Calling Jesus in UP

Our visit to Uttar Pradesh, mainly Raebaleri, Amethi, Faizabad and Ayodhya was very unique in many ways. The number of believers in these places are not big yet they were mostly at the initial stage of salvation or at least, they need to grow in the divine life. There are few observations that are noteworthy. 

The believers we visited were mostly from the villages. Majority of the believers were female. In every group there seemed to be someone possessed by evil spirits as some of them got delivered after prayer. They also seem to anxious about many things in their lives. Life was definitely hard for them as many of them were poverty stricken. Yet their love for the Lord was very sincere and they were very seeking. Another good point was, they were so simple that almost everyone of them would come forward for prayer after every meeting seeking for prayer. My burden to such ones who always sought for prayer was to help them exercise their spirit and learn to pray by themselves. This, perhaps, was not properly taught to them. And after every meeting, they would come forward to offer something for the Lord; some offered a kilo of rice from their paddy field as majority of them were farmers, some vegetables, some money. What they offered may not be much, but their hearts that offered, the Lord would definitely remember and bless. I personally would not dare to relieve whatever they wanted to offer, as I deem myself not worry of their hard earned offering. I directed every offering to the local brother who took was around. I was moved by their genuine simplicity and seeking hearts. May the Lord continue to bless them. 

In all these meetings, our main emphasis was to help them know from the Bible who is God; how God created man with three parts - spirit, soul and body; how God in Christ has become the life-giving Spirit; how to exercise the Spirit, calling upon the name of the Lord, prayer and reading the word, etc.

The climax of our visit was in Raebaleri, our last meeting before we left the city. It was with a group of believers in a small ancient style hut built with mud and wood. By the way to the hut was offered by a brother who experience the Lord's dynamic salvation that he wanted to use it for meeting and prayer. The room was filled with seeking sisters and few brothers. Though I could not minister in Hindi, the brother requested me to speak and another brother translated for me. Looking at the crowd, the only burden the Lord gave me was to help them exercise their spirit.

Only three burdens I released with a strong spirit. Calling upon the name of Lord using Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:9-13. Then we all called upon the name of Lord in Hindi, "He Prabhu Yesu!" It was so enjoyable when we all called out loud, the name of the Lord on hindi in a hindi heartland. To me that was the best way to help them exercise their spirit and turn to the Lord. I even asked them to recite Acts 2:2, and "Aur jo koi Prabhu ka naam lega woh udhaar payega." That was another way to help them read the word, recite the word, and memorise the word. This was the best way to help them touch the Lord in the Word, and they all enjoyed it. And finally, I also encouraged them to spend time in prayer, as much as possible. With these three burdens, our meeting was ended, and after lunch we left them. Now with much hope and faith we look forward that the Lord will one day raise up His testimonies in all these cities. 

Praise the Lord! Calling Jesus in UP was really wonderful.