The Lord's Move

The Lord's present move in India is amazing! Incredible India indeed, with the Lord’s incredible and inevitable move! In spite of all the slogans and diktats created by some religious groups and politicians concerning “conversion” or “anti-conversion”, none can stop the Lord’s move. For the Lord's move is not a matter of "conversion" nor "anti-conversion" nor "re-conversion," but a regeneration, being "born again" in spirit of the Spirit of God; this has nothing to do with religion, for it is a life-relationship between God and man. The tighter the pipeline for the gospel of Jesus Christ, the stronger the velocity of the flow of the Lord’s move.

Contrary to all the “fear” among the minorities, all the political, social, religious and economical situations have been used by God for the furtherance of His move in India. even much more for the purification outwardly of all contamination among the children of God and the sanctification of the saints.  Hallelujah!

Prior to the propagation going on in five different cities at the moment, the spiritual atmosphere was very dry, dark and destitute. However, the Body rose up in one accord to release strong and specific prayers. Now, as the gospel preaching began and has been going on, the “dry bones” are turning to be “the great Army of God!” As we fellowship concerning the propagation in these cities, my spirit exult in joy and thanksgiving to the Lord of Sabaoth. Every city has testimonies of the Lord’s sovereign hand over all. Many new gentile families are getting saved, hearing the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ! “Miraculous” things are happening, indeed, this is the greatest “miracle” in the whole universe; sinners becoming sons of God!

When I was much younger in spiritual matters, I used to dream jealously of the Lord’s “mighty” move with a replication of the “revival” of a mass kind. However, the real revival is a revival within the lives of many. Life always takes time; yes, genuine growth in life is a time-taking process. Life has to have its way by daily nurturing and growth in the divine life. Now, through some experiences of life, and some considerable growth by the Lord’s mercy, I can now see and understand the Lord’s move better in a more matured way. What I have been witnessing today is the real revival; slow yet steady, and small but smooth.

Besides, the Lord’s move is also recovering the lost ones or backsliding ones or even rebelling ones back to the church life! Of this, I am witnessing today. It is also the recovery for the Lord’s children lost in the denominations of degraded Christianity into the normal church life for the building up of the Body of Christ. And also the recovery of the young ones for the formation of the Lord’s Army.

Listening to the brothers’ fellowship of the Lord’s move, I feel so much blessed to be a part of the Lord’s move. Though I may not physically participate with them on the “battle-field” but I am fully one with them in His move. My little participation in ‘prayer, giving and going’ is a grace from the Lord and His blessings. Praise the Lord for the Lord's move!

Life is worth the living for the Lord’s Move.

Lord, preserve me in Your move, for Your move!

Reading Through the Word

Since my childhood my grandpa inculcated in me the habit of reading the Bible. That habit has been strengthened since Jesus came into my life personally at the age of nineteen. Prior to this, I had been reading the Bible regularly. However, since my regeneration I have been reading through once a year. The Lord's words are amazing, every time I read again and again, it has always been a new and fresh revelation. The word of God has been my guidelines of life and service in my Christian life in the church life.

Last year, on this day, the church in Gurgaon gave out a sheet for reading through the word in one year, a daily schedule. The Lord has been so gracious and merciful to me and enabled me to read through the text for this year. This is in addition  to my daily reading which is more of an in-depth study with the footnotes of the Recovery Version and pray-reading. What a blessing to be able to listen and hear what the Spirit has to say to me!

Though it is just a reading through, the word is the word, and it is living. Often times it sounded like a "ritual" but the word has a way to enliven even when it seems like a "ritualistic habit". Still, to me, much much better than not reading at all. Reading the word, in whatever way, is better than not reading at all. So keep reading it, whether you enjoy it or not, whether you understand it or not. Some how, the Lord will speak using the word. This is my simple comment from the many years of reading through the word of God.

Wherever I go, whomever I met, this has been my encouraging word to the saints. I am so blessed to read through the word of God again. I pray for more grace this coming new year to be able to read through the Holy Bible yet one more time.

Lord, thank You for your Word. Grant me more grace to read through Your Word, understand them, eat them and live because of them again.

Year End Blessing

At the fag end of this year it is very encouraging to receive fellowship and phone calls from the saints who have received so much spiritual blessing in this year 2014 which the Lord grace me to be a shepherd to them in some way or the other. All glory to God for His marvelous works, and much more for gracing me to be able to co-work with Him, even with a "worm" like me.

Two sisters just called up for prayer over the phone as they wanted to give thanks to the Lord and pray for a renewed and revived new beginning in the coming year 2015. I was so shepherded by their spirit with which they prayed to the Lord; with all their hearts and with thanksgiving, making their prayers and petitions known to God. What a blessing to be a blessing to other through the blessing of God! These two sister are from a Gentile background, very educated and well placed in the professional career, and thus far, they have been loving the Lord Jesus Christ so dearly and pursuing His word diligently. They are also very burdened for their spouses and family members. May the Lord grant all of them a household salvation!

Another two sisters whom the Lord blessed so much also called up to fellowship concerning all the spiritual blessings they have received in this year. Especially with their being recovered in their Christian life and church life. And the enjoyment of the ministry of the word, and how spiritually revived and enlightened they are with the help of the ministry of the word through their online readings.

Zephaniah 3:9 

For then I will change the language of the peoplesInto a pure language That they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, To serve Him with one accord.

This promise from the Lord is literally being fulfilled. The languages of the peoples have been changed into a pure, divine, heavenly and spiritual language. Yes, even my own language has changed!

Besides, there are over a century experiences and enjoyment of the Lord this year 2014 as they have been blogged in this humble and simple blog, "My Goodland : Experiencing and Enjoying Christ."

To God be the glory, great thing He hath done!

Great things He has taught us, great things He hath done!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Give Him the glory; great things He hath done!

Fanny Jane Crosby's hymn is apt for "thankspiration!"

1	To God be the glory, great things He hath done, So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life our redemption to win, And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
	Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,   Let the earth hear His voice; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,   Let the people rejoice; Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,   And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
2	Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To every believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
3	Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see. https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/39

Divine Protection

Our very unexpected third child named Christy is very special in many sense. Her coming has changed many things in my married life, and even in my spiritual life. She indeed is named rightly, Christy, for she is a true picture of my experiences of Christ.

Two very miraculous incidents thus far have made me aware of the specialty of this child. For she is under "divine protection", though indeed, we all have been under the "divine protection" from many dangers, especially me, escaping three death incidents. 

The first case was when she pulled a very heavy almirah door and the heavy door came tumbling done upon her, but some object refracted the path of the heavy door fall and she escaped unhurt, except the fearful baby screaming. Later, I went to check the fallen door and I was shocked how such small and weak one year old baby could pull down a heavy door firmly attached to it bases. I had fixed the door myself and tried pulling it down but could not. In fact, the same door has been used by her elder brother and sister and me and my wife many time, even before she was born! But we never felt any sign of lose connection or something of sort. Nevertheless, she could pull it down! I still could not figure it out, how, even with a handle broken. That heavy door could have killed her or harm her at least, but praise the Lord for the "divine protection". The Lord is our real Proctector.

Another case was when she woke up unnoticed one fine morning and pulled down a decorated wooden stand divider. This of course, she can easily pull it down as it has no firm base to stand upon. But the mystery was she was unhurt, and the wooden stand broke with a loud thug, she only cried in fear. When my wife reported this incident to me, initially I though it was very normal for children to walk around and pull things down. But later, a deeper thought enlightened me about the Lord's divine protection.  The falling of things were acceptable, but the fact that she was protected from being hurt was scientifically not reasonable. 

These two incidents enlightened me more of the unseen world where a battle is ever raging between God and Satan, and that sometimes involves the saints on the earth. Satan hates us and wants to do away with us by all means, but he cannot, for the Lord is with us and He has been giving us "Z" category security. That "Z" stands for Zoe, the divine life. Praise the Lord for the divine Zoe protection!

Note : Z Security is the highest security given to the top VVIPs of India.

Divine Move : Jaipur

We have been frequenting this pink city, Jaipur, for the past eight years for the raising up of the Lord's testimony. All these while, I have learned something very very subjective, deep and personal from the Lord. They are:

Not grieving the Holy Spirit : Somehow, somewhere, sometime, I felt we have grieved the Holy Spirit in the way we used to carry out the gospel preaching. Even especially in contacting fellows believers in the denominations. Perhaps, in words, or in deeds or at least in our attitude towards them. May the Lord forgive us, and especially me, if such is so and train me not to repeat the same.

Keeping the One Accord : Oneness and one accord is the key to all the spiritual blessings in the New Testament. This is very true in my little experience in the gospel work here in Jaipur. At one point of time we were in one accord laboring specifically on one group of believers whom we felt was the chosen one of the Lord for His testimony despite the outward practices. But somehow, we lose the one accord to follow suit, and that deflated the inflated burden. Since then, my burden too was deflated and a span of a year has elapsed. 

The Lord's Timing and the Spirit's Move : This time, having the right hand of fellowship from the brothers, we started off again from where we left last. Amazingly,  I was praying and considering to contact an old contact, a brother. And as I contacted him, his impromptu reply was (paraphrasing), "Brother, I just have been thinking about you since the last two days." In fact, the last two days were the time I was praying and considering too to contact him. Finally we met, and the fellowship was so sweet; ministering the word with living testimonies and a heartful reception of whatever was ministered. Later, as I went to stay overnight for fellowship, the Lord's speaking was very rich and timely. He has been though some serious trials and half-anxious, was exercising his faith. The visit and fellowship was so timely, and I felt the Lord has somewhat been through into him to be shepherded into the fellowship and oneness of and for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Meanwhile, another brother who was very much in my heart and mind was contacted. However, due to his ongoing busy schedule we could not meet as scheduled. But the Lord was sovereign. Even as I was desperately praying, even by fasting, for the Lord's work and His testimony, he called me at the last minute, on Lord's day morning, for ministering the word in his congregation, and further apologized for his busy schedule, not being able to meet. With the answered prayer, we all went and the Lord poured out His rich speaking. This meeting was followed by further fellowship and the Lord is leading us towards the next step. 

Now, we humbly submit ourselves to the Spirit's leading, neither to turn right nor left, but following absolutely His leading hand, step by step for the church in Jaipur. Apart from the Lord's "divine move" we have no "move," only in His move we will move. And the glorious church will be recovered in due time.

Divine Warning

Last night as I fellowshipped with a brother whom the Lord called to serve full time, the speaking of the Lord was very timely to me as well. The speaking of the word again and again was a blessing and a salvation. As servants of the Lord we were warned of five important items.

Ambition : The hidden desire to become somebody, perhaps, as leader of some sort, even in the Lord's work is a "spiritual cancer." Because of the immaturity of many servants of the Lord and also due to lack of proper vision in serving the Lord, many have fallen into the trap of "leadership" or "position" of some sort. In fact, Christianity has blindly nurtured this kind of self-full leadership of the soulish man, which the Lord commanded us to deny. This is mostly the root cause of myriad of divisions in the Body of Christ; each one wants to have his "kingdom", or his "name" established, resulting in many so called "ministries" and "untamed ministers." Of these, I am no exception. I need the Lord's mercy to be preserved in humility and function as the Lord apportioned me in His Body for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Money or Mammon : Money in itself is sinful and dirty; the source itself is unclean because of the fall of man. However, being a part of the fallen cosmos, the world, we need to use it under the banner, "handle with care". Yes, with much caution and without loving it.

1 Timothy 6: 10 "For the love of money is a root of all evils, because of which some, aspiring after money, have been led away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many pains." History has proven again and again that many servants of the Lord have been befuddled by the love of mammon. The love of God and the grace of the Lord can enable one to love God more than mammon. Offering is a sign of not loving money; perhaps, the more one can offer to the Lord and His work, one will be gradually delivered from the entanglement of mammon. In small thing and in big things, faithfulness in money matter is a great test to all servants of God. To handle money faithfully and accountably even  to a single dime is a remarkable sign of one's usefulness to the Lord. It has been my prayer that I may not love money , but love the Lord more and more each day, live by faith trusting in Him and not even in His blessing of material riches and learn to offer more and more for the Lord's need in His Body and for His work as His as His move on the earth.

Lust : 1 John 2:16 "Because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father but is of the world." The lust of the flesh is in every blood of the fallen human. Even as children of God or even as serving ones of God, the lust of the flesh is still present. In fact, given an opportunity, it can easily be ignited any time. No matter how spiritual on may be, or even mature one may be, as long as one is in flesh and blood in the human body lust is always present, at least in a dormant state. Therefore, the need in avoiding being with opposite sex illegitimately, for whatever reason. In this sense, marriage is a real help and a covering. Many famous and international preachers have fallen into the snare of the lust of the flesh. And I am no exception. I need the Lord's mercy and His blood to cover me from the attack of Satan. The best way to overcome the fleshly lust is to exercise our spirit and live and walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, "But I say, Walk by the Spirit and you shall by no means fulfill the lust of the flesh."  

The world :1 John 2:15, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him;"Footnote from "The New Testament, Recovery Version" on "the World : The Greek word is used for different things, as follows: In Matt. 25:34; John 17:5; Acts 17:24; Eph. 1:4; and Rev. 13:8, it denotes the material universe as a system created by God. In John 1:29; 3:16; and Rom. 5:12, it denotes the fallen human race, corrupted and usurped by Satan to be the components of his evil world system. In 1 Pet. 3:3 it denotes adorning, ornaments. Here, as in John 15:19; 17:14; and James 4:4, it denotes an order, a set form, an orderly arrangement, hence, an ordered system (set up by Satan, the adversary of God), not the earth. God created man to live on the earth for the fulfillment of His purpose. But His enemy, Satan, in order to usurp the God-created man, formed an anti-God world system on this earth by systematizing men with religion, culture, education, industry, commerce, entertainment, etc., through men's fallen nature, in their lusts, pleasures, and pursuits, and even in their indulgence in necessities for their living, such as food, clothing, housing, and transportation (see note 312 in John 12). The whole of such a satanic system lies in the evil one (5:19). Not loving such a world is the ground for overcoming the evil one. Loving it just a little gives the evil one the ground to defeat and occupy us.
Even good things and necessary things can easily be a part of "the world". Anything beyond one's necessity for livelihood is the world. Food, which is a daily necessity, if overeaten in greed is definitely the world. As with clothing, beyond what is decent and necessary, the fashionable items are definitely the world. Even with education, religion, culture, sports and entertainment, are all the world if used beyond what is necessary. 

What a timely "divine warning." The Lord loves us so much. These were the topics of fellowship with a dear brother. I myself was so much help by my own fellowship. Later, we prayed together for the Lord to preserve us from all these "cancerous" elements which are within us and with us. Lord have mercy on us. 

 

Divine Fellowship : Odisha

Last month the Lord led us to meet few brothers in Odisha and fellowshipped on the church as the Body of Christ with detail fellowship on Her standing on the ground of oneness and practices of every member functioning. Since then, one brother was captured by the Lord with the revelation of the truth of the word of God. On the one hand he we was so excited to see such a divine revelation, yet on the other hand, he was stuck up in the old organisational system of denominational Christianity. However, the light in him kept shining brighter and brighter, further inflamed by the ministry books I sent as a gift, "The Life-study of Genesis, 7 Volumes" mingled with his trial translation on the book, "The Glorious Church."     

Now and then, he would call up for phone call fellowship and sharing his enjoyment of the light he received through his reading of the ministry books. Yesterday, he called me again concerning his determination to stand purely for, and as, the church, and his reluctance in continuing to meet in the old-denomination-hierarchical way. However, I fellowshipped with him that he needed to have more fellowship with the brothers who have not fully seen the vision as he has seen. For to keep the one accord is important and that there should be no division among brothers.

Today he called to fellowship that, last night he could not sleep the whole night, after my fellowship to him. He was considering and reconsidering my fellowship with him about his need for fellowship with the other brothers. And today morning with much prayer he went to fellowship with a brother concerning the New Testament pattern of the local church and the spiritual and biblical way of carrying it out in reality and practicality. After that he felt much peace. And I further encouraged him to have more prayer and fellowship, for oneness is only in and with the Triune God; without being filled with God in much and thorough prayer there can be no oneness among even Christian brothers. 

With this "divine fellowship" the Lord will lead those brothers to take the stand on the ground of oneness for the church in their locality as the testimony of Jesus.   

May the Lord raise up His testimony in that locality in Odisha soon!

Divine Language

For then I will change the language of the peoples Into a pure language That they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, To serve Him with one accord. Zephaniah 3:9

Few days ago, the Lord spoke to me in my reading of the Bible the aforementioned verse. A promised He made to change the language of the people, which was a promise of salvation of the Gentiles. After the fall of man into sin, the language of man was a constitution of sins. Basically referring to the sinfulness of the people. Nevertheless, the promise of God was, He will change it.

As we were preaching the gospel and shepherding in Jaipur, almost with hopelessness of the present situation, the word of God was crystal clear and very encouraging. "I will change the language," was a great hope. No matter what the present condition may be, the Lord will change the situation. He will save sinners for His testimony in Jaipur!  

"Into a pure language!" Only the heavenly, spiritual and divine language is pure. Through the redemption He accomplished at the cross, through His shed blood, He changes the languages of sinful people into a pure language, making them His own. Thereby saving everyone who believed into Him. Praise the Lord! Today, as a believer, my language is pure! Hallelujah!

"That they may all call upon the name of Jehovah!" As saved ones, I am one of those who call upon the name of Jehovah. In fact, as a believer, I am a "Jesus caller," the one who call upon the Lord's name. "Lord, Jesus! O Lord Jesus!" And not only so, I am also one of those who serve Him with one accord in the Body of Christ, in the one work of the Lord in this universe. What a blessing!

Last Friday night, after we fasted and pray for the Lord's move in Jaipur, I shared this verse to the saints, and pray-read with them. It was such a blessing. The instant speaking of the Lord was like rivers of living water, supplying all of us. We were not doing any outward work, but we were fully one with the Lord in His move; calling upon His name and serving Him with one accord.

Last Lord's day, the last Lord's day of the year 2014, we were invited by a dear brother in the Lord to ministered the word in his congregation. The instant speaking of the Lord again was the same verse ministered to all the believers there too. A timely word indeed it was, a change from old and sinful to new and saved. This verse was also complemented by Ephesians 5:26, "That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word." The Lord further led me to minister on the need of the constitution of the word of God. The way to be sanctified daily is by coming to the word of God, everyday, reading, studying and eating the word of God.

By this way, the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled in that all our languages will be sanctified to a pure language, to call on the name of the Lord and to serve the Lord with on accord. 

A Divine "No"

By my "good" nature it is very hard for me to say "No" to the help some brothers or sisters or even family members are asking. Especially in the matter of money. It is very hard for me to turn blind eyes, and whenever anyone comes for help, my first reaction always is, "How may I help you please!" Even if I know for sure it is going to cost me dear, I rather would bear the pain and let me help those in genuine need. Whether for good or for bad, I am just that way. I can't help myself otherwise.

In fact for this "good" nature of mine, some friends and brothers have borrowed from me and never thought of returning back. Neither do I run after them. Nor do I suffer because of bad debts. I always trusts the source from which I receive all blessings, both spiritual and physical, that is God Himself. Yes, for this reason, I don't hesitate to lend and lend, or help and help. And I am very happy if the Lord bless me to be able to help others in need. Yet not analysing if others are taking advantage of me. I leave the matter to the Lord. 

But recently, a new experience concerning this helps me a lot. A brother fellowshipped with me of his urgent need for money as he has to pay somebody on time. He promised to pay me back in a couple of months time. But the reason for his need is not at all justifiable to me. For the need he put himself in, is not for righteous reason, but of his folly. To this, my strong feeling was an emphatic "No!" And I conveyed a "No No" to him and warned him that I cannot be a rescuer of his folly, he must learn his lesson, and that too, thoroughly well with the pain and price of misdeed. But I offered a solemn fellowship and prayed with him that he would be covered, forgiven and learn the lessons due. 

Later, I learned from him that he could not pay his due and yet he has no problem dealing with the "bad" snaring him into such a situation. He has learned his lesson and I also learned my lesson of saying a divine "No," that helps both of us.

Similarly with two saints. Though they did not asked me, I simple could offer a helping hand. But the Lord within me restrained me to do so. For He is in control and is perfecting them for a better future. Now and then, they would come to fellowship with me, to pray concerning the matter and also to help them find ways to meet their urgent need. My only fellowship was to knock all possible doors to find a solution, which they willingly did, not leaving any stone unturned. And finally, they could just manage to meet the dead-end dateline. I was so relieved at hearing from them. Had I helped them, they would not have learned all the lessons that they have learned by me not helping them. It was a divine "No" to them so that they learn the lessons they need to learn.

This divine "No" is a big lesson to me too, as I have to go against my nature of always trying to help. I need more discernment to help when I really should help, and retrain myself from "strange hand" helping without the Lord's will.

May the Lord grace me more of divine "No" to all that should be a "No" indeed.

A Release

If therefore the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

There are things in life which are mysterious until the Lord shines upon and one receives a great light. And there are experiences too that one cannot apprehend and is often as inexplicable as the whole universe is. Yet there are wonderful experiences too that unveils all these mysteries when the Lord shines upon and reveals the secret(s) hidden within. This is just one experience I have been experiencing these days.

Just as the apostle Paul experienced "a thorn in the flesh" - 2 Cor. 12:7, there are some "thorns in the flesh" the Lord sovereignly allows. Only He knows why, and it's always for the good purpose of Him gaining us. I believe this is what I have been experiencing in my life too. Something that sticks to me whether I like it or not. And mostly this humbles me to the core, of simply acknowledging that I am indeed human, not negating the divine works within me.

Often times, this "thorn" troubles me as I long for a perfectly whole life; nevertheless the Lord still allows it for good. What more can I say except humbly submitting myself to the divine arrangement. This "thorn" helps me walk the narrow, humble and simple way and negate any thought of pride or prejudice. Yet though it helps, I deeply desire a complete release. Still and yet, the matter is at the Lord's hand. Come what may, what he says will always be yea."

Few days ago, the verse, "If therefore the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed" -John 8:36, shone upon me. A release that I am longing for, only the Lord can accomplish. And truly indeed, I am experiencing this freedom from the bondage of a "thorn." It was amazing. This little experience is so encouraging. What I cannot, He can. This is a simple lesson I am learning through this "thorn!" But this "thorn" did not deter me from going on in my Christian life nor church life, it helps me to be more desperate and pursue the Lord even much more. Even with this revelation subjectively, I felt I am gaining a giant leap in my Christian life.

Only the Lord is the Releaser (if there is such a word), and praise the Lord that He releases me! And I need more such releases as I am yet to unfold many releases that I may need. 

A, B, C s of Literature Service

Two weeks ago as I was praying and considering what to minister for the literature fellowship, the Lord strongly burdened me to share on the A,B,Cs of literature service. Though there are materials that I can refer to, this time the burden is to receive the Lord's burden and impart the Lord's burden to all the serving ones so as to be useful to His move on this earth.

The A, B, Cs are as follows:

A: Availability and Ability - The first and foremost qualification to be a part of the literature service is to be available for that service. Besides being available, one must be able; possessing the basic skill of translation in being well versed with, if not proficient, the source and target language.

B: Burden and Blessing - A genuine burden from the Lord is a basic element for any one to be engaged in the literature service; without which it has the danger of monotonous and mundane degradation in service. Besides, a blessing from the Lord to break through in all encumbrances so as to be able to go on, is a must.

C: Character and Coordination - A proper character is a must to do anything, especially to serve in the literature service. Untrained character has always been a stumbling block to carry out any burden even if one is fully available and fully able. The character of a person determines what a person is and what will come out of him. The better the character, the better his service will be. Moreover, in any service, coordination with fellow workers/teammates is of utmost importance. Service such as this is not an individual matter, it is a corporate matter which involves the pooling together of different talents/functions/services to meet the goal.

D : Diligence and Discipline - Another prerequisite for a successful serving ones is diligence. Every diligent person is hardworking and any hardworking person will be righteously rewarded by the righteous Lord. Besides, one must be disciplined in his work, maintaining a schedule time table and even managing his time properly to get the best output. A case study: what qualifies to be an army is "discipline" that can safeguard a nation.

E: Efficiency and Encouragement - In any service, efficiency is a big issue. Any body may be able to do any work at any amount of time, but that may be a big failure in terms of time spent, energy exerted and money invested. Efficiency is needed for any successful work; quality must be a key concern in one's work. However, in service such as this, to achieve this target may be a far cry initially. Nevertheless, one should not quit and give up, rather be positive, pray more, labor more, make progress and be encouraged. Encouraging one another for this service is important. Always aim for efficiency, and be encouraged until the ultimate goal is achieved.

F: Faithfulness and Fruitfulness - Faithfulness in one's work is a key to the master's appraisal. Especially in this service in translation, one must be strictly faithful to the author, apart from being faithful to the work itself. In addition, one must be fruitfull as well. Though one may faithfully serve but if his service is not fruitful to the very entity he is serving, it almost amounts to nothing. Here is the need for wisdom from God in one's service; to be fruitful in the way a task is carried for every task assigned.

G: Goals, God-man living and Glory to God! - Ultimately, a target must be set for any work done. For efficiency, setting goals daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually and laboring towards meeting the goals must be heeded to. With this there must be the corresponding assessment, analysis, and corrective measures carried out, if necessary, right away.

If one possesses all the attributes aforementioned, such living may adhere to a "god-man living"  and that would be a service bringing glory to God! For all the targets achieved in this service is for the feeding of the saints with the healthy spiritual food, for their growth in life and the building up of the Body of Christ, which definitely is a glory to God!  

As far as I am aware of, the direct feedback I received from this fellowship were all very positive. This burden also ensued in a strong prayer of consecration to the Lord afresh for the literature service and praying for all these "qualities of the ABCs of literature service" to be useful vessels to the Lord. 

May the Lord bless all the serving ones and the literature service in India! And may these banner over us be fulfilled in reality, "High Quality Christian Literature, The Ministry of the Word for all!" 

Offering : By Faith and Love

In my fellowship with many seeking Christians who are still held up in the human system of organised denominations, one of the most challenging questions asked to me was the matter of offering. For in Christianity as a religion, "tithing" is one of the shameful and ugly way of spiritualising with biblical quotes mostly from Malachi 3 to get the "church income?" And today's degraded Christian workers have shamelessly exploited the word of God and many innocent believers, in the name of Christ, for money. Lord, deliver us from this evil one!

2 Corinthians 9:6,7

But take note of this: He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with blessings shall also with reap; Each one as he has purposed in his heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Our offering to the Lord must be with a cheerful heart. In fact, every believers must acknowledge -

God as the source of all blessings : All that we are and have and will be having are all from God. So factually, nothing belongs to us, but all belongs to God. So our offering is not to God from us, but from God to God. With this simple revelation, one will always give cheerfully.

As much as the Lord prospers : Indeed, all blessings are from God. As much as the Lord blesses, we must offer. The more the blessings, the more the offerings should be; even otherwise, still we must offer as we purposed in our hearts. And in such offering will be joy.

Faith : However, all these must be done according to the faith within us. One should not go beyond the measure of faith in him. His offering must joyfully be in proportion to his faith. "...for all that is not out of faith is sin." Romans 14:23b

Love : Another divine principle in offering is "love." What one loves, he will pay any price for it. The higher the price, the deeper the love is proved. So much the more, our love for the Lord is directly proportional to the amount of offering we offer to God. For it will be paradoxical to claim to love someone and yet is not willing to pay any price for it. A true love will even pay the highest price of "death" for the sake of love. Therefore, when one loves the Lord, he will be offering out of love as much as He is blessed with by the Lord. It is not out of necessity nor any coercion involved, but out of a pure heart of love.

In summary, my fellowship to the brothers and sisters who asked me to fellowship on offering is "offering by faith and love." The more faith you have in God, the more you offer; and the more love you have for God, the more you offer. The divine principle to gauge a yardstick of offering is "faith and love;" faith in the Lord and love for the Lord. So, the conclusion is an offering formula: 

"Offering  (directly proportional to) Faith and Love"

Besides, with the above revelation and realization, we must be governed by the divine principle of a joyful giving law of life. And since we have faith in God and loves God, offering should be an innate reaction to what the Lord blesses us with. So once one receives a blessing, this law of life of offering must apply without further consideration. As you eat when your are hungry, or drink when thirsty, so offer in blessing!

This fellowship definitely helped all those with whom I fellowship with in regard to offering. Lord, increase my faith and love, and also my offering! As much as I grow in the divine life, so much the more may my offering increase.

Not I But Christ

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the  which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

The famous quotes "Not I But Christ" has been in my head for all these days of my Christian life. I have not deeply experienced its depth, severity and subjectivity until lately. Thank God, at least I am beginning to unveil this mystery in real life.

Experiences these days have been proving to me that many things in my Christian life are "Not I" any longer. Prior to these experiences, though outwardly I have attributed many incidents to Christ, but deep within was the hidden and proud "I" that stole the glory with "Christ" as a mere outer layer covering. But no longer these days. Its the dawning of "Not I" now.

Spiritual or physical blessings and successes the Lord has graciously bestowed upon me and my family have nothing to do with the goodness of "I." But it has always been and will always be because of the Lord's mercy and grace mingled with His blessings. In experiences, when I am not as healthy or strong, my faith in the Lord for His work and blessings dwindles. But as things have transpired, I discovered that what the Lord wants to do does not really depends on how weak or strong I am. My "I" is not the deciding factor for the Lord's work. When my "I" is in the ebb of falling apart and at his weakest point, still the Lord carries out His work, for it is not my "I" but the Christ who lives in me. Whatever my situation may be, the Christ in me is still the same Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever.  

Yes, no doubt, who I am can affect the Lord's work, for the work of God is carried out in coordination with man, but the higher fact is, when in Spirit, it is no longer I, but Christ, and that Christ carries out the work in me and through me.

These days I have been experiencing the work of God being carried out through this "rotten worm." Every time I exercised my spirit and fellowshipped with anyone, the word of God as rivers of living water flowed out. I myself was the first to be so supplied with the riches of Christ's life flowing out through "my own speaking." Bible verses sprang up from no where and words of life just streamed forth as stream in the desert. With whomsoever I fellowshipped, it was just life and life and life flowing out. Had it been my own merit for this blessing, I doubt the most it would be such, for I know this "rotten worm" deep to the core with all my failures and weaknesses. In fact, the truth is, "Not I But Christ." 

Many times my own presumptions deluded me of my weakness and I lost complete faith in being useful to God at all. But as the Lord graces me to learn and grow, His works continues in His pace and path, irrespective of how weak I am or I feel. My self "I" is in fact the "no longer I" but is now the "Christ!" That's why, things are happening as it ought to; shepherding, praying, gospel preaching, fruit bearing and churching...  

O for more grace to learn more of "No I But Christ!"

Gospel : Phone Call

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 

The gospel must be preached in the whole inhabited earth. In this age with all the technology available, to preach the gospel in the whole inhabited earth is not a distance dream nor an impossibility. God gave wisdom to man to invent many new gadgets for His purpose. No doubts, many might have misused it, but as for us, the sons of God, we must use them for the Lord's purpose.

I have been using phone calls for fellowship, shepherding and even also for gospel preaching. And many times I used SMS to text living Bible verses to some friends and saints. Space or distance should not be a hindrance any longer.  

Today, I had a STD phone call with a sister based on the SMS she sent me concerning her brother's need for salvation. I spoke to her brother immediately over the phone and preached the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. After my greetings, he addressed me as "brother" and poured out his heart's burden to be completely delivered from the bondage he is in; of excessive drinking habit, and violent and abusive behavior thereafter. 

The gospel I preached was simple and plain, "The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true and living God can deliver you from all your sins and bondages." I asked him to call on the Name of the Lord, "O Lord Jesus!" a couple of times, knowing and believing for sure in the mighty and powerful Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the deep and heartiest burden, "Save me!"  Then he prayed with me the "sinner's prayer of confession and believing into the Lord Jesus Christ." O what a joy to lead one soul to the Lord again! Though physically I cannot met him where he was, the gospel preaching work could go on, through modern technology of phone call. Hallelujah!

Similarly I recalled an incident a few years ago in which my cousin sister's husband who resided in London, out of his deepest desperation after he lost his beloved wife, called me in the middle of the night (Indian Time). The only thing I could do was to help him to believe into the Lord Jesus Christ. Over an ISD call from London to Gurgaon, we called on the Name of the Lord Jesus together a couple of times and I helped him to pray the sinner's prayer of salvation. Praise the Lord he was saved! I have no clue where and what he is now today. But I do have the fullest assurance of his salvation when we prayed over the phone.

Use every available tool for the gospel, that gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth.

Shepherding : Prayer

Philippians 4:

6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Last night two saints came for fellowship and as we to fellowshipped, the Lord gave me the discernment of what they were actually going through. To meet their present need the Lord also gave me Bible verses to prayer-read with them. As we pray-read these verses from Philippians 4:5-9, the timely speaking of the Lord was so precise and profound. It met their actual need. Oh, it was a great relief for them as we used the verses to pray back to the Lord with all the burdens hidden deep within. O what a release to make all the request made known to God! O what a blessing to pray and petition God with thanksgiving and the ensuing peace of God in the midst of hardships, trials and temptations.

Later, I fellowshipped with another saint in Guwahati, as the usual Saturday night prayer fellowship over the phone, using the same Bible verses, the Lord's speaking again was so timely. That family is going through the biggest turmoil in their lives with a member of the family creating havoc within the family. However, using the Bible verses I shepherded this family to trust in the Lord and to bring all their matters to Him; for they cannot solve any problem and explained further the Lord Jesus Christ is the only solutions to all the problems. After this short-while phone call prayer fellowship, we all were full of joy and peace. In Christ Jesus, the peace of God guards our hearts and thoughts.

Today morning I received an SMS from a sister whom I have been praying for the salvation of her and her husband. The SMS stated that she wanted to be baptised at the earliest possible. Immediately I fellowshipped with a brother and we gave her the option for today afternoon. She accepted and confirmed stating that she has been fully prepared to fully give her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. As I picked her up for baptism, on the way she mentioned the same Bible verses in Philippians as her sister shared to her last night after I had fellowshhpped the same matter. And she joyfully got baptised!

Immediately following this another new one, who has not yet been baptised, came to visit me and we read the same Bible verses again. This friend has received the Lord and is waiting to be baptised. Through the fellowship he has agreed to take baptism before the end of this year. This friend has been prayed for over four years till date.

In shepherding prayer is a vital ingredient, without which there can be no real and effective shepherding. All the new ones or saints that the Lord has burdened me to care for are all on my prayer list. Though I may not meet them frequently I have been praying for them, and that is a part of shepherding. When I did meet them, the Lord would give me the timely word for them which really shepherds them. 

Shepherding in much prayer and petition with thanksgiving is the best way of shepherding.  Lord, make me a faith praying shepherd.

Daily Bread

Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

The prayer the Lord Jesus taught us is not a piece of religious recital. Nor is it meant to be a mundane and monotonous repetition over and over again under the guise of prayer. Nor is it a format and standard for one’s spiritual prayer. Rather, it conceals within a key to access the treasures of divine blessings. Every word is meaningful, full of divine revelation.

Give:

A prayer of asking the Lord who is the source of every positive thing in the whole universe. All that we had and have and will be having are all from God, the Creator of the universe. As a creature, we are bound to receive from our Creator all that are necessary. Perhaps, one might wonder, why the need in asking when one already has. Well, if this is meant to be a mere asking of physical things the case may hold true. But the emphasis here is in the “faithful dependence on God” who creates and provides to His children. The Lord wants us to depend on Him and have faith in Him every day for everything. So is the prayer, “give.” We all should trust the Lord, have faith in Him and pray all the time, trusting and depending on Him for everything.

Us and Our: 

A prayer in the Body for the Body. Our asking is not for ourself alone but for the Body. All that we do, and all that we are, are all for the Body. Even our prayer must be Body-centered. Our views, considerations, decisions all must be for the Body, as much as our prayers are. We pray as “Us” and for “Ours.”

 Today and Daily:

God is a God of all time; of the past, of the present and of the future. Whenever we pray, we pray in the “present tense”, praying for the need of the hour. Otherwise, it would be an anxious care and concern. We must live in the present and ask for what is needed today. In the usage of “daily” which is a constant and repeated occurrence, we are to always, constantly and repeatedly depend on the Lord for every need. Ever depending constantly on the Lord.

 Bread: 

The Lord revealed Himself as the “living Bread, true Bread, Bread sent from heaven, the Bread of life” in John 6. When He taught us to pray for “Bread” though it may also mean physical food and daily necessities, it much more means the daily necessity of ours for the Lord Himself as our food and means of spiritual livelihood. He wants us to live in Him, with Him and by Him. Christ is our Bread; we must pray to Christ to give us Christ every day. This is a very healthy prayer; to pray to Christ to supply us Christ as our daily Bread. This is synonymous to “living and walking by the Spirit” in Romans 8: 4, 6, 7-13 and Galatians 5:16, 25, “living Christ” in Philippians 1:21 and “praying unceasingly” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Two weeks ago, after enjoying this verse I ministered my enjoyment to a doctor couple who got baptized a year ago, to a sister who came to faith recently, to two sisters who are on the process of recovery into a normal Christian life and church life, and to a professional who was also baptized few months ago. They all were so nourished with the ministry of the Word, which is ever fresh, living and new.

The Lord’s word is a daily bread indeed, so eatable to all who hunger and thirst for Him. May our living be always in the principle of “Give us today our daily bread, Lord.”

The Cloud : A Spiritual Journey

Numbers 9:15 And on the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony; and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle until morning.

As children of God, the leading of the Lord by the Spirit and the word of God is a necessity for our spiritual journey; a heavenly engine to be driven by and an earthly track to drive on. Yesterday morning the Lord spoke to me a very clear word concerning His leading by the Cloud. The word of God shone within me and made me very clear what to fellowship with the full time serving ones in the Telugu translation team that would follow suit.

As we prayed and pray-read the verses as follows, the Lord spoke to each one of us and whatever we had to fellowship was made crystal clear by the word itself. The Lord spoke through His word.

The Spirit and the Word : 16 So it was always; the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 

The Spirit is always in our spirit as believer, and the Word is also always with us. The only thing we need to do is to pay heed to the Spirit within and the Word without; They never fail. They are the best of the best for anything and everything in our Christian life and in our spiritual journey, as we are onward bound to the New Jerusalem, even as we are becoming the New Jerusalem.

The Subjective Action:

17 And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tent, then after that the children of Israel set out; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel encamped. 

Our spiritual journey is not determined by human timing and convenience; rather it depends entirely on whether the cloud is taken up or not. When it does, without excuse for whatever reason, we must follow on. Else, no matter what the reason, we will be left behind. When to move, when to rest, where to lodge, all depends on the cloud.

The Objective Command: 18 At the commandment of Jehovah the children of Israel set out, and at the commandment of Jehovah they encamped; as long as the cloud settled upon the tabernacle, they remained encamped. 

The command of God is very definite and very emphatic. We have to heed the Word at all cost. Once the command is commanded forth, there is no question of "let me pray about it and consider". No, there is no need to pray further and try to act foolishly and stupidly spiritual. The Lord has spoken and the Word of the Lord is final and abiding. No further "fellowship" otherwise is needed. Many superstitiously blind children of God are often stuck up in this in their immaturity and blindness. Obedience is all that is required of the children of God once the Word was spoken.

Timing: 19 Even when the cloud extended its time over the tabernacle for many days, the children of Israel kept the charge of Jehovah and did not set out. 20 If sometimes the cloud was upon the tabernacle a few days, according to the commandment of Jehovah they remained encamped; then at the commandment of Jehovah they set out. 21 If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they set out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, when the cloud was taken up, they set out. 22 Whether it was two days or a month or a longer time that the cloud extended its time over the tabernacle and settled above it, the children of Israel remained encamped and did not set out; but when it was taken up, they set out. 

Once the command was given and the cloud began to move, at whatever time, after any duration of time, we must move on. The Lord's timing is the best. Whenever He moves, we must move on to follow. Not to have any opinion, nor to bargain for convenience sake for whatever reason, we must go on.

In the Principle of Incarnation: 23 At the commandment of Jehovah they encamped, and at the commandment of Jehovah they set out. They kept the charge of Jehovah according to the commandment of Jehovah through Moses. 

In days of old too, the command of God was through His deputy authority as "leader" anointed and appointed by God Himself. Even in this age His leading is always through man in the principle of incarnation. When we are in spirit, in the Body, we will definitely know who is that "man", otherwise, we are in blindness and does not see and know the Body, nor the ways and works of God. The simplest way to be is, just be in the Body as the "Israelites" and follow "Moses". Anything contrary to this would be disobedience and rebellion.

May the Lord grace us on in our spiritual journey until we reach the goal of God.

Later, during the day, as we pray-read and fellowshipped on these words, the Lord's anointing, blessing and leading was so strong. We got a clear leading in many practical arrangement for the Telugu translation service. Praise the Lord! 

The same applies for any matter in our spiritual journey on this earth; follow the cloud and obey the command through Moses.

Fellowship is the Way

Last night we had a wonderful fellowship on Telugu translation. This language translation of the ministry of the word has been going through intense heat and pressure form within and without. Though, more than a decade has transpired since its initiation, it went through many many trials. Even till date, things are not as should have been a decade ago.

With much burden and prayer, we just concluded a two days fellowship on the literature service in this language. The Lord has led us through, and now we can see a dim light beginning to shine. 

When we began our practical fellowship last night, we were not clear at all as to how to go on. But as we considered case by case of different saints involved, assessing and discerning each one's capacity and function, the Lord gave us a clear light. Finally after about four long hours of detail fellowship we came to conclusion; a revamp of the whole literature service in Telugu.

Fellowship is indeed the way. The Lord does speak and He speaks in the Body and through the Body. And this through much and thorough fellowship. Now, we have a definite plan and a definite goal with a definite way to achieve the goal. Praise the Lord!

Even the two days of fellowship we just had was so timely. The items of fellowship were all very practical and anointed of the Spirit. This is in coordination with the Lord's move here in India.

The Telugu speaking regions, both Telengana and Seemandra, are teeming with many children of God from the labour of many faithful servants of God. In fact, many godly and faithful saints have their sources in either of these lands. The ministry of the word in Telugu is an urgent need to feed the spiritual hunger and thirst of these blessed lands. The Lord knows who are His and is preparing His own to supply the need of His own children. What a blessing to be a part of the ministry, and to be able to coordinate in producing the healthy spiritual food. However, for the Lord to move practically, He needs man to coordinate with Him. And that's where we are blessed to be a part of it. All in fellowship and prayer.

Fellowship is the way for the Body to cooperate with the Head in all practical reality.

Greek : Silly Typo

It's a blessing to learn Greek, in fact, to be able to learn Greek under the guidance of genuine scholars who have done and overseen the translation work of the Holy Bible in to many major languages in the world! Under such teachers, I am privilege to be a student. 

Recently I frankly opined on an assignment with the view of drawing the attention of all the other learners to encourage them to faithfully and diligently learn and use the forum more frequently as a learning tool. My teacher's reply has a sentence which read,"Some of the learners here may wish to get everything right before they get the answer key and may feel hurt in pride if they do not." Initially I thought I never had this feeling nor would ever have such. But the second exam I took proved me wrong.

I did my best to study and study, and revised it again and again until I was confident enough to take the exam and score cent per cent. This hidden ambition of faithful study and hard work to get the best result was not bad in a sense, at least, as a student learning Greek. And when I indeed took the test I knew all the answers well and was expecting another 100 score, but I got stuck with a silly matter. 

The definite articles which I knew so well, I just forgot one article; it just slipped out of my head. I had no reason to explain this. But I knew it was the Lord's dealing to prove me of what my teacher commented. And besides, I made a very stupid and silly mistake of "ς" and "ζ", replacing the former with the latter as they look similar too. The tough questions I could answer so well and correctly, and the simplest and repeated question, I made silly typo, and spent more time in the easier part than the tougher.What a paradox! 

And finally on submission of the answers, I lost 2 marks out of 100. This exactly proved what was commented of my comment, "Some of the learners here may wish to get everything right before they get the answer key and may feel hurt in pride if they do not." Initially I thought I never had this feeling nor would ever have such." Thank God for the prophetic comment and the life-lesson I learned through this silly typo. Not just a matter of marks nor Greek lesson, but a matter of my being.

This experience was very perfecting to me personally; to see and know who am I in my naturalness and the Lord's sovereignty in dealing with me. To be a faithful and diligent learner, yet to be humble and expect the Lord's blessing. To do my best, yet to God to leave the rest; and accept whatever He bestows.

This Greek silly typo is a serious training on lessons of life. The God of small and silly things is the God of serious and supreme things as well. He works in silly ways to gain the silly and the serious alike. Thank God for this "Greek : Silly Typo" life lesson!