Budding Rod

And the rod of the man whom I choose shall bud, and I will put a stop to the murmurings of the children of Israel against Me, which they murmur against you. And on the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and there was the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi: it had budded; it even put forth buds and produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds. Numbers 17:5, 8

On the 7th of February 2022, the proofreading work of the New Testament Recovery Version was just completed and we had a day off to take a rest. In the morning I was spending time with the Lord. Meanwhile, I was also listening to the radio message on the budding rod from the life-study of Hebrews, messages 61 and 62. The Lord spoke to me especially through the brothers' fellowship, and it was so life supplying. I felt the anointing of the Lord richly filling me within and without. I was on the rooftop of the accommodation building, Ashirwad, taking a walk as I listened to the word of God and prayed. The message was that as a dead and dry rod in myself I had been through the Lord's placing me in the "Tent of Meeting," the church where God dwells resulting in this rod being budded. I enjoyed the rich flow of life and felt glowing in the resurrection life of Christ. I have never felt such an anointing of late. It was also accompanied with much joy within and strength without. Words simply do not suffice to describe the experience. O, the anointing and the budding!

Later, I went to the office room where a brother (KSR) also came. As I was there with him alone, I felt the leading to fellowship with him concerning what the Lord burdened me a week ago to do further studies and get a Ph.D. degree. 

One night I could not sleep and this burden for my Ph.D., that used to be with me many years ago was revived. While I was checking online for universities that could offer in India and abroad a part-time, possibly an online research program, I came across two. One in USA, an online Ph.D. program, but very expensive monetarily, and the other in India, the one and only that has a Ph.D. program which suits my area of research interest and that too from the university I got my Master's degree. But deep within I did not have the liberty to go ahead and apply though the dateline was due on 31st Jan 2022 because I did not fellowship with my brother yet. A few days later, I received a word of confirmation from the Lord personally but as a member of the Body of Christ, I need to fellowship and confirm the leading of the Head through the Body. Therefore I waited and waited. The situation was never conducive before 31st Jan 2022.  I was not in a hurry either, I wanted everything to be confirmed personally and corporately in fellowship and prayer. I am fully confident that if this is of the Lord nothing is too late; His perfect time in fellowship with the Body is best.

I opened my burden to the brother and I was fully ready to accept his fellowship, either for or against my burden of fellowship. I have learned to fellowship and amen the brothers' fellowship in any matter great or small. As I opened up my burden, he encouraged me to get the highest degree if the Lord leads me so and if I have the capacity. Since the subject of research also is related to my service in the ministry of the word, he encouraged me to study the ways to do research. Truth-wise, by the Lord's mercy, He has revealed the high peak already. There may not be much to learn from Christianity but it is worthwhile to study how others study the truths. One area that can be researched is "faith in the Indian context." He also mentioned that if any saint has the capacity and time and resources, it is best to get the highest degree for the Lord's sake. Thus this one main burden of fellowship was through. I was quite relieved after the fellowship.

Now I am praying for the right time and the right university to carry out the Lord's leading. Deep within, the Lord has spoken that He has led me through to "bud and blossom." As a dry and dead rod, I am nothing and can do nothing, but in His resurrection life, He will make me bud and blossom for His economy.