaimed the victory of the Lord upon me, and the saints, and even upon the new one who was coming to meet me. I had no idea about who this new one was, but I already declared the victory of Jesus Christ over him. That he would come, for whatever reason, I would preach the gospel and lead him to salvation, and lead him to the word of God, even unto baptism, to enjoy God's complete salvation. 

After I had sufficiently enjoyed my time with the Lord in prayer and in the word, he came. I paid careful heed to whatever he had to say. He poured out his sadness, sorrow, anxiety, stress, and depression issuing from his marital issue. I told him truthfully that his problems were merely symptoms of the real problem of sin. The solution is in dealing with sin, the source of the problem, only which God in Christ Jesus can deal with.

Then, I ministered the word of God concerning God's eternal plan, Christ redemption, and the way to believe into the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour. As I ministered the word of life, I did so by using the Scriptures and leading him to read various Scriptures portions in Genesis 1:26; 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:45; John 3:16; Romans 8:9-13; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; Matt. 3:15-17; John 3:5.

The word of God is more than sufficient to lead people to salvation. Though I preached the gospel, I did so, using the word of God directly, verse by verse. The word of God is spirit and life. Therefore, the new one believed into the Lord Jesus Christ and also was baptised.

The local brothers in sweet coordination came together for the baptism of the new one! 

Then, we enjoyed our meal together. Afterwhich, as the church gave a gift of the New Testament Recovery Version in English to the new born brother, I helped him read Matthew chapter 1 along some footnotes, showing him how to read the Bible daily. Then, for his continual shepherding, I introduced the Shepherding Materials, online version, and read together with him the first chapter. So that he could continue reading by himself the following chapters, and I also gave him the freedom to call me whenever he wills for fellowship or doubt clarifications.

The baptism on Wednesday and Friday here in Marthandam were the first two fruits for this year in gospel preaching in the way of ministering life. In the North, the outward situation is no longer favourable to such, though we still preach and lead people to receive the Lord, we wait for baptism. Thank the Lord for this wonderful experience of ministering life.

Jesus is Lord! Christ is Victor!

Brotherly Fellowship and Baptism

As were meeting various Christian leaders introducing and distributing the ministry literature, especially, the Holy Bible Recovery Version, we also took time to visit some saints' family as a shepherding visit. One brother, who I have known since the time I was in college has been physically sick for decades now. I had a particular burden to visit him and his family. Though they have been struggling in many areas, the brother and his wife have been faithfully serving the Lord according to their capacity. Visiting and fellowshipping with them encouraged me inwardly. Despite their outward condition, they have been graced by the Lord to stand firm for the Lord’s testimony and also serve like full-timers. When meeting with such saints, I was convicted that with my situation I could have done much more. Even in outward poverty, they are rich in Christ. 

We also visited another brother and his wife, who were my training mate for a month or so while I was undergoing the full-time training more than two decades ago. He had arranged a meeting with his brothers' family whose two sons are Pastors. As they requested me to minister the word, I ministered my recent enjoyment of the word of God. The ministry of the word is the ministry of life from the minister being one with the ministry. There was a sweet ministering of life. One of the Pastors and his mother testified of how much they were supplied with the ministry of the word and confessed that it was the first time they heard such a ministry of the word. After prayer, they hosted us with my favorite "Kerala Beef Fried in Coconut Oil". It was an enjoyable time of brotherly fellowship and blending.

Today morning, the Lord brought one new contact who purchased the ministry books first from a Christian bookstore, then, online. As we spoke to him, it became clear that he wasn't baptised yet. He just came to the faith about a year ago, but had no solid foundation in the word. But he, being a book lover, liked to read all kinds of books. His love for books led him to the ministry literature. 

Therefore, I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ beginning from God's plan till Christ's redemption and led him to the Lord in a fresh way again. Further, to give him the complete gospel, I led him to read all the key Bible verses concerning the seven spiritual significances of baptism. After ministering the word, he, out of his own willingness and choice, exercising his free will in obedience to the sovereign word of God, decided to get baptised. 

The local brothers had their fellowship and made everything ready for baptism. So, we all went to a nearby river and baptised this new brother. I did not baptise it myself, but let the local brothers do. 

The local saints were very encouraged at what the Lord was doing in their local church. Though we came mainly for the ministry distribution, the Lord also opened the door for gospel preaching, saving soul, and fellowship with them.

Besides, on the request of the brothers, I also shared briefly in their small group meeting on loving the Lord, in line with the experience of breaking the outer man, the Lord’s discipline in love reciprocating with our love for the Lord.

May the Lord continue to bless His move in Marthandam and the nearby localities.