Temper

Since my childhood, there was hardly any opportunity to really expose who I was in my natural man. I have some "good" character of being "patient" and could endure many sufferings and ill treatments, even if they were meted out to me unrighteously, I would just patiently let it go. So when, I saw some people bursting out in anger, I thought to myself, "what a beast!" Little did I realise that the same "beast" has been sleeping peacefully within me. Its only that it hasn't been awakened yet.

Since I got married there was hardly a case in which I burst out in anger. Perhaps, a few cases to my remembrance, but in a mild way. I have been soft by nature, as I don't have the strength and the courage to be hard otherwise. So I always thought I can control my temper.

But since I became a dad of one, and then two and now three, things have changed and the "sleeping beast" seemed to have been disturbed in his sleep. Now and then I begin to witness my temper flaring up from nowhere for silly matters, all pertaining to my own kids' behaviour. Thank God, at last I am exposed, and blessed are my children who provoked me to give no rest to my "sleeping beast."

Few days ago, I was so much exposed of my temper. What I blindly thought of myself as "patient, gently, kind and soft" are all natural and very fragile. My own son and daughters made me so angry at times that I finally burst out, only to find myself in utter remorse and repented to the Lord for who I was. This kind of incident seems to be more frequent as I spend more time with my growing children. 

Two incidents I regret very much were when my son stubbornly disobeyed what I said and I ended up punishing him to his tears. And when my daughter provoked me to anger and I punished her. Later, in both cases, the Lord convicted me so much. I was exposed and I hung my head in shame before the Lord, confessed my sins and humbled myself to reconcile with my children. These incidents were precious lessons to me. For indeed in me nothing good dwells. I begin to understand what Paul has said.

Romans 7:18

18 For I know that in me, that is, in my ²flesh, ³nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but to work out the good is not.

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18² The flesh here is the fallen and corrupted human body with all its lusts. This flesh was not created by God but is a mixture of God's creature and sin, which is the life of Satan, the evil one. God created man's body a pure vessel, but this vessel was corrupted and transmuted into the flesh by Satan's injecting himself into it at the time of the fall. Now Satan as sin personified is in man's flesh, making his home there and ruling as an illegal master, overruling man and forcing him to do things that he dislikes. It is this indwelling sin, which is the unchangeable evil nature, that constitutes all men sinners (5:19).

18³ Here Paul was careful to say that it is in the flesh, not in man's whole being, that nothing good dwells. Good does exist in other parts of man's being. The will desires to please God (vv. 18-21) according to the good law in the mind (vv. 22-23), but it is impossible to perform this good through the body, for the body has become the flesh, where sin dwells.  

Lord, grace me with Your divine life, grow in me, transform me and mature in me to be Your expression, testimony and representation on this earth.

The Last Ditch

During war time in the olden days, the army would dig ditch after ditch to take position in their march forward to defeat their enemy. The digging of the ditch is not a direct warfare with the enemy, but without which fighting against the enemy would be practically difficult. Ditch after ditch, they inched closer to finally wipe away all the enemy. Similar is the case with some saints with whom I used to fellowship and pray over to cross over the "mountain."  

One night as they fellowshipped their matter with much burden, I can't help but bear the same burden with them and feel the same pain as they would have felt. After listening to all the fellowship of incidents and outcome of their business, deep within me the Lord gave me a feeling that what they went through was "the last ditch." After this would be victory over all their debts. Humanly I could not do much, but the Lord is sovereignly leading them through and through.

Sure enough, on the next meeting, I could see a change in how they carry on their business. There indeed was a paradigm shift in their attitude towards business; not an easy gaining of big money in no time, but in a way of labor and faith in the Lord and trusting in the blessings of the Lord. The Lord would not do a quick fix in many matters, as His goal is to gain us thoroughly. All the way, digging ditches after ditches, and winning a glorious victory after paying precious price.

Silence...

Many times, in natural good zeal, I rejoiced too quickly in assuming the works of the Lord. But the Lord would sovereignly hold back for a moment, to calm me down and wait upon Him in prayer, with much exercise of faith. And He seems to be silent and keeps me also in awesome wonder, of complete silence.

As in the books of Esther, He is the hiding God, moving in silence; unseen, unheard and unnoticed. But in time, He will manifest His wonder. These days too, all my anxious care for the saints went into a silent mode. Before I would love to trumpet every little move of the Lord in the ones I have been caring for. But these days, its all in solemn silence, waiting for the divine intervention.

Many of the people in my prayer list, though I still am praying for, I hardly contact them as I have not felt the Lord's leading to do so. Yet, the Lord reminded me again and again to pray for them, in silence. But the Lord's move, none can hamper. These ones that I have been praying for are being used by the Lord one by one.Though I did not initiate the call, they themselves called and fellowshipped over the phone. I rejoice in the way the Lord works in silence. 

One brother especially moved by the Lord even started sending offering to be distributed through my discernment. This put me to a serious holy fear before God, that I may be a proper channel for the Lord to move, even in the matter of material offering; to be one with the Lord and distribute the offering as the Lord would. 

Another brother has requested me to part of a very important event in his life, his marriage. Not attending the marriage per se, as it is not going to be a marriage function, but a court marriage with only few confidants, as their case is a very sensitive one, an inter caste matter. This request also brought me to seriously seek the Lord's leading and fellowship with the brothers in prayer. This is also the Lord's recent move in silence.

Similar cases also arose with a doctor and a business man. The Lord's move in silence is gaining them. 

Lord, teach me to wait in prayer and never lose hope even in the midst of silence...You are still the One behind the scene; moving in silence. 

Prayer Partner

Time and tide waits for none. Its been over eight years since the Lord blessed me with my wife. Since the very beginning, the Lord has taught us to pray together and do all things--big and small, in one accord. Without much realization, I found myself to be a dad of three children already. Sometimes, its hard to believe.

 

Recently, the Lord impressed me very deeply about a very solid time of prayer with my wife on a regular basis. Though we have been praying together almost every night, the Lord burdened me further to take my wife as my prayer partner and pray with her more solidly and specifically. Since last Monday, we began to sanctify specific time of prayer every morning besides the morning revival time. Oh it was another big step the Lord accomplished in us! I used to be more on personal prayer, but this time, the Lord led me to spend more time in corporate prayer, especially with my wife. I enjoyed the prayer and it was much better than my personal prayer, but not neglecting my personable prayer either. I have found my true prayer partner. I was strengthened, and she was too.

The spiritual battle we are fighting as the Body here in North India is fierce. Subtly, there will be attacks now and then, as we have been facing it. If not to be preserved in prayer, things would turn out to be a mess. For this the Lord burdened the church in Gurgaon and all the brothers to spend more time in prayer. Outwardly there is nothing much we can do, even though we have tried many things many times. The ultimate victory, revival and recovery will be through prayer.

Since, the Lord led us to have more prayer for the gospelization and truthization of North India, especially NCR and particularly Gurgaon, we begin to witness the Lord's work in bringing people to salvation, one by one. The last two weeks the Lord has blessed us with seven baptisms, all from North India of Hindi speakers. Even the way we conducted the Lord's table meeting has been changed to accommodate the local Hindi speakers. 

Truly, This is the word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

So there is a need for men to pray and move the Hands that moves the world. Prayer is most effective when prayed in the Body, in co-ordination, in one accord with our prayer partners. 

Lord, thank you for my wife, my prayer partner! And grace us to be faithful prayer partner all the days of our lives.

Seven Years After

Seven years ago, the Lord granted us the grace to accommodate our siblings from home, two brothers, one my own blood brother and the other, a cousin. At that time, they were very new to the Lord and also to the church-life. In a sense, they were "raw" in many spiritual matters. Even my wife and I were newly married and "raw" in handling many family matters. However, we all lived together and learned together and grew together. Gradually, the divine life was wrought into each one of us, amidst many failures, ups and downs. But the Lord was faithful in shepherding us through and through, even though we were almost all the time unfaithful to Him. The mercy of the Lord was great.

A couple of years later, they both began to serve in many levitical services in the Lord's work and pursued their studies. However, things did not turn out as expected. Oftentimes, they have become my "trainers" to train me in bearing responsibilities and shepherding them both physically and spiritually. Often, I would go before the Lord with deep burden and groaning for them. Sometimes, I almost lost hope of any recovery yet trust the Lord of the recovery. The climax of my trial was when they utterly disobeyed me and did things that broke my heart and drove me to hang my head in shame. This was when my brother eloped; and was far away from the church-life in a state of virtual "rebellion." But our prayer never ceased. Everyday, we prayed for them, even my children would pray for God to bless them.

Seven years after, things have been set upright! The prayers, the anxious concern for them in the Lord began to take a new shape. And this month, they both willingly, with burden of their own will, decided to cooperate with the Lord and His move to participate in the gospel preaching in the most important city in the North East India, Guwahati. To us, me and my wife, it is a great glad tiding, to witness them participate in the Lord's move actively and willingly. Besides, the two were burdened with additional burden of caring for the church and the saints in their localities and their own official burden in their occupation. These to us, is the Lord's mercy and grace and blessing as well. 

We continue to pray for them to be faithful and fruitful for the Lord even unto the end. What a grace from the Lord! Seven years indeed is a year of completion- a complete cycle of transformation; not that they are fully transformed and matured, but at least from "raw" to "ripining" grain for the Lord satisfaction. 

My heart rejoice in the work of the Lord, and my faith in the Lord has increased much more. God is faithful. Even when things are uncertain, God is trustworthy. Praise the Lord!

Lord, preserve us in You, to be ever faithful and fruitful, all by Your mercy and grace, all the days of our lives!      

Divine Protection 2

As was posted in http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/2014/12/divine-protection.html, the Lord granted to our third child, Christy, a divine protection again.

A couple of weeks ago, I was finding time to do some personal work of blogging the experiences of the Lord when suddenly my wife walked in with Christy crying and vomiting, exclaiming in anxiety that we should immediately go to the hospital. The matter was, she fell down from the balcony of our house; from the first floor. Immediately we rushed to the hospital and did a thorough check-up. Thank God, nothing serious had happened except for few scares on the ear and skin. 

Eyewitness had narrated that she climbed the balcony iron railing and tumbled down. Gracious enough, she hit on a pomegranate branches that shoot over the concrete fencing and sprang forth and dashed on the semi-solid mud awaiting sunlight to be dried up. Ultimately, the thrust on the body was not strong enough to cause major injury. It was the Lord's divine protection again. Otherwise, safe for the plant and the soft mud, it would have been a serious case.

On the one hand, as parent, we learned the need and importance of being vigilant and watchful over our children's movement. Yet it is not literally possible to be children keeper 24/7, therefore, the Lord's divine protection is much needed. And the Lord has been faithful to care for us all this while.

With this child, many cases have occurred. Sometimes, I thought to myself and realised that there is some forces behind, attacking us spiritually. Yet in every attack we experienced the Lord's protection. And we need the Lord's protection all the days of our lives.

Even though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I do not fear evil, For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, They comfort me. Psalms 23:4   

Lord, preserve us in Your divine protection; we are for You.

Serve as Slave

One of the most important characters of  a servant of the Lord is 'serving as slave'. Often, I wonder if serving the Lord is so honorable and respectful; yes it does, to God. In fact, it is a privilege to be able to serve the true and living God. But the danger on the flip side is, as seen among many religious leaders, they are serving the Lord as "masters". This for sure, I loathe to the uttermost. May I not be found as such. 

Acts 20:19 "Serving the Lord as a slave with all humility and tears and trials..."

A slave does not exercise his right, does not express his opinion nor does he have his will or his way. He is just a slave; obeying the command of his master without even expecting an iota of appraisal or reward. He just serves, in sickness or in health, day or night, any time duty demands, he serves. That is to serve as a slave.

Going by this generic understanding of a slave, Am I such a one? Only God knows. May the Lord have mercy on me that I may be found as I should be; serving as slave.

I have been tested again and again of my attitude in serving the Lord. I am not ashamed to confess that often I do serve as "masters", but the Lord spoke to me very clearly two days ago that I must serve Him as a slave. To be tested, He allowed some situations in which I must practically serve as slaves.

I had to officially carry out my official duty and had the full right to decide on a matter and do it officially as I deemed it right. But the Lord reminded me that I should serve as a slave, and the way I discharged my duty was with the exercise of my spirit in prayer, and humbled myself to take the lower ground and did the work. It was indeed such a joy to learn this lesson of life!

Two days ago a brother invited me for a love-feast with new ones without proper information of the timing, and of course, I had to drive too. As I did so I took a route which I knew for sure was better, but on his suggestion I changed the route, accepting what he said and what my spirit "amened". But the route was experienced to be very bad for driving and time consuming. However, I exercised not to express any vindication of my original plan, but he himself apologised for his suggestion. 

Later, I had to wait for more than an hour for the actual love-feast to start. I opined to myself if I was informed of the proper time I could have better utilized this one hour prior to the feast. But the Lord reminded me that I am just a slave, and as such, "what right do I have?" I better repent for not having a proper attitude of a slave. It eventually turned out  that I used that time for prayer; praying specifically for some new ones and contact them by phone and texting. It was a sweet hour of prayer and shepherding indeed. Of course, the love-feat was very rich and the time spent with the new ones was great!   

Yesterday, as we prayed and fellowship on the distribution of the ministry books I proposed that we pray-read this verse, "Serving the Lord as slave with all humility and tears and trials...,"  it was such a timely speaking of the Lord. All serving ones were so much supplied by this simple verse. In fact, we were adjusted in the way we serve our God, especially our attitude in dealing with the believers and our clients. What a timely speaking of the Lord it was, and it still is!

Lord, grant me the grace to serve You as slave, with all humility and tears and trial. May I be found as "a faithful and prudent slave."

Amen and Amen

Accepting the sovereignty of the Lord in all persons, matters and things is the lesson I have been learning these days. Though I could have used my natural hand to interfere and turn things around according to my taste and desire, the Lord would still interfere and still have His way, not mine. This is what I have been learning; to say "amen" to all that the Lord has arranged.

Recently, a fellowship came up for a proposal to attend an event of no less significant, an event to grab for, an opportunity not to miss. But all must be done in fellowship with the concerned brothers. Accordingly I drafted a mail as I understood best and checked with my coordinator for a correction or confirmation. The reply was altogether a whole new mail entirely not according to my "like". But the Lord impressed me deeply to forget altogether of my stand, my way or my desire; of who I am or what I am or even what my feelings were, and to just say "amen" to my brother. Experiencing grace and trusting for more grace, I forwarded the message without altering the content. Later, the Lord confirmed that it was His way how things were done. And I was graced to experience the lesson of learning to say "amen." A bitter lesson, but a sweet result.

Similarly, I had to renew my house deeds and had to work things out with my house owner. I agreed for the 10% increase and modified the previous deeds as was requested. When my owner sent me back with his terms I had some feeling within me for negotiation, especially on matters involving money. But as I prayed over it, the Lord led me to simply say "amen" and trust in the Lord who provides abundantly beyond what I can ask or think of. 

Similarly, in matters in the church or in my official service, the lesson the Lord has been teaching me is to simply submit to His will and His way; He knows best. And in simply "amening" I found myself in joy and peace. Otherwise, I can't even imagine what a "rebel" I would have become.

Yes, I do have rights and am eligible to claim things righteously. But denying all these, and accepting the Lord's sovereign arrangement, is the way to experience more grace and enjoy the Lord's blessings. (Often, blessings comes in disguise).

Lord, grant me the grace to "amen" to whatever You say. Amen.

Sharing in Sorrow

The new ones whom the Lord burdened me to shepherd and care for have become so precious to me, even as they are precious to the Lord. Be it their spiritual lives or their earthly careers, I have been so concerned for them. Often I would pray with them and encourage them.

Perhaps, for my learning and theirs too, somehow, the three of these ones for whom I am specially burdened for, could not succeed in their competitive exams thus far. I have a deep burden for these ones to be able to clear the highest competitive exams of the country, the civil services of India. And that they would be a testimony of the Lord as high ranking officers. However, God's ways are the best and His timing too.

When I heard the result of these brothers, I was sorrowful as I knew the sorrow they went through after much studies, labor and pain. I was in fact, privileged to share in their sorrow, though I have not spoken to them yet. The pain that they would have been going through even now, is the pain that I am sharing with them. Their result is mine too.

As I took their matter before the Lord in prayer, the Lord comforted me with a hymn which I read and read and sang and later on posted via WhatsApp to many of my contacts; in fact, that was the portion I experienced and it help some brothers too.

1	Take time to behold Him,   Speak oft with Thy Lord, Abide in Him always,   And feed on His Word. Wait thou in His presence,   Submissive and meek, Forgetting in nothing   His blessing to seek.
2	Take time to behold Him,   The world rushes on; Spend much time in secret   With Jesus alone. By looking to Jesus   Like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends, in thy conduct,   His likeness shall see.
3	Take time to behold Him,   Let Him be thy guide; And run not before Him   Whatever betide; In joy or in sorrow   Still follow thy Lord, And, looking to Jesus,   Still trust in His Word.
4	Take time to behold Him,   Be calm in thy soul, Each thought and each temper   Beneath His control. Thus led by His Spirit   To fountains of love, Thou then shalt be fitted   His mercy to prove.                                                      Hymn #643

In joy or in sorrow still follow thy Lord. And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

This is the line that touched me so much, and this has become my encouragement to others.

I am glad that I could learn to share in the sorrows of others, caring for them and praying for them. This is how the Lord teaches me lessons of shepherding. Walking with the new ones, step by step. This is how the Lord has been leading me through, step by step, even He will lead me through unto the end.

Take time to behold Him,
  Let Him be thy guide;
And run not before Him
  Whatever betide;

Increase in Faith

As the Lord blesses, and in His leading, with oneness, me and my wife have invested on land and house. Every time we did in oneness and in peace, we witnessed the Lord's presence and blessing. Oftentimes, in my own natural concern I tried to delve into the matter in detail and found my self in anxiety, yet after all, there was nothing to be anxious about, as all our investments have been righteously and legally confirmed and documented. 

Today, we have realised that our monthly expenses are going up drastically, with the children's fee hike and the house rent increase. I was inwardly contemplating of finding an amicable resolution with my house owner to not raise the house rent in the coming year, and then to negotiate on financial reason. But as I was considering and praying about this, the Lord shine on me and even spoke to me, not to bargain on any financial matter. The Lord further enlightened me to trust and have faith in Him who is the source of all my supply, spiritually, psychologically and physically too. The Lord's direct speaking was, the source of supply is rich enough to meet any amount of need. However much increase the need could have gone, the supplying source can meet all of them, sufficiently and in fact, abundantly. 

He can meet more than my need.

Philippians 4:19

19 And my God will fill your every need ⁴according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus.

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19⁴ God supplies us according to His riches, not according to our needs. His riches exceed our needs.

Yes, He can meet more than my need. Not merely according to my need, but according to His riches. With His speaking the Lord comforted me to trust in Him and that my faith may grow through all these experiences. And now I decided not to negotiate or bargain on any matter with my house owner.If the increase of rent is due, so be it. The more the need, the more the supply will be. The supply of God is according to God's riches, far beyond my mere need.

My faith was deeply strengthened. I was so thankful to Him for His marvelous promise and speaking. Besides, other source of blessing in disguise is helping the needy ones, especially those of the household of faith. Recently, by the Lord's leading, we were graced to be able to help some needy saints. To the extend that we have lend with almost nothing left behind to meet our own need. Of course, the Lord takes care of this need. 

However, this experiences was truly of the Lord. By this, we do not trust in the blessings of God per se, but trust in the God who blesses. Though, sometimes I asked myself if I am over lending, or what if the saints are taking advantage of our generosity. But the Lord reminded me again and again through my reading of the word that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," (  Acts 20:35) and it is a blessing to help my fellows brethren in times of need. On the contrary, not to help is a curse, and to store for oneself alone is selfishness which can hinder and stop the Lord's rich blessing. Not to be generous for the sake of receiving blessing but to take of the Lord's need by caring for fellows members in the Body. This exercise and experience also increase my faith very much, in the Lord, for all things.

Lord, increase my faith furthermore; 

To fully trust in You for all things,

To look to the Source ever only,

And not be anxious about the means,

Yea, much less, be worried about the ends.

For the Producer is much richer the consumers,

The Supplier is much richer than the receivers.

Shepherding : Revisitation

Today, the Lord burdened me to visit a family by all means as I have not visited for a quarter of a year. Though I attempted a couple of times, it never worked out. But today, I was very burdened and decided to visit at all cost.

On this revisitation, I was shepherding the family especially the husband who has already believed into the Lord Jesus Christ but has not yet been baptised, as he has been waiting for the proper time and proper inward confirmation for the same. The Lord's word of shepherding was, sharing testimonies of two new believers who were baptised and whose lives changed dynamically after the Lord Jesus saved and entered into them. 

Later, the whole family were gathered together wherein I ministered on Exodus 15, on the experience of Marah and Elim. This was my very recent enjoyment of the Lord. In fact, I ministered on the same subject yesterday in a Christian home meeting in Gurgaon. Each time I ministered on the subject, new light dawned. The word became richer and sweeter. I just shared my enjoyment of the Lord through the word; how the Lord changed my bitter water into sweet water to quench my spiritual thirst. Not only so, the very sweet water that quenches my thirst is a spring gushing out from within my spirit to supply others with the same sweetness I have been enjoying. Then, we all called upon the Lord's name and prayed.

In our initial meeting, the sister confessed that she lost all her taste for anything, even the food she used to love. She has been through a lot of pressure and pain, within and without. That was one of the reasons our revisitation took after a quarter of months gap. But after the sweet home meeting, she was so joyous and happy; of course, her mother and her husband too. The Lord graciously shepherded us all. She herself responded their need for fellowship with fellow believers. We mutually agreed to practically meet at least once a month and that they also should join the church meeting at least once a week. By this way, keeping the joy of salvation active in the midst of tin and dross.

What a wonderful revisitation it was indeed! It was a revisitation of the Lord Jesus Christ for a sweet and wonderful fellowship. In faith, I prophesied the baptism of our sister's husband and mother. May the Lord do it soon, in His time. 

Shepherding : Restoration

After a long gap, the Lord had reminded me and burdened me of the need for shepherding those whom the Lord pleased to use me in their salvation. In prayer, the Lord confirmed three local haryanvi who were saved, in fact, were also baptised by us in the church in Gurgaon. Though there are quite a number to shepherd, practically speaking it is not easy to take care of them all, but it must be done in the Body. As for my portion, the Lord burdened me to focus specifically on three of the already batpised ones.

The first one was the one the Lord graced me to meet him in 2012 and got baptised thereafter. This one has so much been blessed by the Lord since then. Even, academically and professionally, so far he has been credited with 17 world records and 6 national records and also honored with a doctorate degree, to this date. Success has been his path since the day of his salvation. Besides, he attributed all to the glory of God in the name of Jesus Christ. He has been an ardent lover of Jesus Christ, and has subjectively experienced Jesus Christ so much.

Last Saturday we had a wonderful time together for over  four hours. He was narrating all the blessings God has blessed him with, unimaginably. I was so happy to see a brother prosper physically as much as I desire to see spiritual prosperity. He was cherished with my listening ear, and also I helped him out in going through his achievements and future plans. My main burden released to him was his need for daily enjoyment of the Lord through the word, prayer and fellowship. We mutually agreed and decided to meet at least once a week and keep a regularly contact via phone calls and messaging. Altogether it was a lovely experience to be with one's spiritual fruit. 

My burden was fully released. Besides, the cherishing and nourishing, I also gifted him a set of Life Lesson Vol 1-4, in Hindi and his assignment was to enter into at least a lesson a week, if not daily, which he agreed upon with the priority of spending time with the Lord in prayer and in the word of God. For prayer, the spirit and the word is the only way to go on in a Christian life with a fellowship in and with the Body.

O what a wonderful day it was! The joy of shepherding and being shepherded by the shepherding! 

May the Lord, the true and chief Shepherd shepherd us all!