A Joyful Baptism!

Last Tuesday I received a phone call from a sister that she would bring a new lady to the meeting hall and that I should be available to meet her. Though I had official works, I made myself available giving priority to what was more urgent. 

A young, smart, and intelligent lady came and I initially talked with her on the subject of her profession and interest. As I could see, she was so happy to discuss the matter that she really liked, her job, her education, and her family matters. After the friendly talk, I felt the need to change the topic and let her hear the gospel. So I preached the gospel in a very simple way using the mystery of human life.

Upon hearing the gospel, she started narrating her encounter with the name Jesus, and how she blindly believed into the Lord Jesus and prayed to Him regularly though she herself was from a Hindu Brahmain background. I was taken aback to hear her testify of her experiences of the Lord Jesus Christ. She made a bold statement, "Jesus is God!" She went on further to confess her faith in Jesus and the comfort and joy she received in praying to Jesus. In fact, she wore a crucifix on her left hand and testified that she have a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and pray to him regularly.

Still to help her properly, I led her to pray the sinner's prayer and strengthened her faith in the Lord. Observing her real condition, I left that she needed to know the truth about baptism. To my surprise again, she proclaimed that she has been waiting for the day to be baptised. Well then, I told her that if she should desire or choose to, we could help her. She joyfully exclaimed that she wanted to be baptised. So we baptised her. O what a joy to lead people to baptism when they joyfully long for it! Praise the Lord!

This sister has indeed been prepared by the Lord. The Holy Spirit has already been operating in her. It was the ripe time that she came and that she was baptised. She has been joyful through out our fellowship. No wonder, she joyfully took baptism and even became more joyful!

May the Lord preserve her joy and that she be shepherded and grow continually. I gifted her the Shepherding Material and The New Testament, Recovery Version as I could perceive her capacity to receive the word of God. Amen.

An SOS Call

A brother called me up last week out of the blue. Though I was busy with my office work, I felt the need to receive his call. I obliged to the request he made for fellowship. So, he began to open up his personal matters and said that I was the one he felt free to open up to.

For the first half hour or so, he narrated his ordeals of his helplessness in many practical matters of his life. Despite being a medical doctor with Master's degree he could not find any job. In fact, he lost his job due to the pandemic. Since then, he has been jobless and became hopeless. He has been through verbal insult from his own father and opposition from his own wife in many aspects, just because he was jobless. He has been warned of the church life and the reading of the ministry books even by his own wife. On top of that, he also lost his mother during the pandemic. All these added to his woes and worries. So only he called me up for fellowship.

After listening patiently to all he had to say, I could sense his problem. Therefore, I fellowship with him of his need for a proper Christian living. He is a dear brother whom I have known for years. So, I told him to take my words seriously and as before the Lord. I told him, "You are the problem!" Initially, he was shocked to hear my frank statement. But then he realized the truth behind my statement. And I pointed out to him some basic points he neglected in his life. No wonder, he was in that helpless and hopeless state.

To start with, I charged him to first spend time with the Lord daily. Yes, even to set specific time to pray daily and count the length of time spent on prayer. Then, I also charged him to read the Bible every day without fail. And finally, I also charged him to pray with his wife daily. All these three practical points he agreed to do, and that he should report to me initially. In fact, he tried and reported to me the following days. 

My only intention was to shepherd him for his own good. And I did so in his own initiation to call me up for help. I was just being responsible to help a brother in need. In fact, he also started joining the online meetings of the church in Gurugram as there has been no meeting since pandemic started in his locality. At least, in this way, my brother can be restored of his spiritual function and be recovered into the fellowship of the Body of Christ which he lost for many years.

That was an SOS call from a dear brother and my sincere and simply fellowship. May the Lord fully restore and recover him for His testimony in Ludhiana where the testimony of Jesus seems to have waned due to the unfaithfulness of certain leading ones and their impure hearts. 

An Unexpected Baptism

A new one was brought to the meeting two weeks ago on the Lord’s day. She was on a friendly chat while I was busy with the young people meeting. Then, the young people gospel meeting followed, which she also joined. Then I felt the burden to preach the gospel to her. So we had a small group gospel meeting.

As I preached the gospel, I was led to narrate the pathetic situation of people today. How helpless man has been because of the sinful nature of Satan being infected into man. Despite being wealthy and famous, many high class people are living in a desperate condition. Some, not knowing the solution to their problems took the short cut of suicide. Some, taming their troubled mind by consulting a psychiatrist and living by pills to ease their anxious mind. While I discoursed on the practical problems, that new lady was so convicted. She immediately confessed that she was such a one and that she really needed help. My help was simple, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Jesus saves and only Jesus can save.

Then, I offered her the way to receive the Lord if she should choose to receive. I made it very clear that the choice was hers. I only showed her the way out of her present problem. She readily obliged to receive my help. So I led her to pray the sinner's prayer of repentance, confession, and believing into the Lord Jesus Christ. She willingly did according to her own will.

Then, I felt the further need to help her with the full gospel of believing and baptism based on Mark 16:16 and explained to her the importance of baptism. But I left the choice to her and never expected that she should choose to take baptism immediately.

After hearing me speak all this while, she asked a blunt question, "Do you trust people easily? Should people deceive you for their gain, shouldn't you be scared?" My reply was simple and plain. I relied, "Whoever the Lord brought to meet me in the meeting hall of the church or my home or office, I take it as from the Lord. There are thousands and millions of people outside, but only few, in fact, just a handful were brought to me. To such, I have full trust, no matter who they are and what their intentions may be." This reply took her by surprise and her trust in my words grew as I could read from her face. Later, as a sister asked her about what she had heard and about baptism, she decided to be baptised. And we baptised her! Praise the Lord!

This was a very unexpected salvation and baptism. God forgive me if I stated this wrongly. But I really meant it. It was very unexpected, at least to my feeling. Because she had been to many religious and superstitious beliefs and practices. I naturally thought that she would need more time to consider her baptism. But the Lord’s salvation is powerful. She was fully subdue and convinced to be baptised. It was the Lord’s work of salvation. Praise the Lord! I dare not hinder the Lord’s move in a person. So, the baptism was unexpected yet the Lord made it happen. It is indeed the Lord’s desire for all men to be saved! So it was.

1 Timothy 2:3-7

3. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, 

4. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. 

5. For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 

6. Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times. 

7. For which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I speak the truth; I do not lie), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 

Live-in Relationship?

A couple was contacted by the saints and started coming to attend the Lord’s table meeting and other regular meetings of the church, as they are already believers. Yet, they have not been living the normal Christian life for years. So, having realized the seriousness of relationship between male and female who are not yet married, as responsible brothers, we decided to help the couple and shepherd them for their going on in their Christian life and church life. As they were being shepherded, it was brought to my notice about their joblessness and financial difficulties clubbed together with the live-in relationship they have been in for a couple of months now. In fellowship we, brothers, felt good to shepherd them in a very practical way.

First, we decided to help meet their basic need for essential items, especially, food. So we offered Rs.5000 which can last for a month for their food. Due to the present pandemic, they have been jobless for months and complete broke. The church responsibility is to take care of the needy ones, believers and unbelievers within our capcity. 

Second, we went to fellowship with the couple and shepherded them in a way of revealing to them the proper relationship to be maintained between male and female. Yes, they are boy friend and girl friend living together which is very common in a metropolitan society. And in fact, this has been an acceptable norm in this evil and sinful generation. But the word of God cannot be compromised. So we fellowshipped with them and offered to help them to legally get married and be a proper testimony in the church. While fellowshipping all these, never we did in a way of accusation though we condemn the immorality, we would rather shepherd the ones involved in it, to sin no more. However, we did not impose anything legally but gave them the opportunity to make their decision based on the truth of the Bible.

I personally am glad to come across such case, as I must learn in coordination with my brothers how to shepherd new ones with such background. As we spoke to them, we also showed them the way for them to grow in life, to enjoy the word of God, to pursue the truth, to learn to practice morning revival, to pray, to be in fellowship with the saints, and to be blended in the Body. The church is a home for the spiritually homeless, a school for spiritual education, and also a hospital for spiritual healing. With love and care, and yet with the reverential fear of the holy and righteous God, the new ones have to be shepherded. And that's the lesson I have been learning.

This indicent reminds me of John 8

John 8:3-11

3. And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, 

4. They said to Him, Teacher, this woman has been caught committing adultery, in the very act. 

5. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do You say? 

6. But they said this to tempt Him, so that they might have reason to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote with His finger on the ground. 

7. But when they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 

8. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9. And when they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the older ones. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman stood where she was, in the midst. 

10. And Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? 

11. And she said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. 

It is easy to religiously fall into the trap of Satan when new ones with such sinful background would be brought into the church. Without knowing the Lord in a very experiential way, it is tempting to fall into moral ground and apply the comandment of God legally. Yes, sin must be condemned, but sinners must be loved and shepherded. This is a precious lesson in shepherding the saints while bearing responsibilities in a local church.

1 Timothy 1:15

Faithful is the word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. 

The Lord's heart has always been to save sinners.

Mark 2:17

And when Jesus heard this, He said to them, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. 

May the Lord shepherd this couple and gain them!

First Home Meeting in Coonoor

Today being Lord’s day I attended the church service where my brother and their family members have been meeting with for decades. Though it was a very traditional religious meeting in Tamil, I still chose to attend it as I felt necessary at least to meet with the believers on the Lord’s day. I always do my best to attend the meeting especially on the Lord’s day wherever I travel. If there was no local church raised up yet, I chose any Christian group where I could attend, whether invited or not. All the children of God,  irrespective of their denominations, are my brothers and sisters in the Lord. They all meet and do things as per the vision and revelation they have seen. Only if the Lord allows me to minister I would most gladly do it, otherwise, I simply maintain the relationship in Christ and extend a welcome hand of fellowship to all children of God. 

In the meeting as I entered, I saw a notice commanding, "Switch Off Mobile". My conscience touched me to obey the command that I willingly submit myself to. And also I listened to the Tamil message though I did not understand it at all. I willingly came to attend the meeting and I must submit to the authority I entered into. There is authority everywhere, and as a child of God I must respect God appointed authority. I faithfully followed the order of service during the meeting though I understood hardly anything. It was my rightful duty to submit. They have done their best according to what they have understood, and since I willingly came ot attend their meeting, I must also willingly submit to all the decorum of the group. What a lesson the Lord taught me! Though I did not understand the Tamil message, the Lord taught me a very important message.

After the meeting I willingly went to my brother's home for more fellowship though not planned at all. It turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I and my brother's father fellowshiped on some very urgent and practical matters: Being revived everyday through calling on the Lord’s name, spending time with the Lord and prayer, and studying the word of God and fellowship. The family with whom I fellowshiped were so supplied. I could foresee this as the beginning of the church life in Coonoor.

A brother asked me a very practical question on how to overcoming an addiction which has been practiced for decades. My simple fellowship was to take care of the intake of the Lord as his daily spiritual food which will energize him and make him grow to overcome the addiction. He was so enlightened by this fellowship. In fact, this is what I learned from years of experience too. Only the Lord is the Overcomer and only by eating Him we can be constituted with His life and nature to be an overcomer. I appreciate his frankness in asking me this question and the fellowship was so sweet.

Later, we had a family time together where I fellowshipped on being revived everyday and the need to grow in life. All the rest will follow suit as a result of our growth in life. Then, we sang Tamil songs and prayed together. It was a sweet and wonderful time of fellowship. I see this as the beginning of the practical church life in Coonoor.

Praise the Lord!

Marriage Meeting and Fellowship

Today I attended the marriage meeting of my brother VJ in Coonoor. It was indeed the Lord’s arrangement that I could make it to the wedding. The marriage was done in a Christian tradition in a CSI church where the family has been a member for decades. All the minute detail of the marriage was carefully crafted and the oneness of the family members in this matter is praise worthy. The entire family stood together for this purpose. 

To the surprise of many, the message delivered by a very senior brother as a wedding message was also on the mystery of Christ. It was yesterday that I ministered in the prayer meeting of the family, the great mystery, Christ and the church. Today, the preacher also touched on the same subject on the mystery of God in Ephesians 5. One thing was clear, the Lord wants to recover His testimony among His many chosen people, the church, as the mystery of Christ. Whether the congregation received the revelation or not, I have no idea. But one thing was sure, indirectly the Lord has spoken that He would gain the couple and the entire relatives for His testimony.

The Scriptures reading portion for the wedding is Psalms 128

1. Blessed is everyone who fears Jehovah, / Who walks in His ways. 

2. You will indeed eat the labor of your hands; / You will be blessed, and it will go well with you. 

3. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine / In the innermost parts of your house. / Your children will be like olive shoots / Round about your table. 

4. Thus will the man be blessed / Who fears Jehovah. 

5. Jehovah bless you from Zion; / And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem / All the days of your life. 

6. May you also see the children of your children. / Peace be upon Israel. 

As the Scriptures were read out, verse 5 caught my attention. This blessing is a blessing of the church life. The blessing of God is in the church and from the church. Jehovah bless you from Zion. And the prosperity is also related to the local church signified by Jerusalem. This blessing is for the church life all the days of their life. And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem / All the days of your life. 

May the Lord indeed fulfill His promised blessing upon my dear brother and his newly wedded wife for Christ and His church.

Observing at the family, my appreciation was deeply for my brother's father and mother. Though I don't know them much, I could discern that they sincerely loves the Lord and have brought up their son in the best possible way they could. Simple, sincere, and sweet are the words I use to describe their family. Such seekers and lovers of the Lord surely deserves to see the vision of the great mystery, Christ and the church. May the Lord gain them for His testimony in Coonoor one day!

Tonight at the wedding reception, I could fellowship with the brother and sister as they start their marriage life beginning from today on the matter of being one flesh as husband and wife.

Genesis 2:24

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

Ephesians 5:28-31

28. In the same way the husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his own wife loves himself. 29. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the church, 30. Because we are members of His Body. 31. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. 

I encouraged and exhorted them to pray together everyday from day one. Prayer preserves the oneness between husband and wife. In fact, the only oneness in the universe is God Himself. Through prayer, the oneness of God can infuse Himself into them and make them one. In this regard I also encouraged them to pursue oneness by all means, and practice it in evey matter big or small, including the oneness in financial management of the family as well. I shared my testimony of how the Lord preserved and blessed my oneness with my wife and how we pursue and treasure the oneness. Besides, I also shared the importance of love who is God Himself, Christ Himself. Apart from the love of God, there is no genuine love. Only the love of God can make them love one another with the love of God unto eternity. Then, having thus released my burden, I prayed for the oneness and love between them.

May the Lord bless this couple for His testimony!

The Great Mystery

This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32

The Lord's speaking in the prayer meeting of the family gathering of a brother a day before his marriage is "Christ and the church, the great mystery." This meeting was an impromptu arrangement and the decision for me to minister the word was just arranged the day after I was confirmed to attend the wedding meeting on 28th Nov. Today is the 27th Nov.

It was 23 Nov, last Monday night that I received a message from a brother, who is the bridegroom to be, that he and his dad wanted me to attend the wedding meeting. Though I had no plan to attend considering the situation this weekend with Thanksgiving Conference, Gospel Meeting, Young People Meeting and Young People Gospel Meeting with a pre-training fellowship on Monday and the the Full-timers' training following. On top of all these, the spread of Covid-19 and the risk of traveling added more reasons not to travel, and also with my children exams coming up. But, on that night as I went out to pray as usual, for over an hour I could pray only for one matter, concerning this brother's marriage, and nothing else. I was indeed struggling for sometime until the Lord made it clear to me. Finally, at the end of the prayer I was confirmed deep within that I should definitely attend the wedding meeting, despite all odds. The Lord has a purpose for me to be there, therefore, l decided to attend.

Once I was clear and I told my wife about it, she also agreed in fellowship, though she was hesitant before. Then, I confirmed to the brother. Immediately, travel arrangement were made, though I tried to meet my own traveling expenses, the brother requested me that he would bear all the expenses. Then flight tickets were booked for round trip, Delhi-Coimbatore. And all other practical arrangements were made immediately. All practical matters felt into place one by one.

It was the Lord arranging everything for His divine purpose. As I was informed that I need to minister the word, I looked to the Lord for the word. First, the Lord showed me to minister on a Christian life, then He further showed me on the church, and finally the message with Bible verses became very clear. Then it was very clear to me that I should minister on the great mystery, Christ and the church. The Lord confirmed it during my prayer time and Bible reading time the following days.

A burden brought in the light, and the light developed into a revelation, and the revelation developed into words, and the words into a message. The message was based on these Bible verses:

Ephesians 5: 22-33

Colosians 1:26-29; 2:2; 4:3, 

Ephesians 3:4-6

Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16

Today, as instructed and burdened by the Lord, I ministered the word in a pre-wedding prayer meeting before the marriage. The message was on the mystery of God, Christ, and the mystery of Christ, the church. I expounded on the Christ, the Christian life, and the church. After the meeting, brothers and sisters came to fellowship with me on their being supplied by the ministry of the word. The bride's father came to fellowship with me personally that the moment he heard the word he was so thankful for the timely word. His concept was completely changed after he heard the word. Initially he thought it was needless for a "Pastor" to sermon, but it turned out that a brother ministered the timely word. Another brother came and testified to me that his vision after studying Acts has been confirmed by the message spoken tonight. I promised to introduce him to the brothers in the church in Chennai. 

May the Lord continue to sow Himself as the Seed of the divine life to all who heard the word for His testimony in Coonoor and to all the localities where these relatives have come from.

Praise and glory be to Him!

Politics Divides, Prayer Unites

As a citizen of a nation and as a man with a global view, I have been following closely the current affairs of the world and of my country, India. Sometimes, I confess, I have been too much engrossed in the political news. There has been feeling and thought within me based not the news I have read concerning countries or political parties or politicians. Well, the Bible does tell me to pray for the ruler 

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. (1 Timothy 2:1, 2)

The charge here is to pray on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, but not to follow them or their ideologies, not to support them nor oppose them, but simply to pray for them for the sake of God's economy. But once the news seeped into me, an innate feeling was developed that affects my views. Well, that may be natural, but of late, the Lord has chastised me to not be too much engrossed in the political affair of the world, except to watch and pray.

In fact, one of the recent trainings has warned me of Babylon in her two aspects, religious and material. The material Babylon is a devilish politics with its source in Satan. My response to such should be to come out of it. As I must pray for the Lord's move even through the world situation and the world rulers, I must definitely be not a part of it, which I tend to, at least psychologically.

Following the elections in India and the USA, I realized that it only brings death and darkness. I should rather simply know the world situation and bring them to the Lord in prayer without following them or supporting anyone or any party. As far as I experience this matter, whenever a political subject is raised among the saints, it definitely leads them to the soul and ends up in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which issues in death, darkness, division, and destruction. I thought I knew how to discern political matters based on my shallow and little knowledge of the word of God, but the Lord proved me wrong. And I am glad He did it, and that's how I learned. I have learned my lesson the hard way. The Lord is the sovereign One. He knows who to let go and who to bring in, who to lift up and who to let down. He knows the best! I dare not be loose in the matter of supporting or airing my political views anymore. I discovered that the saints too who are engrossed in politics ended up in darkness and division. Politics divide, prayer unites! So I must just be doing nothing other than pray for the Lord's move. Praise the Lord for this precious lesson!

Last Saturday in the church prayer meeting here, the burden of the prayer and the ministry portion was very apt. I was so enlightened by the Lord's speaking through the church:

The history of the world throughout the past twenty centuries shows that actually there is an invisible Ruler above the scene…This invisible Ruler above the scene is actually ruling over the entire earth. Who was ruling over the earth during the period of the Roman Empire? Jesus Christ. This ascended Christ was ruling over all the Caesars and later over Napoleon and over all the rulers of the earth. Today He still is the Ruler of the kings of the earth. All the presidents, kings, and prime ministers are under this unique Ruler. He is executing His government through the church, His Body. His ruling is not merely behind the scene but above the scene. The worldly people and even the worldly historians do not realize this. Their eyes are only on the world rulers and the world political situation. They do not have the spiritual view to see that the world situation is under the Head with His Body. The church should not be involved with any politics, but the church as the Body of the Head is used by the Head to carry out His heavenly ministry on this earth. The direction of the situation of the world today depends upon how the genuine church, the proper church, is proceeding on this earth. (CWWL, 1984, vol. 3, “God’s New Testament Economy,” pp. 200-201)

In fact, the church is above world politics and has an immense authority to execute what the Lord has decided from the throne. The genuine and proper church can definitely influence the Lord's move on the earth and can bring in the Lord's kingdom on the earth. Therefore, instead of being carried away by the world situation, prayer must be offered for the Lord's move through the world situation. 

I have learned my lesson and decided not to even psychologically be entangled in politics as I have never physically involved in any politics. My responsibility is to discern the Lord's move through the world situation and pray in oneness with the will of the Lord for the Lord's desire to be fulfilled. What salvation indeed is to have learned this truth!

No politics! Politics divides, prayer unites!

Shepherding a Couple

Yesterday, the trainees brought a couple whom they met in their gospel propagation. As I fellowshipped with them I asked them to introduce themselves and speak whatever they feel like speaking. In this way, I was opening up their being to get to know better. As the sister was sharing her life history, how she served as a missionary a few years ago and had done her theology and is now in Gurugram looking for a job, drifting away from what she used to do before, I had a strong feeling to shepherd her and her friend with the parable of the prodigal son. 

By the way, I freshly enjoyed this parable as I used this parable to share on the loving Father in a gospel meeting just before they came to meet me. I fellowshipped with them from Luke 15: 20-24

And he rose up and came to his own father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him affectionately. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, Bring out quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fattened calf; slaughter it, and let us eat and be merry, because this son of mine was dead and lives again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to be merry. And they began to be merry.

As I fellowshipped on how we were all lost in sin in the world like the prodigal son, in spite of the fact that we are already children of God, the sister was so moved. He was so hungry for spiritual food and received every word I had to minister to them. She even made a video recording on her mobile, which I did not mind, of most of the sharing I had with her and her friend. Because of her seeking heart and hunger for the word, she just drew the word of God out of my being. I could spontaneously flow out the living word as food supply.

Some key points I emphasized were the loving Father's heart towards His children, no matter what His children's situation may be. He just loved them and did not expect anything except their being recovered back from their wandering. I emphasized mostly on the spiritual significances of the best robe, Christ as our righteousness; the ring, the sealing Spirit that restores us as God's own; the sandal, that separates and sanctifies us from the world; and the fattened calf, that fed us with Himself as food for our life and life supply. 

Then, I connected the fattened calf with Christ as food revealed in the gospel of John 6; the Lord as the Bread sent from heaven, the living Bread, the true Bread, the Bread of Life, and the Bread that we must eat; who is Spirit and Life (vv. 32-35, 48-51, 57, 63). A trainee sister also shared her testimony of salvation. After all the sweet and wonderful fellowship we all prayed together. I gifted them the Shepherding Materials in English for the weekly Friday home meeting. 

The fellowship was such a joy and life supply to me as well. As I shared the word, I myself felt the strong life supply to me personally and to the rest of the people present in the fellowship. It was indeed a mutual shepherding. The saints and the new ones were nourished and I was nourished too. I do believe the Lord will continue to preserve them and keep them open for the weekly home meeting and be ushered into the church life.

The same message was also spoken in the gospel meeting of the young people where I gave the concluding word after the young brothers sharing the gospel message. It was indeed the Lord's timely speaking. I too am one of the prodigal sons who came back to the loving Father and whom the loving Father has gracious restored and recovered.

Praise the Lord for our loving Father! May the Lord continue to shepherd them and fully recover them for His testimony. 

Two Brothers

This week, the Lord has begun to practically answer the prayer we offered to Him as the church. Our burden before the end of this year 2020 is to gain 100 saints who are regularly meeting on the Lord's day. So far, we have come up to a little over half the target. In fact, if we were to include all the saints being shepherded regularly, the number would come to 75% of our goal. But our prayer has been to achieve 100%. I personally do not know how the Lord will do this, but I strongly believe the Lord will do it as we cooperate with Him in His move.

On Wednesday, a father and son came to the literature office to look for ministry books in Hindi. While they were browsing through the catalog, though I was in an online fellowship, I felt the need to go and spend time with them who were in our living room. I realized they were sent by the Lord miraculously to bring them into contact with the church here in Gurugram. The son has been looking for a proper fellowship on the word of God though he used to go to one of the denominations in the city. Somehow, he felt the lack of spiritual feeding there. Meanwhile, his father visited him from Nagpur who already has been in touch with the brothers in the church in Nagpur and has tasted the ministry. His father was so impressed by the truth in the ministry and wanted his son to be in fellowship with the church. Through this one meeting, the father and son decided that they should be in fellowship with the church in the Lord's recovery. We exchanged phone numbers and he promised to start meeting with us once he comes back from visiting his ailing mother in Nagpur.

A few days later, his father called me and requested me to take care of his son spiritually who has been working in Gurugram. He expressed his desire that his son should be established in the word of God and be in fellowship with us in the local church. I was surprised that though they being members of one of the biggest Christian denominations in North India, they themselves decided to come to the church life. Generally, it has been so hard for some families I know for decades to come out of that denomination as they have "everything" outward for their religious needs. But this father and son have seen something from the Bible revealed through the ministry books and were eager to come into the church life. May the Lord preserve them and shepherd them with his healthy word so that they can be shepherded and built up in the church life here. 

Yesterday, the brother I met two weeks ago came to fellowship with me. He shared how he was impressed by the truths that I shared when I visited him the first time at his home concerning the church as the Body of Christ and the one new man and that how we follow the word of God as truthful and faithful as we could according to the Lord's grace. He was so happy that we met. In fact, in fellowship, we have decided to meet once every week for fellowship, prayer, and the study of the word. He is a local Hindi speaking brother. He has also been serving the Lord according to his own capacity and has been seeking a proper fellowship with a proper church according to the Bible. 

Though I cannot judge a person just by two meetings, still deep within me I have the realization that this is the Lord's doing in answer to the prayer of the Body for the increase. He also shared his burden to serve the local Hindi speaking people in Gurugram. That is also our burden too as the church. Perhaps, this is the way the Lord has opened for His move among the local people as we have been praying. I trust the Lord, He will gain the two brothers, both native Hindi speakers, who love the Lord and have the burden to serve the local people. 

As I fellowship about these two brothers in the brothers' fellowship this morning, we all were filled with joy and thanksgiving to the Lord for His move and answering the prayer of the Body. We all should prepare ourselves to shepherd these two brothers that the Lord may gain them and perfect them for His building work. 

May the Lord grace us the wisdom we need to shepherd them and build them up in the Body life. 

Changed Generation

Today in the ministry meeting I enjoyed a message on the vital group. This brings me back to the basics of the Bible in the practice of the God-ordained way. I was freshly nourished by the Lord's speaking through brother Witness Lee.

What is a vital group? 

My understanding of a vital group may be a group that is living, burning and bearing fruit. But this is too doctrinal an answer without vision. Actually, a vital group is a group of normal Christians. To be vital is not about super spirituality or a special kind of people. A vital group is simply a group of normal Christians, living a normal Christian life in a normal church life. Everything about them is just and simple normal. But the fact is, today most Christians are abnormal, including myself and many other saints who are in the church life.  

Brother Witness Lee testified that his burden in endeavoring to carry out the vital groups is to change the generation. When he went to Taiwan in 1984, he told the elders that he could not go on in the present dormant situation of the recovery. He told the elders, "We need to come out of the deadness of Sardis (Rev. 3:1-2), the lukewarmness of Laodicea (vv. 14-16), and the barrenness of the degenerating believers (John 15:2a). I want to bring the recovery into another age with a new generation, a new people." 

After reconsidering the holy Word, brother Lee found out the way in which Christians should serve and meet. This is the God-ordained way, the way ordained by God in the Bible. This way ordained by God has four steps. 

Begetting: The first step is to preach the gospel to get sinners saved so that they can become members of Christ. This is the begetting stage to bring forth, to beget, members of Christ. When sinners repent, believe, and are regenerated, they become like newborn babes who need to be nourished by us. This is not merely soul-winning, but to beget spiritual baby.

Nourishing: The feeding stage, the nourishing stage, is to take care of the newborn baby to nourish as a nursing mother. 

Perfecting: After the feeding stage comes the teaching stage to educate them. The teaching stage takes a long time. Humanly speaking, education takes a good number of years. In India, as for my self, I took twenty years from preparatory to high school, then higher secondary, then college, and finally university. Spiritually speaking, as much as we spent time, money, and energy for secular education, much more, we need to invest our money, time, energy for a proper healthy spiritual education, to be educated in the divine truths for the Christian life and the church life. This is the teaching stage, which is called the perfecting of the saints in Ephesians 4:12. After a certain period of time, the saints become “graduates” in the church life. The length of time it takes to “graduate” differs from people according to their desire for the Lord, their endeavoring, and their capacity.

Building: After the begetting stage, the nourishing stage, and the teaching stage comes the building stage. After graduating with a college or university degree, one takes up a job or a business. This "job or business" in the church life is to build up the church of Christ, the Body of Christ, by prophesying. This is fully developed and presented in 1 Corinthians 14. 

The church is not built by one minister, one preacher, speaking all the time. All the members of the Body must grow in life and function to build up the Body in oneness and in sweet coordination. The concept of one man speaking nullifies the headship of Christ and makes the church nothing. The practice of one man speaking and the rest listening does not build up the church, the Body of Christ. Instead, it builds up a hierarchy, a kind of religious system with rank and position. This is not only improper but harmful and dangerous for the Body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul says that we should all desire to prophesy, to speak for the Lord (v. 1). Paul says that we can all prophesy (v. 31). To prophesy in 1 Corinthians 14 means to speak for the Lord and to speak forth Christ. We need various functions from the many members of the Body. 

Changed Generation: The God-ordained way of four stages: the stages of begetting, feeding, teaching, and building, practiced step by step will usher in a changed generation and when we begin to practice it step by step, we will be a changed generation. This will bring us out of the old generation to the new generation. This will get us out of the deadness, lukewarmness, and barrenness. We must get out of the oldness, the staleness. We must get out of the routine, the formality, the silence, and the prayers of the traditional way. We hate deadness, lukewarmness, and barrenness. We are struggling to fight them down. We need a change from the old way to the new way, from the old age to the new age in God’s ordained way with four steps: begetting, feeding, teaching, and building. We need a change of generation. 

A vital group is a group of normal Christians. A normal Christian always lives a holy life in the church and he lives in the Body. A normal Christian lives the normal church life and preaches the gospel in a normal way to save people into the church, into the Body. O how I need to be normalized in my Christian life and church life! There are many things that I still need to be dealt with. Thorough repentance from my abnormality and confession before God for my sins, mistakes, wrongdoings, shortcomings, defects, transgressions, trespasses, sins, and evils needed to be carried out day by day. An intimate fellowship with the Lord and with my fellow believers are needed. Then I can be perfected in my prayer life, in my reading of the Word of God, in my calling upon the Lord’s name, and in my exercising my spirit. In this way I can become vital—living, burning, and fruit-bearing. 

May the Lord grace me and my fellow believers in the local church I am in, to be vital, to be normal, to be the changed generation, practicing the God-ordained way to build up the church, and to bring the Lord back. 

The Age of Faith

I freshly enjoyed the matter of faith as I was assigned to share on the same topic in a serving one's training we had last weekend. To speak or to select a portion to speak was not my choice. The message was assigned to me and I need to choose a point from the message. But a brother had already chosen one point out of the two points the same message assigned to both of us. So I had no choice. The portion for my study and speaking was, "The Age of Faith".

The age we live in right now is the age of mystery. The God we believe in is a mystery. The mystery of God, the embodiment of this mysterious God, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is also a mystery. The mystery of Christ, the church, is also a mystery. Every spiritual thing today is a mystery. Yet these mysteries are made known to us by faith! Faith substantiates, assures, and proves that all these mysteries are real, true, knowable, experienceable, and enjoyable. The mysterious things of God are made real by faith! 

In fact, our Christian life and church life are mysteries too. Our Christian life and church life began by faith. We live by faith, we serve by faith, and we walk by faith. From the beginning of our Christian life till the end, is being lived out by faith. Therefore, the Christian life is a life of faith. Our Christian life is a life of things unseen. The Lord's recovery is the recovery of the Church from the things seen to the things unseen. The unseen has been made real by faith. 

Now faith is the substantiation of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Heb. 11:1

But without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to Him, for he who comes forward to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb. 11:6

Whom having not seen, you love; into whom though not seeing Him at present, yet believing, you exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pet. 1:8

Faith is the unique way to carry out God's economy. 1 Tim. 1:4. Faith is God's requirement for us related to everything in the New Testament. Faith is also the divine requirement for overcomers to meet the Lord Jesus in His coming again and to receive the reward of the Kingdom in the coming age. Faith brings us into organic union with the Lord where we can experience and enjoy Christ. Genuine faith is Christ Himself infused into us to be our faith. Praise the Lord for this faith infused into us!

As we began our Christian life by faith, the Lord will grace us to finish this life by faith as the apostle Paul did. 

I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. 2 Tim. 4:7

Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2

Day by day, we must look away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. The more we look way unto Him, the more He will dispense Himself into us to become our faith. The faith that He began in us to begin our Christian life, He will also complete it, to make us overcomers.

A few other points on faith that impressed me are:

Remember the ones leading you, who have spoken to you the word of God; and considering the issue of their manner of life, imitate their faith. Heb. 13:7

That you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and long-suffering are inheriting the promises. Heb. 6:12

So that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Pet. 1:7

Night and day petitioning exceedingly so that we may see your face and complete the things that are lacking in your faith? 1 Thes. 3:10

In fact, I declared that I am not ashamed to confess that I imitate the pattern of faith set before me by some brothers including Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and other brothers who are still alive and some who were already taken to glory. They imitate Christ, I imitate them, and in fact, I am initiating Christ in imitating the pattern. Even if the Lord allows, in His sovereignty, to pass through sufferings because of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, this will be the proving of my faith and He will grace me to overcome every hardship on my pathway of faith. As many are pattern to me, I should be a pattern in turn to others and the generations to follow. Therefore, I should even be able to declare like Paul, to complete the lacking in faith in the saints that Lord grace me to shepherd.

These were all the points I released when my turn came to minister the word to all the brothers. I enjoyed the truths and I released the very truths I enjoyed. 

May the Lord increase my faith and the faith of the brothers as we look away unto Him, day by day, moment by moment as we live in this age of faith.