With You All The Time

Acts 20:18, 20, 31

And when they came to him, he said to them, You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, 

How I did not withhold any of those things that are profitable by not declaring them to you and by not teaching you publicly and from house to house, 

Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease admonishing each one with tears.

The sincerity and genuineness of Paul was proven when he spoke his "farewell" speech to the elders of Ephesus in Miletus. His heart's content and desires were expressed in those loving words of exhortation mingled with life testimonies. No wonder, the hearts of the brothers were sorrowful when they knew it would be their last meeting ever as man with men. He had the ground and confidence to speak boldly how he shepherded the saints from house to house, right from the first day he set his foot in Asia; he visited the saints one by one, house to house, and was with them through thick and thin. What a testimony! A real pattern of shepherding and caring for the saints in the churches.

My lack in my service was fully exposed as I read and pondered these verses. Paul could declare that he was "with you(the saints) all the time." How about me? An enigma? Nevertheless, I was so encouraged by this solemn and sober words of Paul, "with you all the time." To whom can I say the same, to any saint(s) or any church(es)? May the Lord cover me and grace me that I may as well be able to live like Paul did, shepherding the saints one on one, day by day, house to house and testify one day that I too am indeed "with you all the time."

Moreover, he did not withhold any truths that would be beneficial to the saints. He taught them the healthy teaching of the ministry of the word, house to house as nursing mother nourishing her spiritual babes day by day. And he admonished them day and night even with tears. What a heart he had for the saints! Besides teaching, he was admonishing them even with tears. This reveals his deep desire for the saints growth and maturity that when words did not suffice, he wept for them out of burden; a deepest expression of one's concern for the truly beloved. And he did it faithfully, for three long years! What a shepherding heart he had! Perhaps, some did not listen to his admonishing, some would have rebelled, some would have been stubborn and slow to respond. Yet, even to those, his shepherding reaction was just to weep for them. If words did not suffice, he wept and prayed for them. What a man, what a pattern, what a shepherd!

Listening to these verses as expounded by a brother in a way of testimony touched my being so deeply. On the one hand it exposed me of my lack, and yet on the other hand, it encouraged me to reconsecrate myself to the Lord for the shepherding of the saints. I do not even have sufficient words to express the depth of the burden infused into me after this hearing of the word. I just pray that the Lord give me such a heart, such a burden, to care for the saints as He would and as Paul did. 

Lord, burden me with Your burden and grace me to shepherd Your flock, and intercede for them, even with tears.

Pray On Behalf

1 Timothy 2:1-3

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God,

On the 22 January morning I woke up praying for a political leader of India and for the party, that the Lord may have a way to carry on His move in this country. It was so surprising, as I never bothered to pray for people in politics with a preconceived notion in my unrenewed mind that politics is a dirty game and that I had nothing to do with it. But waking up with an intense burden for the national leaders, I can't help but prayed for them, especially for the one promising young turf of the ruling party who has been so much mocked and attacked by leaders of the other parties. That incident reminded me of my late maternal grandfather who would pray day and night for the same party when I was still a high schooler growing up under his strict care. At that time too I never understood why he had to pray for political leaders. It never clicked in me to pray for people in politics, albeit I follow the current affairs as regularly as I can, for awareness sake.

Later, in the evening I followed up on the speech made by the said young leader.He was so impressive and I felt it behoved praying for. As I pondered over this matter and the burden for prayer arose, the Lord reminded me of His word, "I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position." It is indeed my responsibility as a believer to pray on behalf of all who are in high position, much more, even as a citizen of the nation, as a man in the flesh, even tough, my real citizenship is in the heavens. 

The reason for praying on behalf of the those on high position is that " we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity." For the practical living out of a normal Christian life for the Lord to have an unhindered way to execute His eternal plan on this Satan usurped earth.

Recovery Version Bible Footnote on QUIET 

A quiet and tranquil life is one that is peaceable, still, and without disturbance, not only outwardly in circumstances but also inwardly in our heart and spirit. Such a life enables us to have an enjoyable church life in godliness and gravity.

http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=6631

If the rulers of the nation are not proper, there will never be peace in that country. Therefore, it behoves the believer to pray on behalf of them. That is to be a responsible citizen for the sake of God's interest on the nation, for the proclaiming of the gospel of peace, to bring salvation in the Name of Jesus Christ and discipling the nation for the fulfilment of God's purpose on this usurped earth. This also echoes the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth.

After the rebellion of Satan (Ezek. 28:17; Isa. 14:13-15), the earth fell into his usurping hand. Thus, the will of God could not be done on earth as in heaven. Hence, God created man with the intention of recovering the earth for Himself (Gen. 1:26-28). After the fall of man, Christ came to bring the heavenly rule to earth so that the earth could be recovered for God's interest, so that the will of God could be done on earth as in heaven. This is why the new King established the kingdom of the heavens with His followers. The kingdom people must pray for this until the earth is fully recovered for God's will in the coming kingdom age.

http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=229

Such inciting and inspiration by the Spirit to pray for national leaders is not to take side with any parties as such, but to stand in oneness with God for His will to be done on earth."This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God," therefore I must pray for the rulers too, and pray earnestly for the ones chosen by God to rule that His move may be unhindered, as "Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus the kind of Persia..Ezra 1:1."

"For (God)Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth." 

Lord, make me a faithful citizen to pray on behalf of kings and all who are in high position that we may live a normal Christian life in the normal church-life for the fulfillment of Your eternal purpose.

Except By Prayer

Matthew 17:21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. 

In the case of casting out of an epileptic demon, the disciple of the Lord faced a stiff opposition and were not able to cast out the demon. The Lord rebuked them of having too little faith, and the response He gave was  "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." 

In the work of the Lord, being in the spiritual battle field, I have faced many situations like this. The Lord was sovereign to allow me to go through such an experience which has always been a training session. The recent one was in the propagation in Jaipur. We have been offering prayers of various degrees and had propagated in this pink city. However, we could not see a solid breakthrough as yet. Albeit, many had been baptised but what we looked for, are local families who would take the stand for His testimony. Preaching the gospel, bringing people to salvation, even baptising them and setting up home meetings were done, but the local new believers who are stable spiritually and even otherwise is the lack, who could be the pillar of the church.

Two weeks ago, when I was there, a brother suggested that we fast and pray continuously for six hours, discerning the need of the situation. On that day we were supposed to go for a home meeting, but the Lord reminded me to cancel and stay back instead for a thorough prayer. I went out for personal time of Bible reading and prayer, and then with the saints corporately fast and prayed; the flow of the Spirit was so strong that I enjoyed it so much. Time was never a factor at all. Burdens were released one after the other; intercessions were made on  behalf of the ones already contacted, and binding and losing prayer was done corporately with a strong spirit. The flow of the Lord was so sweet yet so strong. And the result was imminent from that time on.

The next day, as we had home meeting with a seeker, who is a brother who loves the Lord and have been serving by faith, obeying the Lord's call, step by step, the flow of the Spirit was so strong. The Lord just flowed into us as life and flowed among us as life too. The fellowship went on from 3 PM in the afternoon till 9:45 PM in the night, approximately in proportion to the prayer time we had the day before. The fellowship was full of life's testimony, and full of truth on God's eternal purpose concerning Christ and the church; the standing, foundation, ground, fellowship, oneness, practices etc.. I just felt like the Lord had answered our prayer for the testimony in Jaipur. 

Moreover, he invited us for various group meetings, and even on the Lord's day he gave us the full freedom to minister the word as the Lord led. In all the meetings, the Spirit's move and anointing was very strong both from the ministering and the minstered ends. 

Besides, the Lord also led us to another family who loves the Lord so much. To this family too, the Lord gave us the Rhema word; they enjoyed the fellowship so much so that the fellowship went on and on. We ministered mostly from the ministry of the word the Lord has blessed His recovery with, to the extend that a sister willing volunteered to be a distributor of the ministry books in the city. 

All these ensued from God as the source of life and life-supply. Our sole responsibility was to be open vessels, cooperating with Him for His flow by much prayer and even by fasting. The Lord wants to move but His enemy has been opposing His move and that barrier need to be dealt with by us. Such move does not occur ordinarily, except by prayer and fasting.

With this experience, the Lord showed me something that would change my way of service to Him, especially in my locality where for long a definite breakthrough is yet to be witnessed. 

Lord, ever burden me for this kind of prayer and fasting, and grant me the grace to exercise so.

Beer-sheba and Rehoboth

The experiences of Isaac in Genesis 26 was full of God's blessings. Wherever he went, whatever he did, he was blessed by God. In fact, he was inheriting God's promised blessings to his father Abraham (vv. 3,4). Jehovah appeared to him and stopped him from going to Egypt, and he obeyed. And God promised blessings--"..I will be with you and will bless you...will give you all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.... I will multiply your seed...."

God's Blessings

Isaac obeyed Jehovah's counsel and he dwelt in Gerar (v.6) and the result was God's blessing upon blessings." And Isaac sowed in that land and gained in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him, And the man became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very rich (vv. 12,13)." Studying the context of these verses, the blessings of God was purely out of God as the fulfillment of His promised to Abraham and him, and was based on his obedience too. On the one hand it was God who blessed, yet on the other hand it was also man who cooperated with God for God to bless. When the two sides correlated, the blessings were forthcoming.

If God Blessed, We Are Blessed!

Wherever Isaac's servants dug wells, there were water, unlike if others would have dug. The same principle applied to all that belonged to or were related to Isaac. Because, Isaac had been promised to be blessed. No matter what he or his servant did, it commanded God's blessings. Truly indeed, if God blessed, we are blessed. It all depends upon God's blessings. This perhaps entails the fulfillment of the requirements for God's blessings. For Isaac's case, it was his obedience with God's promised blessings.

This matter touched my being deeply. In whatever we do, as children of God, the reality of the sons of Abraham, the promised seed, we are also promised the same blessings. Only if we obey God's speaking in His appearing to us, all the blessings are ours. God blesses as He is a God of blessings.

Rehoboth Versus Beer-sheba

Rehoboth

"...so he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, Now Jehovah has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land (v.22)."  Prior to this, whenever a well was dug and water found, there was a dispute; finally when there was no more dispute, it was called Rehoboth, meaning broad places or broad way. Perhaps, the deck was cleared for fruitfulness in the land. This was pretty much related to the dealing of negative things for man's peaceful existence. Though the wells dug had water, due to the dispute, the blessing could not be enjoyed. There was a need for a proper base to enjoy God's blessings. When one was found, it was named Rehoboth, very similar in line with the judicial aspect of God's salvation when all the negative thingswere finally dealt with by the Lord at the cross by the shedding of His precious blood, as signified by the blood that flowed out of His pierced side in John 19:34.

Beer-sheeba

When Isaac went upto Beer-sheba, Jehovah God appeared again.

Genesis 26:24,25,32b,33

"And Jehovah appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Do not be afraid, for I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your seed for My servant Abraham's sake.

And he built an altar there and called upon the name of Jehovah and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servant dug well.....

We have found water. And he called it Shibah. Therefore, the name of the city is Beer-sheeba to this day."

In Beer-sheeba, there was no dispute with any one. Instead, Abimelech came to make peace with him and made an oath, a covenant, with him as the former witnessed the blessing of God upon the latter. "We plainly see that Jehovah is with you; (v.28a) ..You are now the blessed of Jehovah (v.29b.)"

This was in line with the organic aspect of God's salvation, when one begins to enjoy God's deeper work of growth, transformation and building up for the fulfillment of God's need. A step forward from Rehoboth which dealt mostly with man's need. In this place, Beer-sheeba, Isaac had further experience of Jehovah in His reappearing to reconfirm the blessings promised. The additional things he did were very significant. He did mainly three things:

1. built an altar there 

2. called upon the name of Jehovah and 

3. pitched his tent there

These three things are for God's satisfaction and for fulfilling God's purpose on the earth.

Note: Being Blessed is Not Maturity

However, being blessed does in no way guarantee one is mature in life. For in the case of Isaac in Genesis 27, his immaturity was out-rightly manifested in his lack of discernment when a false plot was laid at him by his beloved Rebecca and son Jacob. Vice versa may be true instead. A mature person always fulfill the requirements for God's blessings. 

Healing Word

Today the Lord showed me something that would hardly catch my attention, if not in sobriety and hunger. Though my attitude toward healing, particularly that of physical, are less important because of the widespread misuse by the charismatics, mostly for name and fame, rather than the true spiritual healing intended for, the Lord balanced me in my viewpoint to freshly appreciate a genuine healing touch by the Lord's healing word.

In Mathew 8:16, "And when evening fell, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed, and He cast out the spirits with a word, and all those who were ill He healed," Here is a succinct record of the Lord's healing with the His healing words. What was that healed any? It was the Lord, by His word! He healed the ills by His word. This is very interesting. While majority holds the concept that only a "healer" or specially anointed one can heal, as it is a gift. Well, that's not biblically false either, but the healing factor is the Lord's word, the word of God Himself, the word as the definition, explanation and expression of God in Christ as the Spirit! Going by this fact, actually any believer who has the rhema word can experience healing and can also heal. O what a discovery!

Psalm 107:20, "He sent forth His word and healed them, And He delivered them from the pitch of destruction." It is the word of God that heals. To me this applies to all the three parts of our being, our spirit, soul and body. The word of God can heal the abnormality in the physical body. The word of God can also heal the anxiety in the psychological soul. And the word of God can heal all the anomalies in the spirit too. These facts are out from a very subjective experiences the Lord has been gracing me with all these years. He heals our whole being with His words. Hallelujah!

Here's another reason why the word must be loved, read, digested and be constituted with. When the Lord was tempted in Mathew 4 by the devil with the misquoted words, He rightly quoted corresponding words and defeated the tempter. And similarly in Mathew 8, the casting out of the spirits (evil) was with the word ensuing healing. The word not only feeds, quenches and supplies, but also heals.

Watch

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober; watch. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong.

The Lord's speaking is so direct and clear to me today. Many hours have been wasted in vanity of vanity chasing after the devil's bait, going a never ending merry-go-round in vicious circle.The devil knows too well how to lay trap and catch his prey. Therefore, I must be watchful. For the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour. This has been my experience time and again. A little looseness, a little spiritual slumber is sufficient to be looped into the circle of nowhere. With this shortcoming, the Lord, in His mercy, has given me a strong word today, in fact, reminding me of my need for watchfulness. "Be sober; watch."

The Lord said well to his disciples to watch and pray that they might not enter into temptation. He also taught us to pray in this way, "And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one- Matthew 6:13a". Often, I took it for granted the grace and protection of the Lord. And in such nominality, I bait myself a delicious prey to the devil. And the result at best is repentance, and mostly an indulgence of the flesh, inducting me into a life of Romans 7, when I should be triumphing in Romans 8 by living and walking according to the spirit. Nevertheless, this failure taught me lessons of life in minute detail. Perhaps, a lesson learned the hard way. 

Recently, a brother and I were setting up an FTP network for office data synchronization and for which the password he sent was a reference of 1 Corinthians 16:13. When I read the verse, I was revived afresh. It was so striking that it made my adrenaline pumping as I digested it. Moreover, the verse so emphatic and timely, "Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong." This is indeed should be my daily password to log into my daily living to have an access to the holy of holies. The initiation of this living is worth the lesson learned, "Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong."

These are wake-up calls from spiritual stagnancy to be vitalized for the Lord's present move. How I thank the Lord for this lesson and I pray that I daily may exercise to be watchful.

Lord, grace be to be watchful all the time and pray.

Streams in the Desert!

Beginning this year the speaking of the Lord ever has been, "Streams in the Desert!"

Isaiah 35: 6b For water will break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

This very verse, I have ministered and pray-read over and over again in the home meeting, small groups and in my official service fellowship. The Lord's word, even of old, is so fresh and living. Knowing the situation around me, both physical and spiritual, whether of family matter, personal or even the church, the scenery is that of  a "wilderness." But the Lord's speaking over and over again is, yes there may be desert and wilderness, but He will cause "water to break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert!"

When, in our official meeting, I chose Isaiah 35 for pray-reading, the Spirit flowed forth like torrent. All the brothers were filled with exultation of joy, of hope, of encouragement. We enjoyed the Lord's fresh speaking so much so that I even personally felt, all the plans for this year has already been accomplished, by faith. Similarly this  applied to our church brothers' fellowship and prayer. Ground reality may still seem we are roaming in the wilderness, but the Lord will cause "water to break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert!"

Today, in my reading of the word, the Lord echoed similar promise again. Isaiah 43:19b, 20b, "I will even make a way in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert,....Because I have given them water in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert, To give a drink to My people, My chosen ones."

What more can I say than a full hearted "Amen?" This truly is the Lord's speaking. What a grace, what a blessing! This is indeed becoming a mysterious hidden driving force for my service and living. All the names the Lord led me to jot down for prayer for specific answers are all of "wilderness" cases. In fact, many of those on my prayer list are, "hopeless" cases, to human observation, and I myself are often tempted to give them up, reasoning often, if I am wasting my time on them. But the inner voice whispers, "streams in the desert." This strengthened me to continue to bear all those on my list to continue to pray and intercede until there indeed is a bright shining manifestation of "streams in the desert." 

Lord, hasten that day.

Stranger-Brother

Two days ago we were privileged to host a stranger from a far away land, a brother who was saved from a religious background, who had the burden to serve the Lord among his own community, untouched and unreachable, till date, but had to serve in an institution to make a living on humanitarian ground to feed his family of six. It was all a surprise visit; at the first meeting when he arrived at night with just a bag and shabbily dressed, my natural mind wondered in discernment, if I had the right discretion to host him or sent him back. But as we fellowshipped, things became much clearer, though I dare not say it was crystal clear. When in an exercised spirit the Lord reminded me of my responsibility to take care of him in all that I possibly could. With no second thought, dinner was gotten and bed made ready. It was a surprise visit, yet it truly was something of the Lord, time will reveal it in His appointed time.

This reminds me of Jehovah God visiting Abram in Genesis 18, and this was also my Bible reading portion yesterday, after the brother left. And this also is an answer to my prayer as I want to be more hospitable, so the Lord sent him? Till now, I could not still figure out how a strange whom I never met and not even knew, suddenly decided to come a 12 hours journey by bus in this cold winter and landed to my home in the night by faith. What if he could not contact us, or somehow missed the way, as he came for here for the first time? Viewing his side of the story, I really appreciate the faith he had in the Lord and in us, my brothers and me, though we never met before.

And as a brother and I went to see him off when eh decided to go back the next day after adequate fellowship, he was very frank to open up his real situation that he did not even have enough money to go back home even. To this, a little room was again given to "discernment" of his genuineness, but the Lord immediately reminded me that He has blessed me enough, and even more than what I really needed, so I must take care of the need of others. In fact, before this stranger-brother came, I had a fellowship with a brother concerning helping others financially- its pros and cons and the how, when and why. The conclusion we had was, according to the Lord's blessings and leading. So here's the time to practically exercise the truth and revelation the Lord has revealed. So, without any hesitation, the Lord's blessing was shared with this brother's urgent need. O what a sweet Christian brotherly fellowship! And what a grace to be able to share God's grace with the needy, especially my brothers in Christ.

This stranger-brother is no more a stranger. He is a dear brother in the Lord, and the Lord has sent him to fellowship with us for His purpose. The seed has been shown and one day, the Lord's blessings will be fully manifested in that part of the country where he belong. Though that may be a sensitive political zone as far as the country is concerned, but the Lord will have His testimony among the many chosen from that community in that land to be the "good land!"

Lord, thank You for the visitation of grace through a "stranger-brother."

Tears of Love

Its long since I deeply touched the love of God and loved Him in return even to the point of shedding tears of love. Perhaps, this is emotional, so be it. God has given man emotion so that man can love Him with the first and best love. 

Recently a sister, in her desperateness of life, texted me what she should do to please the Lord. My response was innate. Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." And the Lord confirmed it emphatically that, "This is the great and first commandment," verse 38.

This matter of loving the Lord has been neglected by many, even among the redeemed and called, yes, and even among those who serve "full-time." The greatest danger in a Christian life is the falling away from loving the Lord. Sometimes, many Christians and Christian workers are too much engulfed in their so called "work" for God(?) to the extent that they forget loving Him altogether. What does the Lord require of us, except to love Him? Of course, "works" will ensue out of the love for Him, not otherwise, nor vice versa. Even still, loving the Lord must be above all, and nothing between us and the Lord.

When the Lord called me in January 1, 2004, through this striking rhema verse, Deuteronomy 10:12, "And now, O Israel, what does Jehovah your God ask of you except that you fear Jehovah your God so that you would walk in all His ways and love Him and serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul," I fully could not really understand it deeper beyond giving up my career and my earthly future to serve Him full time. But somehow, though I have been in His service since then, till today by His mercy, often, I have to confess, I love the Lord's work more than the Lord Himself, the ministry of His word more than the Lord Himself, the many experiences and enjoyments of the Lord more than the Lord Himself, or even sinners and the believers more than the Lord Himself, or even the blessings of God more than the Lord Himself, even spiritual things more than the Lord Himself. There are many replacements of the Lord Himself. Not to mention the world, sins and satanic temptation; the very things of God are, many times, real replacement of the Lord Himself. These days, in fact, today, the Lord touched me deeply about the object of my love : the Lord or anything else? 

A hymn composed by one of my maternal uncles, a dear brother in the Lord and once upon a time, my local guardian when I was a student in Shillong, who dearly loves the Lord and an ardent seeker of the truth, has touched me in a very fresh and deep way. The hymn is titled, "Hon ngai ing e, Toupa Jesus," meaning, "I love You Lord Jesus." Listening to this hymn of a very subjective, affectionate, intimate, personal love and longing for the Lord as a dear pants for water in thirst, convicted me of my nominal love for the Lord all these years. I repented in tears for my mundane, pale and hypocritical love for the Lord. It refreshed my love for the Lord anew. I just echoed the hymn and offer my fresh love offering to the Lord in tears. "Lord, I love You. Forgive my lovelessness." On and on, I could not help releasing my tears of love for the Lord. The Lord truly is lovely, yes, so lovely.

Nothing can quench my love for the Lord. Though God blessed me and has been blessing me according to His riches, beyond all that I could even ever asked for. He blesses and blesses, even though I don't really ask Him. But even these blessings does not quench the thirst, hunger and love for Christ Himself. The more the physical or spiritual blessings, the more my hunger, thirst and love for Him grows. All "these things" are no comparison to the Lord Himself who surpasses everything physical, psychological and even spiritual. Only the Lord Himself can satisfy me completely, and nothing else. He is worth everything--my first love and my best love. To shed tears of love and offer up myself to Him fully cannot realize the love for Him fully. He is worth everything. To shed tears of love is no price compare to the Lord Himself. Even if I be martyred, still this is not sufficient, not that I should not be, but mentioning of His worth. Nevertheless, to shed tears of love is not less worth. I opine, the more the better, for He is truly lovely and He must be loved with the best, even with tears of love....

Lord, I love You! 

Time of Life

Genesis 18:

10:I will certainly return to you according to the time of life,

11:Is anything too marvelous for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life,...

The Lord's speaking and His unfailing promise is He will certainly fulfill what He promised according to the time of life. The time of life was the time of God's visitation, according to the context. The same is true of the rhema word. The time of life of God fulfilling His promise is when we are ready for the fulfillment and when God's timing is ripe too.

Nothing is too marvelous for Jehovah. What is needed is only the eyes of faith to see through. Similarly these days, though the Lord has promised many things, they are not promptly manifested or bestowed. But I am not discouraged. For it will be according to the time of life. Often I questioned myself and the Lord why many things I perceived by faith are not yet a reality. Be it spiritual matters of the church or myself, or even something physical. 

For instance, one of the main burdens of the church, including myself and many other saints, is to gain increase in life and in number. Many prayers have been offered and much effort has been made. But the result does not seem forthcoming as expected. Instead, many times, it appears traversing a downhill. Sometimes, the human mind reasons and questions to tally the burden with the result. This often is disappointing. Nevertheless, the Lord's speaking is crystal clear, it will happen according to the time of life.

How I wish that time of life is now. Perhaps, a natural desire of instant result? But the Lord knows best. After this speaking from the Lord, I would patiently labor and wait on the Lord for the time of life. Nothing indeed is too marvelous for the Lord. In His time and when we are ready, or rather when I am ready, He will fulfill all His promises one by one.

Lord, I need your visitation day by day as much as You indwelt me. I believe in Your word, nothing is too marvelous for You; all the prayer burdens will be fulfilled in Your time. All that You will, will be done according to the time of life. Lord, hasten that time!

Double Blessing

This new year the church in Gurgaon has a burden for every saints to enter into the holy word of the Bible and read through the text in a year; which means to read at least 3 from the old and 1 from the new testament. My innate response was that I have been pursuing my own schedule and that I need not bear another load. But after the 31st night special burden fellowship and consecration I decided to pick up this "extra load". My, from day one, it was such a tremendous blessing to me!

I still am continuing my regular pursuing with a deeper and serious studying on the text and the notes; and apart from that as I entered into the church's burden too, I received a double blessing. an "extra load", an extra blessing! Every chapter I read had something new and rhema for me. I really thanked the Lord for this "extra load", which redeemed my time and make me more disciplined. In fact, this is no "extra load" at all, instead its a blessing upon blessings.

For instance, last night in my bearing of the "extra load" I read Matthew 5:22-24. Immediately the Lord spoke to me to text these verses to two elders brothers who were not in good terms with one another. Almost half a decade ago, the Lord graced me to shepherd these brothers even unto the recovery of the church life in that locality. Later, the enemy's attacks became very severe, but the Lord's testimony shine all the more brighter. The elder ones became somewhat dull but the Lord raised up the younger generation with much vigor and vitality with full functionality as member of the Body of Christ. These offended brother even call to complaint his disagreements in many mysterious issues, but my only response was to give ear to what he had to say and cherished him to fellowship and reconcile with the brother who offended him, unknowingly and unintentionally. Last night, when I read these verse, the Lord's leading was to text the same to the two. Which I did, leaving the outcome to the Lord.

Even in the matter of prayer, propagation, shepherding and home visits, though I have been carrying them out, with the Lord's fresh speaking through the church, I coordinated with brothers for visiting the saints and the new ones. From day one, at least a scholar was brought to salvation. Another family was revived through a simple family visit where we fellowshiped and prayed together, and another two senior citizen new believers were very much vitalised. Whenever the Lord speaks to the church or through the church, blessed are they who hear what the Lord said and obeyed. And I am graced to enjoy this blessing of being one with the church and the Lord. O what a blessing! A double blessing indeed.

Righteousness

These days the Lord's speaking to me is concerning "righteousness." Again and again, the Lord reminded me of righteousness, be it in my reading of the word from the old testament or from the new, be it in experience or what's happening in Delhi, the capital city; a party whose propaganda is righteous coming to power from nowhere. Truly, the Lord is working among the nation and mankind, and He is speaking to His children, even me, through the logos or rhema or even through the socio-political-economic atmosphere.

Isaiah 32

15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is considered to be a forest.

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness will remain in the fruitful field;

17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the result of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.

The only righteous one is God Himself. This Righteous One was incarnated as a Man, Jesus Christ, and passing through death and resurrection, now to us today, He is the Spirit, "the Spirit is poured upon us from on high." The Righteous One is in the believers as their righteousness. "And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the result of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." The whole world is teeming with unrighteousness, and the issue of such is restlessness and uncertainty forever. 

God is a God of righteousness, His throne is founded on righteousness and He will not tolerate any unrighteousness. To believers or unbelievers, to all men alike, He rules on the principle of righteousness. Unbelievers can pursue righteousness  objectively without really experiencing the Righteous One, still, in His mercy, God blessed them. These days, my fellowship with an aspiring bureaucrat is on this very matter where the majority of the already appointed bureaucrats have failed. Greed and lust have blind their eyes of the importance of righteousness, and they are trapped in the web of unrighteousness, which is a well known open-secret of corruption. May the Lord raise up young generation, men of God, to stand for truth and justice and walk the talk of righteousness.

1 Peter 3

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His bears incline to their petition; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

13 And who will harm you if you become zealous for what is good?

When one is filled with the zeal of God who is a Righteous one and stands and fights for righteousness, the Lord's grace and protection will sure be with him, this I say, in the context of humanity in social welfare. The same applies to all realms. For God is a God of righteousness.

Having been spoken too, through the word by the Lord, I helplessly recline at the Lord's bosom for more grace, that I may walk the talk and live the word spoken to. 

Lord, You are my righteousness. So be You, forever.

New in Christ 2014

The Lord has wonderfully led me through to the new year. Successes and failures and many things both positive and negative have been experienced, and through all these the Lord caused me to learn more from Him and gain more of Him. Looking back, I received much much more blessings than things not so encouraging. Even my weaknesses and failures were a great help to me, making me know who I am in the flesh that I more earnestly may pursue Christ.

In the local church here in Gurgaon, we came together for prayer and fellowship on specific burdens  and had consecration prayer for each burden released. The Lord's timely speaking to us and among us as a church were so basic and practical. It comprises of Shepherding, Propagation, Morning Revival, Bible Reading, Prayer, Truth Pursuing, Home Meetings and Offering. Though these were common and day to day matter, the Lord's speaking was so fresh and new. As we fellowshiped and prayed through to the new year, I personally felt so revived. The Lord loves us so much and He has been leading us forward step by step.

After such fellowship, I enjoyed my personal time with the Lord in the word again. The Lord's further speaking was full of hope and encouragement. Isaiah 35

Assurance of fruit bearing: 

1 The wilderness and the desert will be glad; And the desert will exult and blossom Like the rose.

2 It will blossom and blossom, And even exult with exultation and a ringing shout. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The splendor of Carmel and Sharon; They will see the glory of Jehovah, The splendor of our God.

Word of shepherding:

3 Strengthen the weak hands, And confirm the shaking knees.

4 Say to those who are of anxious heart, Be strong; fear not; Indeed your God Will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.

Hope of salvation:

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped;

6 Then the lame will leap like a hart, And the tongue of the dumb will give a ringing shout; 

Promise of blessing:

For water will break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

7 And the desert mirage will become a pool, And the thirsty ground, springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, their resting place, There will be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway will be there, and a way, And it will be called, The Way of Holiness. The unclean will not pass on it, But it will be for him who walks on the way; No fools will err in it.

9 There will be no lion there, Nor will any ravenous animal go up on it; They will not be found there; But the redeemed will walk on it.

Promise of recovery:

10 And the ransomed of Jehovah will return And will come to Zion with a ringing shout, And eternal joy will be upon their heads. They will lay hold on gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

The Lord had burdened me to pray for different category of people. For those not yet saved; for those who are saved and are backslidden, for those who are saved yet not in the normal church life, and for those who are newly saved and need shepherding care. For all these categories of people whom He burdened me to pray for, He gave me the timely words of blessing. Hallelujah!

In oneness with the church's burden, my time spent in the word and in prayer intensified- in fact doubled. The Lord's indeed graced me to be in pace with His present move. Where the will of God leads the grace of the Lord supplies. A blessed new year indeed in Christ.