Trained Men

Genesis 14: 14 And when Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and pursued as far as Dan.

Abram fought for his brother Lot and recovered him from the captivity. That was a historical fact. But how could he do that? Yes, it was God's sovereignty behind the scene, a hidden intercessor, for both Lot and Abram. But more practically, in humanity, Abram had "trained men" whom God could use. Perhaps, one may argue that even without his trained men if God wanted to recover something He still could do it. Perhaps, yes. And may also be, no. God works in the principle of incarnation. He needs men to cooperate with Him, and very unlikely, God would do miracle in lieu of using men on earth. Therefore, for God to be able to use us anytime, anywhere, we must be "trained men" ever ready to cooperate with God in His move.

Today, we don't fight with flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. We fight the spiritual warfare by prayer. As Christ, our heavenly Intercessor, is interceding for us, we must cooperate with Him and intercede for the brother, fight for the brother by daily, intercessory prayer. We must be "trained men" of prayer for the sake of God and His eternal purpose.

The need of the hour is to be "trained men" including us and the saints in prayer to pray and intercede for the saints and the churches and the Lord's move on the earth. This matter impressed me so much, it became by prophesy in the meeting and also in the home meeting. 

Lord, train me to be Your "trained man" to fight for the brother.

Recovery : Lost and Found (Things)

This morning as we assembled together for brothers' fellowship I discovered that my official Transformer Trio Laptop was stolen. Immediately, we had a fellowship with the saints who took care of new ones' meeting last night. On detail investigation we boiled down to two "suspects" who also attended the meeting last night. It was a real life test of how we would deal with a situation like this. We prayed and looked to the Lord for wisdom how to handle this case, and that we may learn what the Lord wanted us to learn. Then we formed a team of four brothers who would further investigate and confirm the real culprit. 

Firstly we checked on the real suspect on his word last night saying that he had to submit official papers to his associate office and left earlier in hast. But on on-site visit and enquiry we confirmed that he lied. Then we went to a showroom where he claimed to work. There too we confirmed that he didn't turn up for work either. These two trials gave us enough evidences of who the culprit really was. Thirdly, we further went to meet his friend who was also present last night, and on frank conversation, he gave more clues that the former one was the culprit. Fourthly, we called this suspect from a different phone number which he didn't pick up, but he called back to find out who called him. Then having enough evidences, we spoke to him politely to return the stolen laptop. Though he tried to hide his identity, his tone and phone number matched him. Later, he called back another acquaintance, other brother, and we spoke and tried to convince him to return the laptop. Still he pretended as though he knew nothing about it. But the more he defended himself, the more suspicious he became to us. Left with no more option, we just politely requested him to return back the stolen laptop as we were very much confirmed that he was the one. Finally, we gave up all human method of recovering the lost laptop.

Along with the brothers in one accord we all prayed that the Lord would forgive him, convict him, and perfect us in dealings with case like this. We left the rest to the Lord. But deep within me the Lord confirmed again and again that the lost thing will be recovered.  I also left fully to the Lord's wise hands. Later, he called up to inform that the lost laptop was with his friend and he would bring it back. The Lord did touch his conscience and he decided to return it back.

In the afternoon, brothers went to meet him and he returned the laptop with deep regret and remorse. As fellowshipped, instead of accusing him, he was shepherded. And the laptop was recovered back, and on this same system is this blog typed.

This case taught us some important principles in propagation and shepherding new ones. The fault is on our side too as we have not been wise enough, and carelessly gave ground to the enemy by not securing things with us. This also taught us to be more discerning of all the new ones. When God blesses with spiritual fruits the enemy is not silent either. Along with the wheat also grows tares. We must rightly discern and take appropriate action.

Overall, it was an experience of recovery of things lost and found. Our Christian life and the church life will have many experiences like this; a recovery of what was lost, and now found, in persons, matters and things.

Firewall

Zechariah 2:5 For I will  be her wall of fire round about, declares Jehovah, and I will be glory within her.

This morning I was beckoned with the sad news of the enemy's attack on one of the our entities that serves the Lord. My innate response was that this was expected and it was the enemy's direct attack on the Lord's work. I was not peaceful within and groaned that the Lord would cover us with His blood. As I began to read the word as usual, the Lord's speaking was exactly on the same matter I was inwardly praying for. Zechariah 2:5 For I will  be her wall of fire round about, declares Jehovah, and I will be glory within her. This faithful soothing word was, Jehovah would be a wall of fire around us. And He indeed is and will ever be.

Come what may, we will march on as Christian soldiers as to war. The Lord is with us and no plan of the enemy will succeed. Only the Lord is our covering, and only He will triumphantly lead us through, against all odds. The best and only Protector is the Lord Himself, and in Him only we hide and abide. He is our firewall against "hackers and spammers, bugs and viruses." His blood will clean the "system" and normalized it. And all year round and all day long, He will be a wall of fire around us keeping us healthy and functioning for His purpose.

Recovery : Lost and Found (Persons)

Luke 15: 24 Because this son of mine was dead and lives again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to be merry.

In this journey of life, the God of Palmei, who has called me and led me step by step has also been leading me through ups and downs, passing through different phases of life experience; all the while, learning Christ, loving Christ and living Christ. All these precious experiences have been golden opportunities for me to gain Christ and be gained by Christ. What a blessing! Every situation is God's operation in me; every disappointment is God's appointment with me.

A couple of brothers who had been living with me for a while had left with a very negative note. This experience was very painful at heart and deep within I have been bleeding and weeping for these brothers. Their names have been wrought in my tongue and inscribed in the table of my heart. Almost every prayer I prayed are intercessory prayer for them, till today. Every time, I only kept hearing ill reports concerning these brothers which pained me deeply. Nevertheless, I never gave up on them as I know the Lord would never give up on any one however worst the case may be.  But the Lord is the judge and the perfect time keeper. He does all things good in His time.

Recently, while on my knees, the Lord led me to call one of these brothers. As I spoke to him the joy of the Lord filled me as the Lord confirmed that my prayer for this particular brother has indeed been answered. He narrated to me of all what transpired in his life, and how the Lord is now cooling him down to gaze on green pastures. With much concern, I encouraged him to enjoy the Lord by contacting Him everyday, coming to His word and into His presence by prayer. The fellowship over the phone in the humanity of Jesus was so sweet. Him, I though was lost has actually been found! Praise the Lord who is on the throne!

Another brother who had lived with us for his studies and who has become one among us in brotherly Christian love and also a distant relative, was also on my list of prayer everyday. Since he came to reside with us, the Lord began to work intensely on him; his love for the Lord, the word and  the fellowship and prayer of the brothers in the church life grew very much. The Lord began to bless him as his wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Gradually, the Lord led him to clear a very competitive exam, level by level. All the while in all the stages, we have often prayed together over the phone, claiming the righteousness of Christ and standing on the righteousness of Christ. Every time we conversed, we prayed together taking Christ as our all in all.  And finally, today he called to informed that the Lord led him to clear this tough exam to become a bureaucrat! What can I say except, "Halleluiah Praise the Lord!" 

Additional reasons for praise is, this clearance is very unique, free from the usual dirty practice of bribery at  the final interview stage, in Manipur! From the very beginning I have fellowshipped that no unrighteous means should even be considered. Better a loser in righteousness than a winner in corruption. Once the base is righteous, all that follows can also be righteous in Christ. He took the fellowship and did not succumb to the usual unrighteous approach of gaining favor from man, but trusted in the Lord only and absolutely. So, the Lord blesses...

My own brother too has gone for a while, but my prayer never left him. Personal or family prayer, his name will always flow out of our lips, including my wife and children of 6 and 4 years respectively, in our family prayer time. Occasional attempt to call him never worked, as my call would not be answered for some reason. But I kept messaging now and then whenever the Lord gave me specific verse for him. This time, my wife and I, in one accord wants to help our family in building construction and we agreed upon a large sum out of the Lord's provision and blessing. This matter brought all my family together. In fact, my prayer was that the Lord should bless us in one accord, to stand together in anything we do. Finally, after a long wait, the time has come wherein we can work together for the Lord's purpose through our family. As I fellwoshipped with my brother and prayed together, the joy of the Lord filled me. Deep within, the Lord confirmed too, that my prayer was answered. And to confirm further, the Lord spoke to me tonight from Luke 15: 24 Because this son of mine was dead and lives again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to be merry.

Becoming Nothing

For God to fulfill His purpose, the seed and the land typifying the all inclusive Christ as the consummated Spirit mingled and co-working with man, is needed. But for this reality, man must receive much grace from the Lord so that Christ as the seed can be wrought into him and lived out as the land. 

In real life, the fulfillment of this requires much more experiences. We are born as a natural man in sin; he that is born of the flesh is flesh. All that constitutes us is sin. And at best, is the natural man with all its ethic and morality. But the Lord cannot use our un-dealt natural man, however good or spiritual it may be. Therefore, the need for more grace to be dealt with by the Lord to become nothing that God can work Himself into our being.

Becoming nothing is not as simply as it is easier to become something. What we have gained, learned and attained all these years constitutes us as "I, mine, me and myself." Be it societal, political, religious, communal, secular, cultural, economical, academical or professional, everyone has his share of the natural man. And that natural man must be dealt with and reduced to nothing. For God cannot use our natural man to fulfill His purpose. He can use only Christ that is brought forth out of God being wrought into us. Therefore, the need to become nothing by the Lord's mercy is of utmost importance.

This is something easier said than done. Even to me, I need to receive more mercy and grace from the Lord to become nothing. On the one hand, we are becoming God in life and nature but not in the godhead, but on the other side, we must become nothing in our natural man to give room for God to work. It may sound paradoxical, but its indeed true and proven over time. We must become nothing in our natural man to become God in life and in nature but not in the godhead.

This mysterious truth is a hard lesson to take, but the mercy of the Lord is sufficient. I was so touched by this matter this morning. "Becoming Nothing?" Yes, becoming nothing by God's grace for God to work Himself into me and making me become God in life and in nature, but not in the godhead. Only when one becomes nothing, God can work freely and fully to bring forth Christ that will fulfill God's purpose.

God's Appearing

Abraham, till today, is called the father of faith. But to me, he has no faith at all. The only reason he could have faith was because of God's repeated appearing to him again and again. Every time God appeared to him, something would be initiated and accomplished. God's appearing was his one and only source of faith.

Similarly today, as believers, no one really have faith out from his own being. The only source of faith is God Himself. I do not have any faith either. The only reason I can trust in God and have faith in Him is because of His appearing to me time and again and infusing Himself into me. The more one receives the appearing of God, the more of God is infused into him and that infused element of God in him becomes the believing element, faith. This is how one has faith, if he has it at all.

Two weeks ago I was so enlightened by this point of God's appearing. It also became my prophesy on the prophesying meeting on the Lord's day. But the question is, "How can we have God's appearing?" Of course, it would be a folly to expect the physical appearing of God as in the days of old, the old testament time. However, the principle of God's appearing still holds true till today, and even unto eternity.  In my subjective experience, God appears to us in many ways, in fact, in the ways we can see Him the best. God appears to us in our time with the Lord, in coming to the Word, in the church meeting, in fellowship, and many other ways. We only need a discerning spirit to discern rightly the appearing of God.

Many a times while on my knees, the Lord appeared to me. This description is beyond human utterance. I only knew it for sure what God was intimately fellowshipping with me. When in spirit I can discern the spiritual things. Often I would kneel before Him with my queries, and after thorough prayer over it, the answer was instantaneous. This intimate fellowship with the Lord infused more of God into me and that becomes my believing element of faith. The more I see Him in His appearing to me, the more I gain Him and my faith increases.

As much as I read the Word of God too, the Lord speaks through the word. Many times the logos became the rhema to me, and God's speaking in His Word became my faith. The Bible is a guaranteed legal  and formal document of God's confirmation on many matters related to my life and His purpose. Everyday as I come to the word, my faith grows. So the word is a good source of gaining faith too.

Also in fellowship with the saints, in big meetings and small ones too, and in one one one fellowship too, something of God would be dispensed and infused into me, depositing in me the element of faith. The fellowship may be small or big in scale or in time duration, but God sure does impart something of God into me.

In fact, there are many ways God can appear to us and to receive God's appearing, one must be exercised to come to the word daily, spent time regularly in prayer and attend as many meetings and fellowships as possible. These are the ways and means through which God appears to us and infuses Himself into us to be our faith.

Lord, appear to me daily by all means and through all ways; and be my faith.

Eliezer, Ishmael and Isaac

Genesis 15:

2 And Abram said, O Lord Jehovah, what will You give me, for I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?

3 And Abram said, Since You have given me no seed, therefore, a servant in my house is my heir.

4 But then the word of Jehovah came to him, saying, This man shall not be your heir, but he who will come out from your own body shall be your heir.

God had promised Abraham that He would bless him with a seed. The promised seed physically was someone to be born out of him. However, he could not believe in what God had promised. He assumed that since he was aged and past fertility period, he proposed Eliezer, his servant, to be his heir. But God emphatically denied and promised that the promised seed must be out from his own body.

Later, in order to help God in fulling the promise, he bore a son out of Hagar, his wife Sarah's maid servant. Though this seemed closer to be his genuine heir in comparison to Eliezer his servant, still God rejected. The promised seed must be born of a legitimate wife, not a maid. However, for that to fulfill both of them were impotent to bear any child. That was a true test.

But the Lord was faithful and He fulfilled His promise in His own time. When there was no way out with all that man could possibly do, God came in and made possible what was impossible. 

Reflecting on this passage, with the help of the ministry of the word, I was so enlightened to see that God do not need anything of what we already have to fulfill His purpose. Nor does He need us to generate or produce something out of our natural strength and ability. What He does need is for us to fully open to Him that He can work Himself into our being. Only what He wrought into our being can be used by Him to fulfill His purpose on the earth. 

Today evening, as I was praying and reconsidering the fruit of all these years of labor in the church, I was very discouraged that nothing significant have happened. However, I was very encouraged in the fact that He would work Himself into me deeper and deeper and gain me more and more. And the issue will be the real Isaac for the fulfillment of God's purpose. In fact, as I was praying all those on the prayer list, the Lord touched me to call some of them, and whomever I called were all preserved by the Lord. They all have gone through certain situations in life, mostly down and negative, but through and through they have learned something of Christ. Their telephonic responses confirmed that now the light is dawning and they are on the path of spiritual progress. Prayer really works. And that too, prayer not of the natural man but those burdened by the Lord; not of Eliezer nor Ismael but Isaac, something truly out of the Lord.

Character Lesson : Exact

Approximation is a thief of accuracy. There has been a trending character among many, not excepting me, of approximating and assuming things. This is a common and normal character widely accepted. However, to the children of God this should not be acceptable. But the fact is, it takes some learning to really be exact and accurate at least in important matters.

I have been learning this lesson the hard way round. By my fallen nature, I approximate numbers and statistic very lightly, and on events and matters, I assume things too hastily. These are character flaws. The Lord recently gave some good lessons of character.

For instance, while reporting for my wife and children to FRRO Gurgaon as every non-Indian passport holders are legally required to do, I assumed that filling for my wife sufficed for the children, thereby I filled an online form for her only mentioning the other three children. Basically I assumed that filling for the mother sufficed that of the children. As I went to the office, registration was accepted only for her, while for the children I had to redo online form filling one by one. Had I done thoroughly for all at the first go, I would have saved a day of redoing for the children as well. I got to learn my lesson well.

Yet again, a brother fellowshipped for a visit to Dehradun without final confirmation of the detail. I assumed everything would be fine and I could just go ahead. In fact, I even fellowshipped with the brothers of going. Later, I discovered that the matter of visit was a proposal and not a solid and serious matter. The Lord exposed me of my looseness in presuming things so soon without waiting for confirmation.

This is a lesson I am still learning. To be exact in figures and numbers, in reports and statistical records and even in finance matter, I must not approximate things and assume anything.

Half a Shekel

Exodus 30: 

12 When you take the sum of the children of Israel, according to those of them who are numbered, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to Jehovah, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.

13 This they shall give, everyone enrolled with those who are numbered, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as a heave offering to Jehovah.

14 Everyone enrolled with those who are numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the heave offering of Jehovah.

15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than the half shekel, when you give the heave offering of Jehovah to make expiation for your souls.

16 And you shall take the expiation silver from the children of Israel and shall give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before Jehovah to make expiation for your souls.

This morning as we pursued the Life-Study of Exodus, Message 155, I was newly enlightened to see the deeper meaning of propitiation silver offered to Jehovah by the male, of age twenty and above as heave offering as memorial to Jehovah, half a shekle each one, not more, not less.

Half a shekel, is the portion of temple tax given to the Temple as commanded in the book of Exodus, still held valid fifteen hundred years after, even during the time of the Lord Jesus. It was a mandatory tax paid by all the children of Israel who were qualified to be the army of God.

Qualifications for Half a Shekle Temple Tax Assessee :

• Male : Male signifies the stronger believers. It is not gender based in spiritual application. The stronger believers are those who are strong in their spirits and actively living out Christ in their daily living.
• Twenty Years Plus: This signifies maturity in life and have grown to certain level as to be able to be formed as God's army. 
• Half a Shekle Silver : A standard temple tax to be offered by those who would be formed as the army of God. This just a small amount, meaning, God's requirement from His children is minimal and is practical for all to offer.
• Heave Offering : An offering signifying the ascension of Christ; to be offered in the resurrection and ascension of Christ typifying the offering of the highest experience of Christ.
• Memorial : A memorial is a pleasant matter. In the sight of God, the half-shekel paid by the children of Israel drafted into His army was a memorial.
• Tent of Meeting : The payment of the half-shekel in Exodus 30 was a kind of tax. This tax was used by God to accomplish two things. 
• First, God used this tax to collect silver for the building up of the tabernacle. From Exodus 38:25-28 we learn that the silver from this tax, the propitiation silver, was used to make the hundred sockets for the pillars of the tabernacle and also to make the caps, the hooks, and the fillets. 
• Second, God used this tax to accomplish the formation of an army. Therefore, through the single matter of the half-shekel payment God did something for the building of the tabernacle and the formation of the army.

Today, the Lord requires that all the believers enjoy Him that we may be "male", strong in spirit and be grown to maturity, attaining the standard age of "twenty and above", spiritually mature enough to be drafted into the Army of God. These entails that every believers live a normal Christian life of eating and drinking the Lord every day and growing in the divine life. And as we enjoy the Lord in such a normal way, we must offer "half a shekle" each towards the "temple" building. This is just a normal and minimal requirement of offering our best experience of Christ as a "heave offering." And such offerings are to be used for the building up of the tabernacle.  

This is the burden these days that all the saints function normally for the building up of the Body of Christ. Each saint offering "half a shekle" emphatically means that each saint function equally, not too much nor too less. Too much functioning may lead to a "clergy" class and too less a "laity", thereby producing the "clergy-laity" system, which is the degraded system of Christianity. 

Each saint functioning is the way for the Lord to fulfill His purpose on earth. This is the Lord's recovery of recovering every saint's function, equally and normally for the Building up of His Body.

Character Lesson : Flexibility

This month the Lord graced me to learn the lesson of flexibility with much patient. I, by nature, am a person with set standards and prefer to do things as planned and systematically and persistently until it is satisfactorily done. Well, that's just I, me and myself. In walking with the Lord, the Lord often bothers me and touches me to be more flexible as per the situation at hand. This month, in almost all my plans to do things, I was adjusted a lot. I am learning a lesson that is not very easy to learn.

I had plans for official works, family matters, church affairs and shepherding and some personal works. None of these worked out exactly as I planned, in timing nor in methods of execution. In every instance, the Lord adjusted me in either the time or the way or in both, how to accomplished them. Often I was tempted to just go ahead and do as I planned but the Lord did not give me peace at all. When I paused and prayed for a moment reconsidering my ways, I was chided inwardly that I rather be obedient to the instant anointing and leading of the Spirit and be submissive to the Lord's leading and be flexible. Finally I succumbed to the inward and innate reaction to all my plans. 

Later, when an opportune time did arrive to execute what I had planned, I discovered the joy of waiting for the proper timing. It turned out that in being flexible in following the Lord for minute and major matters the blessing hand of the Lord was there. In fact, things turned out much better than had I done it my ways and my time. The Lord's timing was perfect and His way, the best. In reflecting back of what had transpired, if I had forced my way ahead, I would have missed all the joys and the blessings the Lord secretly had attached in His ways and timings.

Lord, grace me to be flexible in following You step by step.

God's Blessings

God is the source for every blessing. The blessings of God are always all-inclusive. Spiritual blessings and physical blessings supplements and compliments each other. It would be a paradox if one claims spiritual blessings with no physical manifestation of such blessings in one form or the other. A pauper may praise God for his poverty, but that perhaps, may be a preliminary propaganda and prerequisite for more provisions. Nevertheless, I dare not deny that one cannot be joyful in poverty; for poverty may be of various kind. But in a very real sense, one who is blessed by God cannot be in poverty, for poverty is the lack of something. Any one blessed of and by God is full and rich in spirit, though he may seem to be poor outwardly and he will always be self-sufficient at least. 

The Lord's sovereign blessings upon our family is also very rich and unsearchable. In addition to all the spiritual blessings the Lord has bestowed thus far, He faithfully supplies us according to His riches, much much beyond my mere human imagination, both spiritual and physical. To these, I bow my knees in honor to the source from which it came, God, the all-sufficient One.

My wife and I always keep the principle of honoring the source of every blessing we receive, be it spiritual or physical, be it small or big. In fellowship and in one accord and prayer, we would sanctify the best portion for the Lord, though everything is already from the Lord. Of late, as we did that we were really filled with joy and the burden to give more arose within us. What a blessing indeed to be able to offer from what God has blessed! The more the better, the more the greater our faith grows. I hope I can exponentially increase the amount of offering.

Few weeks later of this particular experience of offering the best portion for the Lord, the Lord poured out additional blessings, again beyond expectation. It just came! Whoever was the channel, the initiator is truly God Himself. Now the matter is how do we faithfully be a steward to the Lord's allotment? This is a reality check. Especially of the heart. I literally go before the Lord in fear and trembling that He may cover me with His blood and grace me to be a proper and faithful steward. That His blessings may be contained and multiplied even much more.

This also is an opportunity to honor my physical parent. Since the Lord called me to serve, only in few occasions I could honor them physically. As and when the Lord blessed, the blessings will always be shared with the saints and also with the family; a proper way to honor our father and mother, even physically.

The Lord is faithful, and He has proved it over and over again. His faithfulness to me is the means for me to have faith in Him, for apart from Him I am just faithless. His appearing even in physical blessings is a way of His imparting His faith into me to have faith in Him in return. 

Lord, thank you for all Your blessings; make me a faithful steward of Your blessings by appearing to me again and again.

Prayer and Burden

The general excuse for not praying is because of the lack of burden. However, in a very subjective sense, prayer generates burdens and burdens are released in prayer. Or perhaps, vice versa.

But what the Lord graced me to experience was that I exercised my spirit to pray and pray contacting Him, the issue of such prayer was always some specific burdens. Last night, as few of us brothers prayed specifically after the regular church prayer meeting, the flow of the Spirit was so strong. As we prayed, the Lord poured out His burden and we spontaneously prayed that burden back to God. The prayer was so sweet, so strong and so specific. In fact, we prayed for seven districts to be raised up in the church in Gurgaon. Indeed, the Lord has already given us solid families in these seven sectors, we just need to pray more and strengthen these families and gain more families for the district meetings.

Never did I think in this way before. Only when we prayed in one accord, corporately as the church, the Lord revealed His burden to us. Since this specific prayer began a few months a go, we could see some "miracles" happening among the saints and new ones we prayed for. The Lord began to deal with the person and the situation surrounding him. More specifically three brothers were gradually recovered back. They started coming for the meeting, opened up their situation for fellowship and prayer, and are being gained by the Lord.

Even as a result of these prayers, seekers from different religions started believing into Jesus Christ and took baptisms.

Prayer is indeed the key to the spiritual blessings. This is the reason why Satan attacks the prayer of the saints and the church very much, making them less and less pray. I personally experience such attacks quite often in relation to my prayer life. Not just to talk about prayer but to pray desperately, even unceasingly.

Lord, make us men of prayer.