Village Visit: Sindhibhata

Deep in the jungle of Odisha bordering with Chattisgarh, about two hours drive from the city, a brother and his wife took us for a meeting in a village named, Sindhibhata. Simple villagers from a low caste background, but through the labor of some brothers, almost the entire village became Christians. As we arrived this village we were welcomed by the main brother who oversee the Lord's work in the entire village.

As the meeting began, believers came one by one, and filled the entire campus seated on the matted ground. The elder brothers took their seats on the side where chairs were arranged for them. Simple villagers, sang with all their hearts, and enjoyed the praise and worship.

When time for message came, the elders welcomed us in stage, garlanded with flowers garland as a sign of respect and welcome. We had no idea what the Lord would speak through us, we simply believed in the Lord’s instant speaking, trusting simply that it will be given to us what to speak when it was time to speak. 

The Lord did give us the word. A brother spoke first, and gave three points to receive spiritual blessing who is God Himself: to call upon the Lord's name, to confess their sins, and to love the Lord. Then I followed, echoed whatever my brother had spoken, and added two more points on reading the word of God and praying daily. The fellowship was a complete message, God as the spiritual blessing, and the way to receive the blessing. The elders and leading brothers testified that the message was what they need and very timely.

May the Lord bless His children in this remote village. 

The Ministry of the Word Literature Journey: Cuttack - Bhubaneswar

This twin city welcomed us to a brother's home who made arrangement for our meeting with Christian leaders. Leader by leader, we met and introduced the ministry books. Each one of them appreciated the ministry books; they either purchased or placed order for the books. Our burden was to make the ministry books available to all Christians. As we met the Christian leaders, some of them showed their interest to translate the ministry books into Oriya. Three brothers fellowshipped with us to give them books for translation. Moreover, there was also a great need for the ministry books to be made available into Oriya. After we finished our work, a BSI guest house called "The Bible House" was arranged for our night stay. The Lord have been shepherding us all this while.

After our burden was released in Cuttack, we moved on to Bhubaneswar and met some Christian leaders. In this capital city, the Lord burdened us to meet two families to fellowship with. 

A brother who was burdened for Bhubaneswar resigned from the Christian organization he worked with before, then came to this city to start serving the Lord. Last year he called me, as his friend whom I met in Ranchi last year gave my number to him. Since then, I also wanted to meet him. Finally, the Lord brought us together. 

The Lord burdened us to introduce "The Orthodoxy of the Church" and ministered at length on what the church is according to the Bible. The brother and his wife received our fellowship and responded that they were convicted by the truth. Hope that they will read the ministry books and stand for the Lord's testimony one day.

The brother who received us at the Airport was the one who took us around as we came to this capital city. He also took us to his joint family, three brothers living together with their wives and children. As most of them, except one, have not yet been baptised, we shared the gospel, led them to call on the Lord's name, and explained the significances of baptism. The three families were simple and did not have much of religious background. Before we left, the brother told us that he would study the word daily using The New Testament, Recovery Version. He also said that he would seriously pray and consider his baptism along with his whole joint family. He even said that he would invite me to baptise them when they all are ready. Well, this is human words, but our trust is in the Lord. If the Lord so will, the Lord will bring us again for the baptism of the entire family, and even for the raising up of the Lord's testimony in Bhubaneswar.

Our burden was released and we left for the next city. May the Lord continue to operate in the families we have met and fellowshipped with and raise up His testimony soon. 

The Ministry of the Word Literature Journey: Balasore

Few months ago as I was praying and considering to visit Odisha for the introduction and distribution of the ministry of the word, a brother called me and introduce me to a brother in Balasore. On calling him, he immediately invited me to visit him, and I took that as a "Macedonia" call. After a few more days of prayer, I brought it to fellowship with some brothers, and then I decided to visit this city.

A brother and I flew to Bhubaneswar, the capital city last week. One brother came to receive us at the Airport. As he introduced himself, I felt the leading to preach the gospel and showed him from the Bible, God's plan, Christ's redemption, and then his need for baptism as a believer, as he is a born Catholic and not yet baptised. The Lord indeed spoke to him and a few days later he told me he and his whole family would be baptised soon. May the Lord save the whole family.

In Balasore, a brother who invited me happens to be a big businessman living as a joint family with his brother and sister; all of them are in business. He invited the leading Pastors and Christian leaders of the city to come and meet with us. We introduced the ministry books to all of them.

The following day, the elder brother of the brother who invited us drove us to the nearby villages and towns for the distribution of the ministry books. 

We were also led to the camp site of Brother Graham Steward Staines who was burnt alive in his vehicle with his two sons on the night of January 22, 1999. Out of such a sacrifice and martyrdom the Lord saved many local people in Odisha. Now, many villages, towns, and cities of Odisha have been evangelised! I felt blessed to be able to visit and learn of such burden and sacrifice from an Australian missionary.

One night, we had a family gather of the brother who invited us. The entire family, three joint family, came together for fellowship. We shared a simply gospel on "Who is Jesus?" and ministered to them the need for prayer, Bible reading, and calling upon the Lord's name. We all enjoyed calling upon the Lord's name. We also encouraged them to start a regular family prayer at least once a week. These joint family is the base for the Lord's move in this city. Perhaps, one day, the Lord will gain the entire family and raise up His testimony in Balasore.

Chhattisgarh, shepherd these seeking ones and raise up Your testimony! 

Word Study: Sonship, An Organic Process

As I continue to delve on the word "sonship," the word "organic" was put into question. For which, I did further study and wrote the following article with the help of the messages by Brother Witness Lee and other scholars. 

God's Complete Salvation

God's complete salvation is of two aspects: judicial redemption and organic salvation. Judicially, God accomplished redemption in Christ at the cross. Therefore, forgiving and washing our sins, justifying, reconciling, and sanctifying us positionally. All these, Christ accomplished for us, and qualifies us to subjectively experience His salvation by life, which is, God's organic salvation.

Romans 5:10For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled.

Romans 5:17For if, by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:18So then as it was through one offense unto condemnation to all men, so also it was through one righteous act unto justification of life to all men.

Romans 5:21In order that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sonship, An Organic Process

Organic refers to life. Organic process refers to our experiences of God’s saving life unto sonship through the life-giving Spirit operating in us since the time we repent and believed into the Lord Jesus Christ. The first of such subjective experience is regeneration or born again or born anew, then continues with feeding, dispositional sanctification, renewing, transformation, building, conformation, and finally, glorification, when we will attain the full sonship. These experiences are fully of life, subjectively experienced, and God predestinated us for this, unto sonship, through the organic process as mentioned above. 

The five occurrences of the Greek word huiothesia describes the organic process of sonship.

This organic process begins in Ephesians 1:5 with the predestination of the believers unto sonship. 

Ephesians 1:5Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

According to Galatians 4:5, we the redeemed believers received the sonship.

Galatians 4:5That He might redeem those under law that we might receive the sonship. 

According to Romans 8:15, we the redeemed believers receive the spirit of sonship.

Romans 8:15For you have not received a spirit of slavery bringing you into fear again, but you have received a spirit of sonship in which we cry, Abba, Father!

Finally, according to Romans 8:23, we the redeemed believers are eagerly awaiting our sonship, the consummation and maturation of the process of becoming a manifest son of God, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:23And not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves, eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our body.

In the Old Testament, this sonship is the unique privilege of Israel according to God’s sovereignty.

Romans 9:4Who are Israelites, whose are the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the service and the promises; 

Therefore, the use of the phrase "adoption as son" refers only to and conveys the judicial procedure of becoming a son. Whereas "sonship" implies both the judicial procedure as the basis, as well as the subjective experiences by life as the process, through the operation of the life-giving Spirit within the believers for obtaining the full sonship.

Praise the Lord brother, we are in such an organic process now as we love the Lord, pursue Him in prayer and in His Word, and fellowship with fellow believers day by day.

Word Study: Adoption or Sonship?

A brother and I have been exchanging messages concerning the translation of the Bible especially on the matter on Ephesians 1:5. As we message each other back and forth I was helped to study the meaning of the word "sonship." Below is my message to him. 

The original Greek text in Ephesians 1:5

Eph 1:5 προορίσας ἡμᾶς εἰς υἱοθεσίαν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς αὐτόν, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ. 

You mentioned "father (adopted us)". According to the original Greek text, and the word of God in John 1:12-13, 3:3,5 and few others, we are "born of God". That's why the Bible uses the word "born again"  or "born anew" and not "adopted". Many Bible translation did not capture the accurate meaning, thereby introducing a notion of "adoption". There is a vast distinction between adoption and sonship.

As a Christian, I am born again of God’s divine life and nature to be children of God, so are you and all genuine believers, not adopted.

If a person is merely  "adopted of God", he is still not a genuine believer, not born but adopted. But the fact is, we are all born of God, therefore I can call you brother M_____. Birth has a life-relation, adoption has no life relation, but law-relation.

This is what I learn from the study of the word and am sharing it to you.

Praise the Lord brother M_____!

Later, I studied from scholarly writers and wrote an article:

In the spirit of fellowship and brotherhood, let me offer my study and learning from the word of God on "Adoption" and "Sonship."

Adoption or Sonship?

As Christian our relationship with God is that of a Father-son, being biblically and experientially proven.

Galatians 3:26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 

Romans 8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Our spiritual birth by faith by believing into the Lord Jesus Christ qualifies us as children of God as being born of God by the Spirit in our human spirit (John 1:12,13; 3:3,5). Unfortunately, many Bible translation did not capture the spiritual truth conveyed in the Greek word for sonship. Therefore, translators of the Bible need to have a full and complete grasp of spiritual revelation in addition to being scholarly in Greek and the target language, in this case, English. The choice of word, especially the text of the Bible, should have been done with utmost care as it affects the thought and belief of the readers which they even deem as the word of God. The original Greek text indeed is the authentic word of God, but if a translation has ambiguity or even err in conveying the thought of God, it is a serious concern. Here comes the need for an accurate translation of the Bible. Though may not be feasible, as much as possible, learning Greek is a great advantage for lovers of the Lord and His word.

The Greek Word Meaning for Sonship- huiothesia

The word huiothesia is a compound word with two parts: a noun huios meaning son, and thesia derived from the verb tithemi, meaning to set, put, or place. Therefore huiothesia literally means setting someone as a son or putting someone in the place of a son.

How did God set or put someone as a son?

The Bible emphatically reveals this process of setting or putting sinners as His sons by an organic process called born again, born anew, or regeneration. There is no absolute thought of this being a judicial process merely as the notion conveyed by the English word "adoption" which commonly understood as the act or process of taking a child of other parents and making him as his own, perhaps, by legal means. To render this meaning of "adoption" is not a proper spiritual thought at all as our faith in Christ is not a matter of adoption by law but of sonship by life.

The word huiothesia (lit., setting one as a son) occurs five times in the New Testament (Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5) and has been translated in the majority of English versions as "adoption as sons." A more accurate translation is, "sonship", since it conveys the sense of the abiding status of being a son, born organically of the Father, same in life and in nature (1 John 3:1-2, 2 Peter 1:4), which the word "adoption" cannot convey. Therefore, a couple of scholars translated the Bible from Greek again, not undermining the existing translation, but referencing them and respecting the tradition of translation that have existed since time immemorial, yet rendering a more accurate word wherever necessary of which the Recovery Version of the Bible is one such. 

As a believer, I feel indebted to share what I have learned to my fellow believers so that we may learn from one another and be built up with one another through the full knowledge of the word of God, for it is the word that can make us grow and build us up (Acts 20:32).

May the Lord bless this fellowship.

Colombo: Church Visit

Sri Lanka, though neighbouring India, had never been visited in spite of the coordination the serving ones there and us, in India in the literature service, have. I had been harbouring a vague notion about the country and the people. This time, our visit was an eye opening to me.

As we landed, a brother picked us up and took us for a dinner lovefeast to his home. The saints are wealthier than I anticipated. Their hospitality was very good and their love for us was so warm. I was of the assumption that the country is on par with India. But it appears to me that they are better off than many parts of India. The beautiful landscapes, fresh air, cool breeze, and the lovely saints changed my whole concept about the country. Experience indeed is the best teacher. 

I was given hospitality at a saint's home who came to the church life few years ago from a Roman Catholic and Bhuddist background. The truths of the Bible properly interpreted in the ministry of the word have been their continual life supply that keeps them in the enjoyment of the church life. 

My host, a brother and his wife, drove me around the city of Colombo for sight seeking, for shopping, and even for dinning. We also had good time of fellowship on the word of God during breakfast and dinner. I especially was glad that we could fellowship on the word of God in depth with experiences that were so encouraging, edifying, and I believe, a certain amount of building up has also taken place among us. They shared the vision and trench they saw and wanted to know how I would consider. To me, the ministry of the word which is an interpretation of the word of God, is the yard stick I use to expound any vision. With Bible references I showed them what their vision could have meant in the light of the word of God. Interpreting spiritual vision  with spiritual truths cannot go wrong. In fact, the interpretation I presented turned out to be what they exactly are today. Their getting saved, seeking for the truth, finding the ministry of the word, coming into the church life, and finally, their home being opened for the church meeting and for the saints' hospitality are the fulfillment of their vision. It was so marvelous to see how the Lord led them in their lives, and now the consideration even to serve full time. God is sovereignly wise in leading them all the way.

One evening the church arranged a lovefeast dinner for us, visiting saints. The feast was grand but a great surprise awaited us. After the dinner, we were all requested to share our testimonies. It was my first time to hear the personal testimonies of the brothers with whom I serve and it was also my first time to share my testimony to them. Though arranged by the church, it was also good for all of us who serves together in the literature service. Though I had shared my testimony many times to different people, that night was very special. I was beside myself, and the inner anointing was so sweet as I shared what the Lord has been doing in my life. Point by point, word by word, I could testify of the Lord's doing. It was such a blessing to be blended in a way of sharing what the Lord has done in our life. That night was indeed a night to remember.

May the Lord bless the saints and the churches in Sri Lanka. 

Colombo: Literature Fellowship

A visit to Colombo was very significant in the Lord’s move in Sri Lanka. Though we did not intend it, the Lord had led the brothers to make necessary arrangement for literature fellowship. It was the 16th March 2019, the church in Colombo witnessed the Lord's unprecedented move through the literature service. The saints have been burdened for the translation of the ministry books into Sinhala, and they have done their best, even to ultimately bring out the New Testament  Recovery Version. The burden was good. There also must be a proper way to carry out the burden. Burden per se will never accomplish anything unless it is translated into action. And mere action would not accomplish anything significant either without the proper way of doing it. Therefore, it was timely and sovereign of the Lord that we could visit Colombo; four of us, two from India and two from USA.

The two sessions of fellowship on Saturday have clarified the concerns and doubts of the saints concerning the literature service. We presented the burden and importance of the publication work with a very practical help on the step by step process. The result of that half day, two sessions fellowship was noteworthy.

Four saints, a brother and three sisters, signed up for Greek online course with the goal of translating the New Testament. Two saints consecrated to translate the HWMR. The saints who are good in translation were commissioned to translate the title books and Life-study of the Bible. Therefore, the Lord manifested the proper vessels for the literature service.

After the meeting, we were in awe of what the Lord had done. The leading brothers were even more joyful as the Lord opened the way for the saints' participation in the literature to meet the need of the ministry materials in Sinhala. 

One of the main translators had told me how happy she felt as her vision and burden were coming into fruition. She had been bound with the translation of HWMR and other training materials as she is the best translator available so far. Now, after the fellowship she will be learning Greek for the Bible translation and she will be focusing her service on translating the title books and Life-study of the Bible. The burden in her even led her to consider quitting her secular job to serve the Lord full time. My brotherly fellowship was to pray and following the Lord's leading step by step.

Praise the Lord for the unprecedented, impromptu, yet spiritually significant literature fellowship in Colombo for the Lord's move in Sri Lanka. 

RCV Telugu

The translation of the ministry books into Telugu has passed through about two decades. A number of serving ones have come and gone. The literature service in this language has come to a level of maturity with the serving ones able to bring out a good quality translation. Four of the serving ones in this language passed through the Greek class, and two of them were selected to do the text translation of the New Testament.

A brother who is the lead translator for the text was gained by the Lord into the church life and had also attended the full-time training. As a young ambitious student, he used to prepare for the civil services exam in India, the highest competitive exams which only competent students dare attempt. But when the Lord touched and gained him, he consecrated his life to serve the Lord full time. Though he never was a translator before, his gift and function were manifested toward the end of his full-time training. He was gradually brought in to translate the Bible.

The sister who did the checking of the text has such a burden to learn Greek that she even was one of the top scorers in the Greek exam. She, though married and with a daughter, out of her burden, decided to serve full time in the Bible translation. Her husband supported her fully for this great commission. Her testimony of how her husband made every practical arrangement to enable her to serve was very encouraging. To relieve her time from household chores, her husband prepared a room for translation, purchased household electronic gadgets to save her time, and supported her in every possible way. Such testimony is truly exemplary.

The other two brothers who are translating the footnotes are good translators too. They have been translating since the time they came into the church life. They both have the gift and the skill to translate. This team as a whole has a good combination.

RCV Kannada

When the burden for Greek learning was trumpeted in 2014, a brother who was an engineer by profession and his wife were in the midst of prayer and consideration to serve the Lord full time. Though they were not clear in which area they should serve, they had the feeling to learn Greek and perhaps, serve in the literature service. They did learn Greek and did the translation into Kannada. Once they were qualified in Greek to be able to start translation, the fellowship in the Body is that they should start the translation of the Recovery Version Bible into Kannada.

The language itself is one of the major languages in India. But, the number of saints speaking the language and the number of local churches speaking the language is small as of now. Nevertheless, the translation of the Bible can still go ahead. That's how the Recovery Version Bible translation of the New Testament began for Kannada.

The brother and sister, husband and wife too, coordinated in translating the Bible into their mother tongue. Till date, Mathew through Acts has been translated and checked. Due to the shortage of translators for the footnotes, only text translation is in progress. I believe, in time, the Lord will provide more qualified translators to complete the work.

Responsibility

Ezra 10:4 Arise, for the matter is your responsibility, but we are with you; be strong, and do it. 

The Lord in His sovereignty has placed me in the Body where He deems best. Never did I ambitiously try to grab to be what I am today. In fact, I used to consider before the Lord how His mercy has led me thus far and how His grace has made me what I am today. In fact, my profile tag line has been,

1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me did not turn out to be in vain, but, on the contrary, I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God which is with me.

I simply serve as a serving ones wherever the Lord placed me, and pray that His grace would be sufficient to me to carry out the responsibility faithfully. As much as I am being graced, I do my best to function responsibly and restrict myself to what is not really my responsibility. For, I am not ignorant of the germs of self-glory and self-exaltation and of seeking man's praise indirectly. The Lord in His mercy has been dealing with me in this matter of "ambition" since the very beginning of my service. I dare not say that I have learned the lesson thoroughly well, but I can testify that I am learning this lesson. Hopefully, I will learn it well.

Recently, through the visit of a brother and his fellowship on how I should boldly function pertaining to the responsibilities the Lord has placed me in, my view was uplifted, perhaps, renewed. As we fellowship concerning an international event to be hosted in India for the first time under the legal entity of the literature where I serve as one of the Directors, he charged me, "Be serious, be bold, you are a Director!" I was a little passive in this matter as there are few other brothers who I feel can take the lead. Officially and positionally, I can do all the legal approval and signing of documents, but the active works I leave it to the brothers. I prefer to follow them and support them, and amen them. But the brother's strong charge to me made me reconsider the way I serve. In fact, I am peaceful now to go ahead and do what needs to be done, boldly. Not in a way of ruling over others, nor exercising authority over others, but simply functioning as I ought to, responsibly. Therefore, I went ahead and jumped in to do what I need to do officially.

Here in Chennai where we have an office too, I need to take some immediate actions to meet the need for carrying out official works. With the responsibility assigned to me as a serving brother, officially as a Director, I took all the decisions to take care of the office works, purchasing office needs, though expensive they may be: inverter batteries, network printers, and few other office works and the oversight of the entire office operation. In my natural man, I would not and dare not do such things. Given a choice, I would rather follow others' leading obediently and faithfully. But since the Lord has placed me in such an official position, I must be faithful to the responsibilities the Lord has assigned to me.

Now I have no chose. I must arise, for the matter is my responsibility, but my brothers are with me; so I must be strong, and I must do what needs to be done. 

Lord, grace me to bear responsibility faithfully and boldly. 

RCV Tamil Translation

Tamil is the language in which we have the highest number of ministry books translated. It also has the highest number of saints in the Lord's recovery. The capital city of Tamilnadu also hosts the biggest church and highest number of local saints meeting in the local church. This team also has young saints who loves the Lord and gave themselves up to serve the Lord. A couple, husband and wife, are the translators for the text of the Bible. Each member in this team has an experience in translation even before they fully came into the literature service. They all learned Greek online and  passed the Greek exam that qualified them to translate the Recovery Version of the Bible.

The checking of the translated texts of this team was very good according to our brother who is an expert in Greek. He expressed how he felt about this team with an applause, "Excellent! You have done a good work." The translation work of this team did not need much adjustment as they did it quite well. The checking work finished faster than any other language checking so far. We could finish checking their works in just a day where other languages team took two days.

Besides, the church in Chennai where we have the literature office and all translators in Tamil resides are also burdened for the literature service. The church gave us hospitality as we carry out the checking work of the Recovery Version translation in this city. In addition, a brother from the church gave us his office conference room to carry out the checking of the Bible translation. Our coordination has been very sweet and the Lord has been blessing the literature service in this city.

May the faithful Lord who began the Tamil translation of the Recovery Version Bible also grace all those involved in the translation service to complete it in time. 

RCV Malayalam Translation

Malayalam is the first language in India to which the ministry of the word was translated. This is also the mother tongue of the saints who met as the local church for the first time in India in 1989. Thirty years after the ministry books were translated into Malayalam, the text of the first five books of the New Testament Recovery Version Bible was translated. 

The team of translator of this language was brought in by the Lord's sovereignty. This team comprises a medical doctor, a doctorate degree holder in English literature, an Engineer, and a management consultant. None of these ever had a translation experience before they were brought in. They all are young brothers and sisters who loves the Lord and gave themselves up for the Lord's interest. When a Greek online class was introduced in 2014, these saints were enrolled and they all learned Greek faithfully for about three years. Once they all learned Greek and passed the exam, they were declared qualified for the translation of the  New Testament Bible into their own language, Malayalam. That's how the Lord brought them in. 

After two years of translation, we did the checking of their translation into Malayalam. It was amazing. They have done a good work. Our brother who has come for checking their work was so impressed. As we all went through about 500 selected verses for checking, there hardly was any mistake except for few adjustments. Observing all that the Lord has been doing through them, I thought to myself, "the Lord indeed honours the labor and prices paid by His chosen ones for His work." I do believe the Lord has blessed their work and will continue to bless until the completion of the entire translation work, and further bless the Malayalam speaking people with the accurately translated and properly interpreted word of God. 

I personally feel blessed to be able to fellowship and co-work with them in the literature service. 

May the faithful Lord who began the Malayalam translation of the Recovery Version Bible also grace all those involved in the translation service to complete it in time. 

RCV Mizo Translation

Mizo language is perhaps the only language with a full fledge statehood in India and whose entire Mizo population is Christian, at least by religion, if not by being born anew in Spirit. The gospel has reached this state more than hundred years ago. Though the population itself is not that big compared to other Indian languages, the Lord graced the Mizo translation team to be able to translate the Recovery Version Bible into Mizo.

Thanks be to the Lord who sovereignly blessed me with a mother who belongs to one of the tribes of Mizo. Since my childhood, by virtue of growing up with my maternal grand parent I picked up the basic of this language. In fact, when I was in school I got the highest score in that language subject. Little did I realise that that language skill would ever be useful one day. The Lord is sovereignly wise.

As we checked the translation of the Recovery Version Bible into Mizo, many of the language skill I learned decades ago became very useful in checking and verifying the correctness of the Bible translation. I myself was surprised that my knowledge of language was sufficient to discern between right and wrong translation, and also discern the accuracy of translation. As we went through about 500 verses checking the Mizo translation, the language skill I learned since my childhood became very useful. What a grace!

The sisters who are involved in the translation are specially graced to do this. Though, in the initial stage of learning Greek, they struggled a lot, eventually they made through it. Similarly, they also struggled when they came to serve in the translation service, now they have been trained and are now in the process of being perfected in their service. I worship the Lord for His sovereignty in leading the team through. The entire Mizo Christian population will be blessed when the Recovery Version Bible in Mizo is published. O, how I long to see that day! It will be a great blessing to the Mizo Christians in leading them to the proper and accurate understanding of the word of God.

May the faithful Lord who began the Mizo translation of the Recovery Version Bible also grace all those involved in the translation service to complete it in time. 

RCV Hindi Fellowship

The brothers overseeing the translation of the Recovery Version Bible came to India to fellowship on the possibility of translating the New Testament into Hindi. Two years ago, brothers had come, but at that time we had no one prepared and trained to do the work. But the Lord has now gained some potential translators. In fact, there are two sisters who have finished the full time training, who were born and brought up in Hindi speaking city, and who also learned Greek and passed the exam with outstanding performance in the exams. These two sister also got married, both of their husbands are serving the Lord full time, and they both are serving the Lord full time in the translation service. Beside, three other brothers who have been translating the ministry books into Hindi also joined the fellowship. The Lord in time has gained the translators for the great need in Hindi.

One day of fellowship with all these Hindi translators opened a new door for the Lord to move through the literature service in India among the Hindi speaking people. Through the fellowship, the two sisters and a brother were given assignments for translation: The Kingdom, God's New Testament Economy  and the Crystallization-study of Roman. These books have to be translated on time by the end of June this year. This assignment will decide if they are qualified to work on the Recovery Version Bible into Hindi. This is a time of preparation for the Lord's marvelous move through the literature in North India.

There are two other brothers who are more qualified in term of translation per se. But their humanity and spiritual condition have issues that are causes of concern as the translation of the Recovery Version Bible must be done by our own coworkers with whom we are coordinating in the one unique ministry and are representing the Lord. In other word, they must be our coworkers. So far, the two brothers are not yet fully one with the ministry. This discernment from the brother and comment on who can be translators of the Recovery Version Bible is an eye opening to me. Nevertheless, they can continue in their translation service of title books.

Few years ago, brothers were so burdened to bring out the Recovery Version Bible into Hindi. Mere presence of burden is not the qualification to go ahead and do it. There must be the proper vessels to properly carry out the burden. Proper vessels in the sense of qualification, both in English, Hindi and Greek, and also with a normal spiritual condition is a must to translate the Recovery Version Bible. Now, the Lord has given the vessels who meets the qualifications. By mid of this year, the Lord will grace to finally begin the translation of the Recovery Version Bible into Hindi.

Lord, grace us through to be able to bring out the Bible Recovery Version into Hindi. 

First Resurrection

This morning as I was reading and studying the word of God, the "first resurrection" was very enlightening to me. I never really understood this phrase, though I heard about it now and then. The ministry of the word opened my eyes to see this important spiritual aspiration to pursue and love the Lord fervently and intimately. My spiritual goal must henceforth be, to be resurrected in the first resurrection as an overcomer. 

Revelation of John 20:4-6

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and of those who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 

The ministry of the word has made known to me the mystery of this phrase. I learn from it and am blessed. I quote from the note in the Recovery Version on "first resurrection."

Or, best. The first resurrection is the best one. It is not only the resurrection of life (John 5:29; 1 Cor. 15:23b; 1 Thes. 4:16) but also the resurrection of reward (Luke 14:14), the out-resurrection, i.e., the outstanding resurrection, which the apostle Paul sought (Phil. 3:11), the resurrection of kingship as a reward to the overcomers, which enables them to reign as co-kings with Christ in the millennial kingdom (vv. 4, 6). Hence, blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection (v. 6).

Note on "priests of God" 

The overcomers will be priests, drawing near to God and Christ, and kings, reigning over the nations with Christ in the millennium (2:26-27; 12:5). As priests, they satisfy God and Christ, who enjoy their service, and as kings they reign for God and represent God, shepherding man for man’s enjoyment and satisfaction. This is a reward to the overcomers. The believers who are defeated in this age will forfeit this reward. However, after being dealt with by the Lord in the millennium, these defeated ones will participate in the blessing of this reward, which will be to serve God and represent God in the kingship in the new heaven and new earth for eternity (22:3, 5).

This colossal truth on the first resurrection impacted my inward being so much so that it changed by attitude towards my Christian life and my goal as a Christian. My aspiration in life is to be an overcomer and be resurrected in the first resurrection. 

Who are qualified to be in the first resurrection? The word of God says, "the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and of those who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." To be beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus is the highest form of martyrdom. Only those who are graced by the Lord will get to attain this. If the Lord so wills, it will be an honor to be awarded "the beheading" because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God. What a reward to be "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." 

Lord, grace me the grace to live a life that will qualify me to be a part of the first resurrection.

Twenty Years and Above

Numbers 1:3From twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth for military service in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their companies.

The books of Numbers specifically mentioned the age of one's who are qualified to be numbered into the army of God. The age is twenty and above. This number is very significant. It implies the necessity of meeting a requirement who would be numbered and formed into an army, and not general for all. The spiritual implications are:

Strong 

The twenty years and above without any upper limit are of male. Meaning, the strong ones among the children of God. This qualification of being strong is needed for God's army.

Overcome the Evil One

1 John 2:13I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, young children, because you know the Father.

This group of people are those who overcomes the evil one. This needs the growth in the divine life. Only normal and daily spiritual growth can enable one to over the evil one. In fact, only Jesus Christ overcomes the evil one. When the believers grow in life, the life of Jesus in them and being lived out through them makes them an overcomer.

Abiding in the Word of God 

1 John 2:14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and you have overcome the evil one. 

It is the word of God that makes the believes grow, and it is also the word of God that builds up the believers. This group of believers are the ones who loves the word of God, pursues, eats, enjoys the word of God, and are constituted with the word of God making them abide in the word of God. This is the secret to live an overcoming life and be qualified to be recruited into the army of God. 

Not Loving the World

1 John 2:15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him;

This group of believers are those who overcomes the usurpation of Satan and the stupefying effect of the world with all its lust, glitter, and glamour. This also includes those who do not love the present age.

To be formed into the army of God to fight with God against His enemy for His interest on the earth, we must be twenty years and above. This urgently requires our prayer. We are not ignorant of the enemy's strength and strategy. In fact, we are surrounded by him. As the army of God we are protecting and maintaining the testimony of God and fighting against the rebellious forces of Satan. For this reason, we need to grow to be above twenty years of spiritual age.

Lord, cause the growth in me daily; may I grow in life beyond twenty years of age.