Faithful in Service

Last weekend as I was preparing for PSRP of the message "Being Faithful in Service in the Lord’s Commission and in His Gifts for His Second and Imminent Coming,"  I was very supplied by the Lord's speaking to me to help the saints to enter into the burden. I got fresh light as I went through the points and the Bible verses. Even fresher light dawned on me as I actually led the saints in PSRP yesterday, the Lord's day. In fact, I was the first person to enjoy the Lord's speaking and supply before I could minister to the saints. The word of God is such, "I enjoy first, and then I minister the word to others what I have enjoyed." 

Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time? Matthew 24:45

All believers are called to be faithful and prudent slaves, to give spiritual food at the proper time. Whenever the Lord brings us into contact with new ones, our main responsibility is to provide food. If we meet an unbeliever, preach the gospel of grace, or if we meet with believers, based on their spiritual condition of the believers, minister the timely word as the Spirit leads. This requires one to be in the spirit and follow the Lord's leading step by step. 

Last night, a brother called in desperation describing to me the pathetic situation he has been going through. A family problem, health issue, and joblessness. He needed fellowship very much that he called me. The moment he narrated his ordeal, the Lord gave me the word to minister to him. After paying careful heed to all that he had to pour out, I led him to the word of God in Joel.

Do not fear, O land; / Be glad and rejoice, / For Jehovah has done great things. Do not fear, O beasts of the field, / For the pastures of the wilderness turn green. / For the tree bears its fruit; / The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. O children of Zion, / Be glad and rejoice / In Jehovah your God. / For He gives you / The early rain in righteousness, / And He makes the rain come down for you: / The early rain and the late rain / At the beginning of the season. And the threshing floors will be full of grain, / And the wine vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil. And I will restore to you the years / That the swarming locust has eaten, / The licking locust and the consuming locust and the cutting locust, / My great army / That I sent among you. And you will eat to the full and be satisfied, / And you will praise the name of Jehovah your God, / Who has dealt wondrously with you; / And My people will never be ashamed. 

We read through the verses and pray-read the verses. The word of God spoke for itself. I need not further explain the meaning of the word. My brother was so supplied by this timely word, especially v. 25, "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten." This was the application of being faithful in service, giving food at the proper time.  I only echoed and strengthened what the Bible verse has stated. Then we prayed together. It was such a shepherding to him and me as well.

Similarly, as the Lord burdens, I have been in prayer and fellowship regularly with a brother from West Bengal, with a brother from Himachal Pradesh, with a brother from Punjab, with two brothers from Manipur, with two brothers from Nagaland, with five brothers from Gurugram individually, in a way of shepherding. In this way, the Lord has been gracing and shepherding me to be a faithful and prudent slave to give food at the proper time.

What a grace and blessing to be counted worthy of a faithful and prudent slave! May this grace of the Lord continue all the days of my life.