Never Say No

Trusting the Lord in everything that is related to serving and functioning within my capacity, whenever there was an opportunity, I simply took it up by faith. My simple banner has been, "Never Say No," in the things of God. 

Whenever I was assigned for my portion in any spiritual activity, I took that as from the Lord. As much as I could, I never said no. If God had not ordained those functions for me, it would never have been brought to me either. Even if it were, it would hot have worked out. But in my experience, all those assignments given to me by the brothers turned out to be a great blessing to me personally besides being blessed in the assignments themselves.

Since the pandemic struck, there have been many online meetings for the churches and also for seekers all over India. Now and then, the brothers have asked me to coordinate in ministering the word of God to different states and language groups.  Whenever I was assigned, I always said amen to the brothers even if it seemed it might not work out. I firmly believe in the God who moved the brothers to make such an arrangement. I dared not say "No" to the brothers, which would mean saying "No" to God. Despite my condition whatsoever, the Lord's presence was with me all the time. This m, made me realize more that it was not I who functioned but it has always been God who has been ministering in my ministering. What a blessing, what a joy, when we amen God!

Even when I traveled for my official service of distributing the ministry literature, I still would not say "No". Somehow, I scheduled my time to still carry out my responsibility and thereby, continued to enjoy God's presence. I trust in the Lord that in the coming days too, the Lord will continue to grace me to never say "No" to His sovereign arrangements. I reckoned all the assignments as God's arrangement with His promised presence and blessing. And firmly believe in His words:

For as many promises of God as there are, in Him is the Yes; therefore also through Him is the Amen to God, for glory through us to God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

God's Presence - God Is

God's Presence

As a Christian, the spiritual fact is, I am in God and God is in me. My responsibility is to abide in God, remain in Him, and dwell in Him as my home. The issue of such a living in the divine Trinity is the presence of the Lord. 

In the Old Testament, Moses had the promise of God's presence going with him; he desired the presence of God to the extent that he would not do anything without the Lord's presence.

Now therefore if I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know now Your ways, that I may know You, so that I may continue to find favor in Your sight. Consider also that this nation is Your people. And He said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And he said to Him, If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. Exodus 33:13-15

There definitely is a difference between God's going and God's presence. It is one thing to have God's blessing and Him doing many things for us yet without His presence. God's presence is His smile, His delight, His being one with us in everything and not merely He doing things for us or on our behalf. If one has God's presence, he definitely will also have God. Here is the thin line between God and God's presence. Many may be satisfied with the former, God's blessing and helping hands, but not God's presence, His smile, His will, and His delight in everything. To enjoy the joy of God's presence, the one key condition is to abide in Him, remain in Him, and dwell in Him as our home. 

God's presence is my need in everything. The children of God in the past were led by the presence of God in the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, which today is the presence of the Lord in the Spirit and the Word of God. These are the practical ways one can enjoy God's presence. While things are bright and normal, the Spirit typified by the cloud during the day is sufficient. Whereas when the situation is dark and negative, still the leading of the Lord can be felt through God's presence in the Word.  This is to live in the divine Trinity.

God Is

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.  Hebrews 11:6

To believe that God is, is to believe that He is everything to us and that we are nothing—John 8:58; Eccl. 1:2. To believe that God is implies that we are not; He must be the only One, the unique One, in everything, and we must be nothing in everything—Heb. 11:5; Gen. 5:22-24.

As we enjoy God's presence, we must also realize who God is; not merely doctrinally only. God is everything, many confess that either religiously or out of fake humility. But to realize indeed that God is everything is yet another matter. The Lord has been merciful to help me realize that God is indeed everything and that I am nothing and I can do nothing.

In the past, I have used statements like, "God is everything, I am nothing." But deep within me, I still believe that I was still something and that I needed God when I needed His help. Which means, I still could do something of my own. That's why I was very jealous to labor for the Lord. Well, it must be good for me at that time to experience the Lord in such a way. In fact, that only ushered and brought me to the point of realization that, all that I thought I could do resulted only in failures and shame. Yes, I mean it. All that I could do with all my strength, even perhaps with the help of God, were just failures and shame. I had not experienced the death of my "self", my "natural man." There had been much mixture of myself with that of God.  Now, by the Lord's mercy, my eyes have been opened and I am beginning to see who I really am. I am NOTHING, and I mean it. GOD is EVERYTHING and I believe in it.

As I reconsidered my service in the church, one particular thing striking is, all that I thought I could do resulted only in failures. What I thought began well ended up nowhere, especially in taking care of some new ones. I could see clearly where I lagged behind; I need God to be everything in all things and that I am nothing, Therefore, I must believe that God is and I am not. Praise the Lord!

Experience of Christ: Banking

A need to open a new bank account was brought to my attention three weeks ago. Though I initially suggested that one of our existing accounts could handle the purpose, my coordinating brother felt the need to open a new one, to which I agreed. Therefore, I took immediate action to open a new current account in one of the banks where we already have a running current account. Due to an urgent need, I talked to the bank officer to speed up the process for which on the same afternoon all documents along with signatures were submitted at the bank itself. Therefore, we were promised that within a few days' time the account would be ready.

After a few days, I called up the bank officer only to get the response that he would be checking and updating. After repeated requests and delayed responses, I got a message saying that a name correction had to be done from the already existing account. For this, I went to the bank to submit a form for name correction; which error was also committed by the bank when it was first opened. Now, that became the reason for the delay. Then, after a few more days, I got a response from the bank that the name had been corrected, while calling up the bank for the new account as the correction had been done, he request a few more days to open the account. 

After a few more days, I followed up on the progress of the account only to hear a repeated request for a few more days. Therefore, each time I enquired I was promised that it will be done the same day evening or the next day. The repeated response went on and on until a full week was over. Then finally, I got a message stating that the old account had to be changed, creating more problems.

I had no choice but to go to the bank and talk to the manager directly. Even the manager promised that he would get the work done, and requested for a few more hours. I plainly told him to confirm if the bank could open an account without affecting the already existing account. Only with their answer, I could proceed to the next step. Finally, after much talk and waiting, the bank officer responded that they could not open the account at all. I felt like blasting them for their untrustworthy words and false promises and wasting three long weeks. But the Lord within me was very calm and at peace. In fact, I was reminded by the Lord to simply keep calm and accept the fact that it could not be opened. In fact, it need not be opened at all as the Lord has a better way of handling the need. 

When I fellowshipped with my coordinator about the current status of the account, we came to a conclusion that it need not be opened at all as the need could have been better handled in some other way. But for my part  I had done all the I could. The Lord confirmed within me that I had done what I need to do and the result was that the Lord has a better way. I was completely satisfied and at ease that I had discharged my responsibility and the Lord interfered to show us the better way.  

Through all these processes, I experienced the Lord in exercising faithfulness in carrying out my responsibility, trusting the Lord for the result. It would have been unfaithful to not do my part at all. I did my best and the Lord took over the result. No grudges to anyone, no complain, no murmuring, no reasoning, only the experience of the Lord in all these. Even in official banking works, the Lord could be experienced richly! Praise the Lord!

Fruitbearing: The Lord's Blessings

On the 24th of November, a brother called me up and fellowshipped that if he could bring over a new one who wanted to be baptized. Though I did not know who the new one was, trusting in my brother's word I amened his request. Later, the new one actually came with his wife. They were first met by my young brother with whom I have been coordinating in the young people meeting and in the gospel meeting. At the first meeting, the conversation to the new one was, "Jesus loves you!" at a birthday party when he was serving food. Later, this new one believed into the Lord and called up my brother for baptism.

As I met him, I felt the need to preach the gospel once again; to make sure that they truly believed into the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, using The Mystery of Human Life, I asked the new one to read paragraph by paragraph, and after each paragraph, I exercised my spirit to preach the gospel in Hindi along with my fellow brother. Therefore, after ascertaining that they really understood the gospel, and they did believe into the Lord Jesus Christ, I once again helped them to pray the sinners' prayer and led them to definitely receive the Lord Jesus again, calling upon His name several times too. Then, I explained the significance of baptism and asked them to decide for themselves. I wanted to make it very clear that I was only presenting the truth of the Bible, preaching the gospel, and letting them choose if they would receive the gospel and be baptized. The new one was definitely willing as he already believed into the Lord, and his wife also expressed her willingness to be baptized. Then, arrangements were made and we baptized both of them.

When the Holy Spirit convicts people, they simply repent, confess, and believe into the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Man's only responsibility is to discern the move of the Holy Spirit and cooperate with him to carry what the Lord wants to accomplish. That's what we did; simply cooperating with the moving Triune God in saving people. 

Once they were baptized there was a sense of joy and peace within us and within them. They both were filled with peace and joy. Then I gifted them The Shepherding Materials in Hindi for them to read daily. My brother had purchased lunch for them as he had the burden. I did not interfere in inserting my own opinion as I could also provide lunch for all of them too. I wanted my brother to bear the burden and execute them with love and receive the blessing and gain the necessary experience in caring for the new ones. The new ones' needs were taken care and my brother also got to function. Praise the Lord! 

We have been praying for the salvation of people. Though we have not gone out to preach the gospel since the pandemic struck, still the Lord brought people at His time to receive Him and be baptized. It was purely the work of the Holy Spirit. With man this is a thing of impossibility; but with God, it is very possible. That's what we have been witnessing in the church in Gurugram. When the Lord gives, He gives. Praise the Lord!

Experience of Christ: Resting in Him

On the 17th of November morning, I was on a distribution trip to Jagdalpur and had the intention of skipping the Wednesday fellowship, which I generally did while on a trip. But since we did not have an appointment early in the morning I decided to join with the initiation from my brother. Therefore, we attended the fellowship and it turned out to be a great blessing to me. The burden of the fellowship was on experiencing Christ and resting in Him in the midst of all trials and tribulations. I took down the key points from the fellowship and considered them carefully. The next day we left for Raipur. While on board the flight from Raipur to New Delhi, the Lord burdened me to write a hymn on the points from Br. RC's fellowship. As I began to write, I enjoyed the Spirit's anointing so much so that I could easily write a hymn, line by line, stanza by stanza within an hour and forty-five minutes. I started when the flight took off and finished when the flight landed. 

Experience of Christ: Resting in Him
Composed on 18th Oct. 2021
Enlightened through Br. RC's fellowship on 17th Nov.
Composed while flying onboard from Raipur to Delhi after the ministry of the word literature journey.

Meter: 6.6.9.6.6.9 with Chorus
Time: 3/4 – F major
Tune similar to Hymns # 582

Psalms 23
1  In the midst of hardship, 
Forget not you're a sheep.
Jesus Lord is your Shepherd alway!
No matter what great pain,
He'll not leave you to faint.
He'll shepherd and lead you all the way!

Rest and enjoy,
Then you'll always rejoice!
Being one with Jesus,
In the Lord whom you trust.

John 14:17; 2 Cor. 2:14
2  Spiritual reality,
You must know and must see
Through God's dispensing in you daily;
Through your failures at times,
Yet know, in you He triumphs
If at the altar you lay fully.

Song of Songs 1-2
3  An intimate story 
Betwixt God and you be
Ever told by His passing through you.
Surely then you'll discern
And all the lessons learn:
God’s will in all is to mature you. 

Isaiah 45:15; Matthew 11:29-30
4  God often hides Himself.
Pressed feeling in yourself?
Never struggle nor murmur you'd be.
Rest in your situation,
Spiritual oppression,
Builds up your spiritual(potential) energy.

Psalms 23:4; John 4:14
5  Even when in valley,
God desires you wholly.
Touch the Lord by faith, not by feeling.
The fountain of water
Unto life eternal 
Will spring up out of your inmost being! 

Matthew 7:14; 2 Timothy 4:8
6  Don't give up, come what may,
Tears and trials on the way
Only helps walk the constricted way.
Carry on your service,
Your church life never miss,
Purified you'll be; and crowned that day!

Ministry of the Word Literature Journey: Jabalpur

The Christian leaders in Bhopal porposed and planned for us, the ministry literature exhibition in Jabalpur. Though we did not plan it ourselves, we were encouraged to carry out the same exhibition we had been in different parts of Madhya Pradesh. Besides, there is a family who has been shepherded by a sister in the church in Mumbai that deems our shepherding visit. These two matters brought forth the burden to travel to Jabalpur.

In the morning of 13th Nov I arrived at Jabalpur train station where a senior pastor of the Full Gospel Church came to receive me. Then we went to Indian Coffee House for a time of fellowship over breakfast. There I was requested to share my testimony which I did with my heart's content and with much release of my spirit. It was my first meeting with the Christian leader and it was fitting that he know me and the ministry I represent before he introduced me further to other Christian leaders and congregations. I thanked the Lord for this sovereign arrangement of the Lord; it was indeed an ice breaking session and an introduction to one another. This testimony confirmed to the brother of the authenticity of the ministry I represents and the genuineness of the faith I believe into. Since then, he was so touched and opened for any following meetings.

Later, when my brother who was coordinating with me arrived, we all together has a fellowship over lunch where the elderly Christian leader also testified of the Lord’s work in his life.

In the night, an impromptu meeting was arranged for a group of believers where we ministered on the need for breathing, eating, and drinking the Lord for a normal Christian life and growth with a strong emphasis on the importance of the word of God that can make a Christian grow. I also shared my testimony of how the word of God as life and spirit have been my constant supply, especially in trying times.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63, RecVer)

The next day being the Lord’s day, we were invited to minister the word of God first in the Full Gospel Church and then in the Assembly of God Church. In the first meeting, we ministered on the anointing Spirit and the need to be anointed through the word and exercise of the spirit. In the second meeting, we ministered on the need for growth in life by the Spirit of God in our human spirit renewing and transforming the soul with a detail explanation on how the mind, emotion, and will needs to be and can be gained fully by the Lord. And concluded with the result of such a growth that issues in a normal Christian life, a life of living Chirst as in Philippians 1:21.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, RecVer)

The leading pastor later took us for lunch at a five star hotel with his family. Then we went to visit a family who has been shepherded by one of the sisters in the church in Mumbai.

On Monday, we had a seminar with the Christian leaders in Jabalpur where we introduced the ministry literature with the Holy Bible Recovery Version and then exhibited the ministry books. Later, we went to visit the family of a sister who has just begun to enjoy the ministry and fellowshipped with them on various topics they requested a clarification for.

Having thus accomplished the burden for Jabalour visit, for the Christian leaders seminar with ministry books exhibition and meeting the seeking family, we proceeded to the next destination, Jagdalpur via Raipur.

May the Lord bless the sowing of the divine life through the word of God and may He gain His remnants to bear His testimony in Jabalpur.

Timely and Brotherly Fellowship

On the 24th of October, on a Lord’s day morning while in Ujjain, a brother called me and invited me to visit him. That call ignited the burden to visit Jagdalpur, where he works mostly, and another family of a sister we have been considering to visit for years now. A few days later, while at Bhopal, in fellowship, we decided to visit Jagdalpur and booked our flight tickets.

The Lord knows best the need of every individual. This time we came to Jagdalpur to visit the brother who has been serving the Lord in his way and has been in association with some Christian organizations. This is perhaps, my third visit for a special time of fellowship with him.

As we met him, he immediately acknowledged his need to be recovered fully into the truth and life practices of the normal Chirstian life and church life. We did not need to say anything further, he knew where he was, who he has been, who we are, and what we have been into. Just a meeting was sufficient enlighten him.

Today morning as we fellowship over breakfast, he confessed the deepest agony he has been through. He was humble and open enough to confess his real situation. As a brother, I offered some fellowship concerning his situation and honestly told him what his needs actually are, that he has been very lonely in the midst of many "pastors and missionaries" who surrounded him just for money.

Firstly, he needs to recover his enjoyment of Christ personally that his being may be gained by the Lord to be a proper person. Once his person is right, then all that he does will also be right. Otherwise, it will be troubles after troubles in everything he does. 

Then, he need to spend time with his wife especially to pray for the love of God to increase in them that they would love God and love one another with the divine love,  and that they be one with God and one with one another.

Secondly, he need to be in fellowship with the Body of Christ, fully join himself into the one flow of God's move. Individual ministry will lead nowhere, for God is seeking to build up His Body, and only His builtup Body can crush Satan and defeat him. For this, I porposed that he join the online meeting we have been conducting and gradually blend into the practices of the church life, including his children and wife. I encouraged his children to join  the online children meeting of the church in Gurugram and his wife to be in fellowship with the sisters in the church life, perhaps, with my wife first.

Thirdly, concerning his big business plan, I encouraged him to look to the Lord and be wise in entering into partnership with anyone especially when it involves big money and politics. I warned him of the danger of getting into business debts and having any link with politicians. I rather offered my brotherly suggestion to stand on his own feet for a business within his own capacity to take care of his financial needs and serve the Lord.

After such a brotherly and timely fellowship he expressed his gratitude and promised to take necessary action right away. Then, we all prayed together in the hotel where we ate our breakfast. After this fellowship, the burden within me was released for this time. Therefore, we left the city to return back home.

“Listen to counsel, and receive instruction, That you may be wise at the end of your days. There are many devices in a man’s heart, But it is the counsel of Jehovah that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:20-21, RecVer)

Praise the Lord for such a timely and brotherly fellowship! 

May the Lord fully recover him and all the genuine believers and serving ones with him for His testimony in Chattisgarh and Odisha.

Parental Salvation in Jagdalpur

Two years ago we were informed about a sister in Jagdalpur who got saved and came to the church life and that her family need to be visited for the gospel. However we could not visit the family as requested. It was in our last trip that the same burden was revived to visit her, clubbing together with a visit to another brother. Therefore, the visit was done yesterday. 

Yesterday, though our appointment was at 7:00 PM we decided to meet the family in the morning so that we could spend the evening with some other families. As we visited, we could not speak much except introduced ourselves and got to know one another. The father of the family invited us to go along with him to Chitrakote where the "Niagara Falls of India" was situated and where his official site was located. He also invited us for lunch and took us for sightseeing at the Chitrakote falls. We had a day of sightseeing and a lovefeast, all the while fellowshiping with him and another brother for whom we came for fellowship. Two birds were hit with the same stone.

In the evening we visited the family again with the burden to preach the gospel and pray for them. Though we were not well versed in Hindi, my coordinator brother preached the gospel in English first, translated by another brother in Hindi. He touched the three key points of confessing sins, calling upon the name of the Lord, and continuously reading the Bible. 

Following my brother, I had the burden to strengthen the gospel preaching by requesting the father and mother to read the tract The Mystery of Human Life in Hindi, paragraph by paragraph, along with me. After the reading, I exercised to preach the gospel in Hindi with the same points of truth as in the tracts. Then, led them pray the sinners' prayer to believe and receive the Lord, and finally prayed for the entire family.

After such an exercised meeting, I felt the burden the Lord gave us was released. Deep within, we have the confirmation that they were indeed saved. Praise the Lord!

For such a meeting as this, it was worth all the travel. Their two daughters have believed into the Lord Jesus Christ and were baptized already. Mainly, it was because of their two daughters' prayer and burden for their parents, the meeting could transpire. 

Through the daughters, parents were gradually brought to salvation. What a parental salvation!

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple-dyed goods from the city of Thyatira who worshipped God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to give heed to the things being spoken by Paul.” (Acts 16:14, RecVer)

May the Lord gain the entire family with their relatives.

Fruitbearing: The Lord's Blessings

Yesterday, I received a surprise call from one of the brothers who have not been regular to the church meeting. In the past he had brought some new people with the motive of business. Therefore, I kind-of keep away from involving in any business as such. When he called me I made it very clear that he was welcomed as a brother for fellowship, not for business. With that I agreed to meet him and his friend. Besides, I need to leave for Jabalpur in the afternoon so I asked him how much time he would need. He said about thirty minutes, which was manageable for me.

A few minutes after noon, he brought a new friend. As we conversed I sensed his friend's seeking heart. I wasted no time, and started preaching th gospel to him. After the gospel, I further felt the need to lead him to prayer and receive the Lord, which he willing did. Then, having further sensed the need for him to be baptised, I explained to him what is baptism and why it is needed. On asking him if he would like to be baptised, he replied in the affirmative again. Everything went on smoothly, yet I wanted another brother to coordinate with me in baptising a new brother. Therefore, I called up another brother to come to the meeting hall so that we together in coordination and one accord can baptise him.

Meanwhile, I got a help from my cousin brother to make baptism tub ready. To further strengthen the truth of the gospel, I and the two brothers read through The Mystery of Human Life, emphasising on  the six keys, explaining each key in detail. Then, we once again prayed the sinner's prayer to him receive the Lord and helped them, including the brother who brought him, to call on the Lord outloud. I also explained the significance of calling upon the name of the Lord. Another burden for the brother who brought the new one was the need for him exercise his spirit more. Therefore, the burden on calling upon the Lord’s name was emphasised. When my brother arrived, we prayed for the new brother and baptised him. 

We have been praying for the saints to bear fruits. Much more, that each one in the church should bear at least one remaining fruit. Though we have not resumed the church’s going out to preach the gospel, the Lord answered our prayers and brought fruit. This was the second baptism for the year post pandemic.

After the baptism, we still sat for fellowship to further strengthen the faith of the new one and also the brother who has brought him. Though I committed only for thirty minutes earlier as I needed to leave, I ended up spending two and half hours. Gospel preaching, leading the new one to salvation, explaining the significance of baptism, baptizing, and then strengthening fellowship. Therefore, I needed to change my travel plan. Instead of taking metro I booked a cab and went straight to the train station to catch a train to Jabalpur.

Praise the Lord! When the Lord blesses, He blesses. If not for the Lord's blessings, no matter how hard we try, the fruit is not forthcoming. 

May this new one be graced by the Lord To be under constant shepherding and be a remaining fruit in the church life.

Offering Dispensing

And my God will fill your every need according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

The Lord is the source of all supplies; be it spiritual, psychological, or spiritual. He does it in His own time and in His own ways. He knows when and how and to whom to supply. I have been graced by Him to coordinate with Him in supplying His children's needs. Whenever He supplies and is routed through my bank account, I go before Him to seek His leading. As He leads and gave me the sense, I dispense the offering to the saints. This has been going on for years now. He is the faithful one!

Last week a big amount of offering was channeled through my account. Initially, it was mentioned for a certain entity. However, deep within me, I had the feeling that there are needs for certain saints. Though I generally do not fellowship with the one who sends as to how the offering needs to be distributed, for I normally distribute as intended. But this time, I had the feeling to check if this offering could be used to meet the needs of certain needy saints, the immediate reply was to dispense the offering as the Lord leads and according to the need.

Therefore, I prayed and considered before the Lord for a few days, and gradually the Lord made it clear to me to whom and how much offering has to be offered. First, I wrote the names and the amounts down, and each time I pray over this matter, the Lord will put more names and amounts, and in a few days' time, the paper was filled with names and amounts. Through prayer with certain saints or fellowship, or even through circumstances, I got a clear picture of what needs to be done. 

Once everything was clear within me, I transferred the offering accordingly. Though none of this has been intended for me personally I was full of joy that I have this grace to be able to discern to whom the offering has to be offered. Though I am not the supplier, I felt the joy of the Lord in His meeting the saints' needs; I could sense the joy of the receipients too.

A few days later, I received indirect indications by the receivers of the offerings that it has been such a great help to them in the midst of their great needs. I praise and thank the Lord for His faithful supply.

I believe this is what Paul meant by "my God will fill your every need according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus."

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh, as it is said to this day, On the mount of Jehovah it will be provided. Genesis 22:14

Praise the Lord!

Shepherding Young People

I have been praying together with a group of young brothers since the Lord burdened me to take care of the young people in the church in Gurugram. The very first burden and goal the Lord imparted into me for the young people was that each one of them would be graced to join and be trained in the two years full-time training. Initially, when the burden came to me, it was "impossible" considering the cases of the young people then. But the Lord is sovereign in working all things together for good in each one of them.

When the time came, the first young people to graduate also happened to be my niece. The Lord worked on her and she joined the full-time training. Later, another brother also was touched by the Lord through his circumstances and he also joined the training. A year later another young brother graduated, and he also decided to join the training. Now all these ones are enjoying the Lord's training in the training.

One brother who has been a little skeptical about the truths and the church life has been very passive in the church life. I used to pray with him whenever he picked my call. Otherwise, it was even hard to talk to him. But we have been praying for him. A few months ago, something transpired in his family which prompted me and another brother to fellowship with his father if he would be released for the training. But we got no response at all even after months have passed. Deep within my being, I wish that he could consecrate himself and join the training. But it seemed like an impossible case.

One Lord's day I got to fellowship with him along with his mom and brother to seriously consider joining the training. They all agreed and I even brought the matter to the brothers to fellowship. But no response came from them.

However, last month, something very bad happened in his life. He was "driven out" by his father out of rage for some reason. Even otherwise, he has not been on good terms with his father. Only God knows for whatever reason. What could I do? Nothing. It was a blessing to be able to do nothing but pray. That's what I did with a few other brothers. The Lord hears our prayers. Amen!

Last month, while I was on a literature journey to Madhya Pradesh in MHOW, I received a phone call early morning from this brother saying that he had been driven out by his dad and that he came to my home. Immediately, I welcomed him to stay with us though I was not at home then. I called my wife and my brother and advised them to make the necessary arrangement for his hospitality. I also called up a brother with whom I am coordinating in the church affairs to consider his case and how we could help him join the training immediately. Within a few hours, we were able to make all the necessary fellowship and the matter was decided that he would join the training. Finally, after all the impromptu arrangements and special circumstances, he joined the training after a few days. Praise the Lord!

The Lord knows how to gain people in His own way and in His own time. He knows best. I simply must do my duty faithfully, to pray and pray for the young ones. This is the best way I can shepherd them, and also usher them to join the training.

Lord, shepherd all these young saints; shepherd them and train them, make them useful vessels to You!

Gospel Preaching

Since the pandemic struck India, all our physical gospel preaching has stopped. We switched to an online gospel meeting which has been going on every alternate Friday via Zoom. For this, I have the blessing to coordinate in making all the practical arrangements in assigning the host, hymns and the singers, testimony sharing, and the gospel preacher. Though online, still it is a gospel meeting and I have been doing my best in the responsibility allotted to me.

Last Saturday in our brothers' fellowship we decided to preach the gospel openly in the shopping complex nearby. It was our first physical going out after the lockdown. As we went and met people on the streets, the heart of the people are still open. Within a span of one hour, we were about to meet a good number of people and preach the gospel to them too.

Personally, I have not been preaching the gospel face to face. This was my recovery from preaching the gospel face to face. I was glad that I could exercise to preach the gospel to at least three people. After a long gap, I could flow out the gospel to strangers and sinners again!

One encouraging thing was, we also met a Christian brother whom we met during our gospel preaching. He was so glad that we could meet him. In fact, when I started preaching the gospel to him, he immediately confessed that he is also a Christian. Then we had a sweet time of fellowship in the open area outside a bank where he came for his banking work. He was so happy that we met him and told us he would love to visit us someday. He lives in a locality nearby with his family and also has some other family who use to meet with him for prayer and fellowship.

Today evening when I called him up he was so happy to converse over the phone and proposed to come and meet with the church this coming Lord's day and also invited us to visit him next weekend. I believe it is for these seeking believers that the Lord burdened us to go out and preach the gospel.

May all these ones who heard the gospel be saved and the brother become a remainig fruit for the church in Gurugram!

Blessed Family

Blessed is everyone who fears Jehovah, Who walks in His ways. You will indeed eat the labor of your hands; You will be blessed, and it will go well with you. 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. Thus will the man be blessed who fears Jehovah. Jehovah bless you from Zion;  And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you also see the children of your children. Peace be upon Israel. Ps 128:1-6

Last Saturday, we decided to eat lunch as a family after a long long time of not being able to eat out. In fact, I promised my children that I would take them out before I went for a distribution trip last month.  But I could not find the proper time. Therefore, this time I made it a point to do so.

Every night the Lord has been gracing us to spend time together in prayer. Even when I traveled, I still would call them for night prayers. This has been the best and the only time I could spend with my family though we live together in the same house.  Every day I have my regular routine, and night prayer is set for the family together. From morning till night I have been occupied with my office works, shepherding the new ones, prayer, and pursuing with some saints. Besides, I have also included an hour's time of physical walking, praying, and listening to the life-study messages in my schedule. My whole day is filled with schedules. I am glad the way things go on. 

Once in a while I decided to take my children out and let them have what they wanted; especially eating their favorite burgers, ice cream, and soft drinks. I personally have no passion for all these but for the sake of my family I am doing it. There joy is my joy. When they are happy I am happy too. Actually, I have not spent on any unnecessary items. Whatever financial supply the Lord blesses us with, it all has been spent for the rightful purposes. Eating out once in a while is a part of the family building.

It is purely the Lord's mercy that He has been gracing and blessing our family very much. Looking at my chidlren I feel very blessed. They are all healthy by the Lord's mercy, studying well, read their Bibles, spend time in prayer, attend the meetings, and also doe stheir assigned household responsibilities. The house, the school, and all the provsions are blessings to us. Whatever the Lord provides that is the best. I don't think I can ask for more.  God has given us the best of the best!

Whenever I asked my children if they would like to shift to a better house or a better school, all of them replied in cohesion, NO. They are very satisfied with what we have right now.

This is contentment and satisfaction the Lord blesses us with. Because of the Lord's blessing, I don't need to worry too much about my own family, so I can spend time shepherding the saints and the new ones. And I can keep travelling to different parts of India for the ministry without any resistance from my family whatsover,. I thank the Lord for my blessed family. When the Lord blesses, He just blesses, and we are blessed.

Thank You Lord for my family! My family is all for You. Amen.

Becoming Pillars

And he formed the two bronze pillars; eighteen cubits was the height of each pillar, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed each pillar. And he made two capitals of molten bronze to set upon the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the second capital was five cubits. There were nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals that were at the top of the pillars, seven for the one capital, and seven for the second capital. So he made the pillars; and there were two rows of pomegranates around the one network, to cover the capitals that were at the top of the pillars. And he did the same for the second capital. And the capitals that were at the top of the pillars in the portico were of lily work, four cubits in diameter. So then the capitals that were on the two pillars were above and close to the bulge that was beside the network. And there were two hundred pomegranates, in rows around both capitals. And he erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. When he erected the right pillar, he called its name Jachin; and when he erected the left pillar, he called its name Boaz. And at the top of the pillars was lily work. And the work on the pillars was completed. 1 Kings 7:15-22

Footnote from the Recovery Version on pillars. 

The two large pillars set up by Solomon in front of the temple were a striking feature of the exterior of the temple. In the Scriptures the pillar is a sign, a testimony, of God’s building (Gen. 28:18-19a, 22a; 1 Kings 7:15-22; Gal. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:15; Rev. 3:12). That there were two pillars here (two being the number of testimony) indicates that these pillars stood as a testimony, like a signboard, of what God’s building is. The names of the two pillars (v. 21 and notes) testify that the Lord will establish His building (cf. Matt. 16:18) and that genuine strength is in the building (cf. Eph. 3:17-18). In typology, bronze signifies God’s judgment (Exo. 27:1-8; Num. 21:8-9; John 3:14). The temple’s two bronze pillars signify the Christ who was judged by God and who became the supporting strength of God’s dwelling on the earth (cf. Rev. 1:15 and notes 1 and 2). This Christ should be experienced by the believers in the church life and should be wrought into them to constitute them pillars to support God’s building. 

Footnote from the Recovery Version on Eighteen. 

Eighteen cubits (the height of each pillar — v. 15; 2 Kings 25:17) is half of three units of twelve cubits (the circumference of the pillar). The number three signifies the Triune God, and the number twelve signifies the mingling (multiplying) of the Triune God (three) with His creature man (four). It signifies further that this mingling is complete and perfect in God’s eternal administration (cf. note 12 2 in Rev. 21 and note 2 4 in Rev. 22). Thus, if we would be pillars as a testimony of God’s building, we must first judge ourselves under God’s judgment (bronze — Matt. 16:24; Gal. 2:20) and then be filled, saturated, and permeated with the Triune God. That each pillar is a half indicates that no matter how completely we are mingled with the Triune God, we are not complete in ourselves; we need others to match us (cf. note 16 1 in Exo. 26). 1K 7:15 3 each Lit., the one pillar…the second pillar. 

Footnote from the Recovery Version on capitals. 

The two bronze capitals covered the tops of the pillars. The total height of each capital was five cubits (v. 16; 2 Chron. 3:15), divided between the base (three cubits — 2 Kings 25:17) and the two bowls on top of each capital (2 Chron. 4:12). The number three here signifies the process of resurrection; the number two, a testimony (Deut. 17:6); the number five, the bearing of responsibility (see note 2 1 in Matt. 25); and the number ten (the combined height of the two capitals), fullness in bearing responsibility. The bowls were the glory, beauty, decoration, and crown of the capitals. They were covered with nets of checker work (like a trellis) and wreaths of chain work (v. 17). These signify the complicated and intermixed situation in which those who are pillars in God’s building (Gal. 2:9; Rev. 3:12) live and bear responsibility. Lilies were on the nets (v. 19), and two rows of one hundred pomegranates were on the wreaths (v. 18; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chron. 3:16; 4:13). Lilies signify a life of faith in God (S.S. 2:1-2; Matt. 6:28, 30; Gal. 2:20), and pomegranates, having many seeds, signify the expression of the riches of the divine life. 

A life of faith that expresses the riches of the divine life is the issue of the experience of Christ’s crucifixion in and through the complicated and intermixed situation (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7-18). In spiritual significance, the bowls of the capitals are a testimony (two) indicating that those who place themselves under God’s judgment (bronze), counting themselves as nothing, are able to bear responsibility (five) in full (ten) and express the riches of the divine life (pomegranates) in the midst of a complicated and intermixed situation (the checker work and chain work) out of the process of resurrection (the base of the capitals, three cubits in height) because they do not live by themselves but by God (lilies). A believer who is a pillar as a sign of God’s building must bear the testimony of living by faith to bear responsibility and express the riches of life through the process of resurrection under the crossing out of the checker work and the restriction of the chain work. 

Last week I was freshly impressed by the truth concerning being a pillar in the temple of God. The picture of the two pillars in 1 Kings 7 is marvelous. It is indeed full of spiritual significances. The design is not merely for strength and beauty, much more it has many other minute detail that a believer has to experience in order to be established and strengthened to become a pillar to bear the Lord's testimony.

My burden for the week's prophesying was on being a pillar, for which I also release my burden. The Lord in His sovereignty also arranged many circumstances, to train and perfect us. As man, we were all created out of clay. From the time we believed into the Lord Jesus Christ, the divine life came into us. Since then growth and transformation began and is still going on. In this process of transformation, God allows all the necessary persons, matters, and things to touch our being. All our natural man that needs to be transformed has to to be transformed. For this, we have to be an open vessel, receiving the divine dispensing of the divine life in the midst of all the suffering caused by the circumstances the Lord put us in. Often these circumstances are hard to bear, yet they are needed. For it is only through such that our self, flesh, old man, and natural man will be crossed out and be fully be reconstituted with the divine life.

I very much appreciated the significance of nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work. Without a proper revelation, these complicated situationss may just be a nuisance and can become redundant experiences. But with the proper view, these are precious experiences of the cross for our transformation. In the midst of all the complications, one can turn to the Lord, apply the cross through the Spirit, and come out of the complication victoriously. The chain works also functions as a tool to restrict us in many areas of our lives with the view of gaining Christ and be transformed.

With much burden, I released my burden on the significance of the pillar and encourage all the saints who have been going through complicated situations to look to the Lord for grace and be established and strengthened to become pillars for the Lord's testimony.

Thank God, He is faithful to carry out His intention. Come what may, He will accomplish His will in me as I also open myself to Him, giving Him the full ground to do whatever He wants to do. He is the Alpha, He is also the Omega. What He started, he will complete it.

Lord, gain me fully for Your divine purpose. Gain me to be Your pillar along with other saints. Amen!