Enjoying the Word of God!

Today as we were fellowshipping, a brother asked us to share on our recent enjoyment of the word of God. We might have had a lot of experiences on witnessing patterns, testimonies, observations, and others, but what is the subjective enjoyment of the word of God? In fact, the only thing that builds up the Body of Christ is the word of God.

Acts  20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.

If not for the word of God, our service to the Lord will just be an outward service, doing the formal mundane work for the sake of carrying out our duty without any impact on the lives of the saints for building up of the Body of Christ.

The Lord has been merciful to me and a couple of other brothers with whom I had been coordinating for the ministry literature journey to the hills of Nagaland. I shared my recent experiences and enjoyment of the word of God to all the brothers in the fellowship. As I shared I also enjoyed the Lord’s anointing so much and there was indeed a rich flow of life.

As we began the ministry literature journey on 13^th June 2023, the Lord’s prophetic word for this trip is:

Haggai 1:8 Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it and will be glorified, says Jehovah. 

We were very clear that we were going up to the mountain, the hills of Nagaland, to distribute the riches of the ministry so that we can also collect the materials for God’s building, the remnants of the Lord whom the Lord has sovereignly prepared for Himself and for His testimony.

On the first day, as we started our journey, our morning enjoyment was from 2 Pet. 1:19.

And we have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Pet. 1:19

The prophetic word was the commission to go up to the mountain and bring wood for the building up of the house of God. Since then, every day, we had the word of God to lead and direct every step that we took. 

Psa. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

As such serving ones in the distribution of the ministry of the word, I was very enlightened by the commission the Lord gave to me, “To be a the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his  household to give them food at the proper time.” What I have been doing is not an outward work of “selling, promotion, or marketing” the ministry literature. Perhaps, they may be. businesswise. But as for me, yes, deep within me, I am very clear and convicted that the Lord has commissioned me to accomplish this heavenly task of giving food at the proper time to all His children. These children could be the Christian leaders, pastors, theologians, missionaries, elders, deacons, Executive Secretaries, and Chairmen of all kinds of Christian associations and mission boards. The ministry of the word is spiritual food for all the children of God. The Lord has commissioned me with this task of giving food. And I must be faithful and also be prudent in executing this heavenly commission.

Matthew 24:45-47 Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his  household to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.

To be such one who gives food, I must be fed and filled with the spiritual food myself first. For this, I must labor on the word of God. I must enjoy the very word that I have been ministering and distributing. In fact, the Lord further revealed that I am indeed a son of oil together with my fellow coworkers in the vineyard.

Zech. 4:12, 14 …What are the two olive branches that are by the side of the two golden spouts, which empty the gold from themselves? ...And he said, These are the two sons of oil, who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

We labor in the vineyard owned by the Lord of the whole earth! So we do so with full freedom and authority. In the New Testament terms, we are ministers of the new covenant, ministers of the Spirit who give life.

2 Cor. 3:6 [God] made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

In all our  journeys, the Lord had marvelously and miraculously prepared angels to lead us practically.

Rev. 22:16 I Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright morning star.

Step by step, wherever we went, the Lord had His angels prepared to lead and guide us. From district to district amidst the jungle hilly roads, from town to town, from village to village, and even from house to house, the Lord had led us using His angels, people who suddenly appeared to lead us and then disappeared after they led us. We simply worship the Lord and His ways of leading us in a very intimate way.

Psalms 103:7 He made His ways known to Moses; His acts, to the children of Israel.

The word of God can be shared in two aspects. One is out of necessity. As serving ones of the Lord we have to minister the word. But if without the enjoyment of the word of God, all that is ministered will be out of necessity. Nonetheless, the Lord may still anoint and use the word to accomplish His purpose, But the better would be the second aspect. That is, sharing the word of God out of the fullness of the word and  overflowing richly living water. This is the normal and proper way of sharing the word of God.

John 4:14 But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall by no means thirst forever; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life.

John 7:38 He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.

Only by this kind of flowing out the living water, can we genuinely build up the church as such a minister of the word will cause the growth of the saints. So we can echo the apostle Paul in saying:

Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and all discernment.

This is my testimony of enjoying the written word becoming the living word, and the living word becoming the applied word; the enjoyment of the logos becoming rhema! All these are for the ministering of life to people for the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ.

Lord, grace me to enjoy Your word day by day all the days of my life for the building up of your Body!

Ministry of the Word to Mokokchung, Kohima, Dimapur, Golaghat and Jorhat

This was my third time to come to Mokokchung town but I never could meet the Principal of the most reputed theological college. As we went to Impur and met the Executive Secretary of the Christian mission thete, I was introduced to the Principal of Clark Theological College. I called the Principal and we agreed to meet the following day.

At his office, I introduced the Holy Bible Recovery Version to the Principal which he immediately decided to purchase. He also introduced the academic dean and librarian. To all, we introduced the ministry literature. The Principal took the burden of introducing the free ministry books to the students himself. In that way, the Lord blessed the distribution there.

In the night, we fellowshipped with a group of Pastors from the Yuimchunger tribe. They were very interested in the Holy Bible Recovery Version and all of them purchased it. Besides, we also fellowshipped on the truth concerning Christ and the church. They were very interested in the Bible we quoted and fellowshipped concerning the church ground. The seed of the local church truth has been sown and in time, we will see the Lord manifesting His testimony in Mokokchung. 

Kohima was not in our plan this time. But, the Lord had His better way. We had to stop by Kohima and were able to meet with a brother whom I knew twenty years ago and who now has been serving as an independent pastor among inter-tribe couples who have not been to the already established churches. To him, I gifted the Holy Bible Recovery Version and will also send a few selected ministry books. Besides, a brother who is a lawyer by profession and who used to enjoy the church life in Delhi came to fellowship with us at our hotel accommodation arranged by a sister. 

Dimapur was just our base to start the ministry journey, as such, we did not have plan to do anything in the city. But at the last minute, we decided to meet a couple of families. It so turned out that the Lord had already reserved His remnants for His testimony in Dimapur. An Ao family, a Lotha family, an Angami family, a Yuimchunger family, and a couple of seeking brothers and sisters were all met. We all enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship and prayed together. To me, these families were revealed by the Lord to be the backbones of the Lord's move in Dimapur. May the Lord shepherd each one of them unto the raising up of the church in Dimapur.

Jorhat and Golaghat in Assam were the only two cities we could visit. The first one was the Eastern Theological College where the Principal gave us favor to display the ministry literature to the students and he himself purchased the Holy Bible Recovery Version for the college. In Golaghat, we dropped by the only Baptist Church and met with the Pastor and Deacon. Here, my burden was to find an Assamese translator. I got a few phone numbers to follow up.

Though we intent to go to Diphu, we had a time constraint. Therefore, we deferred the visit for some other time. Yet, a Pastor's daughter came to Patkai Christian College for her academic work through whom we were able to meet her Professor as well, who happened to be the adviser to the Evangelical Union students in the campus. Thereby, the Lord opened a new door in the college campus in Dimapur. In fact, we also met the Christian student leaders in Unity College where we introduced the ministry literature and also shared a word of exhortation to the students.

The Lord was sovereign in leading us to the right people at the right time for His divine purpose. The seed of the word of God has been sown. And now, we pray and wait for the Lord to manifest the result.

Lord, gain Nagaland for Christ and the church!

Ministry of the Word to Wokha

Wokha, a hill town between Kohima and Mokokchung, was the first stoppage in our previous visit to Nagaland where we met a family who were so interested in the word of God, who purchased the ministry books, and also gave us a warm hospitality.

This time, our intention was to simply stop by for a while as we were passing through the town on our way from Mokokchung to Kohima. Immediately as we met them, they welcomed us and we began our fellowship. The Lord burdened us to minister on the line of the Christian life and the church life. We traced the history of the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament and their fulfilment and reality in the New Testament as the incarnated Jesus and the resurrected Christ as the Spirit dwelling in the spirits of the believers for the expression and representation of God as the church, the testimony of Jesus Christ. Using relevant Bible verses, we also ministered the truth concerning Christ and the church. The universal and local aspect of the church, the ground of oneness, one city one church, the need to be recovered back to the orthodoxy of the church, and the practical ways to take the stand for the Lord’s testimony. We did not expect nor prepare to minister all these truth. But the Lord led us to minister on this burden. 

As I was ministering the word, I enjoyed the flow of life richly. Verse by verse, the word of God flowed forth as spring of living water. I do believe, the brothers and sisters just drank the living water that the Lord supplied from Himself as the Head through a member to the members of His Body. The anointing of the Lord was so sweet yet so strong. This definitely is for the Lord’s recovery of His chosen remnants for His testimony in Wokha.

The key brother testified that as he listened to the ministry of the word, he saw a revelation of the church. Not a "brainwash" but a revelation, by his own word and confession. He testifed that this was the truth and that he should take the stand for the church in Wokha according to the Bible. No denomination, no human organization, but the local church standing on the ground of oneness as the church in Wokha for the Lord’s testimony. He saw this vision!

For their practical experiences and enjoyment, we also invited them to visit the nearby local churches, especially the church in Aizawl. For this, we also shared the testimony of the saints in the church in Aizawl, how the Lord raised them up and recovered them. And also to visit other churches in India and abroad, perhaps, Taiwan for the international blending in Taipei next year. May the Lord lead them so.

Later, they prepared a dinner for us which we enjoyed and then prayed together and left for our next destination Kohima.

May the Lord recover His testimony in Wokha.

Ministry of the Word to Peren

Peren is the last district in Nagaland we visited in the ministry of the word literature journey. With this visit we have covered all the key towns and districts of Nagaland. In fact, it is inky Nagaland that we thoroughly visited every district for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature. 

Peren is the land dominated by the Zeliangrong Naga tribe. This is also the tribe of which I belong to, by my physical birth, a Rongmei. I did not choose to be one but God made me so. Therefore, I do have feeling for this tribe to be brought to the full knowledge of the truth, especially the Rongmeis who are yet to believe into the Lord Jesus Christ. 

As we were driving towards the town, we passed through Jelukie, a Rongmei inhabited town. After a few miles drive past the town, I checked my Google map and it still showed Jelukie was ahead of us. But, we actually drive past the town. So I told the brother driving the car to crosscheck if we were on the wrong road. To my query, he stopped to check with the car coming behind us. It so happened that the other car driver was his old acquaintance. He then became our guide to the town. Later, he also gave the phone number of the key town Pastor. What a divine intervention even in the apparent mistake made by Google map!

Upon arrival at the town, we called the Pastor who just happened to walk passed by us where we stopped our car. He took us to his house and there, we fellowshipped with him concerning our visit to Peren town. He and his wife were so interested in the ministry books and we discovered a wide door open for the spread of the ministry of the word. The Lord sovereignly led us to him and his house and used him as the beachhead for His move in Peren town.

Later, a good number of brothers and sisters, mostly full time serving ones in the Christian mission came to see the ministry books. Whoever came were caught by the introduction of the ministry books especially the Holy Bible Recovery Version. In fact, everyone of them ended up purchasing the Holy Bible Recovery Version and a good number of selected title books.

We were amazed at the way the Lord led us. We knew nobody in this new place. But the Lord sent His angel through man to lead us to the right people and place. We literally did nothing except to stay in the Pastor's living room, displaying the ministry books, and introducing the riches of the ministry of the word to all who came to check out the books. All the while, enjoying the local tea made by the sister over and over again as we spent time with groups of people coming and going. 

After such a wonderful experience of Christ in His visible leading, we prayed together with our host and left the town at dusk, having fully accomplished our task this time.

Now, we pray for the Lord to speak to all these brothers and sisters through the ministry books unto their enlightenment to even bring them to the full knowledge of the truth.

Lord, bless the Zeliangrong brothers and sisters for Your testimony in Peren!

In God I Trust

Today, the Lord blessed me with a new day and a new year to my human life. My prayer is that if the Lord so wills, He may bless me with a healthy and long life to live and magnify Him. 

Today, I turn forty five in my physical age. If the Lord would allow me to live upto ninety, I have reached the mid of my lifespan. My life is in God's hand. And I fully submit to Him that He may do as He pleases with me. Like Paul, I pray that I could be the factor for the joy and strengthening of the saints as long as the Lord gives me breath in my nostril.

“And being confident of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of the faith,” (Philippians 1:25, RecVer)

Today, the Lord's speaking to me for my life forward is that I am a minister of a new covenant, a minister of the Spirit who gives life. For this, He is the Life supplier, my Source, from which I receive life supply. He has made me a branch 

“Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6, RecVer)

As a minister of the new covenant, my responsibility is to give life. Day by day, I must pay the price to gain the Lord more as my life that I be filled with the Spirit to give to others. In my speaking or in my fellowship with others, I must minster life to others, especially to the weaker ones.

“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask and he will give life to him, to those sinning not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he should make request concerning that.” (1 John 5:16, RecVer)

“And I answered a second time and said to him, What are the two olive branches that are by the side of the two golden spouts, which empty the gold from themselves? And he spoke to me, saying, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, sir. And he said, These are the two sons of oil, who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:12-14, RecVer)

Since to be life supplier is what the Lord called me for, I trust in the Lord to accomplish His commission. "In God I trust" is the banner of my life. Henceforth, to be an ambassador, a minister of the new covenant in the Body of Christ is what my forty five years and forward life will be.

“In God, whose word I praise, In God do I trust, and I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalms 56:4, RecVer)

“In God do I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalms 56:11, RecVer)

The Lord also gave His lovingkindness and faithfulness to be His minister. Though His requirement is that I be a faithful and prudent slave, yet this requirement is being met by His sending forth lovingkindness 

“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, RecVer)

“He sends forth from heaven and saves me; He reproaches him who would trample me; Selah God sends forth His lovingkindness and His faithfulness.” (Psalms 57:3, RecVer)

So, I pray for Him to be gracious to me. 

“Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me; For my soul takes refuge in You; Indeed in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, Until the destruction passes by.” (Psalms 57:1, RecVer)

This is the Lord’s promise for my new year and all the years to follow. May the will of the Lord be done in my life.

Thank you Lord for the new year. Grace me Lord for all the years to come to be Your faithful and prudent slave, Your minister of the new covenant, a minister of the Spirit to minister life to others.

Ministry of the Word to Impur

Today morning, we were considering where to go for the distribution of the ministry literature first, to Impur or to Mokokchung town. As we fellowshipped and considered, we felt to go to Impur first. On our way, we enjoyed a time of prayer together for the Lord’s leading and for His testimony in Nagaland. 

In Impur, there stands the first Baptist Church in Nagaland. It was built in 1896 by the first Christian missionary to the Nagas who came in 1872, Dr. E W Clark.

Here, we first met the Baptist Pastor and introduced the ministry literature. He immediately purchased the Holy Bible Recovery Version. As he invited us to eat lunch with him, we had a time of fellowship, sharing our testimonies and some crucial truth and practices concerning the Christian life and the church life. He very much appreciated the truth we present and the time of fellowship we enjoyed together. Later, we prayed together and left.

Then, we met the Principals of all the three institutions in this mission center; the Nursing School, Bible School, and Higher Secondary School. To my surprise, all these Principals were so interested in the Holy Bible Recovery Version after I introduced to them. They all purchased for themselves and also promised to introduce to others as they found it to be very useful for their understanding of the word of God. 

Step by step, the Lord led us to meet the key people one by one. And further gave us a contact for the Bible College in Mokokchung too, which I personally desire to visit for the purpose of the ministry literature introduction and distribution. 

On our way back, as we stopped by to taste Litchi fruits from its tree, we met the owner of a recreational park who also has a good number of Litchi fruit trees. We befriended him and shared contact phone numbers for future and further communication. He gave us a friendly tour to his garden and park where we enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation. After our day of meetings with the key people in the mission center, the Lord gave us a time of relaxation in this beautiful garden.

After coming back to our resting place, I shared the highlight of our visit to Impur to my brothers as:

Today, we visited the center of Christian works in Nagaland and introduced the ministry literature.

151 years after the gospel was brought to the Nagas, the ministry books was introduced to all the key leaders, the Pastor, the Executive Secretary, and all the three Principals of the Bible College, Hospital and Nursing School, and the Higher Secondary School.

All of them welcomed us and received the ministry books, especially the Holy Bible Recovery Version. 

May the desire of God’s heart to bring them into the full knowledge of the truth be fulfilled!

Ministry of the Word to Mon

The Lord has blessed us for the spread of His Word in Longleng, and further led us to visit Aboi on our way to Mon. Though we intended to avoid this small town of the Konyaks due to bad hilly road, still we ended up in this town through the unknown road we took. Therefore, we met the town Pastor and introduced the ministry literature. He welcomed us, received the ministry literature, and also prayed for our onward journey. 

On the way from Longleng to Mon, we got stuck twice. Once, due to rain and sleepery muddy steep road, we had to literally push the vehicle uphill with all our physical might. And with a little exercise of the body and also of the Spirit, calling upon the Lord’s name, we overcame this little hurdle. Then, we had the risk of fuel running out with no fuel station on the way, yet as we enquired in the villages we passed through, we got a fuel supplier where we filled up our vehicle oil tank, a good 30 litres. This reminds us of the need to be filled in the Spirit all the time, all our life long in our Christian journey. Finally, another hurdle was that our vehicle front left wheel tyre got punctured. We had to stop about an hour to fix this. No problem, we got stuck twice, yet not struck!

When we arrived the main town of Mon, a youth Pastor became our guardian angel to arrange for our hospitality and the places and people we need to meet. We simply rested in the Lord as He us led step by step.

Yesterday, Saturday, morning, we visited the only theological school, Mon Theological College, where a gathering of all the students were arranged for our introduction and distribution of the ministry literature. As my Bible reading portion was, I led the students to sing a song on these verses.

“As the hart pants after the streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and appear before God?” (Psalms 42:1-2, RecVer)

Once we introduced the ministry literature, students thronged the book table and grasps the books, as the deer pants for the water their souls thirst for the word of God! 

We praise the Lord that the Lord brought us here at the right time. Had we come earlier, they would have been on their vacation. The Lord exactly knew on what day and at what time to visit this Bible college and He led us accordingly. 

Later, we also met the committee members of the Konyak Baptist Church. We and the ministry literature we introduced were received with warm welcome. After our introduction and distribution of the ministry literature, they all prayed for us. Later, we also met the Gorkha and Sumi churches' Pastors for the same. Therefore, our burden for this outermost past of Nagaland bordering Myanmar was released. Then, we moved on to another city, Mokokchung. 

May the Lord blessed His children with His words. And may He recover His remnants to bear His testimony.

 

Christ and His Cross for the Church

The ethnic clash that erupted in Manipur on May 3rd does not seem to die down. Despite the Central and State government's attempt to douse the burning state, every attempt seems only to add fuel to the fire. The delaying tactic of the Government only gave time for the two warring communities to attack and kill one another. The longer the delay, the more the casualties. There seems to be no solution to this ongoing ethnic violence. Then, what is the solution? From where will the solution come? And when?

I have friends and brothers from both sides of the communities. I also also heard stories from both sides of their own versions. Each side justify their own deeds and none were willing to take the blame. Slogans, propaganda, and memorandum are being raised from both sides. None admitted to their mistakes, none willing to forgive, and none willing to retreat either. The establishment remains a mute spectator of the devastation causing havoc to the social fabric of the state. Friends turn foes. Where do the situation go from here?

With my little knowledge of the word of God and the few experiences I have of the way of life, I can, for sure, envision a solution. The solution is Christ and His Cross for the genuine Church.

No matter what the government will decide will only lead to troubles as it cannot please both sides. There has to be a compromise and there has to be sacrifices. The state has embroiled itself into a miry clay of confusion with no eminent return to normalcy. It is like walking on the edge of a sharp razor with barefoot, bleeding wherever it turns or whatever step it takes. Even if it stays still, it is and will still bleed. Battleground has be set for civil war with no truce at sight. 

But I still see solution amidst the situation and the dins of war cries. Only if all the parties involved turn to the living God, there is hope. To this, I reiterate, only if all turn to the living God. Especially, all believing brethren must waits on the Lord. I pray that all the professing Christians should first repent and cry out to God for mercy. 

No king is saved by a great army; 

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain thing for salvation, 

And it cannot deliver by its great power.

Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon those who fear Him, Upon those who hope in His lovingkindness, 

To deliver their soul from death 

And to preserve them alive in famine. 

Our soul waits on Jehovah;  He is our help and our shield; For in Him our heart rejoices, Because in His holy name we trust.

May Your lovingkindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, Even as we have hoped in You.

(Psalms 33:16-22, RecVer)

Inward revival of the Christians is the need of the time. Prayer of repentance and forgiveness is the need of the hour. Resetting the goal to the kingdom of God from setting the mind on the visible and earthly things is the urgent need now. For this, I pray for all my fellow brothers in Christ. Only this is the solution. The experience of Christ and His cross is the solution. I pray for the salvation of all the unsaved. And I pray for the wisdom of God to be exercised through all the decision making authorities not to ever again commit blunders. May the God of peace come into the situation and make peace.

The christians brothers must experience Christ and His cross. As God has forgiven us, so must we also forgive. After all, our enemies are not men but Satan behind the sinful men. Love swalloes hatred. Life overcomes death. Light enliven darkness. Christ is love, life, and light.

Lord Jesus, save the people of Manipur. Lord Jesus, save Manipur! 

Ministry of the Word to Longleng, Nagaland

The Lord Jesus loves the Nagas and brought the gospel through consecrated saints over a hundred year ago. By and large, the state has been christianized, especially the Nagas. Yet, the desire of God’s heart is even deeper than just being Christians.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4, RecVer)

In oneness with God and realising His burden, we took upon ourselves the same burden to help our beloved Naga brothers and sisters in Christ to come to the full knowledge of the truth by presenting to them the ministry literature. For this burden, I have toured Nagaland twice in the past and now this time again to cover the districts not yet visited, together with my fellow brethren.

Yesterday morning, we began our trip from Dimapur at about 9 AM by an SUV through Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung, Merangkong, Netnyu and then Longleng. It took us a good 16 hours drive through hills, valleys, and landslide muds. We finally arrived our destination at about 1:30 AM today morning. After our late dinner at about 2 AM, we took rest.

Today, we visited the different churches in Longleng town for the introduction and distribution of the ministry of the word. The Lord was so sovereign in the timing of our visit. We were supposed to come a week earlier but since I needed to go to Cochi for official purpose it was delayed by a week. On top of that, we were supposed to go to Mokokchung and Impur first but after reconsideration we came to this town first. Therefore, we were able to attend the Mid-term meeting of the Phom Baptist churches all over Longleng today that was represented by 55 local churches Pastors. Had we come a week earlier we would have this meeting. Or had we gone to Mokokchung and Impur first, we would also miss this meeting. The Lord knows the best time and He led us as such.

In addition to being warmly welcomed, we were also given time to introduce the ministry literature and also prayed for by all the Pastors present. So, the outreach was wide and covered the entire Longleng district just in one meeting! A good number of Pastors also purchased the Holy Bible Recovery Version, the ministry books, and also invited us for an early dinner with the Christian leaders. After the meeting, we could still visit two more remaining churches and thereby completed the distribution in Longleng!

Our host came to this town just a month ago and stayed in an Ex-MLA's residence. The Lord used this brother who has also been blessed by the ministry books, to host us. In fact, he will leave his job soon for another job. I felt that he came to this city just for the Lord’s move to make a way for us to come and I told him the same, which he readily agreed too. And in this guest house, 13 young people had their singing practice tonight afterwhich we were able to minister the word encouraging all of them to inculcate a spiritual habit of calling upon the Lord’s name, reading His word, and spending time with the Lord in prayer. After all these, we enjoyed yet another sumptuous meal and took rest for the day.

I simply worship the ways of God and the deeds of God that He has sovereignly been showing to us for the sake of His move in Nagaland.

Praise You Lord! Thank You Lord!

I worship You ways, Lord!

Malayalam Literature Service: A New Beginning

For two days, the Lord has been with us in our fellowship concerning Malayalam literature service. Point by point, every matter of fellowship was successfully concluded. Be it director matter or new translator matter, the Lord led us through and through.

In our two days fellowship, the Lord led us to bring in a new serving one upon whom He has impute the burden for serving full-time in the literature service. What impressed me most was how the Lord worked in the hearts and minds of our brothers.

First, this new brother had the burden for serving in the literature service and called up the brother responsible for coordinating in the translation overall. Then, our Malayalam key serving brother has the burden to bring in this new brother into the full-time service. Then, this new brother signed up voluntarily for Malayalam Recovery Version New Testament proofreading work last year. Then, after a year, we met today as we came to fellowship in Cochi.

Besides the circumstantial leading, this brother was still not very clear concerning his service. So when we fellowshipped, I mentioned how the Lord does speak through the Body as in the case of Saul of Tarsus. 

“But rise up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.” 

(Acts 9:6, RecVer)

Then, I shared a testimony of how the Lord takes care of all His serving ones both spiritually and physically too. I fellowshipped with him the vision of serving the living God in the eternal kingdom of God versus serving mammon in Egypt usurped by Satan. And further showed him all the blessings of serving the Lord in contrast to serving Pharoah in Egypt, a slave house. Then, he became very clear and through the fellowship he decided to come in full-time to serve in the literature service. So, in one fellowship the matter was confirmed as it was of the Lord. To me, this is a new beginning in Malayalam literature service.

May the Lord preserve this young brother for His service. May the Lord train and perfect him for the Malayalam literature service. And may the Lord richly bless the literature service for His move among the Malayalam speaking brothers and sisters. Amen.

Journey Within a Journey

“The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship were like the sight of beryl. And the four of them had one likeness; that is, their appearance and their workmanship were as it were a wheel within a wheel. Whenever they went, they went in their four directions; they did not turn as they went.” (Ezekiel 1:16-17, RecVer)

Last Thursday, I was on a flight from Delhi to Cochi. Since the airline prepond the flight timing, I got to sleep only for two hours before I boarded the flight. Generally, I don't sleep during flight, but this time I could not control my sleep. I had a sound sleep in the flight. And also saw a prophetic dream.

I was in a journey where I drove a bus full of people. The road trip was very smooth despite curves, turns, ups and downs. As I was driving I realised that I slept off. But the journey was so smooth. The moment I realised that I was asleep, I forcefully woke up myself. And when I did wake up, I was still safely driving and finally reached our destination.

When I woke up, I was wondering what this dream could be. The Lord gave me it's interpretation later. Apparently, I have been leading the serving ones with me in the literature service. But actually it was the Lord leading us all. The literature journey that I have been undertaking is within the work of the Lord. The Lord as the great Wheel is driving, moving on and on. We, the many serving ones, move along with the Lord in His move. Within His move, we move. Within His great Wheel is our wheel. It really doesn't matter how I drive as long as my driving is within the Wheel. Ultimately, what will lead us to goal is the moving Wheel within which we are moving. Many times I did not even know how things were going on. But all things went on smoothly. Though I seem to look like a blind guide not knowing how I was leading, but the Lord was the actual invisible Leader who has been leading us on and on. In His leading I have been leading. Therefore, we are being led. Hallelujah!

I was so comforted to see this dream. As long as we are in the journey of the Lord, our journey is safe and will definitely reach the goal. As long as my driving is within the great Wheel, everything is all right. For it is the Lord who is the real Driver who leads us to the goal. This is also what I have been enjoying in the literature service the Lord has assigned me with. In the Lord, all is well. My main responsibility is to make sure that I do not veer away from the journey of the Lord. Stay within the Journey and enjoy the journey.

This is a wheel within a wheel of God’s move in His economy. He is the Captain and also my Captain. And we are all safe in our service as we are all in Him. 

Praise the Lord for His move. A wheel within a wheel, a journey within a journey.

Directors' Fellowship

A few moths ago, in our first board of directors meeting for this year, one of the brothers brought the matter of the other director who has not been able to function as director due to ill health and old age. We were considering to fellowship the matter with that director how he felt about his directorship. This was followed by months of prayer and consideration. After a couple of fellowships, it became clear that myself and my co-director functioning actively with me should visit and fellowship the matter with directly. 

Yesterday, we came to Cochi to fellowship with our senior brother on his eighties how he feel about his directorship. We treat this matter as very sensitive and I personally would not dare to fellowship this matter, given a choice. But I had no choice. Therefore, I looked to the Lord for His wisdom how to handle this matter. After much prayer, the Lord gave me peace and spoke to me that everything will be alright. I must just go ahead as fellowshipped by the brothers. Afterall, I am not doing this on my own or out of my own initiation. It all came from the brothers. First, from a senior brother from USA with whom we have been coordinating for the literature for over a decade now. Then, the matter was brought to fellowship with the key brothers serving the work in India. Then, in oneness with the brothers' fellowship and trusting the Lord with much prayer, the fellowship to the concerned director was done.

When we asked our senior brother how he felt about his directorship, he replied in a very open and positive way. Paraphrasing his words, not verbatim:

I feel not to continue with my directorship due to my health and age. Some other brother can come in. But that brother must have been broken and thoroughly dealt with by the Lord. 

This words from my senior brother confirmed the speaking of the Lord within me and also the brothers' fellowship. I deeply respect and honor this brother for such mature words. Deep within, I thank the Lord that He has truly worked on my brother's being. I was witnessing and fellowshiping with a brother who has been transformed and mature in life. O what a glorious fellowship we had! The matter that I thought would be the most difficult for me to handle actually became the easiest. For it was of the Lord and the Lord has gained a person!

Later, I fellowshipped with my co-functioning director that in all our Christian life and service, the most important matter is the person. Once a person is proper, everything is proper. Outward gifts, qualifications, and capabilities are all secondary. The right person is the right channel for the right work.

Later, this brother signed a resignation letter from directorship to give room to a new director whom the Lord will bring in. A smooth transition that we hoped for has become a reality! But this does in no way means the resignation from his function in translation. It only means the release from his official duty of being a director which is also practically difficult for him to function. His service in no way will be affected as he can serve as long as he can and wills to. The Lord is the Lord and He is sovereign over all matters, person, and things. 

May His perfect will be done.

Recovery of Corporate Prayer and Pursuit

Last week, I had a strong feeling that the corporate prayer and truth pursuit that we used to have before the daily office hours be resumed even for those who are not physically present at the Gurugram office. Accordingly, I sent a message to those who used to join before and put them into a group for the weekday's pursuit. When we started such a corporate pursuit, the enjoyment of the word has been much increased. The book for pursuit the Lord burdened me was "The Recovery of God's House and God's City" which was also in line with the current burden in the local churches and the present speaking of the Lord to all the churches. Through such a corporate pursuit I was able to recover my sharing of ministry excerpts to some WhatsApp groups in a way of spiritual food supply.

Once the first book was fully read and pursued, we chose relevant books, "A God Who Hides Himself" and "Christ is All Spiritual Matter and Things". After these books, we will be pursuing "The Gospel of God" and continue to pursue book by book as many as and as long as we can. Such pursuit also serves as a spiritual nourishment to all participants and a food supply to those with whom the excerpt has been shared. This should be a regular practice in the church life.

In fact, it is in this way of pursuit that I could complete the Life-study of the Bible of 1984 messages which took me over eight years and ten months. Day by day, here a little there a little, regularly and continuously, in the course of time, a lot has been gained. It is like little drops of water, dripping continuously and finally filling up the whole vessel. 

I knew the value of truth pursuit, both individually and corporately. Therefore, since the time I came to serve in the literature service, I made it mandatory at least in the Gurugam office for all the serving ones. But not forcing everyone to join, but taking the lead to pursue the truth persistently and opening the pursuit for others to join. I further open up the pursuit to others who may like to join, who are not serving in the office, and also to those who live outside of Gurugram. In this way, a good number of serving ones and saints were also helped in their corporate pursuit of the truth.

Without such a daily regular pursuit, it is not easy to regularly pursue the truth alone. This is a wonderful opportunity for all and it helped me a lot too. This is how we eat and feast on the word of God corporately for our spiritual education, inward constitution, and also for our growth in life unto full maturity.

Language of Judah

Ne 13:23In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab;
Ne 13:24And as for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod; and none of them could speak the language of Judah, but they spoke the language of the respective peoples.
Ne 13:25And I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

When the chosen people of God under captivity for seventy years returned back to Jerusalem their being was just like that of the Babylonians. Except for the fact that they were the children of Isreal, all their inward constitutions and outward behavior were Babylonians. The degradation was to the extent that they even forgot their own language, the language of Judah. What is this language of Judah in today's Christian life? It is the spiritual "culture" we live out in church life today. The practice of the church life is the language of Judah that we speak. This is how we communicate with one another and this is also how we define the truth the Lord has revealed to us. Perhaps, this is also the way we fellowship and go on in our Christian life for the church life. The following is an excerpt from Br. Witness Lee's ministry concerning the new language, the language of Judah.

In the new language of the Lord’s recovery,…incarnation means that God brought Himself into man, mingled His divinity with humanity, and made God and man one entity. This is the new language. To understand that God became a man is easy, but it is more difficult to understand that God brought Himself into man and mingled His divinity with humanity. The mingling of divinity and humanity is the highest interpretation of incarnation. If our understanding of incarnation does not reach this height, we do not know it well…Incarnation means that God mingles Himself with man, making Himself one entity with man. This is deeper than saying that God became a man. 

There are many examples like this of the new language. The highest definition of regeneration is that God has regenerated His people with His divine life, grafting His divine life with the human life to have one living (Rom. 11:17). To be renewed
is to have our mind changed to be Christ’s mind (1 Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5). Christ’s mind with the mingled spirit penetrates our mind, making our spirit the spirit of our mind (Eph. 4:23)…Our spirit is the center of our being, and our soul, the main part of which is our mind, surrounds our spirit. In regeneration the Spirit comes into our spirit to be one with our spirit (1 Cor. 6:17). From that time on, the Spirit, who is mingled with our spirit as one, is waiting for the opportunity to spread into our mind, that is, into our soul. This is renewing according to the new language. 

We all must learn to pick up this new language in the Lord’s recovery…The Lord’s recovery is a new culture. I hope that all the saints will enter into the new vocabulary, the new language and utterance, of this new culture. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 4, pp. 38-39)

I was very much touched when I came across this portion of the ministry. On the one hand, it was a reminder of what kind of church life I have been living, and on the other hand, it was a warning not to forget my spiritual mother tongue, the language of Judah. This language also includes the culture we have been living out in the church life, which I emphasize again and again; the daily morning revival, the daily Bible reading, the daily personal prayer life, and the corporate prayer life of the church or the family. It also includes the shepherding of the saints and new ones, the preaching of the gospel, and participation in training, conferences, and blending meetings. All these comprise the language of Judah.

One Lord's day, I shared the burden on the need to speak the language of Judah to all the saints. We should not and must not forget this spiritual language. This is our lingua franca of the church life. This language must be spoken among ourselves and also be taught to all the children of God. This speaking-living of the language of Judah will enable us to grow in life, blend with one another, and build up with one another for the building up of the Body of  Christ. It is also this language that will prepare the Bride of Christ and bring the Lord Jesus back for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose.

May we always speak the language of Judah and teach others as well.

Helping Hands

It is normal as human beings and especially as Christian brothers and sisters to lend helping hands to one another wherever and whenever the need arises. Within my capacity, I desire to help in whatever way I can to whoever is appropriate to help. For I definitely cannot the devil, but definitely must help the saints.

As usual, a sister and her husband used to come to me every year to help them in filing their income tax through which she also got her TDS back as incentives. I learned to do this for myself when my own CA charged me a hefty amount for a simple filing many years ago. Since then I decided to learn and do filing myself. In fact, I have been filing my own income tax for myself. Now what I have learned has become useful even to other saints. 

Last week, a brother applied for a Taiwan visa but his income tax need to be filed urgently. Out of urgency, I was graced to help him out which enabled him to get his visa. Later, a received calls from two more brothers. I readily helped them out too. But their documents were not complete and certain banking and government matters were not updated. Therefore, it took me hours and hours of my time. In the process, I "waste" my time on them. Yet I also helped them to keep all their banking details, and government documents updated and handy. Meanwhile, a brother also learned how to file income tax for himself. In this way, I was able to lend a helping hand to the brothers in need.

Yes, there definitely was the paying the price of my time. But I was glad that I could help. In a similar manner, I should help needy people more, physically and spiritually.  The more I can help the better. This is also a way of shepherding people in a way of cherishing that one day they can as well be nourished and be saved, and also brought into the church life.

Yet on the flip side, I declined to help an unknown person with his work who requested my help through a gospel friend that I used to help for publishing at least four books. In this case, I felt the person was simply trying to use me. Besides, I was not very peaceful to help him which he could easily do it using a professional instead. I directed him to go get his job done with the professionals. I felt helping that person would be stretching beyond my function and I must also uphold the integrity of the office the Lord has placed me in. So in this case, I peacefully and gently declined. I discerned that it was not proper to help him at all. Moreover, the work can be done easily by paying some price to the professionals who are into publication.

Yes, I extend my helping hands, but not to where I should not and do not have peace from the Lord. My helping hands are within the limit of God's grace. 

Help hands where the Lord leads and not blindly.

Company Matters

Today, a brother and I met our company's CA to consult him on the matter of company affairs. As one serving the Lord in the aspect of the ministry of the word, there are many government formalities that have to be followed. For the sake of the spreading of the word of God, we are registered as a private limited company and are bound by the law of the land. We function like any other private limited company as far as formalities are concerned. But the goal of our company is "to give food at the proper time" to all the children of God through the translation, printing, and distribution of the ministry of the word. 

Of late, one of our co-directors has not been able to join the quarterly board meetings due to ill health and old age. Therefore, we have been considering how to take care of the directors and also plan for new director induction. The execution of all these needs thorough consideration as shares, transactions, filing, and a few other formalities need to be fulfilled. As a serving one, it is my responsibility to make sure that all official things are done properly and at the right time. Yet, to do it, I am taking all precautions and necessary steps to execute all my official duties. 

I do not take things for granted and would like to check, and double check the law of the land with our CA and CS, and also with my co-directors and all the brothers involved.  All important decisions should be taken with utmost care and after much prayer, consideration, and fellowship. For all these matters, I went before the Lord and prayed for the Lord's wisdom and leading. Today, I felt deep within that I should meet our CA together and get his opinion on official matters and then decide on what to do related to directors induction, shares transfer, etc.

This weekend we need to travel for the same matter based on the fellowship of the brothers to fellowship with one of our co-directors to get his feeling about his service. As I told my other co-directors too, I respect this brother who is the seniormost one among us, and the Lord has also used him for the initiation of His move and the introduction of the literature service in India. Even the need to meet him was decided in fellowship with the brothers serving in the work in India. I am glad that I have brothers around me for fellowship and guidance in important matters like this which otherwise will be impossible for me to take any decision, much less take action.

I trust the Lord will lead us through in all these matters for the sake of His testimony and move in India.  In the future, there should be no regret in any decision or action we take today. After all, we are serving the Lord and His interest on this earth. We are just servants serving Him, carrying out what he intends to accomplish in us and through us.

May the Lord bless His move in India even through the literature service.