Listen to the Saints

One time I heard a testimony of a brother who was serving in a country but was not able to go on as he did not know what the Lord was leading him for. In his desperate need, he fellowshipped with a coworker who told him to listen to the saints if he did not know how to lead the saints. Later, he opened up to the saints and listened to the saints. Sure enough, as the brother fellowshipped with him, he got the Lord's leading by listening to the saints.

The Lord is the Head of the Body and He is also the Body of the Head. He leads as the Head and He also leads as the Body of the Head. Therefore, the Lord's leading also comes through the saints in many cases. This time I had a wonderful experience of listening to the saints and knowing the Lord's leading by doing so.

Two weeks ago, we brothers in the church in Gurugram were not able to come together for a proper fellowship due to some brothers unavailability. So, we did not plan anything to make use of the holiday on the 25th Dec. For sure, we do not celebrate the religious ceremony. But we wanted to make use of the day and invite the saints, especially the new ones, for a time of fellowship and gospel preaching. But nothing was decided. Only on the previous Lord's Day, two sisters came to fellowship with the brothers after the meeting enquiring about our plan. We brothers then had an impromptu fellowship over the phone to consider and decide the matter. Therefore, through fellowship over the phone, the matter was decided. Thanks to the sisters who had the leading and led the brother for further fellowship. Through this fellowship, a one-day gospel meeting was arranged and around a dozen new ones turned up for the meeting. 

Two brothers preached the gospel and led the new one to call upon the Lord and two brothers fellowshipped on the matter of Christian living after receiving the Lord. The young people functioned in leading the hymns and serving in practical matters. Though I myself had no plan to participate in any activity, at the end of the meeting, I felt the need to give the conclusion. Therefore, I concluded the gospel meeting and also the fellowship meeting with a word of prayer.

Again, last Saturday, in our brothers' fellowship we made a plan for the year-end meeting on the 31st Dec night. But we were not clear on what we should do on the 1st of Jan 2025 as this is another public holiday that we can make use of. Last Lord's Day, we opened the matter to the saints to consider together as the church. Then, through the fellowship of the saints, the matter was clear that we should conduct a meeting for the church blending and visitation to the new ones' families.

These two experiences the Lord gave to show us how to follow His leading by listening to the saints when we ourselves did not have any leading.  Later, in the night as I was spending time with the Lord in prayer, the Lord gave me some practical details as to how to conduct the meeting. Then, in fellowship with the brothers again, things became very clear and planning was done accordingly. The messages posted for the meetings are below.

Testimony of God’s Blessing, Fellowship and Prayer Meeting

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Date: 31 December 2024

Time: 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Venue: DLF-1 Meeting Hall

Lovefeast Dinner: 7:30 PM to 8:15 PM

Testimony of God’s Blessing: 8:15 PM to 9:30 PM

All saints can prepare to testify the top portion of the blessing of God received in 2024 for 3-5 minutes each.

Fellowship of Burden and Prayer for 2025: 9:30 PM to  10:00 PM

Should any saint wish to stay back for prayer or fellowship, the meeting hall will be open till midnight.

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For those who wish to stay back on 31st Dec., after 10:00 PM.

Tea/Soup Break

Corporate Prayer on Specific Burdens: 10:15 PM to 11:00 PM

Personal Prayer: 11:00 PM to 11:30 PM

Corporate Consecration Prayer: 11:30 PM to 12 Midnight

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Church Blending and Gospel Meeting

Date: 1 January 2025

Time: 12 Noon to 1:30 PM

Lovefeast Lunch: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Please feel free to invite your friends, colleagues, relatives, and new ones and confirm how many will come.

What a blessing to know and live in the reality of the Body life! The Lord speaks and leads  as the Head and also as the Body of the Head. What a precious lesson to learn listiening to the saints! Listen to the saints...

 

Marriage Fellowship

The Lord has finally brought one couple to be in oneness for a proper marriage in the church in Gurugram. We have been praying for many years for the marriages of the single saints in the church, but we were not able to see a breakthrough in this matter. All the proposals we had in the past did not come to fruition due to one reason or the other. With much fellowship, prayer, and consideration we made some proposals but nothing worked out till now. But this time, at least, we can witness a day dawning in the matter of marriage of the saints.

On the 14th of this month, I received an impromptu call from a brother in the church in New Delhi for a visit to the family of a sister in Gurgram for a fellowship on the marriage proposal. Though the sister had been introduced to a brother almost a year ago, the matter was not brought forward until this time as many things transpired in between, even involving the groom-to-be. Now, that things became much clearer, a fellowship was held for the confirmation from the family side for the marriage.

One-and-half-week after, on the 25th of this month, I and my wife along with another couple from Delhi had a fellowship with the family members of the bride and groom-to-be. In this fellowship, the marriage matter was confirmed and the date was fixed. May the Lord lead them through in this matter for the sake of the church and for the Lord's testimony among the young ones. Last Lord's Day, after fellowshipping with the brothers in the church in Gurgram a formal announcement was made for the wedding to be held on the 14th of Feb 2025. 

This matter is significant as this is the first breakthrough in the fellowship in the matter of the marriage of the saints in the church in Gurugram. Now, we pray that the Lord will lead us through and that the marriage can actually happen on the appointed date. Since the matter is a blessing, we also had an open prayer for the couple after the open announcement in the church meeting.

May all the single saints also follow suit that all the unmarried siants can also get married, one by one soon as many of them have crossed their thirties. This for sure will be a sign of the Lord's visible blessing in the church. 

Lord, bless the couple and bless the marriage, head up all the practical arrangements so that the marriage would be a testimony to the saint in the church, especially among the young ones.

Fourth Prison Visit

On the 26th of Dec, along with the saints in the church in Gurugram, we visited the brothers in the prison in Mathura. This was my fourth visit to the brothers. This visit was with an important update for the recent fellowship we had in Chennai. I could not go ahead and execute the fellowship unless I first fellowshipped with my coordinating brother.  

This time, I personally came to fellowship and update important matters related to the official literature service as I fellowshipped with the brothers serving in the work in India last week. This time I updated my brother on the new directors proposed from India. This matter needs to be fellowshipped first for implementing it. Except for the prison wall, I am still serving in oneness with my brother. As usual, I brought whatever important official matters to him and only if we both feel good in oneness and one accord, then only I will take the further step. 

This time, I brought along three saints who came to visit the brothers in the prison for the first time. Since it was my foruth time, I became familiar with the people in the token counter and the street vendors from whom we purchased fruits and drank tea. The imprisonment has almost reached a hundred days now. By now, the saints have accepted the fact and could cope up with the unprecedented situation. The mother and wife of the brothers in the prison were no longer emotionally depressed as before. Gradually, the Lord has been perfecting us to accept His sovereign arrangement. 

Through this situation, the Lord also blended the saints together in maNy practical aspect of the church life. In caring for one another, in physical visits and spiritual prayers, and in bearing the burden for the Lord's testiomny together in North India. Everywhichway, the Lord is gaining us and building us up together in Him, unto His glory.

We still continue to pray for the brothers' release and for the strengthening of His move in North India.

Fellowship with Literature Serving Ones

Whenever I visited Chennai, I used to spend time with the serving ones for a time of fellowship, following the Lord's leading on what to fellowship. This time too, I had one morning time with all the serving ones on the 20th of Dec. In the last visit, through the fellowship, the office ceiling was renovated and health insurance for all the serving was purchased. 

This time, I fellowshipped with them on the faithfulness required of serving ones in their service to the Lord. I encouraged all of them to be so exercised in their spirit that they would be found faithful by the Lord, especially in taking care of their official duties. Each serving ones needs to record their daily work schedule and serve at least eight hours a working day. In this regard, the exercise of the conscience plays a vital role in the service. I also touched on the matter of every serving one to be faithful to practice the God-ordained way of preaching the gospel. In the South, the state is still very open to the gospel unlike in the North.  So, I encouraged all of them to actively participate in the church gospel preaching, home meetings, group meetings, and the church life in general. Every serving one should be a pattern to the saints. I also mentioned the need to recover their weekly truth pursuing, prayer, and fellowship which they all agreed to do once a week on Wednesdays, and gradually consider increasing the frequency.

This time too, I met the new brother who came to serve in the literature service as a result of the previous visit to his family for fellowship. As the Lord leads, he has been brought into the service. I also had a personal time with a brother whom I had borne in my heart to preserve him in his service despite the serious case that was brought against him in the past. The Lord has been merciful to him and he has been gradually recovered through much prayer, fellowship, and shepherding. I pray that the Lord will preserve him to be faithful to the end.

I regard all the serving ones and honor their portions the Lord has apportioned to each one of them. I also mentioned that I serve in coordination not as a "boss" to his "subordinates' but as a coworker serving in the Body in the publication work for the Lord's move. Therefore, I serve in the principle of mutual trust and respect. In this way, we serve in the Body in coordination, faithful to the Lord in each one's function. 

Lord, bless all the serving ones in Chennai office for the ministry of the word!

Shepherding a Brother

A brother has been calling me now and then for fellowship. As a brother, I did my best to shepherd him whenever he called. This time, since I came down to Chennai, I informed him about the possibility of meeting up and also introducing him to the brothers in the church life in Chennai. But, I left the matter to the Lord and let the Spirit do His work. 

When I was actually available to meet, I did not receive a positive response from him and I could not sense that he was indeed serious or eager to fellowship. Therefore, I did not wish to force myself into meeting him. Instead, I gave him the choice to decide on his own. Only if he was willing would I pay the price to meet him. I left the matter to the Lord. Once my fellowship with the brothers in Chennai ended, I waited for him to make the call.

Since I did not receive a response within the time frame I gave him, i.e., before lunchtime on the 19th Dec, I decided to cancel the meeting and go to a brother's house for hospitality. Only when I reached my accommodation, he called me. Only then, I made the decision to meet him.

We eventually met at a lake he proposed to meet at about an hour's drive amidst the city traffic. Then, we spent time together at a nearby coffee house for fellowship over a cup of coffee. We had about two hours of fellowship, especially on his marital issue, and prayed together. I spoke what I felt was needed to be spoken. I was specific in letting him know that the soul-life has to be denied, the self has to be dealt with and follow the Lord. The soul life has been a great hindrance for many to progress spiritually. The soul life also has been a major issue in his marital issues. Only the mercy of the Lord can lead him through in his matter. I recognized that I was not the one to lead anybody, therefore, I deferred every decision he needed to take by sincerely seeking the will of the Lord in everything about his life, especially his marital issue. Though my fellowship with him may be a little sour and I had to let him know that his soul life need to be dealt with, he also felt a little uneasiness with the fellowship I had with him. I felt that was what he needed at the moment. I cannot be a man-pleaser. I must speak what needs to be spoken without fear. At one point, I even told him to his face that his ego, his self, needs to be dealt with by the cross of Christ. Only when the will of the Lord is made clear, He can follow the Lord's leading step by step.

After this fellowship, I said goodbye to him. Since he is a believer himself, I did not feel the need to follow him up and coerce him for anything. Let the will of the Lord be done in his life. Until he takes a further step for further fellowship, I decided not to interfere in his matter again. I leave him to the Lord.

This is a lesson for me too. To be faithful to the truth and not be a man-pleaser.  May the Lord shepherd my brother and gain him fully for His purpose.

Brothers Fellowship in Chennai

Our God is the moving Triune God! He moves in the midst of the world's chaotic situation, often clubbed with persecution, especially in North India these days. His move can neither stop nor be hindered. Our responsibility on the earth is to be one with Him in His move. In fact, the stronger the opposition to His move, the stronger and swifter His move becomes. For He is God, and He is good at being God. Hallelujah!

From the 17th of Dec tilt the 19th, the brothers serving in coordination in India came together for a three-day fellowship on the Lord's move in India specifically. Day by day for three days we came together for prayers and then fellowship on some practical points. In between, a senior brother fellowshipped on the burden the Lord has imparted to him for all of us. So for three days, we had a bl; blessed time of prayers, fellowship, and blending. What a joy and blessing indeed for brothers to be oneness! The outward situation in India just proved the inward move of the Lord in, among, and through all of us brothers. Praise the Lord!

In this fellowship, I also brought the point for the new directors from India. Though I proposed two young brothers who have been in my consideration for years now, they are still to go through many learning and lessons in life until they are fully prepared by the Lord to bear the responsibility of shouldering the publication work together with me and the brothers serving in coordination. In fellowship, two new brothers from India who also have been coordinating in the Lord's move were proposed to be the new directors from India. 

Following this fellowship, I updated the brothers on the publication work in the USA, and also my coordinating brother who is still in prison at the present time. I confirmed the directorship to the brothers and will further proceed with the formal registration of their directorships. 

Other practical needs of the present time were also fellowshipped in responses to the current political situation in India. All that I can testify is that God is still on the throne and He is executing His work through us on the earth.

Lord, bless Your move in India!

Third Visit to Prison

Today, along with the saints in the church in Gurugram, we visited the brothers in the prison in Mathura. This was my third visit to the brothers. Though the brothers have not been released yet, we all still continue to pray for them day by day. 

This time, I personally came to fellowship some important matters related to the official literature service as I will be fellowshipping with the brothers serving in the work in India in the coming week. I felt it best to bring the matters to fellowship with my coordinating brother first before I presented it to other brothers. Except for the prison wall, I still felt that I am still serving in oneness with my brothers. As usual, I brought whatever official matters to him and only if we both feel good in oneness and one accord, then only I will take the further step. My brother has been my completer like "the Urim and the Thummim." What a blessing to serve in coordination!. What a grace not to be able to make any crucial decisions without fellowshipping with the one the Lord has ordained for me!

Today, I also brought to my brother the person I have been considering for a new director to be brought into the literature service. I have been carrying this burden for many years now, and today I revealed it to my brother. I mentioned to the other board of directors some months ago. But to move forward with this proposal, I still need to fellowship with the brothers serving in the work in India. 

Though I fellowshipped what has been in my heart, I do not stick to it. I leave the matter open to the fellowship of the brothers and let the Lord make the final decision through the brothers. Even in this matter, I am willing to give it up. 

In fact, the Lord also made known to me the other day during my prayer time that I completely leave the matter for fellowship. Though I may mention it, I must not stick to it. May the perfect will of the Lord be done.

One good news that I heard from the brothers is that, so far, three prisoners have heard the gospel, called upon the Lord's name, believed into the Lord Jesus Christ as the true and living God, and accepted Him as their personal Saviour right there inside the prison. In all the cases, once these inmates believed into the Lord, they got bail the next day.  What a sovereign arrangement of the Lord!

I don't know how long the brothers be imprisoned and how many more visits I need to make, but one thing is sure, Jesus is Lord!

Praise the Lord! Christ is Victor! The gates of Hades cannot prevail against the church built by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Self, My Self

These days, I have been so much enlightened by the Lord concerning my "self." Never have I seen such a revelation as I saw these days. Though I vaguely knew that my self was the greatest hindrance to my growth in life and my self was my greatest enemy, I was not very clear who this self really was. Had I been clear, I would not have been offended by anybody or anything. My experience proves that I have been offended a couple of times and that too, not because of the "offenders" per se, but my self, the offended one. It was just the reaction of being misled when being touched. The truth is, the Lord wanted to deal with me, my natural man, and sovereignly used people, especially brothers and sisters, to perfect me. When being dealt with my being was not able to take the pain. Therefore, the offense.

Having seen this vision of the self, I still dare not claim that I will never be offended. For, to see is one thing and to be dealt with is another thing. Having seen the vision of the self is a mere knowledge. Now, I must experience the dealing of my self through the operation of the cross by the Spirit. I need grace upon grace to learn the lesson of the cross and be dealt with thoroughly until I can truly say, "No longer I but Christ." (Gal. 2:20)

The Lord Jesus has given me a powerful key to deal with my self. That is, deny the self!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever loses his soul-life for My sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:24-25, RecVer)

From experience, I can testify that even to deny the self was not an easy matter. The Lord’s grace and life supply are needed to deny the self. The self is the motivating factor for the work of the flesh. Only by the Spirit's can I truly deny my self.

For if you live according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13, RecVer)

This has been my desperate prayer these days that by the Spirit I may put the practices of the body to death. Then, the Lord’s word will become true to me in experience. 

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30, RecVer)

The best way I know for my self to decrease is by denying my self. The HWMR portion on the message, The Exercise of the Kingdom for the Building Up of the Church, has been the Lord's timely speaking to me.

The self is the soul declaring independence from God.

The following are some expressions of the self:

1. With the self there are ambition, pride, and self-exaltation—Matt. 20:20-28; 1 Pet. 5:5; Rom. 12:3; Num. 12:1-10; 16:1-3; Phil. 2:3-4.
2. With the self there are self-righteousness, self-justification, and exposing, criticizing, and condemning others—Matt. 9:10-13; Luke 18:9-14; 1 Pet. 4:8; John 3:17; 8:11; Luke 6:37; Matt. 7:1-5.
3. With the self there are introspection and self-despising—S. S. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 12:15-16.
4. When we are in the self, we can be offended by the church, the leading ones, or the saints— Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26; Col. 3:13.
5. With the self there are disappointment and discouragement—cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. :1.
6. With the self there are self-love, self- preservation, self-seeking, and self-pity—Matt. 13:5, 20-21.
7. With the self there are murmurings and reasonings—Exo. 16:1-9; Phil. 2:14.
8. ith the self there is natural affection (friendship) based on natural taste and preference—Matt. 12:46-50; Phil. 2:2b; 1 Cor. 12:25.
9. With the self there are the matters of being opinionated and dissenting—John 11:21, 23-28, 39; Acts 15:35-39; cf. 1 Cor. 7:25, 40.
10. When we are in the self, we are individualistic and independent—16:12.

If we exercise the key of denying the self to lock up the self, it is impossible for us to be offended; blessed are those who are not offended—cf. Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60:

1. If we can be offended, it is proof that we are full of self.
2. If my self has been locked up, I will not be offended no matter what you do to me or how you treat me—Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60.

We need to learn to exercise the key of denying the self to lock up the self in every situation:

1. Whether a situation is for us or against us, whether the brothers love us or hate us, we must lock up the self—2 Cor. 12:15.
2. If the self is locked up, the church will be built up.

What a mercy that the Lord showed me my self! All the offenses due to my self have been made void due to this revelation on my self. I praise the Lord for His speaking. I thank the Lord for His wisdom in dealing with me using my beloved brothers and sisters in the church life. O what a grace, o what a mercy. May my self be ever denied! May the Lord grace me to deny my self all the time, all the days of my life.

Investiture Ceremony 2024

Today, we were invited to attend our children's school program by the school as our daughter was felicitated as School Captain for a house, and our son was compering for the ceremony. This was one of the many school programs that we have attended.

The Lord has been merciful to us and He has been gracing all our children to do well in their academic life along with many extracurricular activities they have been participating in. My sole focus for my children's education is to prepare them for the Lord’s use. As a father, my one goal for education is, to become a useful vessel to the Master (God). Life's only one purpose is to fulfill God's only one purpose for this one life He gave. 

If therefore anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, useful to the master, prepared unto every good work. (2 Tim 2:21)

As Moses and Paul were trained and prepared sovereignly by the Lord even before they were called to serve, so all those who know their God will also prepare themselves and their children for God's divine purpose one day. On the one hand, it was God who chose, and on the other hand, it is also men who prepare themselves and make themselves available for God's purpose. This coordination between God and man will carry out God's purpose.

And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in his words and works. (Acts 7:22, RecVer)

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city and trained at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the strictness of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today. (Acts 22:3, RecVer)

Since the education system itself is under the usurping hand of Satan, as a family, we pray every day for our children's education. For the lord to cover and protect them from all the attacks of the enemy while praying for their learning and education to the highest degree. So far, the Lord has been gracious to our children and they have been doing well in their studies. I hardly have to coerce them to study as they all have been faithful to their studies. On the contrary, I have to stop them from studying late into the night. Besides, they have been constantly pressured by the school itself for all kinds of homework on a daily basis in addition to the many other school activities. I dare not put an extra load on them. I felt whatever the school gave them for their studies was more than sufficient. Besides that, I leave all our children to the wise Master-builder's hand as He gifted Hiram for the building up of His temple in Jerusalem. 

He was the son of a widow and of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; and he was full of wisdom and understanding and skill to do all kinds of work in bronze. And he came to King Solomon and did all his work. 1 Kings 7:14

On top of all these, we as parents, commit all our children to God and pray for them every day. And teach them when the need arises in the way of life. I personally have been doing this by helping my children to pray daily. I have been spending time with my son for a time with the Lord as my wife has been doing with our daughter. This is the best that we can do, and we leave the rest to God.

Lord, gain all our children; train and perfect them to be useful vessels to You!

Brewing Hebrew

Learning Hebrew has rejuvenated my mental ability to study and grasp new knowledge even when I am a father of three children. Safe for the grace of God, it would be impossible at worst, and be a herculean task at best, to learn a new language, in fact, the oldest language in the history of the world. It took me a lot of time to study and understand the grammatical rules and language structure of Hebrew. After months of studies in the midst of my busy official work and church life, the Lord has been gracing me time to learn and learn. Till the midterm exam that I gave on the first week of December 2024, I had revised the 8 lessons in 7 units at least four times each. I would not do a haphazard work. Once I was determined to do a thing, I gave my best shot always. And the Lord graced and blessed me in my studies.

To my surprise, the Lord still gives me good mental health to be able to study well. I feel as fresh as when I was a student some twenty-five years ago. Now, putting on a student's head after a long long gap refreshes my mind so much. In fact, I have been encouraging the young people and my own children in their studies. Not to boast, but as a testimony and an encouragement, I even testified to them that I was able to score cent percent in some of my exams and maintained an average score above ninety percent. I myself did not imagine that I would be studying so hard at this age, and also would be scoring this percentage. 

When I enrolled for the class, my concern was mainly to stay put and keep sailing on with an average mark good enough to continue to study as the course progressed. But, I became much more serious than what I thought, and spent much more time than what I expected, and also got more marks than what I imagined. I believe there is a purpose for me to study Hebrew. It may not be fully clear as yet, but the Lord has a definite purpose. I am not a translator, but there is a reason why I learned Greek a few years ago, and why I am learning Hebrew now. Perhaps, the Lord is preparing me for what He wants to use me in the future for. Perhaps among the Christian and scholarly community one day? This is just my guess. The Lord knows the best. Therefore, my Hebrew learning is for the Lord's purpose, and I will give my full cooperation to the Lord. 

I have been brewing Hebrew these days and trust the Lord that it will be fully brewed.

May the will of the Lord be done. Amen.

Blending, Blending...

Last Lord's Day, the 8th of December, we had our first combined Lord's Table meeting of the churches in NCR. In fact, this was also the first big meeting after the prosecution of the churches in North India took place in Mathura and affected the churches in North India very much. Till date, some saints are still in an anxious and depressed mode, especially the family members of the brothers in confinement. Despite all the circumstances sovereignly allowed by the lord, the Lord also led us deeper and higher to walk with Him carrying our cross and following Him faithfully denying our self. 

The burden for such a meeting is for blending, blended with shepherding, for our growth in life for the building up of the Body of Christ. The Lord also released His heart's desire for all of us, giving us the way to grow in life in the midst of persecution, suffering, and afflictions. On top of all these, enjoying the Triune God to the fullest extent possible is the main goal of God. 

The recent up-to-date speaking of the Lord also matched the burden we bear today. The epistles of Peter speak about judging, trials, and grace under the government of God. But the focus is not on judgment, trials, or grace per se, but the enjoyment of the Tirune God in the midst of all sufferings and persecution for the growth in life that issues in the building up of the Body of Christ and will ultimately consummate the New Jeruslaem.

For what glory is it if, while sinning and being buffeted, you endure? But if, while doing good and suffering, you endure, this is grace with God. (1 Peter 2:20, RecVer)

Some crucial Bible verses of fellowship in the meeting were on endurance. We all can endure whatever the Lord allows us to go through. For, the source of real endurance is not from ourselves but from the Lord.

Endurance In Jesus: I John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation of John 1:9, RecVer)

Endurance  In the Word: Because you have kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial, which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth. (Revelation of John 3:10, RecVer)

Endurance In the Love of Christ: And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the endurance of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5, RecVer)

Endurance In the Body of Christ: Rejoice in hope; endure in tribulation; persevere in prayer. (Romans 12:12, RecVer)

As Christians, we have been called to suffer.  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered on your behalf, leaving you a model so that you may follow in His steps; (1 Peter 2:21, RecVer). But, we are also being shepherded by our Shepherd. For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25, RecVer). Therefore, we endure our sufferings and are shepherded by the Lord causing us to grow in life to full maturity!

By the way, this day, the 8th of December, also is our youngest daughter's eleventh birthday. After the blending meeting, we had a family time together at our children's favorite restaurant. This was a good way of shepherding our children once in a while. While we had the churches blending, we also enjoyed our own family blending. 

Blending, blending, is the way to shepherd one another.

Living a Hidden Life

The Lord Jesus lived a hidden life. He was a wonderful pattern of the one who lived a hidden life of prayer. He used to go up to the mountain to pray alone with the Father (Mattew 14:23). This kind of hidden life is the principle of the kingdom life. Therefore, He taught us to do all our righteous deeds in secret, made known only to the Father who sees in secret. Even in doing these righteous deeds, one has to do so with a poor spirit and pure in heart (Matthew 5:3,8).

These days, I have personally been enjoying the ministry of the word. The Lord specifically has been speaking to me to live a hidden life. By nature, I love to be manifested especially while doing good and righteous deeds. The Lord in His mercy had to rebuke me and perfect me to learn this lesson of living a hidden life. He did so by using my fellow brothers with whom I have been coordinating the Lord's work in this country. I have been especially graced to be surrounded by brothers who can correct me and perfect me when the need arises. I have even been more graced to be able to receive the fellowship of the brothers. This requires much grace to put myself to death and gradually learn the lesson of bearing the cross. Thank the Lord for His mercy in perfecting me to live a hidden life.

The Lord has also been revealing to me the benefits of living a hidden life. Some crucial points that help me much are below:

Living a hidden life is a good way of dealing with myself and my natural man. The egoist self often tries to lift up his ugly head when doing good deeds. Learning to live a hidden life is a big blow to the self. In fact, a good way to crucify the flesh and its natural "good" showing off desire. This also is walking the pathway of the cross. This is the deduction of the self for the progress in life.

Living a hidden life nurtures the seed of the divine life and prepares the environment for the growth in life. This is a healthy way of growing in life. Just as a seed can grow in good soil freed from hidden stones and manifested thorns, a hidden life strengthens the growth in life of the believers. This also enables one to harbor secret experiences and enjoyments of Christ, thereby accumulating the riches of Christ for growth unto full maturity.

Living a hidden life also strengthens our fellowship with the Father, though our relationship with Him has also been firm. The more hidden the life within, the more the deeper the experience of the Father's divine life will be. This will cause the root of our spiritual life to grow deep. All deep and strong roots are hidden. Just as the strength of a tree is in the depth of its root, so the strength of our spiritual life is in the depth of our hidden life with the Father. Then, with these deep experiences of the divine life, we can render help to anyone genuinely and deeply. Deep calls unto deep (Ps. 42:7).

Living a hidden life will produce a pure and beautiful spiritual life that can recover, revive, and make other buds and be renowned. 

I will be like the dew to Israel; He will bud like the lily and will send forth his roots like the trees of Lebanon. His shoots will go forth; And his splendor will be like that of the olive tree, and his fragrance, like that of the trees of Lebanon. Those who sit under his shade will return; They will revive like grain and will bud like the vine; His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. (Hosea 14:5-7, RecVer)

With this hidden life, we must also remember to fellowship with the needy saints when the Lord so allows. Yes, our experiences of the Lord must be kept secret, but when the need arises, we must be able to minister our enjoyment and experiences of Chstia as life to the members of the Body in need. In the Body of Christ, we are all members. We must care for one another and fellowship with one another. Just like Paul did in 2 Cor. 12:1-4 when he eventually shared his experience of the third heaven fourteen years after the incident. That too, when the believers needed to hear such word of living testimony for the sake of the truth and for the shepherding of the members of the Body of Christ.

Lord, grace me day by day, to live a hidden life and grow in life unto full maturity.

Contrary to the Wind

Due to the ongoing case against our brothers for the sake of the gospel, things have become more and more complicated for the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the Lord is the Lord and He knows how to be the Lord in times like this. Since the intensification of the persecution in North India due to the recently amended bill in one of the states, we have faced two arrests already. These also indicate what the Lord intends to do in our midst at this time. We need to adapt to the outward changes and exercise ourselves to follow the Lord as He leads the way.  Therefore, changes began to happen in the Lord's move. One significant change is concerning the risk involved in the publication work in India with two of our brothers being on board for the publication entity. A few weeks ago a brother asked this question. My innate feeling at that time was that there would always be a risk and that we should be bold enough to face the risks for the sake of the Lord. However, I prayed that the Lord's will be done. If the Lord's will is to face the risk, let's face it. And if the Lord's will is to make adjustments, let us adjust. Sometimes, He leads through the environment. Therefore, I replied to the brother that I would fellowship with the brothers serving in the work in India and get back. After fellowshipping with the brothers serving in the work, the fellowship was to let our brothers abroad know that there indeed is a risk and that they could take the final call. Today morning, I received a reply from one of the brothers coordinating with us from abroad a co-director of the entity, about his intent to resign because of the risk due to the present political and religious environmental situation in India. I was deeply disappointed and distressed initially. I did not know how to even reply to the message. But I looked to the Lord and prayed that His will may be done. Everything is in the Lord's hand, and I fully submit to His sovereign arrangement. 

As usual, as we pursued the ministry portion which was ministered by Br. Watchman Nee about a hundred years ago, I was so much supplied and strengthened. The excerpts from the ministry portion are below, it speaks for itself, and I highlighted those sentences that mean so much to me. O what a timely speaking of the Lord even at this crucial juncture! The Lord is the living Lord.

The most important task for each of us is to put ourselves into God’s hand in a quiet, patient, prayerful, consecrated, and obedient way and wholeheartedly seek after His leading. We should be willing to obey Him and act only in accordance with His will. We should pray that He reveal to us the journey He has designated for us. After this, we should pay any price to wholeheartedly walk on it.

And when evening fell, the boat was in the midst of the sea and He was alone on the land. And seeing them distressed as they rowed, for the wind was contrary to them, He came toward them about the fourth watch of the night, walking on the sea, and He intended to pass by them. (Mark 6:47-48, RecVer)

If the journey which many Christians take is not contrary to the wind, I doubt whether such a journey is ordained by the Lord. We should take the journey that the Lord has ordained. The Lord has already ordained our place on the earth. He said, “The world hates you.” Our journey is one that is contrary to the wind. If we have never been opposed, ridiculed, or persecuted by the world, our position must not have come from the Lord. We should encounter adverse wind; we should not run with the wind. If we walk according to what the Lord has ordained, from the northeast to the southwest, there certainly will be adverse wind. Otherwise, I have doubts about our journey.

“And seeing them distressed as they rowed, for the wind was contrary to them”! Faithful believers experience being distressed as they row, for the wind is contrary to them! In the past few years, temptations have become more numerous and severe than before. Those who belong to the Lord seem to encounter much trouble. Their bodies are often weak and ill. There are often discord and difficulty in their families. Their jobs and living are not as easy as before. Their community and country have increasingly persecuted and attacked them. Even more, Satan and the evil spirits have done their best to stir up trouble with the intention of consuming and afflicting the believers. Oh, these are all adverse winds! If we stand firmly on the course which the Lord has ordained, we will realize that the wind is contrary and indeed distressing!

Yet we would rather be distressed than drifting. We would rather toil in rowing than wander in drifting. We would rather take the difficult journey than take the easy path and drift.

If a person has never experienced adverse winds, he is most pitiful! If a person has never reckoned that the world is bitter, corrupt, and can persecute people, this person has never started his journey! You will encounter hardship and realize that the wind is contrary only when you are faithful in your walking. Only then will you hear a voice telling you, “It is too hard. Why not loosen up a little and rest a moment?” 

He knows how great our temptations are and how difficult our circumstances are. He will not let us endure beyond the fourth watch. When the night is far advanced, He comes to us. He has died for us and ascended to the heavens to pray for us. At the same time, He sees our hardship. When the night is far advanced, He will come. Excerpt from The Present Testimony (3) CWWN, vol.10, THE LAST PART OF THE JOURNEY Issue No. 24

What a timely speaking of the Lord! As I shared this message, I also mentioned how much I was supplied by His timely speaking. 

This morning, I was very much shepherded by the ministry portion that we pursued. Even after 100 years, the ministry still speaks and supplies, that too, in a very timely manner.

Praise the Lord the ministry of the word!

Our lives on earth as we follow the Lord according to His leading is indeed contrary to the wind. But He will lead us to the end and He will come again very soon. Come, Lord Jesus!

Shepherding Our Next Generation

And you shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I command you today, shall be upon your heart; And you shall repeat them to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you journey on the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up; (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, RecVer)

The command of Jehovah God is to love Him with all our being. The command of Jehovah further is to repeat the command of God to our children. Yes, we must love the Lord. Much more, we must be a pattern to our children that they can love God even as we do, even more than we do. The responsibility of raising the children is not in the hands of the church in general, but each parent must bear this burden. Timothy is a pattern of one who grew up in his home filled with the word of God.

And that from a babe you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15, RecVer)

A good and healthy practice in a family is to repeat the word of God to all our children by having a daily family meeting where the word of God is read and prayers offered together. Daily family prayer life is one key factor in shaping our children's future. This meeting should be interesting to the children. The focus of this meeting is on the children. Everything should be done with love and the meeting should lovingly attract the children. Nothing should be forced on them to join the meeting. It should be done with love and the children should be happy and joyful to join the meeting willingly. Otherwise, it will create a negative impact on the children and they may veer away from the truth later in life. On the one hand, a family meeting is necessary. On the other hand, the children should not be forced to attend the meeting. But the parent must take care of the meeting in such a way that it becomes so interesting for the children. And that they all can function in this meeting. 

In our family life, the Lord has been gracing us to enjoy our daily family prayer time since ehte very beginning of my family life. Now, we have clubbed our family meeting with the Life-study meeting and the church's short corporate prayer at the end. This has been one of the blessings added to our church life and family life this year!

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Jehovah by doing righteousness and justice, that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken concerning him. (Genesis 18:19, RecVer)

We and our children, and our Children's children should continue to love the Lord and serve the Lord. 

And Israel served Jehovah throughout all the days of Joshua and throughout all the days of the elders whose days extended after Joshua’s and who knew all the work of Jehovah that He had done for Israel. (Joshua 24:31, RecVer)

But there is also a negative situation that we should be warned of, as revealed in this verse.

And all that generation as well were gathered to their fathers; and another generation, who did not know Jehovah or the work that He had done for Israel, rose up after them. (Judges 2:10, RecVer)

There may be the possibility of losing our next generation to the world. The decline of this age may affect our young ones, especially with the new technologies, selfie for example is a distraction to love and promote the self.  These are the things we have to be careful with our children. As an anti-testimony, we have to show them by example, loving the Lord and not the world.

Now, that the Lord is coming soon, we have to help our children be prepared to meet the Lord. One way is to help them develop a personal relationship with the Lord. We must help them to have a deep and strong spiritual root so that they would not be shallow in their understanding of the truth or in their experiences of life. One thing the Lord has been burdening me with is to shepherd the young ones in my locality to love the Lord more and more, to love the word of God more and more, and to spend time with the Lord more and more, even in fasting and prayer. I have done my best to my family members, and my children to inculcate this habit of daily Bible reading and prayer life. By the Lord's mercy, my children have gradually picked up this burden and habit. The same I have done to the college students. Gradually, I could see a lot of improvement in their personal relationship with the Lord. Time and again, I would repeat this burden to all the young ones. I would follow them up, and encourage them to go on in the Lord. I know, by repeatedly encouraging and showing them with a living pattern, the Lord will impress them and burden them. And one day, they will be established in their spiritual life and be a pattern to others. 

In love, we must also care for their future, academic as well as spiritual future. We must love our children and spend time with them, listen to them, understand their situation, and speak forth Christ with experiences, nurture them, discipline, and admonish them with the goal of letting them know that God blesses us with all things and let learn how to thank the Lord for everything. We should spend time with them to help them have a proper conscience too. Help them learn to confess their sins whenever they commit sins, and repent for their sinful deeds. In this way, they will be preserved by the Lord.

Tonight, in the parent and serving ones meeting of the churches in India for the teenagers and young ones, we have learned and fellowshipped on the above practical points.  May the Lord bless all the serving ones and parents to be a pattern to all the young ones. May the Lord preserve all the young ones to be a generation who love and serve the Lord, even to meet the Lord if the Lord comes back in their generation.

Entering into the Kingdom!

The Lord has already spoken concerning persecution when we follow Him. The same has been experienced by the saints in the churches in North India these days. There have been persecutions all around. In the midst of all these persecutions, the Lord also speaks and intensifies His move. The last week's Life-study portions were mostly on persecution and how to fact it boldly in the Lord, not denying the Lord.

Mt 10:32Everyone therefore who will confess in Me before men, I also will confess in him before My Father who is in the heavens;

Mt 10:33But whoever will deny Me before men, I also will deny him before My Father who is in the heavens.

The Lord knows best why His believers have to face persecution. He uses it for His testimony and for the spreading and preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God. He even foretold that in the face of persecution, one should not be anxious for the Spirit in the believers will do the necessary speaking.

Mt 10:16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be therefore prudent as serpents and guileless as doves.

Mt 10:17And beware of men, for they will deliver you up to sanhedrins, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.

Mt 10:18And you will also be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

Mt 10:19But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you should speak, for it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;

Mt 10:20For you are not the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is the One speaking in you.

As we were reading the Life-studies, I also could sense that at least three sisters with their relatives being from the gentile family background have been going through persecution. The Lord burdened me over and over again to strengthen the points on the need to be absolute for the Lord no matter what or how strong persecutions or oppositions may be from the enemy.

Mt 10:36And a man’s enemies will be those of his household.

Mt 10:37He who loves father or mother above Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me;

Mt 10:38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Mt 10:39He who finds his soul-life shall lose it, and he who loses his soul-life for My sake shall find it.

In the midst of all these, the Lord also is working on a sister to gain her. She was first introduced to me by a brother and then by another sister. The first time I met her, the only thing I could speak to her was, to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and help her to know the Lord Jesus Christ and believe into the Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of faithfulness to the truth of the Bible, I also shared the truth concerning baptism right away as mentioned in Mark 16:16. But I left the choice to her; for her to pray, consider, and take her own decision at her own time. But I encouraged her to pray and read the Bible daily, and also join the fellowship and meeting of the saints. She has been regularly joining the daily Life-study pursuit since then, and also the Lord's Day meeting. 

Last week too, as we enjoyed studying the message on the kingdom of God, one point was very clear to her; the unique way to enter into the kingdom of God is through regeneration, to be born of the Spirit, and also of water (baptism).

Jn 3:3Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jn 3:5Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

I do believe, the Lord spoke to her strongly because I could sense that she was really touched as I led the saints in pursuing the truth last Lord's Day. Deep within me, I realized that the Lord would lead her to make her own decision to be baptized. For, she has already believed into the Lord Jesus Christ. A few days later, I received a message saying that she wanted to be baptized. I praise the Lord for leading her to make this decision on her own. At the same time, I look to the Lord for wisdom so that we may know how to help her fulfill God's word concerning baptism in the midst of persecution going on in the region where we are residing. I prayed and brought the matter to the brothers in Gurugram and also in New Delhi. After confirmation from the brothers, I have an inward peace from the Lord to go ahead and baptize her. Meanwhile, personally, and in the church, strong prayers have been offered. The whole church prayed for her baptism in the prayer meeting, in our family prayer, and in my personal prayer. Today, as she came prepared for baptism, the church prayed for her again. After lunch, we had a session on looking into the Scriptures concerning believing and baptism with all the relevant Bible verses. And with strong prayers, the sister was baptized! Hallelujah!

May the Lord continue to work in our sister so that she may grow in the divine life day by day unto full maturity. May she even become a beacon of life and a channel of blessing to all her family members who are yet to be saved!  Praise the Lord for the Lord's move in North India.

Living in the Reality of the Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God is the realm of divine life and divine species. It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself sown as a Seed into the believers, growing and developing into a realm over which God can rule. The kingdom of God is where God has His rule and reign, where God is expressed, and where God is represented. In fact, the kingdom of God is the church life where the believers live in the reality of the kingdom of God. 

Jn 1:12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name,

Jn 1:13Who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jn 3:3Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jn 3:5Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Praise the Lord that the believers today have entered into the kingdom of God by being born of God (John 1:12,13), and by being born anew (John 3:3,5). As such, today as believers in the church life, we are in the kingdom of God! 

Rm 8:2For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death.

Rm 8:6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.

But the burden these days has been, are we living in the reality of the kingdom of God? Having entered into the kingdom of God, do we live in the reality of the kingdom of God? For this reality, the believers have to live by the divine life and follow the sense of life within by setting the mind on the spirit (Romans 8:2, 6). But for some, the sense of life could be just dead. The reason being, the spirit has not been exercised and therefore becomes very weak resulting in no feeling for anything. If such be the case, there is an urgent need for revival. Prayer is one of the ways to exercise the human spirit and revive the sense of life within. Only by such a sense, can one live in the reality of the kingdom of God. Following the sense of life is following the Lord's leading and allowing God to rule and reign over us. When such is the case, one is living in the reality of the kingdom of God.

Co 3:4When Christ our life is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.

Co 2:19And not holding the Head, out from whom all the Body, being richly supplied and knit together by means of the joints and sinews, grows with the growth of God.

Mt 5:3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

Mt 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

However, for one to be able to sense the life within his spirit, there is a need for growth in life. Christ is our life (Col. 3:4), and we must hold to Christ as the Head too (Col. 2:29), out from which one can draw life supply and grow up in the divine life. This is the biblical truth. To realize this truth subjectively, one must be poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) and pure in heart (Matthew 5:8). To be poor in spirit is not to be satisfied with what one already has, but to hunger and thirst for more of God. If one is poor in spirit, he will thirst and hunger for the word of God, the fellowship in the Body, for prayer, for meeting with the saints, and for the practical church life. And in the process, he will grow and gain God. One also needs to be pure in heart, having a single goal of gaining God and God alone, seeking nothing else but God. With purity of heart, one will not seek for prosperity, healing, or even spiritual growth. Though all these may be granted by the Lord's mercy, he will seek only God and for God alone. With these two conditions of being pure in heart and poor in spirit, one will exercise very much in his spirit and strengthen his spirit. Thereby, growing in the sense of life, leading further to the growth in life and enabling God to rule over him. Then, there will be the reality of living in the kingdom of God. This will definitely result in God being expressed and represented. This is also God's goal in His creation of man in Genesis 1:26. 

Gn 1:26And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of heaven and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

This was the living message the Lord gave to the church today. I was so personally supplied even as the Lord pleased to minister the word through me. And all the saints were richly supplied too.

Lord, preserve all the saints to be so exercised in their spirits so that they may grow daily. Lord, grant us the attitude and motive of being poor in spirit and pure in heart to grow in life and follow the sense of life and be led by the spirit and be governed by the Lord unto the living out of God in the reality of the kingdom of God in our church life today.