Subtle Leavens

In the Full Ministry of Christ class today, I was so much enlightened by a brother's' speaking concerning leavens.  What impressed me most were four out of the nine points in how the enemy Satan corrupts the church by leavening the church.

Hypocrisy: Acts 5 : 1-11 records the hypocritical act of Ananias and Sapphira in trying to imitate the work of the Holy Spirit by actually lying to the Holy Spirit. Often, on witnessing what the Lord has done in others may cause jealousy and envy, and the pride of not being worked upon by the Holy Spirit, is tempting to duplicate the Holy Spirit's work by false consecration, and not being absolute to God. But faking it as though the Lord really does His work, is a real hypocrisy and in fact, a blasphemous sin. These sounds "good and spiritual" work, but actually is a lying to the Holy Spirit. This is a subtle leaven. Ascetism: Religiosity coupled with superstition always leads to ascetism. This is very common in India and among religious people including Christians. It is very common when one commits sins and is convicted by the Holy Spirit. In stead of exercising the spirit to follow the Lord's leading, it is easy to fall into the trap of Satan by trying to punish oneself as though for "atonement" of one's sins. This act of punishing oneself for one's sins may fall into various category. Example, of barring oneself from the Lord's table meeting, or avoiding the bread and wine served, or willfully undergoing self-imposed punishment of not attending any meeting or not meeting any one including the saints and the likes. These are quite common even among believers. This is how the enemy traps the believers in ascetism. And this is a heinous leaven that leavens the church life. Be aware of this subtlety. Nationalism: Though in the church one may proclaim and profess the one new man by mouthing out loud that we are for Christ and the church and that in the church there is no room for anything except Christ. Yet when faced with a situation of coordination in the work of the Lord or the church life, of different nationality or race or social status, this leaven was easily exposed. In my experience it has been expressed subtly in marriage proposal among believers in the church-life of different nationality and race. In the light of the Lord, this is a leaven, and this has damaged the believers in the Body of Christ and has caused a lot of division already, based on nationality, race, culture, social status etc.,. 

Good natural man : Yet even more subtle leaven is when a brother or sister with natural talent and gifts displays their naturalness in immaturity as wolves in sheep's clothing. Just because they are naturally talented, can even give "good messages" with correct Biblical teachings and very profound too in the presentation of the truth. But all in the natural man. This is the "good flesh" which is very subtle and difficult to identify because of its "goodness". Only spiritual maturity and discernment can identify such subtlety. This also is a leaven. Of course, the gift of being gifted is good, but it all must be dealt with by the cross through the Spirit that all the gifts may be useful in resurrection for the building up of the Body of Christ.

These subtle leavens are real revelations to me today. In fact, they are in me and I take them before the Lord to be dealt with, that the Lord may have mercy on me and save me from such leavens. 

Lord, purge all the leavens in me, purify and sanctify me! Thank you for Your speaking today in a fresh way. Preserve me and save me!

Testifying the Truth

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth. 2 Timothy 2 :15 

A research scholar from an university in China came to research on the Christian experiences of Christ and the church in the local churches in the Lord's recovery in India,  yesterday, accompanied by two brothers from the DCP. It was a blessed time to testify of what the Lord had done and has been doing in my life. Though the conversation ought to be a "Q and A" or an "interview", in the Lord's presence it was more of a testimony of presenting oneself of my personal life experiences as it was and as it has been. 

Initially, it was an answering of questions, but later, the Lord's presence was so rich in our lunch "interview" that I almost forgot my lunch as I testified incident by incident of what the Lord had done. Beginning from my Christian life and my own "research" for the truth concerning the Church and how my seeking for the truth led me to more further research on the teachings of brother Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, "the local church movement of the Lord's recovery" and "the Living Stream Ministry publication." Besides I testified of how the evil and negative writings against their teachings and false accusations only ignited my hunger and thirst to dive into the depth of their teachings and practices which ultimately led me into the church-life of the Lord's recovery. I testified too that it was all the mercy of the Lord that I was granted the grace to participate in the fellowship of the Body of Christ. 

Moreover, at length, I testified of the truths revelation from the Holy Bible through the help of the ministry of brother Watchman Nee, Witness Lee and the Living Stream Ministry publication and how they have been very instrumental in clarifying my doubts caused by the opposers in their false and misaiming allegations. What Satan did to harm the work of the ministry had sovereignly been used by God in a display of His multifarious wisdom to help a believer like me to study, research and pray over, for about two years and finally recovered me out of the denominational fold into the church-life. What a mercy of God, what a grace of God! To such deeds of God's wisdom, I extol the heavenly God and Father of all, in praise and worship! All Satanic and subtle works even in the cloak of "apologetic Christian" only help me discover the truth of the Bible and be recovered! To this, praise be to the Triune God! Hallelujah!  

I also did testify of the struggle I went through when I followed the Spirit's leading by light, life and peace within, when being accused falsely by my fellows believers. All the accusations were mostly "hearsay" without any solid basis and proof. In fact, the more and stronger the opposition, the more my faith grew in the Lord, the more I appreciated the writings of the ministry and the more my experiences and enjoyments of Christ grew. And how I "cut straight the word of the truth" when asked questions like "Triune God, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit's baptism, the Church etc," using the Bible verses to proof my belief and what the Bible says. 

I also testified of defending the truth as I understood from the Spirit's revelation of the Holy Bible to those who dare to oppose without any solid biblical proof, all those, face to face. The truth is the truth, and no one can lower it just because their understanding or belief does not come up to the standard of the Bible. I gave few experiences I had in the last years' Christian Expo in Bangalore. How a strong opposer on meeting him face to face for "fellowship" was silenced and ended up requesting to read the writing of brother Witness Lee, whom he accused a little while earlier, not knowing what he accused the teaching for. All these opposers hardly read any of the ministry or at the most, partially read and misaimed it or twisted it to mean otherwise, or just used the ministry with impure motive trying to forged it as a tool of attack. The ministry is not for debate, but for the ministering of life for the building up of the Body of Christ.

When faced with such a situation of testifying for the Lord and the truth of the Bible, my spirit was flamed up. And I rejoiced in releasing my burden on defense of the truth, for I am sure, it was the Lord within me, empowering me to testify whenever opportunity arises; of course, to the right people, with the right attitude, at the right time and at the right place. Such occasion is rare, in fact, very rare. Its like an opportunity once in a blue moon.

What a blessing indeed to be graced to testify to be diligent to present myself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth. May the Lord grand me more grace in His time for more of such testifying. 

Truth triumphs! And always will.... 

Honor Thy Parent (2)

Another opportunity yet again to be able to honor my parent. Last year, it was mostly monetary, but this time its all inclusive, (http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/search?q=honor+thy+parent). In fact, the Lord's speaking to me these days is on the matter of "honoring my parent". Today, in our life-study pursuit, it was of honoring our parent again. This is the way we honor God who is the source of life. The blessings accompanying this are longevity of life on this earth and blessings.

Matthew 15:4For God said, "Honor your father and your mother,'' and, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.''

Footnote 1 : God in His government among men has ordained that man should honor his parents. He has made this the first commandment among the ten commandments that concerns human relationships (Exo. 20:12). Fallen human nature, however, always prompts man to ignore his parents, that is, to rebel against God's government. In order to bring man back to God's government, the Lord as the heavenly King emphasized that man should honor his parents. This corresponds with His word in the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens concerning the fulfillment of the law (5:17-19). Hence, the apostle also emphasized this matter strongly (Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20). We, the kingdom people, must honor our parents and not excuse ourselves as the Jewish religionists did.

(http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=593)

My wife's parent and my own parent came and stayed with us for about a month. Since we are all in the Lord and one in Christ, it is a glory joined-family-life. Prior to their arrival it was anxiety and a lot of concern. But we left every matter to the Lord, and also reckoned it the Lord's sovereign will, and indeed it is, and as we lives together it is a real joy indeed. All thoughts of anxiety before are actually a matter of joy now. The love, joy, and peace shared among us mutually are all the Lord's blessings. What a blessing to be able to honor our parents in whatever way we can!

Besides, as a cherishing, the Lord blessed us to be able to take care of all their physical needs, yes even in abundance. Even in small matters of shopping and buying things for them, especially my dad, and even in taking care of his diet and health. In fact, making him joyful, happy and satisfied. When my parents are happy and well taken care of properly, the joy of being a caretaker is wonderful. 

Once upon a time it was he who took care of all my physical needs, and now the Lord gave me the opportunity and the blessings and grace to be able to do the same thing back to him. This to me is the blessing of God as a result of honoring my parent. Having stated thus, I in no way mean to say that I have done the best, but I do say, the Lord blessed me to bless them in return according to His grace. Here indeed is great blessing in honoring our parent according to the word of God.

Simple and humble is our living. We do not prepare too many things for them, but what we have we all shared together, and we would not go beyond our measure for the sake of hospitality. Nothing much for any world entertainment like TV or newspaper even. Not that we could not afford, but that we do not prefer to possess them. So their stay with us is a real time of rest, separation and sanctification for them. Nothing much to do except play around with the children at times, my parent have a lot of time to read the Bible, pursue the life-studies and pray. Both my fathers have testified that their lives are sanctified by staying with us for sometime. On the one hand, I felt sorry that many things as other families in the world do, we do not offer, yet on the other hand, I am very thankful to the Lord that they can adapt with the normal family life we have been living. And much more, it is a great blessing to learn that they feel sanctified by being with us. To me this is the Lord's blessings. For I am very conscious of my own shortcomings, both physical and spiritual. All are the Lord's blessings! Hallelujah!

Honoring our parent is a blessing to receive the Lord's blessings. 

Lord, grace me to honor my parent all the days of my life.

Words of Grace

For all big and important matters we are very serious and exercise our spirit to pray. Especially in prophesying, gospel preaching, shepherding or contacting people or giving messages or fellowshipping with the fellow believers. That's very good. How about doing the same in small, minute and less significant matters like talking to our spouses or children? In fact, these are the areas where we need more grace. Our reflex actions are our genuine personality. It is in small things where the fall begins.

I have been so convicted recently of my shortcoming in the matter of speaking. An after-thought speakings all have been carefully worded with much sobriety, soberness and sincerity. But cases are not always as these. Mostly, it have been of instant utterances or reactions to actions. The ministry speaking helps me in this matter that I need much more grace in my speaking; if I can find grace in my speaking, I can possibly find grace in all things else.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for building up, according to the need, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 

Often whatever proceeds out of our mouth and that does not minister Christ to the hearer are all "corrupt words". Yes, words that do not proceed from the spirit within, words that are not of the Lord and words that do not supply grace are all "corrupt words". How many such corrupt words have I spoken thus far? The Lord cover me with His blood.

The Lord convicted me also in at least five cases where I have not ministered words of grace. In my natural concept, I have recommended certain brothers as "very good brothers" for the Lord's testimony. But later they all do not turn out to be as good as I thought. In fact, they all seem to be "problematic" and are of "rebellious" in nature. Nevertheless, I keep praying for them. But the lesson I learned is marvelous. My thoughts, my opinions or my proposals are all natural. I was exposed and I learned not to praise nor backbite anyone; rather I must exercise to be one with the Lord and express His feelings only, with words of grace. This experience taught me not to be over excited or exaggerate on any good points of someone naturally, nor criticize or backbite bitterly. Rather leave every matter to the Lord and let Him speak in His own time with His own words.

Another big matter is that when one is not even aware of his speech and it has been hurting others unintentionally and unknowingly. What a great danger this is!

Finding grace in the matter of speaking is a great grace indeed. Since this experience my prayer has been that  "no corrupt word proceed out of my mouth, but only that which is good for building up, according to the need, that it may give grace to those who hear". 

O, word of grace be my speaking everyday! 

Yea, words that minsters Christ!

Yea, words that builds up!

Words, full of grace!

God Promises Blessings

"...for Jehovah your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings; therefore you shall be nothing but joyful". Deuteronomy 16:15b

The Lord's fresh speaking was so strong last Saturday in my time with Him. He promised me a word of promise again "...for Jehovah your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings; therefore you shall be nothing but joyful". Immediately I messaged to many contacts and the reply was a word of thanks for the Lord's speaking of blessing. The word is ever fresh and living and the Lord keeps speaking...

This same verse was so much anointed of the Lord when I pray-read with the serving ones in the distribution and also in our vital small group. The more we pray-read, the more the verse became real to us, and the more our faith grew. Even last night, this verse was pray-read over again and again for quite sometime and nourished us so much in our prayer and fellowship. Though the outward real situation seem not very promising and bright, the Lord's word broke through the darkness and gave us bright hope and strong faith. Hallelujah!

God's blessings are not limited; He blesses and blesses richly according to His riches, and He always blesses. But there are conditions to receiving God's blessings. God's love, for sure, is unconditional, but His blessings are conditional, even though He is a God of blessings and wants to bless His children. As revealed especially in the book of Deuteronomy, His blessings comes with conditions. The two most prominent conditions are obedience to His words and faithfulness to Him. Without these two conditions being met, the God of blessings cannot bless. No wonder many children of the God today lives in poverty of God's blessing. The sure reason is, somehow, somewhere there must have been disobedience to the Lord's word and His speaking and leading, or unfaithfulness to Him in some matters. Once these holes are mend, the Lord's blessings will be spontaneous. By this I in no way mean to imply physical blessings solely. For God's blessings are discerned and realised spiritually. What the world reckons as blessings may be curses to God; and what the world reckons as curses may be blessings to God. And all God's blessings always leads to "joyfulness", a sure undeniable sign. 

God's blessings in all your produce! Whatever comes out of us is a blessing; our living, our expression, our family and our children. All these are blessings and will be blessings too. God's blessings in all your undertakings! Whatever we do, whomever we meet, wherever we are, there will be blessings, in fact, there are or at least must have been. This is the promise of God. Amen.

And finally, "you shall be nothing but joyful". The issue of being being by God is always joyfulness. Joy is God, and in God we are joyful! What a blessing to receive this promise of blessings!

Lord grace me to experience and enjoy all these promises of blessings all the days of my life, and may it multiply to all whom You brought me to contact with.

One in Christ

Eight years I have been married to my beloved wife, yet our parents have never met. But this time the Lord led all of us to meet and live together for a couple of days. Similar case as this is very unusual, but in the Lord everything is working out at the perfect time.

A union of two different families from two different nationalities and two different races and culture is possible only in Christ. My "in-laws" are my "in-the -Lord", and in the Lord, there is oneness, for the Lord is only one. 

How much have the Lord accomplished in us, I do not know. Yet what the Lord has done is really marvelous. In Christ, we all get along, understand one another and are blended in the Body.Reviewing of all that the Lord has done, I marvel in wonder the great things the Lord has done especially in my family. Everything is a blessing; be it spiritual, physical, psychological or even financial, the Lord's blessings are upon us. What a grace, what a mercy! I have no word to thank the Lord enough.

Personally I have not done enough, to both our parents, in an outward way to specially accommodate them or cherish them during their stay with us. I don't even know what is the best way to give hospitality to them. But normally, I just live out as usual and let them join in the flow of our family life in India. The Lord is gracious to arrange circumstances where we can all experience the real Indian life of serving the Lord, and the real church-life here in Gurgaon with the saints visiting and inviting us for love-feast and fellowship. Few occasion of outing, and a memorable family photograph with a banner "One in Christ". What more can I expect? To me this is sufficient- a normal and simple living together in oneness in Christ.

Now with three children, none of them was planned, the Lord just gave us by surprise. And all of them are growing in the grace of God, and sometimes, I still soliloquies , "Am I dreaming? Or are all these for real?" Just to wake up from mind's sleep and exalt in praise to the sovereign God, "Yes, all these are for real! It's all the Lord's blessings. And all for the Lord and His economy". Yes, all for the Lord, and we are " One in Christ" for Christ and the church.

Thank You Lord, for my family, making us One in Christ! Preserve us ever in this oneness.

Completely Destroy

Deuteronomy 12:2 You shall completely destroy all the places where the nations whom you will dispossess have served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every flourishing tree.
3 And you shall tear down their altars and crush their pillars; and their Asherahs you shall burn with fire, and the idols of their gods you shall cut down; and you shall destroy their name from that place.

The most up-to-date speaking of the Lord to me personally these days is to "completely destroy" anything that is NOT in line with the Lord's holy nature and divine life. There are many things that are good in the eyes of man, even very much appreciated and longed for, but these things may not necessarily be from God or of God. On the contrary, it may turn out to be so evil in the eyes of God that they need to be dealt with thoroughly and even be destroyed completely.

In my recent experiences of life, I have been dealt with on certain matter that has it valid points and condemn-able points. With the pros and cons balancing in my soulish weigh-scale, at times they were condemned yet other times were justified. This inward struggling has eaten up some energy and time. Nevertheless, I am glad I have such an experience of learning some deep lesson of life, without which my learning would be incomplete.

The Lord have been so gracious to me that He is patient in waiting for me to grow and mature to be able to handle such situation. Very recently, a couple of days ago, the speaking of the Lord was very definite and strong; it was, "completely destroy". Besides, I must be willing to submit to the Lord's speaking to completely destroy anything that hinders the Lord's move in and through me. In oneness with the Lord's speaking, the Lord further confirmed His speaking in the Body through the holy word for morning revival on the matter of "subduing my will" as blogged in "Union of Will"- http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/2015/01/union-of-will.html.

On hearing such a direct word from the Lord, I praised God in solemn wonder, that He knows me and loves me and wants to train and perfect me for His purpose on this earth. O it was a such a blessing to receive the Lord's speaking. Yes, to be one with His speaking, I must be fully subdued in my inward part, especially in my will to be one with God in His will manifested through His speaking. O the grace for me to enjoy and experience the Lord to such an extend that i am fully one with Him to carry out His will and completely destroy all that is not according to His will.

As I considered the cost and the consequences of such, the Lord is very gracious. He knows me and my real condition and spoke further that I can "eat" what my soul so desires, but with a limit to what should be eaten and what should not be eaten.

20 When Jehovah your God enlarges your territory, as He has promised you, and you say, I will eat meat, because your soul desires to eat meat, you may eat meat according to all that your soul desires.

21 If the place where Jehovah your God will choose to put His name is too far away from you, you may slaughter from your herd and from your flock, which Jehovah has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates according to all that your soul desires;
22 Indeed, as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you may eat it; the unclean and the clean may eat it alike.
23 But make sure that you do not eat the blood; for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.

This "eating" must conform to God's holy nature and God's divine life; not a matter of right or wrong, but a matter of life or not life. Everything done in the Spirit and by the life of God is safe and healthy. All else is wrong and sinful, and do not give room to the enemy to lurk in. All is well in the Spirit, when ungodly things are completely destroyed that I may go on to be one with God in His move on this earth.

Lord, grant me the grace to completely destroy all objects or things or matters that is not one with You absolutely, and grace me further to be so, by being absolutely one with You in Your will concerning any matter.

Union of Will

In my morning time with the Lord, the HWMR portion enlightened me so much, "Union of Will". Prior to this time, it did not impress me so much about the union of will- God's will with my will. Now it has dawned on me that without the union of my will with God's will nothing can solidly be accomplished for God through me.

First, there must be the subduing of my own will. Then, the returning of my will to God Himself and then the union of my will with God's will. Reasons in my mind and feelings in my emotion are not sufficient to practically cooperate with God in His move on this earth. My will must be one with God's will, and then only, there will be a way to carry out God's will.

Even in my experiences these days, this matter is very much confirmed. In my mind I know what is of the Lord and what is not of the Lord. Even in my emotion I have the feeling of the Lord's leading in many small and big matters. But because of my will not being fully in union with the Lord's the knowledge of God's will and even the feeling about it does not really become practical. Yet for this, I must be dealt with and subdued fully in my will that God's will becomes my will in reality.

The Lord Jesus experienced the same when He was on the earth. Whatever He spoke and did was according to what the Father wills. Even His greatest prayer in John 17 is a oneness of will with God, the Father. Even before His crucifixion He prayed that if possible the cup may pass from Him, but not as He will but according to the Father's will. 

Matthew 26: 39 And going forward a little, He fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.42 Again, going away a second time, He prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done. 

Even the entering into the kingdom of the heavens is not based on what men on earth is doing for God in the heaven, but only those works which are done in union with God the Father's will.

Matthew 7: 21 Not every one who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he who does the will of My Father who is in the heavens.

What a revelation! What a salvation even to know this mysterious truth! 

Lord, grant me the grace to be subdued in my will. I return my will to You and may Your will and my will be united as one. Let there be the union of Your will and my will.

Be Fruitful and Multiply (2)

From the very beginning of this year the Lord's speaking and promise has ever been, "Be fruitful and multiply". No matter which portion of the Bible I am reading, the word that spoke to me is "Be fruitful and multiply". In fact, I have been feeling barren for not bringing in many sinners to the Lord for salvation. Not that I have brought none, but is not fruitful nor is there much multiplication.

This year, the Lord's promise is definitely of fruitfulness and multiplication. Not by might, nor by strength, but by the Spirit of God. Nor by myself but in the Body, there will be multiplication. The foundation work of reviving the saints by much prayer, coming to the Lord, touching Him and experiencing and enjoying Him has been initiated, and that being coupled with the reading of the word regularly and eating it. With this base, the Lord will work into, and through and out from all the saints.  

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I set you that you should go forth and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you.
Genesis 8:17 c....be fruitful and multiply upon the earth.9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.9:7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, Abound on the earth and multiply in it.
Deuteronomy 7:13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your fresh oil, the offspring of your cattle and the young of your flock, on the land which He swore to your fathers to give you.

Simultaneously the burden everywhere in the Lord's move now in India is the same; that all the saints in all the churches may be fruitful and that we may multiply. My first propagation of the gospel for this year 2015 was in a new city Faridabad and with a local Haryanvi of a high repute, socially and politically; and also with another one of the same status, a politician. Well begun indeed, and may it so be half-done. I could see the Spirit's move in and through the Body. Jesus is the Lord, Christ is the Victor!

Besides, there will be recovery of many saints and new ones. I am beginning to witness at lease two already, thus far. One, a doctor brother, who now has come into the church life and started functioning and even joined the gospel preaching; and another a brother who recently repented of his backslidden condition and started coming back to the church-life. I am beginning to see the Lord's miraculous works in India, and also the answers to many prayer points in my prayer list.

Even the way we go on in our church-life, and even in my personal life and family life, the Lord's work is being manifested one by one. His words of promise "Be fruitful and multiply" is being fulfilled day by day. Hallelujah!

In fact, this is a continuation of the burden and promised the Lord gave in 2012 blogged on the same title : http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/search?q=be+fruitful+and+multiply

Lord, make me fruitful and there multiplication of Your mighty deeds in India!

Testimonies of Blessings

The church in Gurgaon today had a "testimonies of blessings" meeting. Two weeks before we had been informing and reminding the saints to write down their testimonies or mail it to the church's email address. But nobody was burdened to do so. Nevertheless, we left the saints and the meeting to the Lord. And today the saints' testimonies were marvelous an wonderful!

The meeting today was one of the richest meetings I ever attended. Almost every saint testified of the major events and blessings in their lives in the last year 2014. I was literally amazed at the saints' rich testimonies and experiences of Christ and how Christ was so all-inclusive and so subjective to them. Some saints testified with tears of their deep experiences of Christ, and gave glory to God.

Often I have been discouraged about the little increase we have had in 2014. Though we were not completely barren, and are blessed with some fruits, I was expecting and hoping for much more. But the Lord just blessed was with what was sufficient; training and perfecting us all the while. Glory to Him for all His sovereignty!

I myself was so busy to count all that the Lord had blessed me in 2014. But the special grace I received was of blogging the experiences the Lord blessed me with on a weekly or monthly basis. On counting all of them, (they are all in this blog) there were 130 (one hundred and thirty) testimonies or experiences of Christ in all! Moreover, as I kept counting some major blessings, I realized the grace of God in gracing me to pray, read the word, shepherd the saints, preach the gospel, offer for the Lord's work in and through the church and the needy saints, I found there are many blessings, even uncountable, unsearchable and unfathomable! Hallelujah!

God is a God of blessings. He blessed us so much spiritually and physically too. Often, spiritual shortsightedness blinded me to see the Lord's blessings. Actually, the Lord has blessed the church in Gurgaon a lot, mostly spiritual and very deep. All the saints are truly experiencing Christ subjectively. Even a sister who came for the first time testified of the strong move of the Spirit in each saint and in the meeting today. This itself is a testimony of blessing. 

Lord, grant us more of the experiences of Christ in this year 2015.

Gospel Experience : Faridabad

Deuteronomy 9:
1 Hear, O Israel! You are about to cross over the Jordan this day in order to enter in and dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities that are big and fortified up to heaven,2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakim, whom you know about and of whom you have heard it said, Who can stand before the children of Anak?
3 Know therefore today that Jehovah your God is the One crossing over before you as a consuming fire; it is He who will destroy them, and it is He who will subdue them before you, so that you may dispossess them and destroy them quickly, as Jehovah has said to you.

The promises of the word of God are literally true and are fulfilled in due time. This was the Lord's speaking to me yesterday morning. As we went to preach the gospel in a posh community in Faridabad, the word of the Lord was literally fulfilled. Before setting out for the gospel preaching, in our team we prayed and prayed over these verses and enjoyed the word of God. We claimed the promises of God, especially on those phrases like "enter in and dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities that are big and fortified up to heaven,  A people great and tall and Jehovah your God is the One crossing over before you as a consuming fire; it is He who will destroy them, and it is He who will subdue them before you."

Indeed, the people we met were greater and mightier than us, were great and tall, but the Lord went before us as the Consuming Fire to destroy and subdue them before us. An account of the fulfillment of the Lord's words:

First, we met a well known personality of the city, a social worker and a politician of a grand old national party. He was so seeking and receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He even gathered his neighbour's family and we ministered the word of God to all of them, and they all called upon the Name of the Lord to believe into Jesus Christ. Later, we gifted them Hindi NT Bible as gifts and read together few verses. Besides, we were also welcomed to visit them again, and even to give more Christian literature for a community library. That was the Lord's doing and the Spirit's move in Faridabad.

later, as we went door-knocking, in my natural concept, I intentionally tried to avoid door knocking a house with a political party's flag who are spearheading religious propaganda with lame excuse of not inviting any trouble. However, one of the sisters in the team asked me if she should press the door bell. I denied my own feeling and asked her to go ahead. Later I joined in to ring the bell myself again. 

An elderly uncle came out and talked to us for a while of all his philosophical and political opinion about religion. But I strongly confirmed to him that we do not believe in any religion but we believe in the true and living God, Jesus Christ, and we have a relationship with God our Father. Meanwhile, I also shared my testimony of believing into Jesus Christ and appreciated him for the good work of welfare development he is involved in. Later, he invited us in, we had further conversation. Though he spoke negatively about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Bible and many Christian activities, my stand was not anything of religion, but of an experience of the true and living God. He gifted me a summary of the Gita, a book which I received as a remembrance of the meeting, and return, I gifted him a NT Bible in Hindi. Before we left, I requested that if I could pray for him, to which he very much obliged. I prayed for him that God may bless him with the spiritual blessing of salvation through Jesus Christ. We became good friends and promised to communicate again either by phone call or by email or  by visitation.

That's how the Lord's promises were literally fulfilled in our eyes. Praise the Lord!

New Year Promises

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people to Jehovah your God; it is you whom Jehovah your God has chosen from among all the peoples which are upon the face of the earth to be a people for His personal treasure.13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your fresh oil, the offspring of your cattle and the young of your flock, on the land which He swore to your fathers to give you.14 You will be more blessed than all other peoples; there will not be any barren male or female among you or among your animals.15 And Jehovah will remove every sickness from you, and none of the evil illnesses of Egypt, which you know about, will He put upon you; but He will give them to all who hate you.

 The Rhema word of the Lord's promises are precious. In Him, His children are holy people. In spite of all our sinfulness, His blood has cleansed us and made us holy by faith in Him. What a promise and what a blessing! Especially to me, a filthy worm and a dung, His calling me "holy people" is a great blessing. In His eyes, we are all holy and I am too.

We are also being chosen; that's why we are saved sinners today! From before the foundation of the world, He chose me in Christ. And His choosing is made manifest again in a definite way again this new year. "Lord, thank you for choosing me; yes, even a sinner like me!" 

And He has made me His personal treasure. Though the enemy tempts me sore to the extend of despising myself to the core as useless scum, I am precious to the Lord. In fact, I am His personal treasure. Hallelujah!

Furthermore He promised to love me and bless me and multiply me. The Lord's promise is that as He loves me and with His love I love Him in return, He will bless me. Yes, His blessing is all that I need. Whatever I do, wherever I am, I need His blessings. In reality, He is the Blessing. Without Him there is no blessing at all. Being loved by Him, loving Him and being in love with Him, I am blessed! And over all these, He will multiply me! In my living, in my service and in my church life, there will be multiplication of His blessings in me. Whatever I do, wherever I am, there will be His blessings, and His blessings will multiply. It will not be just one "me" receiving the blessing, but many others through my living and service.

His blessing will even exceed the blessing of the rest. It is "more blessed than all" blessing that the Lord has promised! And this is an all-inclusive blessings that comprises every heavenly, divine, spiritual blessing and even material and earthly blessings, yes, even both of wealth and health. For He will remove every sickness from me; not merely the physical sickness, but much more, even the sickness of my soul and my spirit, that I may be healthy in my whole tripartite being. 

1 Thessalonians 5:

23 And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.

As He promised, so shall He do it, as the faithful one, who also will do it.

Lord, thank You for all  Your promises! 

Welcome 2015

As the church in Gurgaon, we gathered together for a time together in an all night prayer. The Spirit's move in the prayer meeting and in the special all night prayer meeting was very strong. For a stretch of about five hours the Lord led us through to release burden after burden followed by consecration for the new year.

The burdens were clear and straight forward, very basic, down to earth practices of a Christian life for a normal church life. We enjoyed the Lord's leading and picked up the burdens:

Prayer : The practice of prayer, coming before the presence of God and enjoying His presence, listening to Him in love and following His leading in faith is inevitable, Normally and healthily, at least one hour of prayer in a day should be the portion of grace for every one. The more the better. Besides, receiving burden from the Lord for prayer, and maintaining a prayer book of list of names or burden for prayer. This very much helps in the practice of praying. To pray faithfully, have a set-time for prayer is a great help and blessing. 

Reading the Word : A healthy reading and feeding on the word of God is a must for every normal Christian. Without a proper knowledge and understanding of the word of God, there cannot be a proper discernment of the leading and speaking of the Lord. A thorough understanding and even familiarity with the text of the Bible is a basic requirement for every believer. For this, we have prepared a schedule for reading through the word in a year's time, by reading a couple of chapters daily. 

Gospel Preaching : In being filled with the word and the Spirit, there must also be an outflow for the word. The outflow of the filled Spirit and constituted word is the gospel preaching. By this way, our enjoyment of God in prayer and in His word is balanced; the in-filling is balanced by the out-flowing. This is also a good way for gaining increase; bringing sinners to salvation, making them sons of God!

Offering : A healthy and normal Christian will always honor the source of all blessings, both physical and spiritual. The best way to honor the Lord of blessing is by offering in return from His blessings. This of course is determined by our love to the Lord and faith in the Lord and in the joyful offering with thanksgiving. For God loves a cheerful giver. By this way, God, in the principle of incarnation, fulfill His need for the carrying out of His heavenly ministry on earth today through the believers.

With these burdens we entered into the message by brother Witness Lee, "The Spiritual Significance of Celebrating the New Year," a need to having a new spiritual beginning in Christ every new year, every new month, every new week and every new day. Thus, we entered into the new year and welcomed 2015.

Our prayer and consecration is that the Lord would grace us to carry out every burden He has bestowed upon us, faithfully and fruitfully. 

Thank You Lord for 2014, and grace us through to 2015 again with Yourself as the Blessing!