Crucial Crisis

Only God is sovereign over all; at times things happen and I have to gradually accept the fact and live along with it. At times, but in fact, things happened beyond human understanding and only God knows why. The mystery lingers on until in His time He revealed it to me what it really means to Him and to me. Such was the case when one night I received a surprise bulk messages from a brother concerning my cousin brother who had been in the training. Immediately I sensed something had gone wrong, or that a serious decision was about to be taken. Though I slept peacefully as usual some reckoning within me about a possible decision was perceived. The next day I received two urgent phone calls: one from my wife, and the other from my coordinator brother in the church, about a strict decision taken to discontinue the said brother from the training. Was it a shock or a surprise, or a shocking surprise? Well, the Lord is sovereign. I reckon it as all good for our perfecting. Sometimes, life lessons are learnt the hard way round. 

Since then, in the midst of the ministry of the word literature journey I had been carrying out, I would pray and consider how to handle this matter as I definitely have to fellowship once I get back home. Every time I tried to come up with some decisions, the Lord shut me up and reminded me with my own words, "Do not do anything without prayer until you are clear it is from the Lord." Therefore, I was saved from my presumptuous thoughts and natural decisions. Only yesterday, when the ministry journey for this time ended, a faint light began to dawn on me, though still not clear. And this morning as I was waiting to board a flight back to Delhi from Kangra, while I was reading my daily portion of the Bible at the Airport's waiting lounge, the Lord’s spoke to me and He made all things clear. 

Ezekiel 34:16I will seek the lost one and bring back the one that was driven away and bind up the broken one and strengthen the sick one; but the fat one and the strong one I will destroy — I will feed them with judgment. 

"Bring back the one that was driven away and bind up the broken one and strengthen the sick one;" the Lord's speaking was loud and clear. Now I know how to deal with this case. Besides, the Lord also promised that if I shepherd the sheep properly, the Lord will shower His blessings. 

Ezekiel 34:26-27And I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing, and I will cause the showers to come down in their season; there will be showers of blessing. And the trees of the field will yield their fruit, and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure in their land; then they will know that I am Jehovah, when I break the bars of their yoke and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 

Not only did the Lord showed me how to deal with persons, matters, and things, but He also promised showers of blessings if I would obey His speaking and follow His leading. 

Praise the Lord, my God is a living and speaking God! Even critical crisis is a crucial class for real life lesson learning and perfecting. Thank God for the training, the brothers who faithfully made decision in the training, my wife, my brother in the church coordination, and the faithful God who speaks His timely words. All things indeed works together for good. 

Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Ministry of the Word to Dharamsala, HP

Not knowing where we were going nor who we were meeting, the Lord led us to this city. The contact I had was just a phone number. As instructed over the phone we got done at a bus stand and there we were picked up and taken straight away to a meeting, the day being Lord’s day. The meeting was held at a village near the Airport in Gaggal. 

In the meeting I was requested to share my testimony of salvation, and I did with a burden to impart life to the congregation of about fifty believers. My emphasis was on the need of personal experience of the Lord, prayer life, doing the will of the Lord, studying the word of God, and the importance of growth in the divine life. The Lord richly blessed the testimony as the pastor himself, and the leading ones testified after the meeting to me and said that such speaking was the timely need of the church there. 

My coordinator brother was also requested to share testimony, and with it he shared on the importance of our human spirit and how to touch the Lord's Spirit dwelling in our spirit. There was also an introduction and distribution of the ministry books to all literate believers. 

Later, we were given hospitality in the pastor's house itself. That evening we also meet few other Christian leaders for introduction and distribution of the ministry books. The following day too, a meeting was held for Christian leaders to hear us out. As the Lord led me so, I briefed them on the history of the church, the degradation of the church under Catholicism, the reformation work under Martin Luther, the need for recovery back to the orthodoxy of the church, and the vital and unique role the ministry plays in the recovery of the church. Some Christian leaders purchased the Hindi books in set. 

In the afternoon that day, we visited a brother who has been serving with the campus students in Kangra. The Lord led me to share testimonies of serving among the college students with my own life experiences as an encouragement to him besides introducing the ministry books. Later, in the night we spent time with the pastor who is a dear brother to us by then, on some important truths in the Bible: The genealogy of Jesus as recorded in Mathew and Luke, the place of the golden incense altar as recorded in Hebrews 9:4 and Exodus 30:6 with the spiritual significance and the subjectivity in our prayer life. 

The following day, we had a sight seeing tour at McLeod, passing through the Tibetan market to the headquarter of Dalai Lama, then to a Baghsunag waterfall. 

We also had the burden to meet Christian leaders working among the Tibetans. In our search for such, we were introduced to a sister in Naddi, on the mountain top, after trekking for over three kilometres deep into the village mountain. It was amazing, we ended up meeting a Gujarati brother who is a Gujarati translator for the past ten years and his project would end by coming January 2018. Immediately I offered him a translation assignment after his current assignment, of course, only if he could pass the translation trial checking. He immediately agreed and testified that he has the burden to continue to serve there in the mountain village and continue with translation. I also introduced The Economy of God and gifted him the book as well for His reading, and perhaps for His translation in the future, if the Lord so wills. The sister we met was in the verge of leaving the village as she will get married next year, and I she became a potential contact for Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 

We just marvelled at the way in which the Lord led us to meet these dear seekers in a remote village in Naddi for the Lord's work elsewhere in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. 

In the evening after dinner, brother took me to his house owner where I shared my testimony of salvation and preached the gospel to the whole family using The Mystery of Human Life tract. They were opened to the gospel and we prayed for their family's salvation. May the Lord save this family. I believe it was for their salvation that our brother rented his house and there I was given hospitality. 

Finally, this brother and his family came together and we all had family prayer time. This was how the ministry of the word literature journey came to conclude for the time being.

May the Lord gain His heart's desire in life the cities he led us to. 

Ministry of the Word to Mandi, HP

An elderly pastor welcomed us to the city of Mandi. The moment we arrived, we were given audience by a group of Christian leaders who were waiting for us. We immediately introduced the ministry books and I shared the word of God using the ministry books. 

The word of God we all read together was from Acts 8:26-39, with an emphasis on the need for interpreting the word of God by Philip to the Ethiopian Eunuch. The burden I released was on the need to get help from one another as the Lord gave revelations to many saints in the past; we must learn from one another. Therefore, the need to read, study, and pursue the ministry books, not as a replacement of the Bible but as an opening up of the Bible. Moreover, I also presented the truths from Life Lessons, lesson by lesson in a way of helping the believers see and experience the practical growth in the divine life. The Christian leaders were so impressed with the ministry of the word. After the meeting we were considering whether to stay back or proceed to the next destination, but the pastor who hosted us requested that we stay back a night for more fellowship. We felt good and stayed back. 

A seeking Christian leader spent over three hours of fellowship with us on some crucial truths of the Bible: Christian life, church life, ministry, Body of Christ, etc. He even opened up about his real situation and standing as a serving one; how the Lord led him and blessed him in this city, his burden and vision, and his readiness to carry out his burden if his namesake tie with a mainline church is cut off. My main burden with this brother was to help him in the matter of life and then the truth. I gifted him a book in Hindi, The Tree of Life. This brother was sober and the way we met was noteworthy. He heard about us from our host and called a Pastor in Kullu to confirm what kind of men we are, and what did we teach. With a word of mouth well-speaking about our visit to Kullu, he decided to hear us out. That's how he came to meet us, and later we ended up in his house for more fellowship. May the Lord shine on Him and recover him for His testimony in Mandi. 

In the evening we had dinner fellowship with our host who was from a Gentile background. He shared how the Lord saved him and how he began his ministry in the city. He works in the weekdays and takes care of the believers with him albeit only on the Lord's day. We only hope that he can read the ministry books gifted to him. The next day early morning we left for our next destination. 

May the Lord gain His heart's desire in Mandi.

Ministry of the Word to Kullu, HP

A brother who was instrumental in our planning this ministry journey to Himachal Pradesh welcomed us to Kullu, where he serves and resides. The moment we arrived at the city, we were taken to a meeting hall where Christian leaders were invited to give us an audience. 

As burdened by the Lord, I ministered on the meaning of a Christian life, the need for a proper spiritual education and spiritual growth in the divine life, linking the budens with the importance of healthy spiritual food for the believers to pursue. Then we distributed the books; a Pastor who opened his meeting hall ordered the entire set of books in Hindi. 

When we arrived here we were not sure if we had to stay back or proceed to the next city. But as I was about to minister the word I requested for a translator as I preferred to minister in English and the crowd barely knew English. A sister volunteered to translate for me. She was so touched by the words ministered as her expression in translation proved it. After the meeting she enquired our schedule and immediately requested us to stay back for more fellowship. We just felt that it was like the Lord opening up the heart of Lydia to pay heed to the ministry of the word. We obliged to her request and were thus given hospitality in her house. 

There in the house two batches of Christian leaders came to meet us. They all heard us out and received the ministry books. Thereby, without us needing to go to meet each one of them the Lord led us meet all of them in a sister's house. We marvelled at how the Lord made arrangements beyond our imagination. He is Lord and He is sovereign over all. 

The sister in question is a mother of two sons, who used to serve as women leader and her son as youth leader in Delhi for many years. Because of the burden the Lord gave, they resigned from their previous group and came to this city to serve the Lord by faith in a fresh way, on and of their own, without joining any denomination. We enjoyed a sweet fellowship with this family till late night on the matter of a Christian life, the church, and the ministry. 

The next day morning we continued to fellowship on the importance of eating the Lord Jesus in and through the word of God, using John 6, mostly verses 57 and 63. I also gifted two books in Hindi: The Glorious Church and The Economy of God, with the burden and hope that they would see the heart's desire of God. Then we prayed and departed for our next destination. 

In this city too, the Lord was sovereign in leading all Christian leaders to meet us and be given the opportunity to taste the ministry. Much more, the Lord was also specific in leading us to the home of a sister and her sons who loves the Lord and are waiting upon Him for proper leading to begin serving the Lord in this city. Only the Lord knows who would one day be the pillar for the Lord's testimony in Kullu. 

May the Lord gain His heart's desire in Kullu.

Ministry of the Word to Manali, HP

A beautiful valley surrounded by snow-clad mountain famous for tourist destination welcomed us warmly in a Christian-run school guest house. The story behind this connection, a brother welcoming guarantee to Manali and to the guest house, is worth mentioning. 

Few years ago a brother from Rourkee heard about me and came to meet me along with another brother in Gurgaon who knew my address, since then, we maintain our relationship in Christ. This brother from Gurgaon got married to a sister in Manali and is known to a principal of a school who was given a free Rhema booklet in Hindi when he recently came to visit him in Gurgaon. This principal handed over the Hindi booklet to another brother who is a clerk in the same school who read and was so impressed by the truths. He wanted to order the next set, but his filled-in postcard for next set order was sent to him back wrongly twice instead of being sent to Rhema's office in Bangalore. Then he decided to send SMS instead, and he did it thrice to make sure his complete address was sent with a request for the books in Hindi. This happened when we were praying and considering to visit Manali. He then became the key contact who made all the arrangements in the city. And it was he who welcomed us in the early hour of the morning when the city reeled at about 1 degree Celsius. 

Our first meeting was with the school principal who has been an ardent reader and lover of the ministry of the word. Within few minutes of fellowship our brotherly relation became so sweet and intimate. He invited me to share my testimony and the word of God in their Bible study meeting. I did so as the Lord led me; testifying and ministering on who Jesus is and how to experience and enjoy the Lord moment by moment. The Lord richly blessed the meeting. After the meeting we had long hours of fellowship with the principal on the Lord's recovery, clarifying the misunderstanding some people had of the church life with real life testimonies of our own in coming into the church life. The fellowship continued with lovefeast and went on till late night. We were glad that the Lord led us in all our fellowship. The following day he sent a message, quoted verbatim:

Thanks for the enriching fellowship we had last night. My heart always beats and yearns for the oneness of the church locally and universally. Sometimes I felt that lot of time and resources have been squandered due the lack of understanding of the importance of this oneness among the believers and churches. The man made church systems always hindered the biblical truths. I was always enriched by the writing of brothers Nee and Lee. Thanks for sharing these spiritual riches with us in Manali. Hoping to have many more such meetings with you in future as the Lord permits.

The next day, though we planned to meet various Christian leaders living in the vicinity of the city, the Lord marvelously brought all the pastors together without any pre-plan. These pastors came for different purposes in the premise where we were lodged, some to pick their children after school, and some to meet doctors for medical check up, and through word of mouth among the pastors themselves, we could meet all of them. All the pastors received the ministry books and almost all of them ordered the entire Hindi set of books. That was the Lord's sovereignty. Thus we could meet all the leading Christian leaders in town. 

Then we had a lighter moment of sightseeing tour to Solang, a mountain enveloped with snow; the first time I saw and touched snow with my own hands. We enjoyed God’s creation, appreciating the beauty of nature with a couple of selfies and snapshots. In the evening we were invited for a lovefeast at a brother's house where we also fellowshipped on the experienced of living by faith. 

We thanked and praised the Lord for His sovereignty in the distribution of the ministry of the word in Manali. 

May the ministry seeds sown bear fruits in its own time. Amen. 

Ministry of the Word to Shimla, HP

This capital city of Himachal Pradesh has been in my heart for the introduction and spreading of the ministry of the word. But I had no contact to visit until last week. Out of burden from the Lord, it was planned that Shimla would be covered as well. 

When we were in Solan one night, a group of students were contacted by the Lord’s sovereignty. One of the student leaders gave me a brother's number as I told them that Shimla was our next destination. This brother whose number I got became our initial contact for this city visit. When I called him, his immediate reply was, "call me whenever you reach Shimla, at new bus stand." He readily made arrangement for our accommodation and food, and welcomed us to his guest house. 

Our first meeting was with a group of Bible translators where I fellowshipped on the importance of proper translation of the word of God by introducing New Testament Recovery Version with footnotes and other ministry books. Though they were a little hesitant about brother Witness Lee's books, they placed order for Watchman Nee's book. This was due to a brother calling up their organizational leader in Kerala who has some false notion about brother Lee. I simply exercised my spirit to minister the word of God to these brothers as much as I could. I ministered on the truth concerning regeneration, growth in life, the church, the economy of God, etc., using relevant Bible verses. By and large, they were very impressed with the presentation of the truth, though one of them tried to find fault in my speaking, his interjection and comment all turned out to be good for me to expound the the truth further with much clarity.

We also met with all the mainline churches' Christian leaders, and each of them paid close heed to all that we spoke. Besides agreeing with the truths presented, they had nothing to say further on the contrary. In fact, there was no way to speak otherwise as all that we spoke were all from the Bible. One of the Pastors and his son were so impressed with the truths that they ordered the entire set to be displayed for the believers in their congregation especially during Christmas time, though their bookstore would not display books other than their own publication. They found another better way out. Sensing the potential of this young brother, 1985 the Pastor's son, I gifted him a copy of the Recovery Version Bible New Testament as it would be a blessing to him. May the Lord gain this young man for His testimony. 

Another noteworthy meeting was a brother who is a Government servant and is shepherding a group of believers in Shimla. He was so sober and seeking that every book I introduced he wanted to have them. The truths in the books were his key attractions as he realised his and his congregation need for the proper and healthy teaching. He also ordered the entire set and wanted to study the truths, speak the truths, and introduced to others as well. 

Our last meeting in this city was with a Pastor, a missionary, and a youth leader who turned out of be the most seeking ones and open among all those we met. As we fellowshipped on the Christian life and the church life with an emphasis on the church from the view of God using the book "The Glorious Church" they were so impressed and convinced that they all need to be recovered to the orthodoxy of the church and each of them be reconstituted with the truths for the Lord's testimony. The leading Pastor who has already established fourteen assemblies ordered two copies of the entire Hindi ministry books and promised to order more for all his coworkers. He wanted to have more fellowship and was especially thankful that the Lord sent us to meet their timely need. Though many new believers have been gained, their is a great need for the proper and healthy spiritual food. This is where the ministry material played a vital role.

We were glad that the Lord led us to various Christian leaders and seekers in this city, and especially glad that the riches of the ministry have been made known to the key Christian leaders. The seeds of the ministry have been sown, and now looking forward to the growth, development, and manifestation of these seeds. 

Lord, gain Your testimony in Shimla! 

Ministry of the Word to Solan, HP

A brother who by profession is a Dentist has been working in this city and has been inviting me to visit him. The Lord used him as a threshold for us to decide this trip to Himachal Pradesh. Though we knew no one, we prayed, fellowshipped, and made a plan to visit this state by faith. Therefore, we came to this city Solan. 

No sooner we arrived in this brothers' house, we had our lunch and went to visit the only pastor he knew in town. We introduced the ministry books to him and got more leads for meeting more people. Besides, we also met a sister, a lady pastor, who just concluded their fasting prayer meeting with the youth group. As we introduced the ministry books and fellowshipped our intention in visiting this state, one of the youths, and the lady pastor herself gave some more contacts. These contacts were the key people in town that we met and fellowshipped with the following day. 

Though our Dentist brother himself was busy for His work, the Lord arranged a Pastor's son whom we met the previous night to take us around to meet the key leaders. Two important leaders with whom we spend considerable length of time were very genuine in their faith. They both were working, running their own businesses, and at the same time serving the Lord. Their understanding of the Bible seems to be deeper than the other people we met. And both knew and read brother Watchman's books. "Ministry is the overflow of life," is one statement this brother made, and focused so much on life rather than work. We were glad to fellowship with these brothers. On top of that, they did not believe in denominations and were simple meeting as group of believers at homes. And they seemed to be increasing in numbers by the day. They even were very careful in accepting any Christian teachings or writings as such, and I personally was very glad that they were such, because this will save them from the indoctrination of various kinds of teachings. Since they already read some of our books, they were willing to read the books that we distributed. I believe they will read them, be blessed, and be gained by the Lord. 

The most important burden we had was for our Dentist brother, who hosted us, and his family. We spent one night till early next morning to fellowship with them. Initially, his wife opened up a couple of questions related to the church life. We did our best to explain from the Bible the inward, intrinsic nature and essence of the church. And expounded further on the need for growth in life and maturity. The following day being the Lord's day, we decided to spent the morning for corporate morning revival and the day for Lord's day fellowship. 

With the burden to prepare this couple to be the pillar for the Lord's testimony in Solan, we had the first Lord's day meeting at their home today. The Lord's speaking was on three matters: The knowing of Jesus the Saviour subjectively all the days of our Christian life, the exercise of the human spirit to touch the Lord Spirit at all times, and the listening to the Lord Jesus only in all matters and things. And with the proper subjective experiences of the Lord, we also encouraged them to have a daily exercise and discipline of a prayer time both personal and corporate, Bible study time, and pursuing the ministry books. Then we all prayed together for one another and for the Lord's testimony in Solan. 

Our brother has also been burdened by the Lord to be a distributor of the ministry books to the seekers in Solan. His house has now been opened for others to come and receive the ministry books. He has also been introduced to a good number of seeking believers for future fellowship. He and his wife were so thankful to the Lord that we visited them and a new Era of their marriage life, Christian life, and church life has dawned. They both testified to us to this fact. They even wanted us to stay one more day but we insisted that we moved on as we have to visit more localities in this ministry journey.  

May the Lord fully gain this family for His testimony in Solan. 

Déjà Vu: Shepherding

Twelve years have elapse since I came to serve the Lord in the way of shepherding the saints, new ones, brothers, sisters and families. My experiences in shepherding seems to have repeated over and over again. Though the object of shepherding, the people, differs a lot, but the very act of shepherding essentially, in principle, is all the same. The feeling of shepherding has always been joyful. Though the ones I have shepherded or have been shepherding are all positive yet whether these ones will remain in the church is all in the hand of the Lord. I, for one, wishes that all remain faithful and become remaining fruits, but how much my wish turn into reality is one challenge I have been facing till today. Nevertheless, I will not give up on anyone as far as the Lord graces me to shepherd the saints. 

Three such families under my prayer and care were turning out to be very positive, and along with the brothers I visited them last week. In all these meetings, the Lord's speaking was very sweet and enjoyable, and the new ones were cherished and nourished. All seemed to go well, and I pray that they all will be fully recovered for the church-life. One family has been in contact for about seven years now. Even when we lost contact I decided not to give them up in my prayer, I kept praying for them and asked the saints to pray for them too. I did the same for all the new ones under my care. The Lord is faithful, and in time, He brought these families in contact again for shepherding and fellowship. This time my burden further is to bring more saints to take care of these ones, and not just me. I hope the brothers will also pick up the burden and even in shepherding, it can be a corporate shepherding. 

Now, all that I can do is, to look away unto Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith, to perfect the faith of all these ones to be faithful remaining fruits for the Lord's testimony in Gurugram. 

This feeling of shepherding has been a déjà vu. 

Life Lesson: Missed Flight

Two responsible brothers from the church in Gurgaon were supposed to attend a training on church administration in Taiwan. I personally was very burdened to perfect more brothers to bear the responsibility of the local church I am in. In fellowship, two brothers were proposed and all arrangement including flight tickets and visas were done. But there were few important things that were not well taken care, which later came to light, and eventually became lessons for all of us to learn. 

Firstly, the seriousness of this training was underestimated. Though a very important training and a very important trip for the church as well as the brothers, hardly any prayer was offered on the same. Nor was there any subsequent fellowship following the decision taken. Though the saints knew about it, not many really cared for it. This was the big mistake I and the brothers have made. 

Secondly, the financial arrangement was all initially burned by the church, as the training is for the church purpose. Though we fellowshipped with our brothers to participate in the expenses as much as they could, only the Lord knows the deep intention of the brothers themselves. Whether they were willing to bear the entire expenses, paying the price for the Lord's sake, or taking things for granted. I felt in this matter also, all of us need a deeper lesson to learn. 

Thirdly, it concerns the matter of oneness among us brothers who made the decision and also the oneness of the travelling brothers with their wives and families. Though we all noted our head on agreement with a resounding "amen" I am not too sure whether we all brother had the same burden and oneness in all matters regarding this trip. 

These three crucial factors were worth considering as far as we the brothers in the church were concerned. Personally too, I learned some deep lesson from the Lord in this regard as I was the one who first raised the toss. My intention itself need to be dealt with. Perhaps, my intention was good in sending the brothers for such training, but the way it was proposed and carried out might have been natural in that it was not taken seriously. 

The result was amazing; the two brothers missed the flight. The flight timing was kind of tricky as it says 10 Nov, 00:05. We all were of the assumption that the flight was on 10th midnight. But, a closer look at it revealed, it was on 9 Nov night, passed midnight. 

Though the brothers did their best to suddenly reschedule everything on 9 Nov, it was one day too late. Though rebooking of new flight could have been done, it was Rs. 40,000+ too expensive. Finally, the trip was cancelled to the utmost disappointment of the all, especially the brothers. But later we all learned our lesson the hard way round with much sober mindedness. 

Few days later as we were enjoying a group meeting in one of the brothers' house, a brother who missed the flight, the Lord's speaking was very fresh: Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

I believe, when opportunity like this comes up again, things would be very different. We have learnt our lesson and we will not take things for granted anymore. 

El-bethel

Genesis 35:7And he built an altar there and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother. 

El-bethel, God of the house of God, signifies the experience of God as the Body, the church, the house of God. This corporate experience of Christ in the church is a much higher experience of the Lord than a personal experience of the Lord individually. Jacob, a representative of all the believers, had both the experiences, beginning with his individual experience, and then progressing to the corporate experience. This is exactly what many believers have been experiencing, especially those who progressed in their Christian lives and proceed further to the Body life. 

Our Christian life is not merely for salvation, nor for spirituality alone, but for the building up of the Body of Christ. Salvation experiences must lead one to spiritual growth, development, and maturity for the building up of the Body of Christ. Else, the fate of such spirituality without the Body nor for the Body will be a conglomeration of divided individual spiritual zealots. God is not after a collection of giants, not builded nor blended, but after the builded Body, that He can indeed be El-bethel. 

Once I cared for my salvation so much, and God graced me the wonderful salvation. Then I sought for spirituality with all hunger and thirst, God has been gracing me that too. Now, my burden is, based on the salvation and spirituality I have been graced with, I am for the building of God's house. Throughout the ages, many lovers and seekers of the Lord have spent their whole being for spirituality, this of course, is much better than worldliness, but is not sufficient for God to accomplish His purpose. Only Bethel, the house of God being gained, and God being the God of Bethel, El-bethel, can fulfill God’s heart's desire. 

This is the need of the age, and only the recovery of the Body life that builds the Body up as the Bride of Christ can only bring the Lord back. My Christian life, my church life, and my service must be for this. 

As we were enjoying this truth in a fellowship of the brothers in the church in Gurugram, we brothers testified whole heartedly and thanked the Lord for gracing us to see the vision of the Body, and live in it. And how we wish that all the believers too see such a vision of the Body and be for the Body of Christ. 

God, the El-bethel, grace us all Your children for Your house, Your heart's desire.

Jehovah-shammah

Ezekiel 48:35It shall be eighteen thousand reeds all around, and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah Is There.  

"Jehovah is There" is the presence of Jehovah Himself with His chosen, redeemed, regenerated, transformed, and glorified tripartite people to be one entity, a great corporate God-man, the mutual abode of God and man; God in man and man in God. This is the goal of God in His creation of man. And this should be a Christian's subjective experience all the days of his life, and it must be my personal testimony.

Though because of the sin of idolatry, the glory of Jehovah left the children of Israel, the holy temple, the holy city, in the holy land, through the recovery and restoration of the people, the temple, the city, and the land, the glory of Jehovah returned back. Though degraded, through recovery, the restored city has a new name Jehovah-shammah! 

This history of Israel is being relayed in a Christian's life today. And it is my story too. I was enlightened by this picture. For the recovery of the holy temple, there must be first a recovery of the holy land. Which means, to subjectively recover the holy temple in the holy city with the name Jehovah-shammah, the holy land, Christ must be subjectively recovered back in our experience. This brings me into the urgency of enjoying Christ daily in all things. If I do not enjoy Christ, I can never enjoy the church as typified by the holy temple and the holy city. For God to fulfill His plan and for me to a part of the fulfillment of God's plan, I must enjoy Christ, the all-inclusive Christ, with all His riches. 

In the allotment of the good land to the children of Israel, the ones closest to the holy temple are the priests, followed by the levites, then by the workers, and then the royal families, and the rest of the people. The ones closet to the temple, the priests, are the ones who maintain the fellowship between the people and the Lord. In the new testament, the believers are the priests. As such, I am a priest too. But how much I function as priest depends on how near I am to the holy temple, geographically speaking. Likewise, how near I am, or how close my enjoyment of the presence of God will determine my real spiritual function as priest. The more I enjoy Christ, the closer I will be to Him, the closer I am to Him, the more function I will render in my service, and the more important I will be in His purpose. This being the case, I must exercise daily and hourly to enjoy the Lord at all times. 

By this way of gaining the good land Christ, and staying in His presence, Christ and the Church will be recovered in my experience, and I will be a part of the city where Jehovah is There, one with God in His move for His purpose. 

This was my enjoyment, and I shared this truth last Lord's day. And may this be the experience of all the saints. Jehovah-shammah, Jehovah Is There, be my testimony and the testimony of the church. 

This enjoyment, I shared to my brothers today. May the Lord grace us all to recover the good land Christ, live in His presence, and be one with God with a name, "Jehovah is There!" 

Success Message

Few days ago my sister informed me of her being selected for a  coveted and prestigious "Assistant Professor" post under the Government of Manipur. The examination and interview were done almost a year ago, but due to the political-cum-ethnical turmoil, the result has been suspended for long. Meanwhile, she has been already appointed as an ad-hoc post of Assitant Professor in Delhi University, and that too is most likely to be made a permanent post. Yes, it was a good news indeed. Yet, I expressed my feeling that before making any decision, the matter has to be brought to the Lord in prayer and to the Body in fellowship; we are for the Lord, Christ-the head of the Body, and we are also for the church, the Body fo the Head, Christ. Any decision, especially of this nature which will decide one's entire life-course must be thoroughly considered in prayer and fellowship and see the perfect leading of the Lord. Wherever the Lord leads, there we shall go in view of the gospel and the building up of the Body of Christ.

In view of this, I posted a message in our family group for all to learn life lesson; Success Message.

Romans 11:36 Because out from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.  

Praise the Lord for our dear Sister Kim's selection for "Assistant Professor" post under the Government of Manipur. This itself is a testimony as it has been gotten righteously on merit amidst the cloud of corruption circumventing the entire political arena where a Govt. job of this nature could have cost a huge sum of bribery if we have to bow to the custom of the nation. That being said, we neither have to assume and jump too quickly and easily to a conclusion that the job has to be accepted. Many would have reckoned it as hitting a jackpot when bright future in worldly eyes could not nor must not be given a miss. To me, this would be kowtowing to the fantasy dream of prosperity. The world does it, does not necessarily mean we, Christians, should do it. 

We, Christians, should live by the divine life in obeisance to the Lord's leading and anointing, and not be coerced by circumstances. If every opportunity that comes our way, or perhaps, every success that comes our way, were to be interpreted as the Lord's blessing and leading, I will never be what I am today. Instead, as a master's degree holder in Computer Science, I could have been working as a software engineer working abroad as many of my ex-classmates are now today; some in the USA, UK, or erstwhile in Europe and South East Asia. If that be the case, by now I could have heaved up riches to the praise of the worldly-wise. Thank God, I was not and will never succumb to circumstances sans God’s perfect will. 

God be gracious to us that we become not a prey to the goddess of prosperity or success, but follow and only follow, the perfect will of the Lord. Furthermore, may we be graced to love the Lord more than anything else and always seek the things above; the heavenly, spiritual, and divine things. 

Colossians 3:1-2 If therefore you were raised together with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the earth.  

Therefore, let us rejoice and give thanks to God, but let us not yet conclude that this success is indeed of the Lord. Out from Him and through Him are all things, so shall it be to Him. In our making decision, big or small, let us always keep this principle in mind: the perfect will of the Lord; not the nature, nor the place, nor the position, nor the salary of the job. Let us pray, and confirm in prayer and fellowship with one another, what the will of the Lord is, as this decision is probably a life-time decision. 

Let the will of the Lord be done. We are not for ourself nor for our family, but for the Lord. With our decision, our lives must be to live to the Lord unto the end and even unto the glory of God. Amen. 

Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore whether we live or we die, we are the Lord’s.